Cycling the Stuart E2E

Kulgera to Erldunda

Erldunda is the Travel Stop on the Stuart Highway where you turn left to drive out to see Uluru (Ayers Rock).

When visiting ‘The Rock’, visitors are now discouraged from climbing it for both safety and cultural reasons.

Peter is not turning left!!

Today was an easy 75 km ride, with a light north easterly winds blowing.

There was a lot of interesting traffic on the road today,

due to two big social events happening in the Northern Territory.

The first is ‘The Shannon’s Vintage Car and Bike Show’ on in Alice Springs and the second is the Darwin Show.

Many fantastic vintage bikes (Enfields) and wonderful cars of all descriptions are making their way up the highway,
some are carried on trailers, others are licensed for the road.

The show related traffic include the many and various Side Show Alley games and stalls and Amusement rides.

Tonight Peter is dining out! Two couples (from Australia Post) are travelling north and then on to WA in their caravans,
and they have invited Peter to join them for a home cooked meal in their van.

Bush Camp to Kulgera

Today was a late start! Peter slept in until 9.00am – can’t imagine the sleeping bag being that comfortable,

Then by the time he had breakfast and packed up the camp, he didn’t get on the road until 10.00am

Anyone would think he was on holidays!!

An 80km ride today, slowed up by the easterly winds. Not too bad!

Peter is excited about meeting up with some Australia Post people for dinner tomorrow night.

I hope they recognize him!!

No exciting characters on the road today, just pedaled steadily to make up for the late start.

Milestone:

1) Crossed over the border from South Australia into the Northern Territory

2) Also passed the 1000km mark

Marla to Bush Camp

NO WIND today!

After a relaxing day in Marla, and the luxury of shopping at a small supermarket (two bread rolls were purchased),

Peter headed off again.

Fuelled by baked beans on toast for breakfast, he was on the road by 7.15am for an uneventful ride of 101kms.

The daytime temperature is about 23 C, getting down to about 6 C overnight.

His company for the day, were the staff at a mobile Police Checkpoint  80kms north of Marla.

They quizzed him on what he was up to, but none of the checks were relevant to a man on a bike.

The other character Peter met was a guy called John who was searching around in the bushes at a road side stop.

Intrigued, Peter watched as he started turning over rocks,

finally a small plastic container with a pad in it was revealed.

John was participating in Geocaching.

An activity which is a cross between ‘A Treasure Hunt’ and Orienteering.

Using satellite co-ordinates, one searches the world for message pads to register your personal code.

Your findings and codes are then logged onto a Geocaching website.

Apparently, there are two sites in Antarctica.

So next time you are out and about, just think what might be hidden under a nearby rock!

Rest Day at Marla

Once again on the satellite phone!

Despite the fact that today was a rest day for Peter, the wind was still the main topic of conversation.
All day the wind roared at more than 40km per hour (a headwind if he’d been riding).
Unfortunately more is expected tomorrow.

He did lots of walking today, to keep the legs moving.

He was very thrilled to get all the phone calls of support,
and also the messages from those who haven’t been able to get through.

Cadney Park Station to Marla 79kms

A quick report by satellite phone.

Luckily, the ride today was only 80kms as there were strong headwinds all day, and it was a real struggle.
It was an uneventful day, with the ‘energy gel’ sachets providing a real boost. Thanks Mark!

On arrival Peter picked up the much travelled box of supplies to restock for the next leg.
This is still very isolated country, and there is no opportunity for incidental shopping.

Marla is an ‘Oasis’ on the highway, a very well kept stopover, with quite good facilities,
except for communication with the outside world.

The sat. phone was very scratchy, mobiles don’t work and there is no internet available.

Some statistics:
776 kms ridden so far
Average of 97kms per day
453 kms to Alice Springs

Bush Camp to Cadney Park Station 80 kms

I didn’t get to speak to Peter tonight and the kids didn’t make any notes!!!

The big news of the day – he was the first to come across an accident on the road.
A family had jack-knifed their camper trailer.
And although there were no life threatening injuries, they did need help.
Peter was very pleased to be able to assist by calling the police etc on his satellite phone.

Cadney Park is a large Service Station / Restaurant / Motel /Pub /swimming pool complex that caters well for travellers.

It’s not a town, just a stopover on the map.
The people that work at these isolated spots are amazing –
so welcoming and friendly and very helpful.

Cooper Pedy to Bush Camp 85 kms

Easterly winds were a problem during today’s ride of 85kms.
It is quite dangerous, as it is hard to hear the approaching traffic until they are almost on you.
This limits the time to get safely off the road, especially if it is a really long ‘triple’ length trucks.

After the rest day, the legs were fairly stiff, until about the 10 km mark when they warmed up.

Peter met a young family from Marla all dressed up in their footy colours
off to Adelaide to watch the game.

Finding a good camp site is not easy, as the land is very flat with very few trees.
So finding a clump of trees off the road – for safety and shelter is important.

On the menu was Honey Soy Chicken (dehydrated) and for a gourmet touch he bought a bag a rice!
What a life!

Rest Day in Coober Pedy

Peter slept straight through til midday.
Then went out to find a massage to sooth his aching limbs.
It was apparently quite a frightening experience – a huge woman with very calloused hands.
It was his second massage ever – and probably his last, he said, ‘She beat me up!’

To keep everything moving he rode his bike around the sights of Coober Pedy,
looked in the jewellery shops, art galleries and did the shopping strip.
(Probably not as you imagine!)

The traffic on the highway has been light to date, yesterday Peter only passed two huge road trains.
Most of the travellers are ‘grey nomads’ in their campers and caravans.
They’re not in a hurry and are very respectful on the road and also very helpful.

On hearing of Peter’s problem with the tubes, the motel owner arranged for her
husband to pick up his parcel at Marla (three days ride away)
And bring it down to Peter for any emergency.

Unfortunately he also picked up the next box of supplies, which Peter doesn’t have room to carry.
Not to worry, another group of travellers will return it to Marla tomorrow.

Today was Peter’s first chance to read all the messages of support placed on the website.
He was very appreciative of all your encouragement. Thanks everyone.

After getting off to such a great start on the ride,
Peter plans to cut back the distance he rides for the next few days to approx 80 kms a day.
It’s still very remote country, with a Bush Camp coming up,
so there is no point in risking injury, dehydration and exhaustion.
Fiona

Coober Pedy 140kms

Another personal best!!! – 140 kms

After a very long 140kms Peter arrived at Coober Pedy. (The Opal Capital of the World)

‘I’m absolutely stuffed’ was his comment.

After arriving in town and picking up his second box of supplies, he headed off to John’s Gourmet Pizza Shop.
His order was for ‘The Coat of Arms’! Yes, that means a pizza featuring emu and kangaroo meat.
It certainly wouldn’t have been my choice, knowing what other delicious options there are on the menu.
He said it was a once in a lifetime opportunity.

He is staying at the Opal Motel, but said he plans to spend most of tomorrow walking around, so his whole body doesn’t seize up.
There are a few interesting Opal Museums and other places of interest in the town, so there should be plenty for him to do on his rest day tomorrow.

Bush Camp (20 kms south of Glendambo) to Bush Camp (140 kms south of Coober Pedy)

A Great Day!! – NO Wind!!

A quick report via satellite phone.

A very excited Peter rang at 6pm. He had had a great day. It was his longest ride ever – 135kms, and there was no wind!

He got up early and rode the 20kms into Glendambo for a shower, and a hearty breakfast. He also bought ‘Takeaways’ for tea.
Obviously the cooking has lost its appeal already! On the menu tonight was a ham and salad roll, and a tin of baked beans.

He was very happy with today’s effort, and hopefully tomorrow he can ride the 140kms into Coober Pedy.
The big incentive is John’s Gourmet Pizza Shop. The pizzas are exceptional! It would disappoint him to be 20kms out at Bush Camp.

On the road he met Mike Harrison, a cyclist riding in the opposite direction from Darwin to Adelaide.
He was complaining about the terrible head winds too.
So someone’s luck has to change soon!

His other company for the day was a couple he met on the road at the 100km mark.
They shared fruit cake and a cup of tea with him, and it was much appreciated.
Fiona