Up, down, on the side and off again...
Short story:
Day 1
Victoria said "goodbye" with rain, wind, cold and horrors. Arriving at sister Krista's on 4:30, we celebrated being warm by letting the bike fall over and breaking a spotlight. Hooray. we stopped somewhere just out of Melbourne and put on Every bit of clothing we had. Seriously- four t shirts, thermal top, long sleeve t, trackie style top, bike jacket and still froze. We then fired off one of them fancy heat packs and placed it insode upir jackets. Still froze.
Day 2
Late start due to broken light fix, plus I decided to build a GPS holder as there was no room in the tank bag for said GPS. Made it to somewhere on the Murray (Loxton), where the temperature proceeded to go Arctic. Hooray X 2.
Woke to a quiet, foggy morning. Decided we would ride 1000k's that day.
Day 3
Flinders ranges. Amazing riding alongside the ranges. Rachel took her first turn at riding for 30 k's. Made it to LEigh Creek late, so we went with the hotel, counter meal whole 9 yards. Rachel and I remained on speaking terms, so it was a good move.
Day 4
To Lake Eyre- Onto the Oodnadatta track
After leaving Lydhurst, we hit the dirt for the first time, and promptly crashed... say 200 yards down teh road. Rachel laughed so much she cried. Or justcried. They had just graded the road after rain and it was clay-ish goop from hell*. This was followed by a great save when both wheels went sideways in the clay. Late, late arrival (tent up in the dark) at Lake Eyre. Met some cool Grey Nomads in their 4WDs who gave us a glass of red, a warm fire and some soup.
Day 5
Early up for a quick jog out to the lake. Run around, take a pic, get outta there. Fall twice on the way back. My fault again. Sand, ruts, mud, etc. Onto Ooodnadatta for camping nearby. All good, fresh food. One more fall to finish things off.
Day 6
Finishing up the Oodnadatta track, onto the Stuart Hwy.
After mopping up the last of the track, we hit the unrestricted speed limits of the NT. 170 kmh was achieved briefly before a dig in the ribs ended that. Camping in Kulgera. During the night a cattle truck stopped next to the camp while full, so that was nice. MOOOO to you too.
Day 7,8
To the Rock
Rachel is a cultural imperialist, iconocast and Pauline Hanson devotee and THAT is why she climbed the Rock. I climbed as I didn't want her to fall off- and frankly she could do it. Was breezy and bloody tough climbing. My "newish" boots crapped themselves and hole opened up in the sole. perhaps mimicking the hole in my soul for climbing this sacred icon. Not my fault, not my fault. Ok, I'm weak.
*tom's excuse
Day 1
Victoria said "goodbye" with rain, wind, cold and horrors. Arriving at sister Krista's on 4:30, we celebrated being warm by letting the bike fall over and breaking a spotlight. Hooray. we stopped somewhere just out of Melbourne and put on Every bit of clothing we had. Seriously- four t shirts, thermal top, long sleeve t, trackie style top, bike jacket and still froze. We then fired off one of them fancy heat packs and placed it insode upir jackets. Still froze.
Day 2
Late start due to broken light fix, plus I decided to build a GPS holder as there was no room in the tank bag for said GPS. Made it to somewhere on the Murray (Loxton), where the temperature proceeded to go Arctic. Hooray X 2.
Woke to a quiet, foggy morning. Decided we would ride 1000k's that day.
Day 3
Flinders ranges. Amazing riding alongside the ranges. Rachel took her first turn at riding for 30 k's. Made it to LEigh Creek late, so we went with the hotel, counter meal whole 9 yards. Rachel and I remained on speaking terms, so it was a good move.
Day 4
To Lake Eyre- Onto the Oodnadatta track
After leaving Lydhurst, we hit the dirt for the first time, and promptly crashed... say 200 yards down teh road. Rachel laughed so much she cried. Or justcried. They had just graded the road after rain and it was clay-ish goop from hell*. This was followed by a great save when both wheels went sideways in the clay. Late, late arrival (tent up in the dark) at Lake Eyre. Met some cool Grey Nomads in their 4WDs who gave us a glass of red, a warm fire and some soup.
Day 5
Early up for a quick jog out to the lake. Run around, take a pic, get outta there. Fall twice on the way back. My fault again. Sand, ruts, mud, etc. Onto Ooodnadatta for camping nearby. All good, fresh food. One more fall to finish things off.
Day 6
Finishing up the Oodnadatta track, onto the Stuart Hwy.
After mopping up the last of the track, we hit the unrestricted speed limits of the NT. 170 kmh was achieved briefly before a dig in the ribs ended that. Camping in Kulgera. During the night a cattle truck stopped next to the camp while full, so that was nice. MOOOO to you too.
Day 7,8
To the Rock
Rachel is a cultural imperialist, iconocast and Pauline Hanson devotee and THAT is why she climbed the Rock. I climbed as I didn't want her to fall off- and frankly she could do it. Was breezy and bloody tough climbing. My "newish" boots crapped themselves and hole opened up in the sole. perhaps mimicking the hole in my soul for climbing this sacred icon. Not my fault, not my fault. Ok, I'm weak.
*tom's excuse
3 Comments:
Nice work, Fall Guy - hope you have an accompanying Lee Majors attitude. Expert dodge of Ayers/Uluru controversy with "The Rock" moniker.
Ride on.
ARE.
Going by the way you rode in Melbourne the other month, the front tyre wouldn't even be broken in.
Also, I thought you said you could ride?
Next birthday I know what to get you..........Training wheels!
Look after him.
RACHEL'S DAD
Will post pics of Rachel and I wheelie-ing the 400 kilos of glory. It can be done, but no it is NOT a good idea.
Thomasr
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