After yesterday, I was not wanting to ride on the highway again, unless we absolutely had to, so I studied the maps, and I think I've got some good options. I just need to ask a local if they are good dirt roads, and that the one I want to take actually meets the highway. So we got to packing, and about halfway through, it started to spit rain drops. This forced us to race around and shove our bikes and gear into the camp kitchen shed. While we were getting sorted, many grey nomads came to ask the usual questions and happily discuss our adventure. It finally stopped raining, and we headed off to lots of waves and farewells. We didn't get far, as we wanted to check out the community Boardwalk, which went through the mangroves to the mouth of the creek. It was very nice, and an area of mangroves I never expected to see down here.
Will got up to capture this gorgeous sunrise....thanks Will.
Quick Jen, before it really starts raining....
The boardwalk goes to the mouth of the creek, and also into the mangroves.
It's a really nice area, and the creek is obviously good for fishing.
Very nice hey Will?
Not really for bikes, but Terry said we could. He helped build it.
Next, a quick stop at the supermarket, where we bought lunch supplies, and asked the owner about my road out of town. "It's dirt road?" She stated, questioningly, to which I said, "Yeah, we know, that is ok, but does it go to the highway?" "Oh, it's rough as guts, no locals use it!" "No worries, but it gets to the highway, doesn't it?", at this point, the delivery driver waiting for a signature, piped up to say that it does, and it is pretty good. Phew, at last, we can get going!
The kids are getting restless....come on!
So we rode out of town the back way that no locals go, and really enjoyed our first 4.5kms. Then we had no choice but to hit the stupid highway for another 19 kays before our other secret weapon, Igloo road. The extra bonus today, was the shoulder had almost doubled overnight, must have been the rain, and it was pretty decent. We encountered a fair few grain road trains today too, so harvest must be any day now.
Rolling hills again, but lovely hard surface.
Check out that shoulder, super awesome today!
Crank up those harvesters people, this looks ready....
We turned onto Igloo road, another dirt road in great condition, and rode about 5 kays to a tee junction. About 500 metres to the left were some World War Two igloos, we went to check out, then turned back the way we'd come to roll into Port Gibbon. There's free camping for up to two weeks, the remains of an old jetty, beautiful beach, cliffs and a few homes. Luckily, there was a couple of shelters with tables, which we jumped under as the rain started to come down. Not too hard, but a good excuse to lunch and check out the sights.
The lovely Igloo road, it is also down hill, well mostly.
How's this one Willsie, pretty awesome hey?
At the time, this would have seemed pretty serious, today, it just seems funny.
Pretty cool the farmers have kept these "igloos". Great job guys. Thanks!
A nice shelter for lunch and to wait out the rain.
Lovely red cliffs, and beach. Very relaxing.
This is all that is left of the old jetty. They used it to load wheat onto ketches.
After spotting some Dolphins in the glass like bay, and oh my god, more chatting to campers, the rain stopped, and we head off for the last 20kms to Cowell, along Beach road (all dirt). Luckily, we turned around a bend, and looked back to where we'd come from to see the awesome views of the beach and cliffs. As we rode on, the views just kept coming. It was one of those awesome rides, with a pretty good dirt surface, great scenery, and plenty of our little flying protein pills to keep us busy. It was amazing to notice we were going around 18-20km/hr for most of the way, and all of a sudden, we only had 6 kays to go. This was definitely close to town, as it got pretty rough and corrugated. I was pleased to hit the bitumen at the outskirts of town.
Port Gibbon. Nice little spot.
I'm loving this ride, and these views. Very cool.
Look how smooth this bit of road is.......
Yep, that got a bit rough, but we held it together Betty, well done.
Again, the town had some really lovely old homes, and the two pubs look really nice. We stopped at The Commercial for a beer and to figure out somewhere to stay. The result was The Foreshore Caravan Park, in a cabin, for $50. Just what we need, as the weather looks great tomorrow, with potential tailwinds for a big ride to Whyalla (110kms away). So we want an early night and an early start to get the job done. It is going to be all on the highway, with nothing much to stop and see. A full work day ahead. Hmm! Not my favourite kind of day, but sometimes they just have to be done. Fingers crossed they actually get the weather right.
Nice old building for the Police station.
My friends are still with me, but they are too young to come into the pub with me.
Been a while since we've seen a pub with that name. The Commy!
No comments:
Post a Comment