Brenda Noonan - On My Bike
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  • 2017 - AUST-3
  • 2016 - USA
  • 2015 - UK
    • Overview
    • Ride Supporters
    • John O Groats to Helmsdale
    • Helmsdale to Tain
    • Tain to Inverness
    • Inverness to Kingussie
    • Kingussie to Pitlochry
    • Pitlochry to Kinross
    • Kinross to Dalkeith
    • Dalkeith to Jedburgh
    • Jedburgh to Ponteland
    • Ponteland to Guisborough
    • Guisborough to Scarborough
    • Rest Day - Scarborough
    • Scarborough to Barton-upon-Humber
    • Barton-upon-Humber to Thorpe-on-the-Hill
    • Thorpe-on-the-Hill to Ibstock
    • Ibstock to Stratford-upon-Avon
    • Stratford-upon-Avon to Cambridge
    • Cambridge to West Huntspill
    • West Huntspill to Crediton
    • Crediton to Bodmin
    • Bodmin to Camborne
    • Camborne to Land's End
  • 2014 - AUST-2
    • Supporters
    • Accommodation Supporters
    • Scarborough to Dee Why
    • Dee Why to Toukley
    • Toukley to Heatherbrae
    • Heatherbrae to Bulahdelah
    • Bulahdelah to Taree
    • Taree to Kempsey
    • Kempsey to Nambucca Heads
    • Nambucca Heads to Repton
    • Repton to Mullaway
    • Mullaway to Grafton
    • Grafton to Broadwater
    • Broadwater to Hastings Point
    • Hastings Point to Labrador
    • Labrador to Northgate
    • Northgate to Scarborough
  • 2013
  • 2012 - NZ
    • Participants
    • Getting to the Start
    • Fund-raiser for NZ Gynaecological Cancer Foundation
    • Zonta
    • Our Wonderful Supporters!
    • Bluff to Clinton
    • Clinton to Dunedin
    • Dunedin to Oamaru
    • Oamaru to Winchester
    • Winchester to Christchurch
    • Rest Day
    • Christchurch to Cheviot
    • Cheviot to Kaikoura
    • Kaikoura to Ward
    • Ward to Picton
    • Picton to Mana
    • Mana to Foxton Beach
    • Foxton Beach to Mangaweka
    • Mangaweka to Turangi
    • Turangi to Tokoroa
    • Tokoroa to Huntly
    • Huntly to Orewa
    • Rest Day
    • Orewa to Whangarei
    • Whangarei to Coopers Beach
    • Coopers Beach to Cape Reinga
    • After completing the ride
  • 2011 - AUST-1
    • My "Crew"
    • My "Bike"
    • Preparation
    • Poems
    • Supporters
    • Scarborough (WA) to Northam
    • Northam to Kellerberrin
    • Kellerberrin to Southern Cross
    • Southern Cross to Coolgardie
    • Rest Day
    • Coolgardie to Norseman
    • Norseman to Balladonia
    • Balladonia to Caiguna
    • Caiguna to Cocklebiddy
    • Cocklebiddy to Madura Pass
    • Madura Pass to Eucla
    • Eucla to Nullarbor
    • Nullarbor to Nundroo
    • Nundroo to Penong
    • Penong to Ceduna
    • Rest Day
    • Ceduna to Minnipa
    • Minnipa to Kimba
    • Kimba to Port Augusta
    • Rest Day
    • Port Augusta to Peterborough
    • Peterborough to Olary
    • Olary to Broken Hill
    • REST DAY
    • Broken Hill to Dolo Hill
    • Dolo Hill to Emmdale
    • Emmdale to Cobar
    • Rest Day
    • Cobar to Nyngan
    • Nyngan to Warren
    • Warren to Gilgandra
    • Gilgandra to Coonabarabran
    • Coonabarabran to Narrabri
    • Rest Day
    • Narrabri to Moree
    • Moree to Goondiwindi
    • Goondiwindi to Lake Coolmunda
    • Lake Coolmunda to Warwick
    • Warwick to Kalbar
    • Kalbar to Doolandella
    • Doolandella to Scarborough (Qld)
    • Rest Day
    • Week 1 - Scarborough (WA) to Balladonia (WA)
    • Week 2:- Balladonia (WA) to Penong (SA)
    • Week 3:- Penong (SA) to Peterborough (SA)
    • Week 4:- Peterborough (SA) to Cobar (NSW)
    • Week 5:- Cobar (NSW) to Moree (NSW)
    • Week 6:- Moree (NSW) to Scarborough (Qld)
    • Heart Foundation
    • The "Media Tart"
    • Competitions

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All funds raised during my ride across Australia went to either the Australian or New Zealand Heart Foundation depending on the donor’s wish. It was a thrill to be named Best Individual Fund-raiser for 2011 by the Queensland Branch of the Australian Heart Foundation.
​Special thanks to EVERYONE who supported my ride. 

Day 17 - April 16th, 2011
Ceduna (SA) to Minnipa (SA)
180.5 kms.
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DAILY PREVIEW:-

I'm picking it might be a bit sad leaving Ceduna - not the least reason being that it looks like I am starting to have more uphill than downhill as the Eyre Highway starts to head across the Gawler Ranges foothills!!!

However, I do think the countryside is going to be a bit more productive than what I have seen for the last 2 weeks.

Minnipa is a small town serving the local grain growing community located on South Australia's Eyre Peninsula. The area around the town was first settled in 1878 but it wasn't until the arrival of the railway line in 1913 that any kind of township developed. Development of the surrounding districts followed the railway, and accelerated after the opening of the water pipeline from the Tod River scheme in 1925. By 1960, Minnipa was the major railway centre between Cummins and Thevenard. Before the construction of the Tod River scheme and its network of pipelines, tanks were constructed at many locations to catch the runoff from the granite outcrops which are a feature of the landscape. The earliest of these were constructed at Minnipa Hill in 1914 by the South Australian Railways. These historic tanks were reconditioned in the 1990s and fitted with new roofs to provide a standby water supply for Minnipa.Within the town are a number of grain silos that serve to store the local wheat crop. Adjacent to the silos is a disused railway siding which used to freight the grain crop to Port Lincoln, which is now done by road transport for export around the world.

The town has a rich rural life, boasting several churches, a general store, caravan park, pub, fodder store, vet clinic and other rural industry based companies. The town's rich sporting tradition includes swimming, Australian Rules football, Tennis and Netball. Table Tennis is also a favorite during the winter months.

The town is well placed, within an hour or two's drive from the west coast of Eyre Peninsula but still close enough for a day trip to the Gawler Ranges. It is located in the centre of a vast low-rainfall wheat belt, and the surrounding countryside is gently undulating but broken by numerous wind-shaped granite outcrops.

The 'wave' shapes and varied colours of the granite outcrops or bornhardts in the area, are quite outstanding and the view from their tops is well worth seeing. The shapes were formed by moisture-induced decomposition of the sub-surface granite when the ground level was much higher. Gradual erosion of the surface soil has left the granite outcrops exposed.
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Ceduna to Minnipa

Distance travelled - 180.51
High speed - 62.60 kph
Av speed - 28.50 kph
Hours on the bike - 6 hrs, 20 mins

Today turned out to be an easy ride with gradual climbs only that in the main were not noticeable really as they came after some good downhill spurts. Following on from my rest day yesterday my legs felt great and it was a terrific feeling biking through this lovely countryside!! Oh - there was a tail wind too which was absolutely fantastic!!

It was great to talk to mum, dad and my brother Peter before I left this morning - like many, they had been wondering where I was and how progress had been going!!!

Lunch was taken at Poochera - a place that commanded quite "bold print" on the map - but it appeared to be "empty" - well, deserted in fact!! We made lunch, ate it, and didn't see a soul! I became a bit worried that our scheduled night time stop is at Minnipa which appears insignificant on the map in comparison.

Arriving at Minnipa I was welcomed by a barking dog - already this place had more life!! Along the main street, was a hotel, motel, closed general store, closed butcher shop and an open second hand bookshop!! Checked with the helpful ladies there who pointed to where the caravan park was, but advised I had to check in at the Hotel. They also informed me that everyone was at the "football" game so I could go down there for a cold drink (I think I must have looked a bit hot and bothered after my 180k ride).

Duly set up camp and as we could hear whistle blowing and cheering still happening from the sportsground, decided to wander across and take a peek. The netball was almost over - and the locals won!!!! Jubilation!!!!

The "football" - which was AFL (and not "Union" as my kiwi upbringing always makes me think of first) was in its final quarter. The field had a small grandstand! - (very small really) and the rest of the "oval" wasringed with cars. When I arrived, the "locals" were behind by one goal. And then they scored - all (no, almost all) the cars tooted merrily - they were in the lead!! A few minutes later - the locals scored again - more tooting - and only a few minutes to play!!! But then - the "visitors" scored - a couple of "tooters" only - the score was equal - and in the final seconds of the game - the visitors hit the front with a "behind" I think they call it - ohhhhhhhhh - such sadness and dismay for the locals - one lonely car toot-toot-tooted from the sideline!!

The game over - I wandered back to "camp" - but I am sure the post-mortems of the game would continue for quite some time over several cans of locally brewed ale.

It transpired that we were the only people in the Caravan Park tonight. The on-site caretaker came over and offered us a beer (what a good idea that the Hotel owns the caravan park), which was readily accepted - on a hot dusty day - it was just the best!! Another good combination with Morish nuts!!

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The typical HUGE grain silos that can be seen from afar. These are at Poochera.
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An early settler's little house - Poochera museum!!
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The next town along the road - Minnipa - more grain silos
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"Football" match of the day - "locals" versus "visitors" - and the visitors won!!
When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race.
H.G. Wells

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