Saturday 04 November 2006

As Mark Twain reputedly once said, "...years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover" and so we will. With the first of many pedal strokes and adventures to come, another trip of a lifetime started today.

Along the same lines as our last trip - around Australia, and with some help from our friends, we have planned the trip, saved up enough cash (we hope), finished work, packed and cleaned up the house, sold off excess goods and placed the rest in storage.

This mornings departure was an eagerly anticipated one, finally the glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel has become very large and very real (and it is not a train coming either) and now another glimmer of light is before us, how long before it becomes very large remains to be seen, because once it does, this trip will be at an end.

The trikes are again loaded and heavy, and like a snail, all of our belongings are on the back. Today's ride was a small one to Mandurah, home of our good friends the Polmear's and Diesel the dog. On arrival we spent an enjoyable afternoon with Kim & Carolyn, Jeff and Val, Mike and Ellen discussing many topics, cycle touring among them.

Today's Stats

From: Waikiki

To: Mandurah

Ride Time:2.30.24

Distance: 34.69

Av Speed: 13.80

Max Altitude:11.30am

Max Climb: 8%

Weather: Sunny.

Sunday 05 November 2006

After a pleasant evening and a wonderful sleep, Joanne and I hit the road proper. Once we cleared the Mandurah area we were headed to Pinjarra. On arrival we took up a nice spot near the river and had a short break before we headed towards the big climb up to Dwellingup. We had forgotten how bad the flies are when you are touring by trike and how well the little black buggers can keep up with you, even with a headwind, so it was a case of remembering not to spend too much energy try to swat them and how handy sunglasses are to keep them out of your eyes. If they keep up like this itwill be time to break out the fly net one again.

The trikes were indeed heavy and we were struggling against the wind, taking our turn at the front to allow the other a breather in the draft of the other. Some 10km out of Pinjarra we began to climb, hitting the 13% grade and wishing we had done some hill training before we undertook the trip. The constant uphill of the road was only one thing to think about as the old steam train railway crosses the road on a regular basis and there were plenty of birds including the red tail cockatoo, to watch and listen to. We had hoped we would see the steam train but we didn't, but there was puffing and blowing going on anyway, and that was just me!

We climbed and stopped (for a rest), and climbed and rested some more before we eventually came into the old logging town of Dwellingup which now relies on tourism to survive. A quick shopping spree in the milk bar and then it was down to the tourist information place to sit under a shady tree for a while to recuperate. The Bibblumen track (Perth to Albany walking trail) and the Munda Biddi bike track both run through the town so there are some facilities there and which we were glad to use and that allowed us to rinse the sweat and salt off before we picked up some water and headed out of town to look for a bush camp. The rain began to set in and we had had enough so it was time to find a spot.

The historic site of Plavin's Pit (early Bauxite mine) came up so after a brief inspection we picked a spot and set up camp, just as the rain really came in. Not wanting to waste a free shower it was ideal to stand out in and have a good wash. Later a cup of coffee and something to eat and it was time to type up today's journal and hit the sack. We couldn't get a tent peg into the ground here so it was the old occy strap to the trike routine.

Our campsite is about 100m off the main road and considering the fire that has recently been through the area, is well hidden.

Today's Stats

From: Mandurah

To: Bush Camp 10 km E Dwellingup

Ride Time:
4 hrs 54 mins

Distance: 55.69 km's

Av Speed: 11.3

Max Speed: 58 km/h

Max Altitude: 298 m

Max Climb: 13%

Av Climb: 3%

Weather: Sunny, Hot, 29 deg C. Easterly headwinds. Rain towards end.

Monday 06 November 2006

After a peaceful night camped in the bush we awoke at around 5am to the sound of wind through the trees - hopefully a tailwind. With sore leg muscles we managed to steal ourselves out of the tent and commence packing up.

We were immediately into the hills and it was not long before the legs were screaming and we were both wondering what the hell we were doing? We sure know why we didn't go this way on our last ride, and if we had, we probably would have given up. The bush was quiet except for the occasional bird or falling twig or branch and the shade of the big trees was keeping the temperature down. The hills got bigger and the uphill rest stops more frequent and the kilometres seemed to drag as we went along. Downhill runs were okay but we were then fighting the wind.

Eventually we arrived at the end of the forest and into farming country where we enjoyed a long down hill run, but unfortunately what goes down must eventually go back up - its cycling law. We were getting closer to Boddington but it was very hard going.

Our plan in Boddington was to get some bread for lunch, check the lotto ticket to see if we had won some of the 21 million dollars that was up for grabs before picking up some water and heading on. Unfortunately someone had put a very nice lunch spot near the river and also in view of the caravan park. So after deciding that the wind and the hills had taken their toll over the last two days, and our legs were still screaming, we rode into the caravan park and took up a spot overlooking the river. As I type this the intensity of the wind has picked up and the temperature is around the 30 deg C mark, so it was a good decision to stop for the day.

No pictures for today - we were too tired and apart from that, there was nothing of note to photograph.

Today's Stats

From: Bush Camp 10 km E Dwellingup

To: Boddington

 Ride Time:
3hrs 58 mins

Distance:
44.69 km's

Av Speed:
11.2 km/h

Max Speed:
54.50 km/h

Max Altitude:
357m

Max Climb: 9 %

Av Climb: 3 %

Weather: Overcast then sunny 29 deg C with strong NE headwind.

Tuesday 07 November 2006

We spent a pleasant night sleeping solidly next to the river and were lulled to sleep the bubbling of the water as it cascaded over the man made weir. Waking reasonably refreshed we decided to make today a short one and to head to the gravel pit we had seen once while driving this part of the trip and set off to a less windy day but with the sun starting to bite. We followed the bike/walking track for a while but as it followed the ups and downs of the land and was concrete it was harder to ride on than the road, so back on to the road we went.

We were making much better time today not only because we had had a short day yesterday, but because the terrain is reasonably flat and the wind was a mere breeze. We were escorted part of the way by old man Emu as he ran (ok, jogged) alongside us for a bit. About 5 kilometres further on we reached the Albany Highway and the location of Crossman.

Turning off the highway near the bush rest stop we noticed a rather large bus and trailer that had been turned into a motor home tucked up into a nice spot. We continued on and a short while later had visitors. It was the couple from the motor home who though we might be some friends of theirs - Mal and Lee, who we also know and who are around the Albany area at the moment. Visit Mal & Lee's website by clicking here .

Just as the wind was turning into a tailwind we found the gravel pit, so breaking the cycling rule of riding when there is a tailwind, we found ourselves a little spot in the shade not far from the road and began our rest day which we decided to have to recuperate from hills of the past few days.

A topic of conversation between Joanne and I has been the weight on the trikes and whether or not the bob trailers would have helped or not. We have found that so much weight over the back wheel seems to have slowed us down and perhaps by spreading the weight out over the trikes and the trailer would distribute the load better and therefore assist with the rolling resistance. Of course, we could also chuck some stuff off the trikes and lighten the load that way.

Today's Stats

From: Boddington

To: Gravel Pit 10 Km E of Crossman

Ride Time:
1 hrs 50 mins

Distance:
23.24 km's

Av Speed:
12.6 km/h

Max Speed:
31.50 km/h

Max Altitude:
316 m

Max Climb: 5 %

Av Climb: 1 %

Weather: Overcast and windy 27 deg C

 We awoke bright and early around 5.30 am and after listening to the wonderful morning chorus from the birds we   looked like making it onto the road nice and early and well before any wind, but a comedy of errors saw us leave later than desired. The first and major error was the spilling of the powdered milk all over Joanne's pannier and that was before we even had time to have breakfast. This incident of course meant that the trike had to be stripped down and the offending substance brushed off the pannier. What brush was the could we use? Well, my hair (okay, beard) brush was the only implement around so I proceeded to clear the powder of of as much as I could, of course then no matter where I put the panniers they fell down and got dusty and mucky! It was almost enough to make me spit chips.

Once we had cleaned up as much as was possible it was time to finish packing and to hit the road. Both of us thought that given the amount of time off we had had yesterday, that we would feel better, or our legs would at least - but alas, no, they felt heavy and sore from not drinking enough water to flush the lactic acid out of our muscles.

The road was quiet and very pleasant to be riding along, a mere breeze to accompany us and just a few birds singing. The local school bus passed us on its way to pick up its charges and I gave a brief thought to those people who would be going to work today, thanking my lucky stars that we were not two of them. It wasn't long before we had covered the 9 kilometres to the intersection of a more major road. We had a little climbing but now came upon a lot more, and a lot more and a lot more. The Hotham Ridge was rather a nasty climb and with the sun starting to make it's mark upon the day, and us, it was with sheer relief that we made it to the top and flew down the couple of kilometres of downhill.

The countryside opened up some more and we were passed by a huge combine harvester preceded by a "wide load behind" vehicle. The harvester too up all of the road much to the dismay of the two cars that had managed to catch up with and get stuck behind it.

The hills kept coming and we were planning our rest stops under shady trees that overhung the road. Our rest stops were usually not much more that a breather but occasionally we would linger a little longer and have a bite to eat. What was certain though was the longer we were on the road, the more often the rest stops became and the more welcome the shade, especially when my bike computer's thermometer was showing 34 deg C.

A few more hills and we climbed the last hill into Pingelly. As we came down the hill into town there was two women outside the school, so a quick check with them regarding a caravan park and off we went to find it. A short while later, and after being relieved of the princely sum of $7.15c we had our spot in the caravan park. A most welcome shower turned us back into hum and beings again before we did some washing and went down the street (100m) to send some heavy clothes onto Melbourne by post (got to lighten the load some how), to upload to the Internet (still with some problems) and to do some shopping before we retired to the caravan park.

Today's Stats

From: Gravel Pit 10 Km E of Crossman

To: Pingelly

Ride Time:
 4hrs  26 mins

Distance:
55.42 km's

Av Speed:
12.4 km/h

Max Speed:
55.00 km/h

Max Altitude:
352 m

Max Climb: 7 %

Av Climb: 2 %

Weather: Hot and Sunny 34 deg C. Easterly head/side wind.

After packing the load again yesterday we decided that in order to carry the required amount of water to cross not only the Hyden-Norseman road (300 km of dirt) and the Nullarbour, we need to use one of our Bob trailers, so today is a rest and re-organise day. We have contacted our son Michael and he has got one of our Bob trailers out of storage for us and is  organising to get it to us by courier so we have to enjoy the pleasant town of Pingelly for one more say.

The use of the Bob trailer will significantly lighten the load and strain on the rear wheel (towing is easier than carrying) and it will allow us the extra room to spread the current load out and allow us to carry more water. Our current configuration leaves Joanne with nor room to carry any more so to add more weight in the form of water means that she would be severely overloaded, and I have no more room to carry any more water because there simply isn't anywhere to put it. It is almost down to the choice of food or water.

We had planned the trip without the use of the trailers but the difference in the weather (hotter) compared to last time and the fact that we are drinking more, means carrying more water. With the two of us using around 10 litres per day being able to carry around 18 litres (between us) means that we are restricted more than we like, not to mention that's another 18 kg on the rear wheel - anyway, the Bob trailer will fix that problem when it arrives tomorrow.

So, as for the rest of the day, we are sitting in the shade reading and the like, then it is Internet time and Joanne is doing a lap of the town on foot to explore and stretch her legs - it's a tough life but someone has to do it.

Today's Stats

From: Pingelly

To: Pingelly

Ride Time:
0 hrs  0 mins

Distance:
0 km's

Av Speed:
0 km/h

Max Speed:
0 km/h

Max Altitude:
0 m

Max Climb: 0 %

Av Climb: 0 %

Weather: Sunny and hot. Strong W winds.

An early morning call from the newsagent heralded the couriers delivery and the arrival of the bob trailer, so a quick 100m dash was made and said trailer collected. We had thought that we might not get the trailer in time to sort the load out and get on the road in a reasonable time - but we did.

An uphill departure to an overcast sky an drizzle saw us realise how good the couple of easy days were. In fact, the uphill went for some 5 kilometres before we leveled out and started to make good progress courtesy of the very stiff WNW side/tailwind. Before long we had covered our first 20 kilometres and the days 70 km ride to Bullaring was looking better. We still struggled with the load, 12 kg of which was water but somehow it seemed better and more balanced.

The road was a real roller coaster with many 3 and 4 % grades to climb, and thankfully some decent down hill runs came along as well. We were making good progress and then came one long down hill run and a nice long stretch of flat road, no traffic and a wonderful tailwind.

Lunch was at 50 km and from there the road got progressively harder with many more uphill slogs. The grain trucks were out and about but were of no issue to us, nor us to them, the occasional toot of thanks being received for pulling over out of their way. One stretch saw us riding through either the beginning or end of the locusts that have been reported in the area, their jumping up and into our faces like a wave of insects as we disturbed them as we rode along, thank goodness for sunglasses!

Some 70 km after we started we eventually rode into the town, or is that locality, of Bullaring which is home to a large grain silo, a few houses and a general store. We entered the General store and had a look around, the shelves stocked with just a few items that someone might want one day before buying an icy cold chocolate  milk and asked about camping around the area. "There's nowhere around here" said the proprietor of the store "and the nearest town is about 28 kilometres away". We were hoping he would offer a suitable location for us to camp such as behind the local hall, but he was not forthcoming so we asked if we could top up our water supplies and were promptly told we could take the end off the hose on the corner of the building and use that and we promptly did. So after filling ourselves with chocolate milk and re-filling our water we rode back up the hill (into the wind) to the location of the old Bullaring Golf Course which is now closed and growing trees. A short way in and we found ourselves a little hide away and set up camp in amongst the scrub and termite mounds.

Today's Stats

From: Pingelly

To: Bullaring

Ride Time:
4 hrs  59 mins

Distance:
71 km's

Av Speed:
14.20 km/h

Max Speed:
54 km/h

Max Altitude:
385 m

Max Climb: 9 %

Av Climb: 2 %

Weather: Cool & overcast with drizzle then hot & sunny 34 deg C.

A wonderful chorus of morning bird song followed by a very nice sunrise greeted us as we awoke this morning. We decided to get on the road early to get some distance in before the heat hit. We rode through a very sleepy Bullaring and up to the turnoff that would see us riding on a dirt road for the first time - sort of practice for the 300 km's between Hyden and Norseman.

The moment we turned on to it the road turned upward and the sand and gravel patches were there to slow us down as well. Crawling up the hill it seemed like and eternity to get anywhere and the legs and lungs were feeling the pinch as well. After 10 kilometres we seemed to find the top of the ridge and things got slightly easier - but only slightly.

Not long across the top of the ridge we came to an intersection that according to our map was the right road, but typical of country roads, there was no sign nor road name posted anywhere. Joanne was certain that it was the right road so we took it. The gravel and sand drifts were immediately there again to ensure we didn't set any land speed records even with the slight down hill. Not far into the road a vehicle came up behind us and the driver got out for a chat. Turns out he was working on the header prior to harvesting and when he left the paddock he saw these real strange tracks in the dirt, so he decided to follow them as see what was making them. We enjoyed a short chat with him before we continued on, through the open farming areas and small wood lots, struggling up the hills and trying to pick the best line in the gravel and sand to at least get some benefit from the downhill runs, and added to that the weather was closing in to drizzle. We also climbed to our highest altitude of the trip so far - 390 m. We were beginning to wonder what we had gotten ourselves into and if the idea of 50 kilometres of dirt was such a good idea, but the more we pressed on, the more we became accustomed to the vagaries of the dirt and besides, other than the farmer, we had not seen any vehicles.

After 30 kilometres we were riding though locust country again, great swarms of them over the road flying up as Joanne road over them and it was funny to watch from behind as they flew out of each side of her trike like she was a snow plough clearing the road, and riding in front it was strange to see nothing but gravel in front but to look left or right and see locusts flying everywhere, seeming to come out from the wheels.

Before we knew it we had traversed 50 kilometres and came upon bitumen road, not far past the lake and over spill water area that had flooded the area recently when the rain from the last cyclone up north had descended upon the area. The bird life was prolific and with all manner of water fowl around and it was only around here that we were eventually passed by two vehicles. A few kilometres more and we came upon the site of the original Kondinin Well and Pioneer cemetery. After a short visit to see if there was anything of note to be seen we rode on and eventually came to the town itself.

We filled up with 18 litres of water and took a ride around the town, all of which was closed with the exception of the roadhouse. A cold chocolate milk and a chocolate bar quenched our thirst and gave us some very much needed caloric intake before we rode out of town to look for a campsite which we found, up the long hill in the bush on the corner of the main road and the road to the cemetery.

Today's Stats

From: Bullaring

To: Bush Camp 4 km E Kondinin

Ride Time:
5 hrs 42 mins

Distance:
63.22 km's

Av Speed:
11.0 km/h

Max Speed:
43 km/h

Max Altitude:
390 m

Max Climb: 6 %

Av Climb: 2 %

Weather: Overcast and drizzle then hot and sunny 32 deg C

Early last evening Joanne thought she heard a car near our bush camp and upon looking around this morning, sure enough there was one parked around 100m from our camp.

After breakfast and breaking camp we rode on towards Hyden, or at least a bush camp just out of town. We had planned it this way to ensure that we maximised our return on the $22 we know we will end up paying rather than just sitting around and paying to do so on someone's lawn or worse still, dust patch.

We started climbing the hills again, this time into a headwind, all the while the sun was starting to build in strength. We eventually came to the salt plain area about 35 km from Hyden and rode along the single lane road for some 10 km, stopping often or moving over as traffic came along. Before we knew it we had hit the nice wide piece of road only to find the locusts had taken over and once again it was a good thing the sunglasses were on as we rode through swarms of the little hoppy things, some of which would hop onto us and hitch a ride.

The sun was getting warmer and warmer and we were getting fried a little more so it was with great relief that we spied a rather large tree up a road and near the railway line, a possible campsite perhaps but it was not to be. We did however make use of the shade to have lunch in before we continued on looking for a campsite as we inched our way towards town. A quick check of the dirt road into the local cemetery proved no good but another road nearby saw us find a beaut campsite in the shade.

So tomorrow we get into Hyden, hopefully we will get to upload this to the Internet at the telecentre, collect some food supplies and get clothes and bodies washed and cleaned at the caravan park and decide if we need a day off before we tackle the 300 km's of dirt to Norseman.

www.routeslip.com shows the elevation profile from Dwellingup to Hyden like this - no wonder our legs are sore.

Once we leave Hyden tomorrow or the next day we will be out of contact until we reach Norseman, some 6-8 days later.

Today's Stats

From: Bush Camp 4 km E Kondinin

To: Bush Camp 5 km W of Hyden

Ride Time:
 4 hrs 45 mins

Distance:
 54.08 km's

Av Speed:
 11.30 km/h

Max Speed:
 35.5 km/h

Max Altitude:
 317 m

Max Climb: 7 %

Av Climb: 2 %

Weather: Sunny & hot 35 deg C. WSW Headwind

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