Cycle day 85 - Wudinna to Kimba - Far too much luggage

August 16, 2024

Cycle day 85 - Wudinna to Kimba

Cycle dayy 85 - Wudinna to Kimba = 105km. 6856km cycle toured so far on this trip.

It rained last night in Wudinna - 5mm. Not alot really but we woke this morning to the wind blowing and what we thought was a clear sky (it was still dark) as we could see the stars. However within 10mins of setting up for brekky it began to rain very lightly so we had to pack up and move into the tent for brekky. As soon as these showers come they went and it was like that for the first part of the morning. We still set out for Kimba as the wind is coming from the west north west then swinging to a west - so in theory a tailwind for us today! But hills threw a spanner in the works to our tailwind. It is still there but no enough to push the bike up the hill so I would say it was a wasted tailwind for the first 80km. Even though it was hilly in the sense of "Australian Hills" which is a series of step hills to go up we had some cracker downhills and that is when the tailwind kicked in!

At the 80km mark the road flattened a bit and it was more open, less tree foliage to shelter us from our tailwind and this is where the tailwind helped us - although the road was swinging towards the north east it was more a cross tailwind but it was blowing us everywhere. It was around 30km per hour and gusting at 40km per hour so sometimes it would blow us across into the road more.

No photos of the scenery as the showers were coming and going throughout most of the day and so the camera stays in a dry bag when the weather is threatening.

We got to Kimba just on 3pm. Stopped at the Shell station to pick up dinner and continued on to the IGA where we got some bananas, bread and yoghurt. On our way to the Rec Reserve we passed the silo art ...

Now Sharon and Dad don't you think she looks like Bella before she gave herself a kinna!

We didn't see the half way across Australia (as the crow flies) sign - hoping to see that tomorrow. We find the Rec Reserve and the little tent section and set up our tent. The wind is still coming from the west and still blowing at 30km per hour so we have to anchor down everything. Once the tent is up and the guy ropes are secure - the tent doesn't move!

It is a donation to stay here and the showers are $1 for 2 mins. We didn't have enough $1 coins so Neil had to go ask someone to swap for $1 coins. We had 2 each - the shower is nice but it is drafty and it was cold to be under the hot water which wasn't very hot so I just had a short one where I soaped and rinsed and that was the end of the 2 mins. It was just too cold to do another 2 mins!

free camping (donation) at the Rec Reserve - a very popular place indeed and massive!

Dinner tonight is a curry from the Shell Station as we entered town. You could smell it as we passed it so we had to back track! It was recommended to us by one of our blog readers and it was my decision for tonights meal and it was too windy to cook so curry it is!

dinner tonight - Curry from the shell station as you enter town from the west

papadums, garlic naan bread, lamb korma and mango chicken

I tell you there is something wrong with me, when we finish all this all I can say is "I'm still hungry!"

Tomorrow is 90km to Iron Knob.

Today's ride: 105 km (65 miles)
Total: 6,856 km (4,258 miles)

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