Cycling the Stuart E2E

Day 4 – 113kms
Woomera to Glendambo

‘A Tough Day at the Office’

Late this afternoon I got a very quick and rather scratchy report via satellite phone.

With roaring head winds of 35 – 40 kms per hour ‘straight in my face’ the going was tough.
In fact it was so exhausting, that Peter resorted to riding for 10kms and then walking for 5kms, riding for 10km , walking for 5kms etc….

Despite his best efforts he could only manage 85 kms for the day. He said it felt like he had ridden about 200!
This left him 22kms south of Glendambo with an unscheduled Bush Camp night.

With no gourmet meal planned, dinner was leftover muesli and dried fruit!!

As he rang, the rain was approaching, so it will be a wild old night in the tent.

His plan is to get up early and ride into Glendambo for a hearty breakfast.

Fiona

Rest Day in Woomera

After the initial two days on the bike, 85kms and 87kms the rest day in Woomera is appreciated.
Lots of stretching and walking are assisting the overworked muscle groups.

There is not a lot to do in Woomera!
The highlights so far being: a hamburger and salad for dinner, and the availability of fresh fruit.

Mind you the menu for the Bush Camp night was quite gourmet!
Beef Curry and a Winter Fruit Salad (Rehydrated dried fruits)

There was a roaring head wind this morning, so Peter is hoping for improvement as in the next three days
he has 365 kms to ride before reaching the ‘Opal Capital of the World’,
Coober Pedy

He’ll be on the road again at first light in the morning (approx 7.30am)
And he was happy to hear that another parcel of bike tubes is on its way to him.

Fiona

Day 2 – 92kms

Bush Camp 1 to Woomera

Disaster Strikes!

The worst thing about waking up at a Bush Camp site is the lack of water! No morning shower!

When the bike was overhauled for this trip by the mechanics, they did not replace the tubes (used last in the 2100 km ride in 2005)
Consequently when Peter pumped up the tyres prior to setting off on day 2, both tubes totally disintegrated!

Luckily, he was carrying two new ones, so the day started slowly with an on the spot repair – the changing of the tubes.

The wind was fierce, and he was riding into a strong side head wind.
The first stint was 40kms, then 20km, then slowly into Woomera.

To say he’s in PAIN is an understatement, and he’s looking forward to a soak in the bath at the Elmo Motel.

[/caption]

The Long Ride begins – a day early!

12.10pm A surprise call from Peter on the track.

‘I’m on a hill and I’ve got mobile reception’

On Saturday morning, supposedly his rest day, Peter was up early chatting to the motel owner.
After discussing how favorable the tail winds were, he decided to set off on his ride, a day early.

After flying in from Kyoto to Adelaide on Friday, attending an emergency dentist appointment, and then catching the bus to Port Augusta
Then big adventure was about to begin

By lunch time he had covered 65kms, and was eating chocolate biscuits with some fellow travelers.
The destination tonight is Bush Camp One!
The dehydrated meal and bed on the ground will be quite a contrast to the 5 star luxury of the previous week.
What a reality check!

I guess getting out there and getting started was better than thinking about it for another day!
Good luck and safe riding from us all.
Fiona

In preparation for the up coming adventure…..Fiona and Peter went to visit Brunswick Special School to catch up with Jenny, the school principal (here also with Shannon on his three-wheeler)

..and took some photos of the children working with the Interactive White Boards (IWB)…here is David, writing his name on the IWB and Shannon showing what behaviours are considered to be OK or Not OK (with Jenny’s help)