Madura to Border Village to Nullarbor Roadhouse to Nundroo Roadhouse Revisited

20.9.2006: Madura to Border Village

Stats: 197km, 7hrs 30mins 38secs, 26.2km/hr
Weather: Cool Morning, Hot Day, Cross Winds, Clear Sky

Today evolved into a day of highs and lows for both me personally and the group as a whole.

We started the day cycling at 6.30am knowing we had the longest day of the ride ahead of us in the middle of the longest week. As we finished the last 100m of the descent we had started at the end of yesterdays ride, it soon became obvious that our friendly tail winds would today be across us. Creating difficult cycling conditions.

The one benefit of this being that Jim decided we would need to ride two abreast. Enabling conversation whilst we rode. Breaking the monotony of single file interpersonal cycling for the first time since we climbed out of Perth.

We made our way across the low land plains at a steady rate. However not long after our morning break it became blindingly obvious that my knee would not be making todays journey a pleasant experience. By the lunch break I was all but reduced to tears as every revolution of the pedal felt as though my right knee cap was going tone ripped from my leg.

There and then I decided a small increase in Voltaren was needed. This combined with an extended lunch break shared with"Dave" and his support crew, as he skateboarded his way across Australia seemed to make a significant difference.

By afternoon any though of failing to finish this ride had once again exited my thoughts and before I knew it we were climbing off the low lands into the town of Eucla.

For some time we had been able to see the cliff face of the Great Australian Bite. As we climbed back up to the top the escarpment and caught a view of the ocean beyond, the teams spirit appeared to lift in unison. A short break at the lookout in Eucla (a roadhouse essentially) had us all delighted with our achievements. With only 12km to go today.

It was with 5km togo we had our first crash in the pack. With moods quickly swung back from highs to lows. As all felt the blow that could mean riding so far but not being able to finish the largest target. In the end John rode on, a little battered and bruised, but none the less finishing our longest day.

Tallies as per 19.9.2006

21.9.2006: Border Village to Nullarbor Roadhouse

Stats: 188.92km, 7hrs 19mins 29secs, 25.7km/hr
Weather: Cold Morning, Very Hot by Midday, Strong Cross Winds

Having made it to 'the Nullarbor Roadhouse' today, on paper, all the big days are now behind us. In total we have covered over 1600km in 10 riding days, over 900km in the last 5 days and almost 400km in the past 2. No wonder my bike seat has now worn through the skin on my backside.

This morning started in the coldest cycling conditions we have experienced so far. Long tights and winter gloves came out from all angles to deal with the early morning dessert air.

Only some 10kms or so down the road we stopped at our first of three lookouts along the Great Australian Bite. The views incredible and significantly different at each one. From a relatively be achy outlook to the latter sheer cliffs dropping away to an angry looking ocean.

As we rode today the scenery again changed. We started in typical beach (though isolated) surrounds. That could well have been North Head or out round the back beaches of Seal Rocks. Medium height shrubs all closely woven together, short spiky leaves. As we progressed on our days ride these shrubs continued to thin out. To a point that all we have here (officially in the Nullarbor PLAIN0 is a treeless abundance of grassland. Miles and miles of knee high tufts of grass.

We had plenty of time to observe these very fields at the end of our ride today. In complete contrast to Steves Guide book and Johns GPS (in van) we finished with a solid 20km of oversized pebble create like road. All the time at a constant gradual incline with head to cross winds.

Personally I found this section a welcome relief to my knees. As I broke from a constant flat tail wind assisted pursuit of faster daily average speeds.

However it did make the last 20m or so, some what drawn out at the end of some extremely long days in the sun. with a number of us, if not all, happy to finally reach what for a long time seemed to be a mirage like image up and beyond our grasp. The welcome sight of ice blocks aided our mental and physical recovery. Soon all were talking of the days activities in past tense. Ready for another day tomorrow.

Funny how as you painfully work your way along a ride like this, some of the most regular thoughts are of the next challenge.

Punctures: Me (0), Group (6)
Brain Snaps: Mild (1), Moderate (0), Max (0)

22.9.2006: Nullarbor Roadhouse to Nundroo Roadhouse

Stats: 144.83km, 5hrs 13mins 1sec, 27.7km/hr
Weather: Warm-Hot, Cloud Cover, Cross-Tail Winds

We are clearly on our way back into civilisation. Towards the end of our ride into Nundroo Roadhouse, not only did we cycle past two letterboxes. We also saw our first give way sign for what Im sure must have been over 1000km.

The day started, all be it slowly and delayed, in the sparse surrounds of the grasslands of the Nullarbor Plain. With one of the most spectacular sunrises I can remember ever seeing. With a vast away of colours spread across the plains. With no interruptions to our views what so ever.

Meanwhile the mechanically minded worked towards minimising the impact of a split hub on the rearwheelof the random. It is clear amongst the group that our primary goal is to see each and everyone of us to the end of the ride. An 'insignificant' problem like a unique wheel falling apart will not be let to get in the way of this. I am reminded of the Bush Mechanics and wonder if there is enough McGuyver about us to work our way through future mechanical problems with limited resources. All though Jims boot does sam to have one of everything in it.

When we did get under way it was not too long before we had exit the eastern side of the plains and as the trees began to return so too did the road begin to undulate. By mid morning we were once again riding through thickish bushland. I can only imagine that the trees are now bigger in order to withstand the weight of the fly's, when they land on them. As they are slightly bigger than the birds that still circle in the air to the sides of the road.

At our stop today we openly discuss the need to watch your foot steps when wandering into the bush to water the trees. As the dry sandy ground seems to be ideal snake territory. It was in the middle of the road, sunning itself, that the first live snake was spotted and Im sure Im not the only one whose bike was lipping the crumbling edge of the road as we went past.

Our finishing km's were a complete contrast to yesterday. Smooth fast roads, flat, surrounded by trees and farmland. Nundroo is still isolated, but there is semblance of civilisation. A brilliant day of rolling hills.

Punctures: Me (0), Group (6)
Brain Snaps: Mild (1), Moderate (0), Max (0)

2011 current days

Minimal training to carry a theme. One swim Wed morning and the standard Thursday morning run from mine. Just not really motivated to do much at the moment. Happy spending time playing with the now 11 month old Evie.

So her song: