69.2 km ridden today
727.6 km ridden so far
2022.3 km est to go
413 m up
420m down
2126 calories burnt
5/10 pain factor
Strava that shit: https://www.strava.com/activities/18074318383
Firstly, thankyou SOOOO much to those who have donated. Ironically, the total so far is about the same as the km’s I have ridden so far. Still lots of km’s ahead for me for those waiting to see me hit some serious kms (though 727km in 8 days aint so bad!)
I was pretty happy with the campsite last night. I was the only one there. Except for the cows. Wikicamps said wild dogs and dingos were about so when done for the night I hung up all the food in a tree. As expected, the replacement sleeping mat was average. I did not sleep well. Maybe 5 hours all up. Definitely more road trains through the night. I again went to sleep with the spectacular view of the starts. No noise or air pollution. Dry conditions. I really don’t think you’d get a better view. Astronomy is one of my favourite topics. Always happy to have my ear chewed off (or me being the chewer) on the topic. I don’t think I have seen it before, but I was sure I could see the Andromeda galaxy. A faint smear of light mid way up the northern horizon. I just checked and indeed it was. Not another star. Another GALAXY. 2.5 million years away. That means the light I am seeing left its origin 2.5 million years ago, so what I was seeing was as it was 2.5 million years ago. Let that one sink in…
I also got bitten by a bull ant. It was the size of a babies hand. Seriously! It stung hard but briefly. Better than mozzie bites (zero so far) to put a positive spin on it.
Anyway, cooked up some oats, made a coffee and set about the familiar bike Tetris activity of loading up. I now have a routine of where I like (and know) things to be. I did buy two small panniers for the front, but decided on taking one and an oversize holder (with straps) for the other size. This paid off. During these long stretches without water, I carry a 2 litre bottle on it. When water is less of an issue, the sleeping bag goes here. On the other side in the bag I carry all valuables & quick access items (like sun cream). Except the laptop in one of the rear panniers. I like knowing where all the essentials are in an emergency.
Anyhoo… I reeled off 130km yesterday but today’s 69er felt a bit harder going. Maybe the nights sleep. It was hotter today and more windy than yesterday. Strategic with my water, I planned well and ran out just 8km from the destination. I also came across the first part of the road where the “Gregory” and “Developmental” had not quite found their ying and yang. Very average. Barely room for a car in one lane, let alone any shoulder. I was particularly careful here and paid close attention. Thankfully the stretches were long and visible. I guess partly from bordom (no head phones on these parts), I made myself look behind me at every reflector stake, which seemed to be about 150m apart. Most road trains seemed to be coming from the other direction. Again, more wide loads (with police escorts). Now I could see the pattern, bits of what I am sure are those gigantic front end loaders from mines. I passed wheels bigger than my unit back in Sydney. As well as arms for the bucket I saw yesterday. I assume with all that is the lego-style booklet of how to re-assemble the thing. Ages 30-60 years recommended.
So, I made it. The Belyando Crossing Roadhouse. Another Oasis in the middle of nowhere. This really was in the middle of woop-woop too. It is now 200km back to Charters Towers and 176 km to Clermont. Nothing in between. It is these stretches when even roadside gravel pits or truck pull overs get you excited.
So, they have Dongers here. But as I was informed, it is too hot right now to use Dongers. “I know the feeling” I mused to myself. So I got a motel room. It was old school but huge. I checked and I am sure they were surprised I turned up and my call ahead 2 days ago wasn’t a prank call!
At one point there were 4 police cars here plus 2 pilot vehicles for the wide load lego assembly challenge in I assume off to Kick-a-turd-along… somewhere even more remote.
My room. Aircon. Shower. Comfy bed. A man needs little more… most of the time.
Tonight, diesel generators (2 of them, about the size of half a shipping container) will nurse me off to sleep. Before that, I will gorge and also set my water strategy for the next 2 days.
Song of the day. So apt after last night, “Under The Milky Way” by The Church. Aussie too!