Head Wind All the Way!! Bush Camp 2 to Norseman - 46kms

ARGH! What a day!
The road was a cyclable "switchback" under normal circumstances, but today, with a strong headwind, it was hard yakka all the way!
Dunbas Shire is proud of its woodland areas.
Trees are taller and thicker than we've come across before but there are signs of bush fires - whether due to controlled burn offs - or wildfires.
The main highway crossed Lake Cowan.
This is a large lake and, at this time of year, is totally dry.
With a strong, blustery side wind, and nothing to break its strength, we found it too dangerous to cycle across. We were blown sideways in the blasts and when road trains passed in either direction, the bikes were thrown around and so hard to control.
We walked the 1.5kms flat section of the highway for safety.
Eventually we arrived, relieved,  in Norseman.

Accommodation was hard to find as usual.
The "I" Centre suggested The Railway Motel and Guest House.
What a lovely find!
Our unit is perfect for us, clean and it has the basics. We'll stay here for 3 nights, review our plans for the Nullarbor section and make a list of the essentials we'll need.
That bed looks so inviting!


Comments

  1. Simon HenleyAugust 22, 2022 at 1:52 AM

    3 nights! Well deserved, - it sounds like a tough day, I bet you'll sleep well :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Plan My PlayAugust 22, 2022 at 3:11 AM

    Enjoy your R&R....ooo a bed, that would be a welcome change after all those bush camps! xx J&J

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Discovering Whyalla! Whyalla's Hummock Hill.

Image
I completed our NZ Passenger Declaration forms this morning. Then we climbed Hummock Hill, just behind the motel, to admire the views of Whyalla. This impressive sculpture of a scuba diver is just outside our motel. Below, views from Hummock Hill. Whyalla's unique, circular jetty. The foreshore is quite shallow. The sand beneath makes the sea appear pale blue in comparison to the dark blue of the deeper water. Whyalla has a busy steel mill. Steel and iron ore from the Iron Knob mines is barged out to awaiting ships. During WW2, the area was protected by a large, manned artillery gun. Behind the motel is a tranquil park with an aviary and the biggest tree I've ever seen! I forgot to mention that, on the way back, we detoured into Whyalla's main street and shouted ourselves to a lovely coffee and cheesecake!  Old habits die hard!
Read more

A Few Statistics! Perth to Whyalla - 2022

Our cycle trip is over and my blog posts conclude today. We have successfully crossed the Nullarbor Plains - for the second time - which is exhilarating and very satisfying! It's been quite a challenge but we've survived! After 2 years of COVID isolation, we're so thankful that we had the opportunity to cycle again in amazing Australia, even though we had to change plans at the end. Hope you enjoyed travelling along with us via our blog. Here are a few Statistics: *Began Cycle: 1 August 2022 *Duration: 60 days *Cycle Days: 42 *Rest Days: 18 *Distance Cycled: 2388kms *Average Daily Cycle: 56kms *Days Cycling Over 100kms: 1 *Most kms in One Day: 118kms *Least kms in One Day:  21kms *Punctures: 1 (Del's thorn proofing worked!) *Broken Spokes: 2 (all Del's) *Accidents: 0 *Average kms an hour:  9 - 15 kph *Last Cycle Day: 29 September 2022 Thank you to everyone who posted comments and encouraged us on.  We couldn't reply but appreciated every single one! Note to Self...
Read more

Time to be Realistic!

Well folks, we've been reviewing our plans! What an experience this has been! We've cycled over 2000kms, crossed 2 time zones and have survived some very challenging conditions. We're just not doing the daily mileage that we expected to do - hills, head winds, trailer weight and age being the main factors. This has meant more bush camps (over 25 so far) which in turn has meant carrying more heavy water supplies and food, which most certainly contributed to Del's broken spokes. With the hills of the Flinders Ranges, Broken Hill terrain and crossing the Great Dividing Range (some 1740kms), we realise that, at our age and with Del's bike problems, it is a challenge that would be lengthy, gruelling, potentially dangerous and probably beyond our ability. (We've cycled Coffs Harbour to Coolangatta on a previous trip.) We have decided to continue to Iron Knob then turn south to Whyalla, a major town with an airport. From there, we'll prepare to fly to Adelaide, the...
Read more