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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 4 - April 3rd, 2011
Southern Cross (WA) to Coolgardie (WA)
188.5 kms
Southern Cross (WA) to Coolgardie (WA)
188.5 kms
DAILY PREVIEW:-
Would you believe it - still heading east along the Great Eastern Highway 94 and by nightfall reaching Coolgardie! It looks like a reasonably undulating ride today - more climbing than descending still!!
Coolgardie is a small town with a population of approximately 800 people. Although Coolgardie is now known to most Western Australians as a tourist town and a mining 'ghost town', it was once the third largest town in Western Australia (after Perth and Fremantle) with a population of 15,000. At this time, mining of alluvial gold was a major industry and supplied the flagging economy with new hope. Many miners suffered under the harsh conditions, but for a few, their finds made the hard work worthwhile. Most men, however, left poorer than they had started off, with their hopes dashed.
Many of the original buildings have been retained and today the tourism factor has kept the township alive.
I remember learning about Kalgoorlie and Coolgardie during my school days so I am looking forward to seeing these places!!
Would you believe it - still heading east along the Great Eastern Highway 94 and by nightfall reaching Coolgardie! It looks like a reasonably undulating ride today - more climbing than descending still!!
Coolgardie is a small town with a population of approximately 800 people. Although Coolgardie is now known to most Western Australians as a tourist town and a mining 'ghost town', it was once the third largest town in Western Australia (after Perth and Fremantle) with a population of 15,000. At this time, mining of alluvial gold was a major industry and supplied the flagging economy with new hope. Many miners suffered under the harsh conditions, but for a few, their finds made the hard work worthwhile. Most men, however, left poorer than they had started off, with their hopes dashed.
Many of the original buildings have been retained and today the tourism factor has kept the township alive.
I remember learning about Kalgoorlie and Coolgardie during my school days so I am looking forward to seeing these places!!
Southern Cross to Coolgardie
Distance travelled - 188.66 kms
Highest speed - 63.9 kph
Average speed - 31.1 kph
Hours on the bike - 6 hrs 3 mins 40 secs
Well - wherever I got the elevation graph above from either the satellites were out of whack, or I put 2 completely different start and finish points in!!!! Pretty much it was flat all the way!!! Slight gradual uphills and slight gradual downhills where I could really whiz along!!! Love those downhills - and the wind pretty much dropped as well, so my Giant Avail just purred!! It was still a big day tho, I stopped every hour or so for a break, wander around and stretch and to top up food and liquids, but the last hour was tough going. I had pretty much had it by then, and the afternoon sun gets very hot and seems to sap all energy levels.
I am a cyclist now tho!!!! I can tell from the sunburn lines. Still the left hand side of me is getting more tanned than the right - Pat suggested a way to fix this ............. bike back to Perth!!!!
There was very little to see between Southern Cross and Coolgardie - the tiny townships had all but disappeared, so it was a welcome sight to eventually see signs saying 5 km to Coolgardie. The once thriving metroplis tho is desperately deserted now. A wide wide main road, some historic old buildings, and certainly nothing happening on a Sunday afternoon.
I stopped at the fork of the road (Kalgoorlie one way - Norseman the other) - put the bike in the Jucy van - noted where I was so I could restart from here - and we headed for Kalgoorlie - 38 kms further on - but not part of my planned ride!
Kalgoorlie / Boulder has a population of 30,000 - I thought we would find more life - but again - on a Sunday afternoon - not a lot - couldn't even find a supermarket that was open!!! Got a great camp site, and picked up some tourist brochures to plan for my "rest day" here tomorrow.
Yes - I know I had the rest day down for 2 days time - but I figured I couldn't come this close to Kalgoorlie without seeing more of what there is to see here!!
My backside will certainly enjoy the rest - its just a shuffling of the days really as I won't have a rest day in Balladonia now.
Distance travelled - 188.66 kms
Highest speed - 63.9 kph
Average speed - 31.1 kph
Hours on the bike - 6 hrs 3 mins 40 secs
Well - wherever I got the elevation graph above from either the satellites were out of whack, or I put 2 completely different start and finish points in!!!! Pretty much it was flat all the way!!! Slight gradual uphills and slight gradual downhills where I could really whiz along!!! Love those downhills - and the wind pretty much dropped as well, so my Giant Avail just purred!! It was still a big day tho, I stopped every hour or so for a break, wander around and stretch and to top up food and liquids, but the last hour was tough going. I had pretty much had it by then, and the afternoon sun gets very hot and seems to sap all energy levels.
I am a cyclist now tho!!!! I can tell from the sunburn lines. Still the left hand side of me is getting more tanned than the right - Pat suggested a way to fix this ............. bike back to Perth!!!!
There was very little to see between Southern Cross and Coolgardie - the tiny townships had all but disappeared, so it was a welcome sight to eventually see signs saying 5 km to Coolgardie. The once thriving metroplis tho is desperately deserted now. A wide wide main road, some historic old buildings, and certainly nothing happening on a Sunday afternoon.
I stopped at the fork of the road (Kalgoorlie one way - Norseman the other) - put the bike in the Jucy van - noted where I was so I could restart from here - and we headed for Kalgoorlie - 38 kms further on - but not part of my planned ride!
Kalgoorlie / Boulder has a population of 30,000 - I thought we would find more life - but again - on a Sunday afternoon - not a lot - couldn't even find a supermarket that was open!!! Got a great camp site, and picked up some tourist brochures to plan for my "rest day" here tomorrow.
Yes - I know I had the rest day down for 2 days time - but I figured I couldn't come this close to Kalgoorlie without seeing more of what there is to see here!!
My backside will certainly enjoy the rest - its just a shuffling of the days really as I won't have a rest day in Balladonia now.
 Arriving at Coolgardie. |
 The 'Old Gaol' behind 'Jucy'. |
YOU KNOW YOU'RE ADDICTED TO CYCLING IF....
You hear someone had a crash and your first question is "How's the bike?"
You have stopped even trying to explain to your other half why you need more than one bike...you just go buy another one and figure it will all work out in the divorce settlement.
You hear someone had a crash and your first question is "How's the bike?"
You have stopped even trying to explain to your other half why you need more than one bike...you just go buy another one and figure it will all work out in the divorce settlement.