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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.
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 19 - April 18th, 2011
Kimba (SA) to Port Augusta (SA)
160.8 kms.
Kimba (SA) to Port Augusta (SA)
160.8 kms.
DAILY PREVIEW:-
Amazingly - this will be my last day on the Eyre Highway!! It has taken 12 days of riding and 1 rest days!!
The elevation graph looks great for a considerable drop in height today into the town of Port Augusta!!! Again - more civilisation - even two supermarkets - so perhaps some Hot Cross buns and Easter eggs can be acquired!!!!
Port Augusta's unique geographic position sees it as a major service centre for travellers and freight trucks crossing the Nullarbor.It is a seaport and railway junction. In many respects Port Augusta is also the southern gateway to the Northern Territory. Travellers heading north can do so via the Stuart Highway. An alternate means of transport is to take a more leisurely journey via the "Ghan" rail service which goes to Darwin.
Port Augusta is also home to the newly created Arid Lands Botanic Garden. This displays an unusual mix of native bush and selected plantings of unique desert flora. Native plant enthusiasts will no doubt appreciate Australia's largest collection of Eremophila species. These species of plants are highly adapted to arid areas and are only grown in more temperate areas of Australia with great difficulty. Although still in its early stages of development the Arid Lands Botanic Garden will eventually become a major Port Augusta attraction.
Also located within Port Augusta is The Royal Flying Doctor Service. Port Augusta is one of 14 Flying Doctor bases that serve the healthcare needs of people living in Australia's Outback. Port Augusta also runs a School of the Air. This educational facility aims to serve the educational needs of outback children. In the School of the Air two way radio communication serving as an all important medium of instruction for outback school children.
It is fantastic, and I am thrilled, that my good friend Judy Brookman has supported my rest day tomorrow in Port Augusta. What a fabulous connection to this town!!
Amazingly - this will be my last day on the Eyre Highway!! It has taken 12 days of riding and 1 rest days!!
The elevation graph looks great for a considerable drop in height today into the town of Port Augusta!!! Again - more civilisation - even two supermarkets - so perhaps some Hot Cross buns and Easter eggs can be acquired!!!!
Port Augusta's unique geographic position sees it as a major service centre for travellers and freight trucks crossing the Nullarbor.It is a seaport and railway junction. In many respects Port Augusta is also the southern gateway to the Northern Territory. Travellers heading north can do so via the Stuart Highway. An alternate means of transport is to take a more leisurely journey via the "Ghan" rail service which goes to Darwin.
Port Augusta is also home to the newly created Arid Lands Botanic Garden. This displays an unusual mix of native bush and selected plantings of unique desert flora. Native plant enthusiasts will no doubt appreciate Australia's largest collection of Eremophila species. These species of plants are highly adapted to arid areas and are only grown in more temperate areas of Australia with great difficulty. Although still in its early stages of development the Arid Lands Botanic Garden will eventually become a major Port Augusta attraction.
Also located within Port Augusta is The Royal Flying Doctor Service. Port Augusta is one of 14 Flying Doctor bases that serve the healthcare needs of people living in Australia's Outback. Port Augusta also runs a School of the Air. This educational facility aims to serve the educational needs of outback children. In the School of the Air two way radio communication serving as an all important medium of instruction for outback school children.
It is fantastic, and I am thrilled, that my good friend Judy Brookman has supported my rest day tomorrow in Port Augusta. What a fabulous connection to this town!!
Kimba to Port Augusta
Distance travelled - 160.79
High speed = 60.70
Ave speed = 25.00
Hours on the bike - 6 hrs, 26 mins, 24 secs
This was a great ride on a beautiful day!! Fine, but cool - ideal. The little ups and downs were pretty "soft" and momentum was not often lost on the uphill sections. My legs were a little tired though. The previous 2 days riding of 180 and 140 kms do take a bit of a toll!! Add to it this 160 kms and that's enough for me to need a rest day!!
The OneSteel (old BHP) mine at Iron Knob was quite a spectacle as I rode along the highway, so we opted to go off the main highway and into Iron Knob for morning tea. Its amazing that these mining places do not in fact reflect all the huge wealth that mining companies must have made from them!! Mind you, I guess the miners have just lived in these parts temporarily and then taken the wealth they have amassed to more coastal areas.
The most exciting building in Iron Knob is in fact the townships Public Toilets - or more accurately - The Dunny! After a nice "cuppa" and use of the "Dunny" we left the township and headed back to the main highway.
At Minnipa it had been the village "pooch" that had welcomed us to the village - but at Iron Knob - we were seen off by the local dog!!
Despite being a canine lover, since taking up jogging and cycling - I have on occasion met wandering dogs and they haven't all been pleasant meetings - two resulting in me being bitten!! So there is always a watchful eye for wandering canines!
As I approached a corner nearing the edge of town, a "not so white" either "tall toy" or "short miniature" poodle was standing on the roadside staring at me. As I drew near - he came running out, barking (no yapping) at the top of his lungs and scampering alongside me. I put the gruff voice on and emitted a stern "Go Home" which had absolutely no effect. Fortunately about 300 metres down the road he/she stopped chasing me - and turned his/her attentions to the Jucy - and yapped and chased that for another 300 metres - before retiring to the side of the road. I couldn't help but wonder how far away from home the dog would get if more vehicles passed through that town??
Back out on the highway for a little more than 5 mins and I was ordered to stop and move off the road as a wide load was coming through. Two houses taking up the entire road width went through - I am sure they usually cut them in half to transport in Queensland!! I've no idea how it got past road trains etc - but it must have!!
It was a nice downhill cruise to join the road from Whyalla - a reasonably short very late lunch break was taken - and then a fast section completely downhill for the last 26 kms into Port Augusta. That is such a kind way for a town to welcome a cyclist!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tired and worn out, we booked into the Caravan Park - a fabulously equippped park where we stayed for 2 nights as I had lots to see and do in Port Augusta!! There are supermarkets here too - time to re-stock!!
Distance travelled - 160.79
High speed = 60.70
Ave speed = 25.00
Hours on the bike - 6 hrs, 26 mins, 24 secs
This was a great ride on a beautiful day!! Fine, but cool - ideal. The little ups and downs were pretty "soft" and momentum was not often lost on the uphill sections. My legs were a little tired though. The previous 2 days riding of 180 and 140 kms do take a bit of a toll!! Add to it this 160 kms and that's enough for me to need a rest day!!
The OneSteel (old BHP) mine at Iron Knob was quite a spectacle as I rode along the highway, so we opted to go off the main highway and into Iron Knob for morning tea. Its amazing that these mining places do not in fact reflect all the huge wealth that mining companies must have made from them!! Mind you, I guess the miners have just lived in these parts temporarily and then taken the wealth they have amassed to more coastal areas.
The most exciting building in Iron Knob is in fact the townships Public Toilets - or more accurately - The Dunny! After a nice "cuppa" and use of the "Dunny" we left the township and headed back to the main highway.
At Minnipa it had been the village "pooch" that had welcomed us to the village - but at Iron Knob - we were seen off by the local dog!!
Despite being a canine lover, since taking up jogging and cycling - I have on occasion met wandering dogs and they haven't all been pleasant meetings - two resulting in me being bitten!! So there is always a watchful eye for wandering canines!
As I approached a corner nearing the edge of town, a "not so white" either "tall toy" or "short miniature" poodle was standing on the roadside staring at me. As I drew near - he came running out, barking (no yapping) at the top of his lungs and scampering alongside me. I put the gruff voice on and emitted a stern "Go Home" which had absolutely no effect. Fortunately about 300 metres down the road he/she stopped chasing me - and turned his/her attentions to the Jucy - and yapped and chased that for another 300 metres - before retiring to the side of the road. I couldn't help but wonder how far away from home the dog would get if more vehicles passed through that town??
Back out on the highway for a little more than 5 mins and I was ordered to stop and move off the road as a wide load was coming through. Two houses taking up the entire road width went through - I am sure they usually cut them in half to transport in Queensland!! I've no idea how it got past road trains etc - but it must have!!
It was a nice downhill cruise to join the road from Whyalla - a reasonably short very late lunch break was taken - and then a fast section completely downhill for the last 26 kms into Port Augusta. That is such a kind way for a town to welcome a cyclist!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tired and worn out, we booked into the Caravan Park - a fabulously equippped park where we stayed for 2 nights as I had lots to see and do in Port Augusta!! There are supermarkets here too - time to re-stock!!
 The old "dunny" at Iron Knob |
 The new "dunny" for the disabled at Iron Knob  Not much room left on the road here!! |
 The new "dunny" at Iron Knob |
One of the best things about bicycle commuting is that it can mitigate the displeasure of having to go to work. - BikeSnobNYC
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