Rest Day

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 20 - April 19th, 2011
REST DAY
Port Augusta (SA)

It is fantastic, and I am thrilled, that my good friend Judy Brookman has supported this page. What a fabulous connection she has to this town!! It also pleased me to be able to take a "Rest Day" here which was not in my original plan!!

The camp here has a great kitchen so I was able to sit there, answer emails and put more information up on this website!! Then it was off to discover the town and Judy's "connections" to here!!

The terrific museum - Wadlata was the obvious and best place to start - but the first street after pulling out of the caravan park was in fact "Sunman Rd" - so I wondered if that was the first link we were to see!! I don't think "Wadlata" has been open all that long, but it is very well done. I found much to read, of course was entertained by the section covering the importance of bicycles in the area's development and then entered a railway carriage to find the impressive "Young and Gordon" display. Judy's great-grandfather was certainly a major player both in Port Augusta and surrounding towns with his business activities. It was terrific to see!!

Meanwhile Pat had a roll up at the over a century old Port Augusta Bowls Club. It was her first taste of synthetic greens. She certainly discovered the "pro's and con's" of such greens. A plus is that they can be played on all year - already most club's we had seen from Ceduna through to here had closed. However, she had been told earlier that they were "tough" on your bowls and she was pretty disappointed to see the scuff marks that appeared from her roll up there. Here's hoping they will polish up OK when she gets home!!

As this was the first town with major supermarkets since leaving Northam, we were able to check the "pataka" and restock where necessary - and pick up some nice wine buys at the bottle shop!!!!

I also visited the Bank here to lodge funds we had collected for the Heart Foundation during our travels. Now I don't want to get anyone in trouble here ......... and I don't know that this wasn't actually the start, of what was to become a greater problem!! While I was at the Bank, I admired the teller's "mouse" - and couldn't help but ask (somewhat tongue in cheek) if there were any to spare!! At the end of processing my transaction, he wandered away, came back and slipped a "box" across the counter - and said - "No, sorry, none to spare, I didn't give this to you! Good luck with your bike ride - have a great time!"

I was so chuffed - it would look great on the mouse-pad I had bought in Ceduna!!

I wandered around the town to find the Young and Gordon building. Sadly tall trees prevented me getting a good picture of it, and I can't say I was too impressed with the "pink" shade it is painted at the moment. You can tell in its heyday it would have been a significant building in the town. In the park we found a monument signifying the importance and the impact that Thomas Young had on the area.

It was a bit tricky negotiating one's way around the town centre as there was a considerable amount of roadwork and street beautifying taking place. I am sure it will look quite a different place in 6 months time when work is complete. The paved areas that are being created around the central park area will be extremely attractive.

A tourist sign signifying a photo shoot spot was on the left as we headed back to the caravan park. It was in fact up the old water tower - so that gave the legs something different to do - climb stairs instead of pedal!! The view over the town and surrounding areas was well worth the stair-climbing effort!

To finish the day as a "rest" one, we headed back to the caravan park early afternoon for a pleasant chat with other campers.

Rest Day in Port Augusta - trying to catch up with emails and website updating in the Caravan Park kitchen!!

"Sunman Street" 1 street away from the caravan Park - could this be named after the sponsor for today's family?

Wadlata Museum in Port Augusta - has a whole section detailing the value of the bicycle int he early days of the area!! Thank goodness I am not riding one of them across Australia!!

Young and Gordon display in Wadlata. It is actually in an old railway carriage and difficult to photo - but a terrific display and account of their work in Port Auggusta and the district.

Pat bowling at Port Augusta - her first time on artificial greens! Sadly the season is "closed", but she was allowed a "roll up".

The Bowling Club is over 100 years old!

Thomas Young Memorial in the main park - "The Father of Port Augusta"

Young and Gordon building as it is today!!

Young and Gordon building as it is today.

Power station at Port Augusta - from the water tower.

Port Augusta - from the water tower

The old "Water Tower" - great to climb up in and look over the district.

Jucy van - from the Water Tower.

My new "mouse"

Pain is temporary. Quitting lasts forever.
Lance Armstrong

Historical pictures published on this page with kind permission of the State Library of South Australia, GPO Box 419, Adelaide, South Australia 5001 - www.samemory.sa.gov.au/site/page.cfm?c=5856