Day 9: Bush Camp to Wirraminna

Riders left around 8 am today with Collis and I cleaning up after our first bush camp. This always takes quite a time and is really a very dirty job. The flies kick in and my patience levels drop quickly. I do not like the clean up part of the camps but as Collis keeps reminding me- it is what I supposedly signed up for. The jobs just seem to be uneven, is all I’m saying. We managed to leave the camp site around 9.30 am and you wouldn’t even know we had been there.

Morning tea was at Woomera although Jane, Theo and Lew chose to not go out there but to stop and visit Pimba only. Woomera was interesting but they had a head wind all the way back to Pimba. Today has been a day of tail and side winds. We travelled past all the salt lakes today and stopped at the 80 km mark for those wishing to take a lunch break. While there my friend Denny & Steve arrived as they were driving past and had spotted the cyclists so guessed we would be somewhere close.

We came across a rider on a bike friday who informed us he was from Alaska and was riding with his mate who was about 10 kms in front. He said he was 78 years old last week and it is his 7th time cycling coast to coast in Australia. He found out where we were staying tonight and got the phone number off me and him and his mate have booked in as well.

Wirraminna was a very pleasant surprise. The rooms allocated to us are spotless with lots of little luxuries provided. Everyone seems real happy. Dinner was cooked for us and served out on the patio of the main house. We had roast lamb, pork and beef with all the trimmings plus some. This was followed by apricot pie with cream and ice cream. It was a fantastic meal and lovely being served and you could go back for seconds as well.

We had a lovely time sitting around chatting to the two Alaskan blokes and the family who manage the station. The Alaskans have extended us all their hospitality if any of us ever get to Alaska. They are a couple of characters- they have known each other since they were three and they travel together each year. Michael was a geologist and Jim is currently a loan shark. They hardly speak two words to each other all day long and they are constantly telling each other off. A bit like an old married couple.