What an amazing morning here on the Nullarbor Plain. I didn't really want to get up, I could have slept all day, but there was no wind yet, and we wanted brekkie. So dressed and sleepy, we opened the door to go out, and Wow! So beautiful. Too stupid to take a photo, but it was great. We had ourselves some bacon and eggs, and a very nice cup of real coffee, chatted to Lee, who had taken great care of us both last night and now, and returned to the room to pack and get going. Dingo (the manager of the roadhouse), had sold us a bag of veggies, and some hamburger buns, and we'd got some other goodies to last us to at least Penong, but hopefully Ceduna, so I tried to pack and balance my gear with it all.
We didn't do too well with leaving early, bloody SA time, but the wind had only just started to wake up. There were scattered showers about, and we got a few sprinkles on our ride across the last of the official plain. Then we entered the Yalata Aboriginal Reserve. This is where the Head of The Bight Whale Viewing is, but it is a 24km round trip and $15 each, so not this time. It is supposed to be pretty good.
These bikers were in the bar till late hitting it hard....bet they wish their bikes were quiet like ours.
Slowly after that turn off, some trees started to appear, and then some small hills, big enough for a little roll down the other side. Then the hills began to grow, and the scattered trees became pretty woodlands. It was slow going, with traffic catching us on the uphill, and many times we were forced off onto the deadly verge, slowing so much we had to engage the low gears just to maintain some momentum. Me getting back onto the road often involve a skid, fish tail or close call, followed by some kind of frightened whimper.
Starting to see some changes in the terrain. Nice.
By the time we stopped for lunch, the March flies had found us again, and so had the South Easterly. We'd only managed 40 kays again. So we parked up in a gravel pit, where they have stock piled the killer verge gravel, to top up the verge when it gets too safe. While we sat and made some tomato and cucumber rolls (thank you again Dingo), we were surrounded by a swarm of man eating Jamanji flies. We sprayed ourselves with our Bushmans, and they didn't seem too fussed. So we just smashed the little buggers and buried them in the gravel. This gave us enough time to flee.
Lunch stop, hiding from the wind.
And this was a small one......nasty little shit!
Moving away from the coast now, see you later sand dunes.
On and on the rolling hills went, they were long and continuous, and we went from 4th gear to 12th gear, 10kms/hr to 25kms/hr. Bloody wind, taking the fun out of our downhill rolls. We stopped for a toilet break after about 65kms, and found a spot on the opposite side of the road. Just as we were deploying the Minties, a pilot vehicle went past, lights flashing, and gave us a blast of the siren as well. Ooh, must be big, so we waited. One police escort car, lights flashing, then two massive Dump Truck trays taking up the width of the road. So glad we had taken a break and were not being chased down by that load.
Kids having a little cuddle while they wait.
Whoah, they are huge!
Glad we were off the road.
Excitement over, we were back to the hills, and battling the traffic. I am bloody over it. The trucks always catching us on an uphill, and the caravaners coming the other way. Slipping and sliding on the verge of vengeance, missing the white posts by a bees dick, and somehow not coming a cropper. South Australia, you need to spend the federal money you get for this road, on this bloody road!
Finally, Will tells me it is time to start looking for a camp spot. Hallelujah! I've had enough. Just then, we saw a sign for a rest area, we rounded a bend, yes there have been bends as well as hills today, and saw the turn in just before a massive long hill. Great, we don't have to do it......today!
On the job, get to it Will.
We've ridden about 500mtrs into the bush, away from the caravans, and sorted out the tent, got a fire going, and just waiting for our dinner to cook, when we noticed a little visitor. Strutting right by us, within a metre, was a magpie. He waltzed in, picked up a piece of onion, ate it, sharpened and cleaned his beak, the waltzed back out again. No worries mate. Huh, so cool!
Our camp in the morning, Will got up, not me.
Another view, I'm still inside, snuggled up.
More Quangdongs.....a bit smaller than some.
Our little visitor. He was so confident.....
Another two or three days riding, and we'll be at Ceduna. That will be amazing.
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