August 9, 2024 to August 10, 2024
Cycle day 80 & 81 - Yalata RH to Penong
Cycle day 80 (Friday 9 August) – Yalata RH to BC 55km west of Penong = 78km. 6405km cycle toured so far on this trip.
Yalata RH caravan park = $25 unpowered.
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Another 0 degree morning but no frost instead there was a fog. Still cold on the hands. It was great that this caravan park had a kitchen that we could have our brekky in and toast our Foodlands white bread – in fact it is not bad at all. We had it for lunch today and it was still soft and fresh unlike previous roadhouse bought bread! The day had light winds from the east so a headwind but still manageable to ride in comfortably. The high today is around 21 degrees – so sunny and warm once the fog lifted.
Since it was so cold packing up it felt like it took forever to do but we were on the road just after 8am. There was still fog around but only in the valleys. Light traffic (for the entire day really) but Neil had the flashing rear light and I had my dynamo hub front light on. As you climb up the hill the top area is not covered in fog and you notice a distinct difference in temperature compared to when you go down the next valley. We kept our woollen jumpers on for the first 20km.
After yesterdays long day and this is our 11th day straight cycling without a break the legs felt a little heavy especially going up the hills. We have started to get a narrow shoulder and at some point we get a wide shoulder that we can seek refuge in when traffic/trucks are behind us and there is no more retreating to the loose gravel that is on the side of the road.
Nundroo RH is about 53km on from Yalata and you notice a distinct change in landscape – you start to see more pasture land.
It feels odd to be cycling in what is still regarded as part of the Nullabor when you start to see pastoral blocks as it seems so out of character but the end is Ceduna (maybe because that is the next town of significance when you go east from Norseman in WA!) So not far to go now.
As at the end of today we have 55km to Penong and then 75km to Ceduna the next day. We have decided to do smaller days since we are going to do this Nullabor without rest days. If we had prevailing winds I think we would have tried to do it in 2 days!
Not alot happened to us today. After Nundroo RH the road has flattened out somewhat and still has hills but they have flat parts between them. The countryside is more open and the roadside foliage offers a little bit of respite from the winds. I will tell you one thing that happened to us today and it was the weirdest thing to happen to us. Sitting off the road in the bush out in the sun having our cuppa and this little bird is chirping away and flies from behind us to our left turns around and flutters about 1.0m above ground in front of us and looks at us and continues to chirp what sounds like angry chirps at us and then flies off. Neil and I are perplexed and look at each other as if to say – did that bird just growl at us? Next minute you see another little bird fly right at us looking like it is going to swoop us and all of a sudden just veers off! We are thinking is there a nest nearby and they don't want us there and see us as a threat? So we just sat there bewildered with what just happened and the birds settled and realised we weren't out to get them! Ha we have never had that done to us before by small birds – swooped by a Magpie – yes but not a little bird!
We decide to stop at 2pm so we have a quiet restful afternoon. There are plenty of spots to camp and we come of the road and cross over the old highway
And find a nice clearing behind some shrubs. We can still see the road but they can't see us.
It is a warm afternoon and we enjoy our lunch take 2 and cuppa and biscuits. We have food left – 1 whole bag of muesli, 1 chocolate bar, 1 packet of biscuits, 3 bags of wraps each with 10 wraps and a few bits and pieces. 2 dinners left - 1 for tonight and the other for Penong. The food bag is very light now!
Neil is beginning to burn on the back of his neck so we have to improvise with the tea towel!
Tomorrow is a nice short day to a caravan park so we can enjoy a hot shower, sunny afternoon (hopefully) and catch up with internet stuff.
Cycle day 81 (Saturday 10 August) - BC 55km west of Penong to Penong = 56km. 6461km cycle toured so far on this trip.
Penong CP = $30 unpowered
0 degrees again this morning and the tent was really wet with dew and condensation. There was also a fog as well like yesterday. And it wasn't until the sun rose that we could see how thick it was, it was thick. We rode in it for about the first 25km and then the sun warmed us up.
We were on the road at 8am with the rear lights flashing and I had my front light on. You could see about 100-200m ahead of you and we have a wide shoulder that we could retreat too when someone was behind us. We did see somethin resembling a rainbow but it had no colours in it so I took a photo of it and you can just see it - I am calling it a 'fog-bow'
Not alot of traffic again today. Very few trucks and I would say more caravans going westwards which is good for us.
Since it was only a short day today we got to the edge of Penong just before lunch and this was at the base of the hill before town
We ducked into the general store to get some bread, bananas and yoghurt, then on to the caravan park. It is a nice park and it is opposite the windmill museum. There is an unpowered section but she put us under a shelter that use to house an onsite van. We should be dry tomorrow morning!
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I went over to the museum to take some photos of the windmills
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Tomorrow is our last day of the Nullabor - about 70km to Ceduna. It is also our 13thday straight for cycling and we are weary. We can feel it in the legs yesterday, today and more than likely tomorrow. We are looking forward to any extra days rest at Ceduna!
Today's ride: 134 km (83 miles)
Total: 6,461 km (4,012 miles)
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