30 Sept 2003

…well, loosely called a town. A pub and a village store that doesn’t seem to be a store any more. Fortunately they do still do coffee and food.

The ride was the easiest day so far, mostly gravel roads through the forest. Lots of short hills just to annoy….

Spent a few miles being shouted at by black parrots. Big and very noisy. If I stopped moving they quietened down and started again when I moved off!

Fairly ordinary forest for the area, dire warnings about poison (for rabbits & other unwelcome imports?) so not good to venture off the trail!

And now a quiet afternoon to rest and recuperate. Tomorrow I’m catching up with my support crew (Michael B) who is bringing me a new mattress as my not inexpensive one has come apart internally and is turning into a balloon!!! It went bang in the middle of the night and is now very uncomfortable.

Last time I needed to bail out at the same stage to get a new sleeping bag (it was very cold last night and I was very glad of it) and this time the mattress is messing up my sleep which doesn’t help when you’re already tired. Hopefully that’s the end of the equipment gremlins.

And now some photos…:

Two days saved up on the phone so it published them in the wrong order. Probably fixable but far too hard to do on a phone….

28 Sept 2003

To be fair they do warn you that the first stage is the hardest. Well, it took me longer than last time. A lot longer!

The difference? Temp was about 32C , it must have been dry for a while so there was a lot of pea gravel and sand to contend with and the bike – despite what I thought were my best efforts – is heavier.

The trail is all up and down as it crosses a river valley. This makes it very pretty but a nightmare for a laden bike as you can imagine. Having started at mid morning I crawled into camp at five having drunk all the water on the bike. Normally I’d try to keep a reserve!

As usual my ride was accompanied by wonderful tree smells, no Eucalyptus yet but I’m expecting it any time.

Also disturbed a kangaroo – one of the Western ones which are only a bit over a metre tall. And you can’t hear yourself think over the continual bird noises…..!

Quote a full hut tonight, one family with a youngster practicing camping and four blokes. And me!

29 Sept 2023

A bit cooler today!!! Down to the low 20s which helped the water consumption problem.

Very tired after yesterday, too many hills! But, there was a very nice windy downhill run through some forest. Obviously followed by another uphill bit….

Disturbed another ‘roo which scuttled off into the bushes. And the birds, hard to explain just how noisy they are and how prolific.

Arrived at the hut for the night at about 1:30 and tucked into a dehydrated meal which was described as “roast chicken.” Not going to win any culinary awards but packed with calories and hit the spot nicely!

Followed by M&Ms for desert.

Then got the cold weather gear out as there’s a chilly wind blowing and a hint of rain.

The mozzies are as prolific and evil as ever, time to get the repellant out!

Only two of us in the hut tonight, one from yesterday.

A problem with being in remote places is you’re lucky if you can get a phone signal. Today is so feeble and slow that I’m not even going to try. But keep watching this space!

Oh, all ok though very tiring….

Done some shake up rides, bought some gear, quailed at the quantity and weight of it but it all fits on the bike…. probably.

And the plan is to head off to Mundaring, the trail head, tomorrow morning. And the weather men have assured me it’s not going to be 34 again like it was today.