Jun 08, 2009

Well have you been looking at the news tonight? The weather report confirms our firsthand experience of the front coming through from the south west. It's freezing!

That said the day started cold. All the layers on apart from waterproof jackets and hand grip warmers on high. We were comfortable enough and were soon able to alternate from high to low and back again on the warmers. They need a middle setting because high was too high but low was too low. Proof again that the day was a smidgen less cold than yesterday. We ran into a shower Just north of Glendambo which as Murphy would dictate was just before we had to transfer the fuel from the jerry can into my bike. It has been running slightly richer since it was serviced in Darwin and I've had to go onto reserve a couple of times when my tank hadn't been topped right up where prior to arriving in Darwin we would literally have to reach for the reserve tap at the same time. Anyway we had been travelling a good 10 to 15 kilometres slower from Coober Pedy till then and cut back another 10 kilometres till Glendambo since Norm went onto reserve 10 kilometres after me. One really good outcome of the rain was that the temperature became less cold and in spite of dire predictions from north bound travellers of how much rain they had driven through right back from Port Augusta, and we saw a lot of the proof of that with wet roads, we only got a slight sprinkle a couple of times between there and Port Augusta and enjoyed some sun on our shoulders late in the afternoon.

Oh forgot to mention we had a bit of strife this morning. There we were conscious it was a long weekend and not wanting to disturb other residents at the Opal Inn with the bikes firing up and instead our day started out with both bikes refusing to start! Norm eventually got his to fire up but mine had to be pushed to start down the only hill in the main street. To quote Norm to me stating the obvious somewhat 'push it like starting the bike depends on it'. We provided a good bit of entertainment for some of the local indigenous people sitting around the roundabout at the top of the hill both the hoppity kick run with my pushing effort and the Michelin girl appearance complete with open helmet as I pushed and the gasping for breath as I walked back up the hill. Anyway the thing went. Started okay for the rest of the day at all stops including the refuelling in the rain EXCEPT after lunch when it would have been coldest at Pimba and then it was the old push routine again. Thank God it fired more quickly then because it was VERY flat.

My reference to 'Michelin girl' is a generous description of me decked out with long johns, draggin jeans and waterproof pants on the lower half with a sleeveless T, a long sleeved T, a polar fleece jacket and my Dri-rider jacket which has the outer jacket plus a waterproof lining and a quilted padded lining on the top half! Thank God it hadn't been raining when the bike didn't start this morning because when I also have to don the hip length waterproof jacket (for extra warmth and waterproofing) I go to 'Blimp girl' and then I can barely lift up my hands to undo my helmet. A very unflattering look. Normie is an equally attractive version. It' an interesting exercise if we want to give each other a hug. Likely looking to source a new battery in the morning since it's a public holiday today and the bike shop is shut. Damn, have to have a sleep in but I guess I'll cope.



Some driftwood desert style. The pic doesn't do it justice. Looks magnificent. The grain has opened up and has red stripes from the constant sand blasting of the sand.

The countryside has been less diverse than we have had. I was amazed that we had continuing gibber desert and mine workings for over 50 kilometres south of Coober Pedy. The amazement being at the extent of the mine works rather than the gibber. We continued to come across stretches of gibber from there until almost into Port Augusta. Was it not for the thin veil of silver grey of vegetation across the gibber we could be forgiven for thinking we were viewing great stretches of moonscape! In between we had stretches of sandy soil with grass and shrub and tree growth and more densely treed patches as well. Hard to imagine that people are making a living with cattle stations in these areas as the signs as we crossed another cattle grid would attest to with the name of the station we would be entering. Trust they are doing well, the lifestyle may have it's appeal but I bet their work is taxing.

A magnificent view was as we were only 10 to 15 kilometres from Port Augusta. We were travelling in under heavy cloud but looking to our left at the western slopes of the Flinders Ranges were in contrast brilliantly lit with sunlight. A spectacular sight!



A disappointing view of Lake Hart.

My blackberry is misbehaving and will no longer zoom as I take a photo. Don't know if it is locked or gotten a bit wet but will no longer function as it should and the end result is the same. Limits the options for pics which was a shame today. We'd stopped at Lake Hart to take a pic but was a bit ordinary from where we were as you can see above. Also working on the odd callous or two on the palms from hanging on so hard to the hand grips in the wind the last few days. The things we do!

Talk to you tomorrow.



The Western Hotel in Port Augusta a lovely old building and only $55 for the night.