Monday 20 November 2006

Today's Stats

From: Norseman

To: Norseman

Tuesday 21 November 2006

Mal and Lee turned up this morning and we have spent a pleasant day relaxing with them and then taking a short trip down the street to get supplies for the Nullarbour crossing.

Today's Stats

From: Norseman

To: Norseman

Wednesday 22 November 2006

Another rest day in Norseman. Tomorrow we head off across the paddock with Mal and Lee in tow. The weather is starting to heat up again so the early morning starts will be in full swing tomorrow.

Today's Stats

From: Norseman

To: Norseman

Thursday 23 November 2006

The camp ground was full last night as we climbed into our tent wedged in amongst all the others. Having warned all those camped around us that we would be getting up really early we did so and tried not to make too much  noise. Of course that didn't work too well and by the time we were  eating our breakfast many of those camped near us were up and having an early start to their day as well. 4 am being little earlier than their usual start time Mal and Lee were going to be a little longer than expected so we commenced our ride without them in tow but not far behind.

Despite the hills and climb out of Norseman the bitumen road meant that we were making goodtime, even though we were loaded down with water and food. The sun was up and the temperature was already at 23 deg C by the time 6 am came around. The kilometres seemed to slip by despite the temperature rising (30 deg C by 9 am) and the hills continuing. The truckies talk on the radio was mostly fit for human consumption with the main topic being the road works near Balladonia and the bitumen "bleeding", a reference to the puddles of tar lying around on the road because of the heat.

By 50 kilometres we were running out of puff and the mercury had climbed to 38 deg C. We came to a roadside rest area and noticed a track leading out the back, so of course, a quick inspection for some shade was made, and we were not disappointed. Realising that the day was not going to get any cooler we selected the best of the shade and cooked a meal and relaxed while we waited for the heat of the day to move on.

We had not heard anything about Mal and Lee and wondered how they were fairing, noting that Lee had already had heat stroke one hot day during their ride and hoping she would not suffer another. Eventually we heard the truckies talking about them on the radio and eventually we were able to call them on our radio. They found us in the shade of a nice big tree and so we all sat in our respective trikes discussing the days ride. Joanne and I had decided that as much as we liked the shade, we wanted to reach 60 kilometres for the day, thus ensuring equal rides to cover the 190 kilometres to Balladonia, so we pressed on with the promise of finding another nice bush camp somewhere after the 60 kilometre mark.

With the temperature at 44 deg C and the tar melting all over the place a decent limestone track leading off to who knows where presented itself on the right hand side. So after a brief inspection we declared the campsite found. Mal and Lee came in about 20 minutes after us and we set up our respective camps and got down to the important task of journals, food and well deserved sleep.

Today's Stats

From: Norseman

To: Bush Camp 60 km E Norseman

Ride Time:
5 hrs 18 mins

Distance:
64.63 km's

Av Speed:
12.20 km/h

Max Speed:
40.5 km/h

Max Altitude:
362 m

Max Climb: 4 %

Av Climb: 1 %

Weather: Hot and Sunny 44 deg C.

Friday 24 November 2006

An earlier start than normal this morning in an attempt to get more distance in before the sun tried to bake us yet again. The road was quiet as we left Mal and Lee to sleep in an follow on while they were ready. We made very good progress and before we knew it we came to the rest area that we camped at the last time we rode across the paddock. Before we knew it we had 20 kilometres under the wheels and the sun was far from intense.

By 8.30am the sun had really got the fire going and we were baking in 30 deg C temperatures. Not much to tell about today except that we experienced some of the hottest temperature we have ridden in. The hot wind was behind us and normally we would have loved it but it just made the going harder and climbing the hills like a sauna. By 1030 am we had worked our way over the Fraser Range and had been temped to take the short ride up to the camping area at Fraser Range Station, where, according to the signs, there was relaxation and refreshments. It was mighty tempting but for some reason we just wanted to keep going.

A good down hill run the other side of the Fraser Range and with the temperature hovering around 41 deg C we took a break under a shady tree. It has here that Joanne announced that she was not feeling well and I diagnosed a mild case of heat stroke. A while later Joanne announced that she was okay to continue so we did, at her pace, stopping around 11 am under a mighty shady tree because the temperature had hot 45 deg C! We lay under the tree basking in the coolness of the shade, despite it being 40 degrees and the wind hot. We remained there having completed 60 kilometres for some time, until around 3 pm when we came out from our shady hideaway to get some more distance in. We wanted to reduce the distance to Balladonia to an easy ride so after 82 kilometres we found a nice spot in the bush and made our camp.

Prior to our camp we started on the upgraded piece of road which made life a little easier. Coming across a bore, water pumping station and a large dam we thought we had struck gold. The water was used by the road construction crew to help harden the dirt before the bitumen was laid. I hung over the side of the dam and filled aplastic container with water which we thought we might use for washing and maybe a shower, but our hopes were dashed when a quick taste proved the water salty and unusable!

All in all, today was a good day, but the climatic conditions tested us and took us to a new high on our ability level. We must also admit that both of us said that we had thought of catching the bus from Balladonia if this extreme weather continues.

We leave our bush camp with around 50 kilometres to ride and around 4 litres of water to quench our thirst, hopefully it will not be a hot ride.

Today's Stats

From: Bush Camp 60 km E Norseman

To: Bush Camp 48 km W Balladonia

Ride Time:
5 hrs 51 mins

Distance:
82.1 km's

Av Speed:
14 km/h

Max Speed:
37 km/h

Max Altitude:
431 m

Max Climb: 7 %

Av Climb: 1 %

Weather: Hot and sunny 45 deg C.

Saturday 25 November 2006

As is our want, we spent a very peaceful night in the bush and awoke to the wind and an overcast sky. Wanting to get Balladonia we set off at first light but with enough light to be seen on the road. The headwind was cold and keeping our speed down, causing us to work for our downhill runs of which there seemed few.

With the exception of the road works, two Emu's right alongside the road were about the only thing of interest this morning. We climbed a long hill and through the top of the plateau where the road winds though the landscape as opposed to over it like it has for most of this part of the trip before descending some more. The road through this part is new and part of the 36 million dollar upgrade. The road verges are wide and there are stretches where it looks like the road builders widened too far and then covered it all with dead trees. This is of course, where the old road used to be and has since been ripped up with the new road replacing it. The area also bears the scars of a fire with lots of small to medium vegetation and little shade making trees so it is a good job we are not looking for respite from the heat like yesterday.

We arrived unceremoniously at the Balladonia roadhouse (a quick inspection at the pump revealed a litre of fuel costing $1.85) and had a brief look at the campground, a nice area off to one side of the roadhouse, complete with campers kitchen and ablutions. Unfortunately for us, the roadwork that in progress was blanketing the whole area in very fine dust, so, after deciding that we didn't want to be dirtier than when we came in, we enquired after alternative accommodation. $13 for an un-powered campsite ($1 more than 5 years ago), $19 for a powered site, $42 for the backpackers dorms or $99 for a motel room were our options. So having saved some of our daily allowance by bush camping we took the motel room option and even got the trikes inside as well. Luxury! Sheer luxury is the only way to describe it.

A good scrub in the shower, a change of clothes and a rinse out of the old, a bite to eat and a short mid-day nap saw us slightly better for wear and planning our assault on the 197 kilometres to Caiguna.

Today's Stats

From: Bush Camp 48 km W Balladonia

To: Balladonia

Ride Time:
4 hrs 6 mins

Distance:
48 km's

Av Speed:
11.2 km/h

Max Speed:
28 km/h

Max Altitude:
210 m

Max Climb: 6 %

Av Climb: 1 %

Weather: Overcast with a stiff Easterly headwind. 21 deg C.

Sunday 26 November 2006

 Despite our comfy abode we awoke early around 4 am and after some deliberation about staying in bed a little longer we got up, packed up and loaded with around 34 litres of water, got going. Balladonia Roadhouse, Motel, Backpackers and Caravan Park were all still asleep as we pulled out of the driveway and into the hills and road works.

The road work continued for around 7 kilometres before the old road appeared. The sides had been graded however, giving us plenty of room to move over to allow the many road trains to take as much of the road as they wanted, much to their pleasure, courtesy repaid with waves, toots and flashing of lights.

Some 15 kilometres later we spied wheel tracks heading into the bush indicating where Mal and Lee had gone bush for the night. We rode on and after riding down the part of the road where the Emergency RFDS (Royal Flying Doctor Service) airstrip is located we eventually came to an abandoned telegraph station around 28 kilometres from Balladonia. We didn't go for a look the last time so this time we decided to do so.

We found what would have been a large and lovely old home now in disrepair and slowly being demolished by the elements. All around the building there was an extensive dry stone wall and out the back it continued along the contours of the large granite rocks shown on the map as Afghan Rocks. The walls obviously used to capture and direct water from the granite into the very large hole in the ground near the house. The hole was almost as big as a two roomed flat. Some exploring and photo's taken we walked back out to the road to find Mal and Lee pulling up. A quick chat and we were back on the road and heading for the sign which announces the western end of the 90 mile straight.

Arriving at the sign some 7 kilometres later we arrived at the sign. Of course once Mal and Lee arrived we had to take the obligatory photo's, group and individual before we rode on. Not much had changed since the last time we sat in our trikes and had our photo taken, though the widening of the road for future upgrading was evident. Photo's taken we pressed on into the headwind, Joanne and I taking 5 kilometre turns at leading and providing the other with the chance to draft the other and take a rest.

The truckies were thick on the road today, all working hard to make Perth for Monday morning. All were courteous and giving plenty of air horn thanks for our moving over. After 50 kilometres we came to a nice rest area complete with toilet, tables and fireplaces. We took up residency at a table in the shade and boiled the billy for a coffee. Not long afterwards Mal and Lee came rode in so we sat there and ate lunch and even had a second coffee, something which would prove to be an advantage later on.

Wanting to get a few kilometres in we rode off in search of some distance and the coffee kicked in, propelling us along at a very nice rate, despite the headwind. Before  we knew it we had covered 70 kilometres so we commenced he search for a campsite which we located about 100 metres into the bush and next to the trench where the fibre optic cable was being laid  the last time we rode through. Mal and Lee were nowhere to be seen and may have found their own spot back down the road somewhere, so we will leave our marker out until just before dark just in case.

Today's Stats

From: Balladonia

To: Bush Camp 71 km's E of Balladonia

Ride Time:
5 hrs 47 mins

Distance:
71 km's

Av Speed:
12.20 km/h

Max Speed:
26.5 km/h

Max Altitude:
150 m

Max Climb: 4 %

Av Climb: 1 %

Weather: Overcast then sunny 33 deg C. Easterly Headwind.

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