shecyclesolo

Day 57 85 days to go. Distance today 0km total 4314km. It’ 12.40pm Sunday 2/9/12 Broome. I’ve got an awesome assortment of shells I found earlier and am about to make a bracelet or necklace nice nice. A few days back rube spotted a ball of grasshopper green twin by the roadside that we bower birded and now I know why. It’s fun collecting stuff on our travels adding it to our treasures. Yesterday I found a ‘hot surface ‘ road sign warning that had blown off a truck and it’s now strapped on the back of my girl. I think it’s about it’s been but Rube reckons its about her LOL. She is after all a hot and spicy thing!!! I’ve met some local indigenous folk one fella walking his dog who has grown up in the area and was telling me about crocs and stingers. Ive been enjoying another family having big fun and playful dip next to where Im dugonging it. The brain is off from our norm but so ‘on’ taking in the little things big around the bayside. The water is aqua and clear and stunning. There’s a pod of dolphins playing just out from where you can wallow it in the shallows. The bay has a strip of sand with a fabulous array of shells and rocks. The rocks are fascinating mostly conglomerate fusions of shells, stones and sand. Just up from the beach strip is grassed and palm lined with shady spots tempting an afternoon kip. That may be on the cards but for now I’m under a patch of fronds ready for some jewelry making. Let’s see how we go. Rubes down at the boat ramp checking out the local fishermen’s catch of day. A
Couple who I met some days ago just walked passed and stopped for a chat. They’re from Yorkshire Dales originally but all Aussie nowadays. They are here for a few days staying up at Cable Beech and tonight going to the ‘oldest open air cinema still operating’ and one of Broome’s attractions nice!!! Talk soon x

It’s 7.15pm and I’m sitting out on the peninsula waiting for night 2 of the stairway to the moon. Apparently it’s a blue moon tonight so let’s see. It’s been a sensational day everything I had hoped. I hung around the bay and made my string of shells I collected earlier. I may not have a future in jewelry making but Rube reckons it looks pretty funky and is now round her handle bars and her birthday treat. She fancies herself a bit of a surfy girl now with sand in her peddles so it’s a pretty perfect pressie.

This afternoon we went and checked out the local parade. It was part of the pearl festival on this weekend and very cool. This corner of the country is known as they pearl coast as it was a major industry for the area in past days. We then did a top up shop at Woolies and I got to talk to the folks for fathers day which was awesome. Back at the campgrounds I met Audrey who’s traveling with her husband and a self confesed 5 star camper. ‘Nothing wrong with that’ I told her ‘as long as your out there amongst it and happy.’ Dam straight!!! We may meet again as they’re from Sydney and traveling the same route. Thank you Audrey for your $20 donation (Cash donations now $1379.35).

The moon’s coming up in much the same magnificence as last night. I couldn’t tire of that sight but not sure what the ‘blue’ moon look is???? It’s quieter on the pier tonight which is nice and good atmosphere for pondering beautiful things.

I like Broome allot. It has a mixed feel of a small dot country town, and beach side village. The folk are friendly and clearly community minded. There’s a large indigenous population and Ive really enjoyed mixing it with the local folk savoring the bay for a day and it’s simple treasures. It’s cool seeing the local s loving their home and sharing it with them. Do as the locals do I say yay!!!

It’s 9.15pm now and getting time for supper and beddy byes. Ive checked emails and sent an email off to family. Rube and I head down the Pearl Coast tomorrow just 60km to the first rest area but on our way nonetheless. Lets see what delights unfold as we venture south WA style. As Treebeard says in ‘Lord of the Rings,’ …..’I like traveling south it always feels like you’re going downhill…… :-)’ Talk soon

‘Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.’ Albert Schweitzer (thank you Scotty my dear dear friend Love to you and your clan and happy fathers day mate xxxx)

Day 56 86 days to go. Distance today 175km total 4314km. It’s 8am Sunday 2/9/12 Broome Broome Broome Broome Broome!!!!!!. Happy birthday to Rube and I us virgo girls made it by the 1/9 as hoped big yay us!!! We celebrated with the Stairway to the Moon last night at Roebuck Bay. We’re camped at the grounds right on the bay I can’t believe it what a score at $15 per night and we’re so meant to be here. We arrived late yesterday arv and squeezed into the unpowered campgrounds right on the bay where folk congregate each full moon. As taken from the lonely planet……” the reflections of the rising full moon hit-ting the rippled Roebuck Bay mud flats, ex-posed at low tide, create the optical illusion of a golden stairway leading to the moon, called (naturally) the Staircase to the Moon. It has quite an impact on Broome’s locals and visitors alike. If you’re in town for the few days around the full moon, between March and October (the visitors centre publishes the exact dates and times), the town will be abuzz with everyone eager to see the spectacle. At Town Beach there’s a lively evening market with food stalls and people bring their fold-up chairs and a bot-tle of something!”

And that was us last night sharing the event with Phyliss and Peter and a bunch of other folk we bumped into on the rocky outcrop into the bay. It was magic beautiful and yessssssss worth every peddle and sweaty bits over the last week of tough going. I would have sent this last night but I was a bit deliriously happy. The full moon rose at exactly 6.23pm and for the next hour I took lots of pickies as the stairs grew along the sand flats spectacle glossy mag stuff. We checked out the markets afterwards but I was risking wondering off up the stairway to the moon so I pretty much ate and passed out. 7am wake up this morn!!!! 14hrs yesssssssssss!!!! Im pretty dehydrated after the last days with the acidic wee thing happening eeeeow. Lots of water and a few ural sachets and already feeling a whole bunch better. We’re here for another day of doing nothing and enjoying everything. Right now I’m sitting in my undies with the seagulls on the grassy area in front of our camp. Its simply beautiful!!!!!!! We started yesterday at 6am but before leaving ‘Ray’ another camper came up and donated $20. He introduced himself and told me I have inspired him. He’s a classical pianist and wants to perform as he travels to raise money for a charity. He’s been sitting on the idea a while but seeing us has given him that extra push stuff to put the idea into action. I told Ray that he could not have given me a bigger compliment. I wish you well in bringing idea to life mate and sooooo good on you!!!!!!!!!!! I’ll upload the posts from the last days including this one to bring you fine folk up to date. The last posts have been circumstantially
rushed so I’m indulging today putting the days events down as they slowly unfold. Our have-tos can wait until the morning so today’s our day to hang out in beautiful Broome. Its very special to be here and share the milestone with you. Yayayayaya!!!!! Cash donations $1359.35 ps the cafe next door is playing ….. ‘Dancing in the streets.’ Thats been our theme song since Katherine I cant believe it. Rubes dancing with the seagull!!!!! 🙂 my little free-spirit buddy I love her.

PPS HAPPY FATHER’s DAY TO
ALL THE POPPY’s ABOUT SHARING THEIR DAY WITH THEIR CLAN. My main man is apparently eating pasties with his woman and grandson at the Redcliffe markets…. Perfect!!!! Talk soon x

Day 55 87 days to go. Distance today 149km total 4139km. It’s 6.15pm Friday 31/8/12 Willare Bridge Roadhouse. It’s been a jet star of a day peddling with an awesome tail wind and Mother Nature taking the edge off the distance after yesterday. Thank you x. I’m expecting tomorrow to be a bit more head windy as we say hi to the coastal breezes to Broome. Both Rube and I are a little excited as it’s the full moon tomorrow night and the 1st night of the Stairway to Heaven effect. Apparently Roebuck Bay is a pretty good spot to see the best effect of the moon rising across the 12 m low tidal flats. The photos look amazing so I can’t wait 6.30pm apparently is the time but we’ll be there long before. I’m not sure how tomorrow will look for accommodation but one step at a time. First the 165km safe and sound and we’ll take it from there. Actually first it’s an early night so I can set the alarm for silly o’clock. This is our birthday pressie to us, Rube and I, and it’s a birthday treat well earnt yayayayayaya. Today was very cool having soooo many folk stop and give us water, treats and donations along the way here. Then when we arrived Tiss and Gary were also here so I’ve loved catching up with them again. We’ve finally exchanged details so now there’s no getting rid of me guys!!! Thanks for letting me recharge my gear and the $20 donation. It’s been an awesome day for donations totally $95. Hugest jet star ta’s to Robyn ($10), Brian ($20), Allan and Jo ($20), Tiss and Gary ($20), Yvonne ($5), and Judith ($20). Allan and Jo also gave me a icypole iceblock which was sooo delish guys you rock!! A french family stopped and gave me 2 litres of water and 2 oranges which were devoured when we arrived. brian and his family were travelling through to 70 mile beach on the coast and gave me a cold 600ml bottle of water which didn’t hit the sides burp!! The roadhouse has also generously let us stay here as a freebie and we have loved the swim in the pool, shower and free laundry yay. Rube and I have ridden literally on the kindness, fun and generosity of folk all day. We sooo appreciate it and are love love loving the ride. It’s a totally short post tonight as I still have some have-tos before dinner and bed very soonish. Cash donations have jumped to $1339.35 ching ching a ling xxxxxxxx. Talk soon from Bromme 🙂 x

Day 54 88 days to go. Distances: Sun 26/8 Wamun (Turkey Creek) 96km, Mon 27/8 Purnululu NP, Bungle Bungle Range 0km, Tue 28/8 Mary Pool RA 116km, Wed 29/8 Fitzroy Crossing 187km, today 94km total 3990km. It’s 4pm Thursday 30/8/12 Ellandale RA. I’m currently sharing my peanut paste sammy with a whole bunch of top-knot pigeons that are clearly very wild and shy. I arrived about 2ish and only just now feel some personality coming back to my brain. This is in noway a winge as the weather is sensational but it’s between 38-42 degrees and I’m still sorting how best to balance the kms and heat stress. I pulled up today well and truly brain fried and the body stepped in saying ‘no more today Maree.’ But it was a late start after a late night and my liberated moment of turning the alarm off at 5am came back to bite me. I didn’t get on the road until 8am about 3 hours later than when I need to be. Today just reminded me of that so good revision lesson. I haven’t had heat stress since starting off in Thailand and it’s a bit icky tricky. What comes to mind is the first days of rain leaving Brisbane and thinking, ‘there be days down the track where you’ll want to be down poured on….yep these are those days I be thinking !!!! 🙂 So from tomorrow until we hit a change in weather it’ll be 4am up and 5am starts. It seems the more difficult the conditions the more kind folk become…isn’t that an awesome thing!! At the rest area was a hippy bloke I met at the RA out of Kununarra. He’s from the Blue Mts traveling for 3months with his border collie but heading home now cause he’s homesick and misses his Mum. He’s untidy around the edges but a big sweet kid and topped up all my water bottles before heading. Then George who’s from Caboolture and traveling with his wife and another couple, came over and said, ‘when you’re ready come over for a cool drink.’ I beat him back to his van and stayed for an hour enjoying the shady sit and warm company. They have a 17 y/o cockateal called Sparky who’s mummy’s boy and living the dream on the road with mum and dad. They can reach the ripe ol’ age of 30!! His only close encounter has been with a baby cassuarie in Mossman but mum snaveled him first so Sparky’s adventures continue. I then went to set up camp and the lads came over with a tarp to block the afternoon sun. Another german couple cam over with two oranges which I’ve just now devoured and shared with the bush bees. They are just as persistent and sticky as the desert flies so the head net is well and truly on. It cools down slowly now to balmy beautiful evenings and sleeping under the grasshopper fly is so beautiful. It’s full moon on the 1/9 so the stars and moon are currently serenading me nigh nighs. I haven’t managed a post for 5 days with all that’s been happening well into the evenings.

On Sunday we were about 50km outside of Turkey Creek when Bruce pulled up alongside us on his way to the Bungle Bungles. He had just bought a sticky bun from Kununura Brumbies and in no time we were under a tree having that coffee and picking the conversation up where we left it at 41 Mile Bore Rest Area. Gorgeous man!!!! He said…’hey do you want to join me if you got the time I’d love the company!!!!!’ HELL YESS!!!!!! We met up with him in Turkey Creek then unpacked Rube and found a space for our stuff in his ute. A couple of hours later we’re driving at perfect light o’clock to get the first impressions of this magnificent national park. I’m going to save the words and let the photos do the talking. Some things just need to be seen to be captured. One thing I will say is it’s one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been to. There’s a northern and southern end to the park and camp grounds at each. We went into the northern part first and had time to see the sunset from Kungkalanayi Lookout before setting up camp and having a pretty early night of it. We started at early o’clock and walked the Echidna Chasm and mini palms Gorge before lunch. Back to camp and packed up then we drove to Piccaninny Creek and the postcard end of the park. We couldn’t have planned the timing better to walk The Domes and Cathedral Gorge. Bruce was so exhausted and headed back to the car while I ran the last walk to the lookout over the creek and domes as the sun set. No comment!!!!!!! We drove back to camp over sunset and I cooked him up a stir fry of what odds and bobs I could find in his fridge to say thank you. It wasn’t too shabby and he was chuffed to be spoilt. We packed up slowly in the morning and were in Halls Creek after lunch where we said our goodbyes and big big thank you’s. Bruce said simply, ‘we’re mates now and will be talking!!!’ Nice my friend we had a ball!!!! The following is taken from the Lonely Planet to include some information for you.

“PURNULULU NATIONAL PARK – BUNGLE BUNGLE RANGE The Purnululu National Park, 3000 sq km of ancient country, is home to the wonderful ochre and black striped ‘beehive’ domes of the Bungle Bungle Range. The distinctive rounded rock towers are made of sandstone and rough conglomerates (rocks comprised of pebbles and boulders), moulded by rainfall over millions of years. Their stripes are caused by differences in clay content and porosity of the layers; the rock within the dark stripes is more permeable, allowing algae to flourish, while the lighter layers consist of oxidised iron compounds. While the local Kija people have always known about them – purnululu means ‘sand-stone’ in the Kija language and Bungle Bungle is thought to be a misspelling of ‘bundle bun-dle’, a common grass – the formations were only ‘discovered’ during the mid-1980s; the park was created in 1987, and added to the World Heritage list in 2003. The park has wonderful Aboriginal art gal-leries, gorgeous swimming holes within the gorges and a wide array of wildlife, including over 130 bird species. The stunning Echidna Chasm in the north and Cathedral Gorge in the south are about an hour’s walk from the car parks, while the soaring Piccaninny Gorge is an 18km round trip that takes a full day to walk. The restricted gorges in the northern part of the park can only be seen from the air. The park is open April to December; rang-ers are based here during these months. If you’re driving, you’ll need a high-clearance 4WD, as there are five deep creek crossings. The turn-off from the highway is 53km south of Warmun, then 52km along a very rough 4WD-only track to the Three Ways junc-tion. Allow at least 2½ hours to get to the visitors centre. Kurrajong Camp and Walardi Camp have fresh water and toilets $11 per person $11 per vehicle.’

That night I peddled into mary Poole Rest Area and it was like a school reunion!!!! I met Mick and Mom and Molton Man again, Sue and John, and a bunch of other folk who I can’t remember names but it was social o’clock. I worked my way around the rest area catching up with everyone and joined Sue and John for dinner in my travels. The evening was fabulous but went a little pear shape. They were back burning on the other side of the creek and I ended up deciding to move about 10pm due to the smoke and fire risk. I moved with Jill, another vanner, to an open area away from the risk and it was after midnight before I tried to get some zzzz’s. Crap night sleep unfortunately and moreso crap timing as the next day was 190km into Fitzroy Crossing. Thank goodness I was saved by Julie and David along the roadside offering me some cold water which I inhaled. Other vanners topped my water bottles up during the day which is necessary as there’s no supplies outside of the towns. About 5km out of FC, David came back and invited me to dinner which sounded perfect. They were at the first campgrounds which also worked and after arranging a freebie stay I was soon enjoying happy hour with these fine fine folk. Their child is the most handsome-ist lab called Jordie who loves cuddles, his stuffed Monkey who is his comforter, and his poo bear teddy. We had the best evening together sharing stories. I loved hearing of their recent time spent with David’s brother in a community in Armehn Land. Crazy Crazy Crazy interesting. These people are amongst the absolute gems of folk I continue to meet. It’s the soul and best part of Theaussiechallenge and Rube couldn’t agree more. I have left so much out I know but in between talking to folk during the afternoon, it’s now 7pm and time to round up the night with dinner and early zzzzzz’s. I’ll add any details tomorrow if needed but it’s good to catch up on what’s been a really amazing and very very special 5 days yayayayayya. The folk from earlier today have just donated $10 and another couple have made me a salad to have for dinner when I’m ready. I’m incredibly blessed and thankful. The evening’s cooling down and the moon’s two days off full. yep you guessed it, it looks pretty bloody-fantastic from where I’m sitting right now. I haven’t been given any other cash donations over the last days but heaps of folk have taken cards to make an on=line donation. However with the money tonight that makes it $1244.35. Nigh nigh and talk soon x

Day 49 93 days to go. Distance: today 65km total 3497km. It’s 4.30pm Saturday 25/8/12 Doon Doon Roadhouse. Today’s been such a cool day and an unplanned rest day of sorts which is awesome to have the gear charged and cleaned me included. We have 4 days now without services so the timing worked to tidy before the next caravan park stopover. There’s some big days backing up so it’s good to have a rest and recharge. I’ve also mapped out the distances to Perth allowing time to see Exmouth so I’m so happy that works. The time difference isn’t much but I’m feeling the 2 hours already tidy wides and looking forward to bed. This roadhouse is in the middle of nowhere and really exy so I was pretty chuffed when they said we could stay as a freebie yay. They sell eggs for $1.50 each ouch but I’m in need of some protein so we’ve lashed out buying three to fry up in the camp kitchen for dinner yummy! We’ve spent the last couple of hours under the mozzie net pawing over maps away from the flies and under some palms to escape the heat. All the while I was entertained by a pair of bower birds that had their nest right next to us. They are so industrious and chatty as they work. They have collected all sorts of treasures and placed them by their ground nest. It’s a manicured mound of twigs with an archway in the middle and filled with bottle tops, bread ties and other random accessories. It’s been a treat to be up close and personal with these darling critters. Their off now feeding somewhere I suspect over sunset. The suns now resting towards the horizon and it’s cooling off and delish. The campgrounds are really quiet given the price so I’m loving the quieter afternoon for some me time. Don’t get me wrong the interaction with folk is awesome and the best part of the trip but it’s nice to have some time out. This part of the country is so beautiful and that’s just from the trunk road highway 1. To access the highlight spots in the National Parks you have to take a tour or have a four wheel drive and it’s hard core off-roading by all accounts talking to the folk who have done some side tripping. I met a German couple when I arrived who are on a BMW trail bike and they said the Bungle Bungles are amazing but the road is tough with river crossings and Rube would never had held up. Good decision that one yay I’m in her good books looking out for my girl. We certainly considered it long and hard but that’s one for next time.

The day started with the sun rising in a bloom of colors that were stunning. It starts to get light about 5.15am so we can aim for a 4.30am start particularly on the long days coming up. The landscape was spectacular with the Carr Boyd Ranges running parallel at a distance to the highway which wound through the rocky outcrops and undulating hills. Periodically we cross river gorges with clear running water that must be a sight in the wet. We’ve taken some great picks today and have been watched over by our totem pole icons, the black cockatoos. It’s green parrot country and the parade in huge flocks stunning in flight with their red underwings. There are so many road trains mostly four doggies in length, all tip trailers carrying iron ore from a mine in Wyndam to Port Headland for export to Asia. The industry is privately owned offshore earning a million dollars per hour. It’s locally run and provides massive employment opportunities but it’s a natural resource that will run out eventually. For now it’s another corner of the country where mining is the major industry. I met a truckie at the roadhouse who averages 12000kms per month and keen to share some of the local industry trivia with me. He said last week he was in Orange and it was snowing crazy stuff.

My social highlight today was meeting up with Phyliss and Peter who had stopped for morning tea at the roadhouse. They invited me to share a coffee and bicky and some more delish chats. As it turns out, Phyliss is a radio announcer at their local station in Horsham. She does Tuesday morning ‘Irish Breakfast’ and country music sessions on a handful of other days. They had also seen the ‘Pelicans on Posties’ lads north of three ways and loved the stories of their fundraising and shananghans they shared with us in Longreech. Phyliss and Peter have invited us to visit on our way through from adeliade and Phyliss wants to do a radio interview how incredibly cool!!!!!! We got the map out and Rube and I can take the Western Highway from Adelaide then drop down to Portland to still manage the Great Ocean Road through Warrnambool which works awesomely. Another one of those things we’ll make work when the time comes yay. After saying our goodbyes, a father and daughter from Kununarra pulled up in their 70’s vintage white Ford Station Wagon coolest car ever. They were so keen and supporting of our challenge and donated $10 before heading back home. Lovely folk!! So that’s about us now for ‘end of day’ o’clock. The right side of cool has kicked in to enjoy a balmy evening and I’m thinking dinner and an early night. Lucky for the cows in the neighboring paddock I’m vego as they’re looking like steaks with legs so it may be time to cook up those million dollar eggs. $1234.35 cash donations. By the way the posts are working a treat as far as my accounting for the fundraising. The money’s been deposited along the way so anyone planning to rob us will be a bit disappointed sorry. You’re very welcome to join us for a roadside cuppa instead if you like. Far better karma stuff all round I be thinking 🙂 The ants are a bit intense and on steroids. Rube reckons she’ll be lifted by morning for a Sunday picnic by the Bungles. She’s so dramatic my girl and clearly has a calling for live theatre in between our adventures 🙂 Talk soon x ps I’ve just popped myself in bed in the grasshopper with just the inner fly and am literally sleeping under the moon and stars and oh my deary goodness it’s beautiful goodnight fine folk pps Mr and Mrs Bower must be painting the town blue. Just another Saturday night in Doon Doon. What a couple of part birds !!!!! Nice x

Day 48 94 days to go. Distance: yesterday 126km today 165km total 3432km. It’s 8.20pm Friday 24/8/12 Cockburn Rest Area. Hi there fine folk and welcome to the Kimberley’s. The Victoria River Region was the warmer upperer. Since then we’ve entered a land of rolling hills, boabs and red rock escarpments and formations. It’s rugged and wild and beautiful. The rock is all water marked where during the wet season waterfalls run freely and gather in the floodplains along the Savannah. We passed that way yesterday and for the first time moved through an area devoid of life now during the dry, apart of grasslands and sparse trees. It was so apparent the missing birdlife through the floodplains. Rube and I spotted one tweet tweet bird but he was clearly lost and out of there before we could say ‘hello mate.’ This part of the ride was hot and slow creepy inclines with heavy duty bitumen that had little roll. Therefor the first 100km was well well earnt and we did it tough. So much so it was time for Ipod tunes. I was absolutely rescued by music specifically the countdown wonder years. Thankyou Janny love this CD you gave me years ago gave us such a natural high we literally danced and sung our way for the remaining 26kms. Big fun!!!The power of Aussie countdown hey? It was about this time that the enscarpment we’d been looking at a distance all morning came into its own and we found ourselves in the Kimberleys so so magical. A family stopped ahead of us on the roadside who we had met in Mataranka. They wanted to say hi and offered us their fruit and honey leftovers as they were traveling onwards to the WA border. There’s strict quarantine regulations coming into WA so we happily accepted the assortment of treats and got some pickies yay. The Saddle Creek Rest Area we stayed last night was the nicest yet. It was tucked at the base of sheer red rock walls all water washed and glowing orange, pink and red as the sun slowly set showing off it’s magnificence in that landscape. I met really cool people last night so much so it was late o’clock by the time I finished chatting and I just fed the starvs and passed out for an early start this morn. Firstly I got to talking with Sue and Paul who gave me a coke when I first stopped. yum!!!! no really yummy!!! They also donated $20 thankyou and shared some of their fruits. They have invited me to stay with them in Geraldton WA which is very cool and so appreciated. There were two other cyclists staying at the rest area ‘Sal’ and her male friend. They are alternative lifestyle folk on a spiritual journey that has lasted already 2 years and not ending any time soon. They work as needed picking fruit with the seasons and were so endearing characters. As an example Sal thought the toilets at the BP Kununurra needed cleaning so did so just to help out. She accepted a free shower as payment but pretty much is about karma an unconditionally helping where she can as she travels. What a beautiful soul. We sat under the shelter talking for hours along with Julie and her husband who made us all coffee and shared in the quality chats. Julie nowadays lives in SA but spent a significant proportion of her childhood in Darwin and grew up with the local indigenous families sharing their cultural experiences like fishing and walkabouts and eating off the land. I listened to her stories in awe and her appreciation for culture and country is still so apparent. Sal also grew up across this area and the two bounced off stories and reminisced of a lifestyle in the 70s and 80s so fascinating it was a pleasure to listen and be part off. Sal and her friend headed off when the sun went down as they cycle in the cooler morning and evenings so we grabbed so pickies before they left and exchanged details. They have $50 old Melvin star bikes but their add hoc approach works beautifully for them. I wish them a continued safe journey and thank you so much for our time shared. I also exchanged details with Julie and I hope we keep contact she’s a very special and very very interesting and fun woman. Happy travels guys and I may see you when I come through SA. This fella came over as we were saying our goodbyes and said he and his partner had passed me now about four times. They invited me to sit and we chatted a while and exchanged travels stories. I can’t remember their names bugga but hopefully will get an email from them. They shared their stir fry veggies and mashed potato left overs which were just yum thank you!!! There’s been a group of 3 stars I have noticed in the sky that I haven’t seen before and they make a perfect triangle and are a clear feature. I had thought it unusual that I didn’t know them as I’m a star gazer back home. He was explaining that they are mars, saturn and a star that are unusually aligned and slowly the triangle will start to change shape as the planets move.

This morning I got off to a 6.30am start and rode with the sunrise which was stunning!!!! We we stopped again along the roadside by a couple Peter and Phyllis from Horsham near the Grampians and north of Portland Victoria. They met Igor earlier in his travels near Hughenden. Sue and John had told them about us and they were keen to meet which is really cool. We crossed paths a couple of times today before Kununarra and they gave me some cold water which was delish in the heat which has turned up the last couple of days. We’re staying at the same rest area tonight and shared a coffee and bicky and some wonderful conversation over sunset. They have also donated $10 thank you darlings!!! You are incredibly kind and generous folk with the coolest troopy set up and I hope we’ll be seeing each other again as we both travel now down WA. They are very big Igor fans and we joked about wearing ‘where’s Igor’ t-shirts until the lad pops up again on the radar. Kununarra was very pretty and a big dot town renowned for its waterways which are beautiful. For those lucky to be traveling with boats they are apparently great to explore by water. We topped up on supplies and were approached by another couple donating $10 outside of Coles thank you!!!! There’s a few ants and mozzies about so I’m going to set up the grasshopper fly for a good night sleep after dinner. With the amount of fruit I have eaten the last 24hrs Im inclined to hang from the tootsies from the rafters under the shelter like a big fruit bat 🙂 With the $40 cash donations over the last 2 days that makes it $1224.35 yayayay. Talk soon x

Day 47 95 days to go. Distance: today 190km total 3432km. It’s 8pm Wednesday 22/8/12 Timber Creek Campground. I’ve just been looking at the photos from todays ride through the Victoria River Region. Oh my goodness this area is stunning. Now I know I say that allot but really it’s something else. It’s 360 degrees of red rock layered escarpment rising sheer from the roadside and surrounding landscape. The Victoria River is vivid green and meanders throughout the area with the road intermittently crossing it or running alongside. Sprawling between the rock are rolling green hills lush and alive with natives and birdlife. It was 90km from the rest area to the Victoria River roadhouse which marks the entrance to the region. Most of the 90km was creepy slow inclines but the impact of entering the region made every hard earnt peddle so well worth it. We started at 7am this morning giving us time to reach the roadhouse by lunch and have a break. I met ‘Daniel’ the truckie who came up and said ‘hi I’m one of the truckies you waved to today.’ He was a cool friendly guy based in Newcastle and spends 6 weeks on the road with 12 days off in between. He mostly transports between Newcastle and Broome and thinks he has the best job ever as he’s paid big bucks to see such a beautiful country. I couldn’t agree with him more. He was a real enigma and quite poetic about the scents and sights of the land. He loves this time of year with the wild flowers and his favorite is the yellow one that’s been blooming by the roadside since Pine Creek. We’re travelling a similar route over the next weeks so he promised to stop if his schedule allows and make me a roadside coffee to continue our chats. Nice lad!!!! He also donated $10 and hopes one day to cycle around Australia so he was full of questions about how we’ve set up out kit etc. I really like the truckie culture and the many lads I have met all have their individual story but share a real down-to-earthness which is warm and sincere and just under that tough exterior. Except for Daniel he was totally comfy expressing himself emotionally and was a stand out unique lad amongst lads.

Rube and I were back on the road at 1pm for another 90km to Timber Creek. The countryside kept us glued and occupied for the most part but it was pretty steamy and we were happy to finally pull up stumps just after 6pm. Lorraine at the campgrounds was more than happy for us to pitch our tent as a freebie and even gave me a can of coke zero. It went down pretty dam fine as I sat with the legs in the pool cooling off nice nice. So I’m all showered and squeaky clean with the gear washed for a fresh start tomorrow. The trick in the heat is to start with the daylight about 6.30am. I was thinking today how amazing Dave Alley’s effort was particularly given it was October. To find the hours in the day and night to cover those distances Dave was really quite amazing you rock. You’re also my inspiration to keep the momentum up when the spirit wants to wander. ‘What I’m doing is nothing compared to what you mustered my friend so keep the legs turning over and the kms will come….and they do!!!’ I was talking to Lorraine about the stairway to heaven effect in Broome and she said do it!!! She’s originally from North Qld and puts the full moon effect over the out tide up there with the great barrier reef as far as wow factor. Yayayayayayayay can’t wait here we come 9 days to go!!! Must eat and pass out. $1194.35 cash donations. Talk soon x

Day 46 96 days to go. Distance: today 105km total 3242km. It’s 7pm Tuesday 21/8/12 Mathison Rest Area. It’s on dusk now and a beautiful twilight to do my post by tonight. Ive spent the last hour or so pawing over the Camps Australia bible trying to figure out how to see the ‘stairway to heaven’ in Broome on the 31/8. I showed Rube and her comment was ‘so a few early starts hey – I’m up for it if you are’ Thats my girl!!!! I’ve tried to put a few shorter days in to mix it up somewhat but on paper at least it’s 1577km in 10 days averaging 158km per day nice nice pheweeeee…..nice nice!!!!! God I love challenges. They really make me tick. And the ones I set I have no idea whether I’ll be able to manage it or not but that’s what makes it a challenge with an edgy cool factor yay. Rube’s right up there alongside me in that regard so the perfect match yay yay. I wanted to include a cycle in/out of the Bungle Bungles but unfortunately its a 55km ‘rough dirt road in and we’re not set up for that. Can’t break my girl as there’s still a long way to Perth PS Sorry Moppy had hoped to share that one with you but maybe next time around with an off road set up
and PPS thanks for my Mint Intense Lindt Chocolate and ginger care pack. It lasted the 2 night in Darwin and big yum!!!!! Before the BBs we’ll hopefully get to have lunch with Bruce in Kununurra. He’s the fella I met at the 41 Mile Bore Rest Area. He seemed a very cool man in our brief meeting. I sent him an email from Katherine letting him know we’ll be through in the next days so here’s hoping Bruce if it works mate I’d be great to pick the conversation up where we left it. Both Rube and I really want to see the ‘stairway to heaven’ for our birthday. We share the 5/9 and it’d be a pretty cool thing to do together. For those of you not aware, the effect of the full moon rising over the low tide flats off broome is supposedly something pretty shmick to see and a world renound natural phenomenen.

It was good to get on the road today and turn the legs over. They’re still a bit stiff from the keen run in Darwin but feel really good tonight. We had our break at a rest stop 60km into it and met Hazel and John from Albany who invited me to join them for a cuppa. We chatted for a couple of hours. They’re really interesting folk. They came to Australia with their 2 children for 10 pounds back in 1968. They tripped about the country to find somewhere they liked to live and after a few good time tries at it ended up settling in Albany and running a B&B. They were at school together and married in their late teens. Now in their 70s theyre enjoying retired life and loving being grand and great grand parents with their family spread across the world. They donated $10 thankyou thankyou and we got some pickies and exchanged details to hopeully keep in touch. Very special folk. As we were saying goodbye Margaret and her husband who we’ve met a few times now drove past and saw us. It was so cool that they wanted to stop and say hi. They have been visiting family in Katherine and seeing their great grand child for the first time how incredably special for them. They are from Tweed Heads and on the same route as Rube and I so we may yet see them again. This time we exchanged details and Margaret’s going to get onto the blog to keep track of our challenge. The last time I saw these lovely folk were in Camooweal at the billabong campgrounds when Margaret’s husband said, ‘that’s a big chook,’ referring to one of the Jabirus 🙂 I think of that every time we see a Jabiru and share a giggle.

$1184.35 cash donations and time for dinner and beddy byes. It’s one of those early starts Rube was referring to tomorrow so bed beckons soonish. Talk soon x