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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 13 - April 12th, 2011
Nullarbor (SA) to Nundroo (SA)
146.3 kms
Nullarbor (SA) to Nundroo (SA)
146.3 kms
DAILY PREVIEW:-
Elevation graph looks like we have a small hilly range to negotiate. That will be a change as I will reach the highest "peak" so far along the Eyre Highway!!
Today could be interesting - information I have found shows that the Yalata Roadhouse could have closed down!!! Hopefully we will have gleaned some local knowledge at Nullarbor, and from the "grey nomads" we will encounter, and come up with a suitable place to stop for the night!
It just may be necessary to get a day ahead of schedule and get to Nundroo.
I understand there are some good fishing and surfing spots off the Eyre Highway, on the coast, so a small detour may be in order.
Elevation graph looks like we have a small hilly range to negotiate. That will be a change as I will reach the highest "peak" so far along the Eyre Highway!!
Today could be interesting - information I have found shows that the Yalata Roadhouse could have closed down!!! Hopefully we will have gleaned some local knowledge at Nullarbor, and from the "grey nomads" we will encounter, and come up with a suitable place to stop for the night!
It just may be necessary to get a day ahead of schedule and get to Nundroo.
I understand there are some good fishing and surfing spots off the Eyre Highway, on the coast, so a small detour may be in order.
Nullarbor to Nundroo
Distance travelled:- 146.28 kms
Highest speed:- 59.10 kph
Average speed:- 24.2 kph
Hours on the bike - 5 hrs, 34 mins, 21 secs
I am badly in need of a rest day – but I am also badly in need of letting people know I am OK – I need to get to internet!! It seems I have to be in Ceduna for this to happen – so rest days are cancelled until I get there!!
The day started playing the Nullarbor golf hole and this hole is renown for thieving crows!! I was strategically positioned along the fairway to keep an eye on the ball. It doesn’t helped when the golfer, who usually slices, decides to hook – resulting in the need for me to run madly across the “fairway” yelling and arm waving furiously – thankfully, in this instance – this bizarre behaviour was not in vain!! The crow was actually scared of me and turned away!! It was a par 5 hole, so this ritual was repeated 3 further times before the golfer got on the green!!
My Irish Bush Telegraph was correct – Yalata is “closed”. So, there was nothing else to do but have a wee break, a drink, some food, and to push on, combining 2 days and reaching Nundroo.
This section from Yalata to Nundroo would have to be the most hilly section (apart from day 1 out of Perth) that I have encountered – and it was painfully slow progress for me up the hills, and demoralising when you did get up, to see a short downhill, followed by another uphill – time after time after time after time. The crow chasing, plus 1700 kms of cycling saw me virtually legless at times. I now know that feeling of absolute fatigue from biking that Paul D has talked about!!
But there is always something good – this time, it was actually 14 kms shorter than I expected – AND – there was internet!!!!!! The "Pie" was in very hot demand, but I managed to post a few quick facebook messages and answer some urgent emails – and it felt like I was getting back into civilisation. I thank everyone for their many messages of support – and I will get around to responding to you all in due course!!!!
I also met some people from Horsham Downs in the Waikato – funny small world isn’t it – so close to where I went to primary school at Horotiu - in fact, I think my mum did some relief teaching at Horsham Downs school!!
At this point in time it is actually “raining” here – or more like “showering” – or - really - just "spitting". I haven’t watched one bit of TV since leaving Perth so have no idea what the weather is doing, or is supposed to be doing – so I will sign off here, go to bed – and hope to wake up in the morning to a lovely day!!
I know I am ahead of schedule now, but I am going to do the next 2 lighter days and get to Ceduna where I will definitely be taking a rest!!!
Distance travelled:- 146.28 kms
Highest speed:- 59.10 kph
Average speed:- 24.2 kph
Hours on the bike - 5 hrs, 34 mins, 21 secs
I am badly in need of a rest day – but I am also badly in need of letting people know I am OK – I need to get to internet!! It seems I have to be in Ceduna for this to happen – so rest days are cancelled until I get there!!
The day started playing the Nullarbor golf hole and this hole is renown for thieving crows!! I was strategically positioned along the fairway to keep an eye on the ball. It doesn’t helped when the golfer, who usually slices, decides to hook – resulting in the need for me to run madly across the “fairway” yelling and arm waving furiously – thankfully, in this instance – this bizarre behaviour was not in vain!! The crow was actually scared of me and turned away!! It was a par 5 hole, so this ritual was repeated 3 further times before the golfer got on the green!!
My Irish Bush Telegraph was correct – Yalata is “closed”. So, there was nothing else to do but have a wee break, a drink, some food, and to push on, combining 2 days and reaching Nundroo.
This section from Yalata to Nundroo would have to be the most hilly section (apart from day 1 out of Perth) that I have encountered – and it was painfully slow progress for me up the hills, and demoralising when you did get up, to see a short downhill, followed by another uphill – time after time after time after time. The crow chasing, plus 1700 kms of cycling saw me virtually legless at times. I now know that feeling of absolute fatigue from biking that Paul D has talked about!!
But there is always something good – this time, it was actually 14 kms shorter than I expected – AND – there was internet!!!!!! The "Pie" was in very hot demand, but I managed to post a few quick facebook messages and answer some urgent emails – and it felt like I was getting back into civilisation. I thank everyone for their many messages of support – and I will get around to responding to you all in due course!!!!
I also met some people from Horsham Downs in the Waikato – funny small world isn’t it – so close to where I went to primary school at Horotiu - in fact, I think my mum did some relief teaching at Horsham Downs school!!
At this point in time it is actually “raining” here – or more like “showering” – or - really - just "spitting". I haven’t watched one bit of TV since leaving Perth so have no idea what the weather is doing, or is supposed to be doing – so I will sign off here, go to bed – and hope to wake up in the morning to a lovely day!!
I know I am ahead of schedule now, but I am going to do the next 2 lighter days and get to Ceduna where I will definitely be taking a rest!!!
 The traditional "photo" for this part of the universe - they now have a "mock" sign outside the roadhouse to make it safer than people stopping on the highway. |
Life is like riding a bicycle - in order to keep your balance, you must keep moving.
Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein
