Day: |
015 |
Date: |
Wednesday, 7 September 2005 |
Start: |
Renner Springs |
Finish: |
Dunmarra |
Daily
Kilometres: |
192 |
Total
Kilometres: |
2417 |
Journal: |
Got up at 4am after a restless night and
was on the road by 4:45am. Another starlit night and I saw a meteor
soon after starting. Made reasonable progress although there was
already an opposing wind. There weren't as many hills although I
felt quite high, presumably on the Barkley Tablelands, and I could
see a long way to the east and west. The country gradually became
more forested with lots of grassy areas and looked to be reasonable
cattle country. I think this is the land of the big station. I
reached Elliott at 9:15 am and found a roadhouse where I ordered a
cooked breakfast and milkshake. The town was very hot and dry with
a large aboriginal population. It looked well-kept, but a long way
from anywhere, and I wouldn't want to live there. After an hour I
sett off northwards in the baking sun and gusty north wind. I
resolved to drink every 10km and break the 100km into four sections
with a break between each. For my first rest break I stopped at a
rest area and soaked my top in water to cool down. Before
breakfast, as I mounted the bike after letting a road train go past,
something had gone wrong with the gears. It looks like I have
disengaged/broken the smallest cog on the rear wheel so that the top
gear is no longer available. Otherwise it seems OK so I have to
decide whether to try and get it fixed in Katherine, or just keep
going. It wasn't much of a problem without the top gear today, so
maybe I'll be OK. Although it was a long hot hard afternoon, it
wasn't as bad as I had anticipated. The countryside is becoming
greener and there are more signs of civilization although towns are
still a long way apart. I was very happy to reach Dunmarra at 4pm
and checked in, washed out clothes, and had a shower. I can
probably get to Darwin on Saturday if I have three 200+km days from
here. It's going to stay hot but if the winds are favourable and I
don't waste too much time in Katherine, I should be able to make it. |
|
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