Yes, after our really tough, dig deep, push yourself, day of riding yesterday, and a couple of beers, great company, and delicious Rissoles and Veg, we both slept like the dead. Was there snoring? I can almost guarantee it, but we didn't hear it. When we woke, our bodies were tired, and we both could have stayed another night, but that wouldn't change the wind predictions for the next few days, so we'll suck it up and push through to Eucla and have our rest day there.
To get through this, we'll need fuel. Bacon and eggs, and some ready made salad rolls for lunch, some snacks, top up our water, then hit the highway at 8:30am. The wind was pretty light, actually it was a very nice morning, so we got through the first half of the distance in not bad time. We paused for a butt and leg break, a drink and breather, but basically just got on with it. We noticed, again, that there are far less trucks on Fridays. Is it load and unload day?
Jason, the line marker, on the go slow waiting for his paint to arrive.
I love your work guys, these lines keep me occupied for hours.
The traffic controller, making sure everyone gives Jason plenty of room.
Just after the halfway mark, we came to the top of a rise, and pulled off the side of the road for lunch. We got our little chairs together, and sat in the shade, watching the traffic go by. It was fun checking out the different rigs, and the faces of the passers by, as they saw us sitting on the side of the road eating our salad rolls and waving at them.
Where the hell are we? If it wasn't windy, it would be perfect.
A couple of big March flies found us, so we scurried around packing up, spraying some Bushmans (only got the 40% Deet one) and getting out of there. The wind had come right up, so as far as zooming away from the biting shits, well, they had no problem keeping up with us. So you can picture us battling the wind, traffic and now trying to swat these nasty big biting flies, that are smart enough to land on your back in the middle of your shoulders, where you can't reach.
So with Will again taking the brunt of the wind, we trudged on, calling out about traffic, March flies, and another amazing wedge tailed eagle. Slowly we made progress, and again had one last butt break, before we tackled the final 10 kays. We could see the dunes and the edge of Australia in the distance, and I said to Will, " I knew there was another Pass we had to go through, this is it!". I had mentioned it yesterday, but couldn't remember where it was. And I didn't realise the change in elevation. We had to go from 12mtrs up to 107mtrs, over the next ten kilometres, but really, it was the last two kays, where we would do almost 80mtrs up, and today it would be into the wind.
Last butt break, before we attempt the Pass. It's not Switzerland you know!
The Dunes and the edge of Australia. It's pretty cool.
Bugger! It took forever to reach the blue sign of happiness, then another forever to reach the bottom of the Pass, so I had two forevers to psych myself up and complain (before anything bad actually happened), and get all the swearing done. So by the time we reached the climb, we both shut up, put our heads down, and pedalled. It wasn't that bad, and the gorge blocked the wind in the middle of it all, and then we reached the top, and stopped for a "photo" stop! Spectacular view back across the plain to the ocean. Very nice.
Just passed the 5km sign, looking at what is to come.
Now it doesn't look that bad, I feel like a sook!
That looks better, maybe I'm not a sook......no, I am!
Now let's go check in and rest our tired bodies. Just as we were riding out of the pull off, parking area, we narrowly missed a poor little snake slithering off to the bushes.
There is a little town here, with Police, Nursing Post and the servo. About 50 people.
Nice view from our family room, but the kids can stay outside tonight.
We have two nights here, to rest, clean, eat and buy some food for the next few days. It'll be two or three days riding to the next roadhouse, depending on the winds, so Fat Betty rides again, fully loaded.
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