Day 20: Bush Camp to Caiguna

Today is Fran's last day and he will be sadly missed. Fran has been the life of the group and he is very giving and generous. Fran is missing his wife and kids immensely and is desperate to get back to Perth to join them before they have to fly home to Scotland. This is a planned departure and as far as Fran wanted to come. He has been raising money for kids with cancer especially those that are terminally ill. If anyone would like to donate just contact us on cycleacrossoz15@hotmail.com and we will pass on his donation link to you.

The day started off with a camp fire and everyone not in a hurry to leave the camp site. Fran rode off with his two buddies Jacquei and Jim but soon got left a little way behind until the morning tea break. From MT Jim waited for Fran and rode the rest of the 50 kms into Caiguna with him. It was very emotional for Fran to finish this ride and he will tell you himself that he is not an avid rider like the others but did this for the kids. Well done Fran- we will miss you.

Today the ride was all along the 90 mile straight and the first bend spotted was just before we reached Caiguna. Some of the riders visited the blowhole and apparently the air was warmish today. The day was just perfect weather wise with a cold breeze blowing in around 4.30 pm. There was a slight headwind and could be difficult riding at times.

It was great to get to a roadhouse and get in a shower after 2 days in the bush. We all went to dinner in at the roadhouse for Fran's celebratory dinner but everyone was in bed early. Collis and Fran are desperately asking the truck drivers for a lift for him back to Perth hopefully leaving tomorrow.

Day 19: Newman Rocks to Bush Camp

Jacquei and I were up in time to witness a nice sunrise over the rock pools. No kangaroos in sight around the waters edge, actually the lack of wild life is again very noticeable. Warmer night and morning today but still needing to wear a couple of layers.

The group hit the 90 mile straight today and we have lunch at the sign so that we can get another group photo.

Collis and I find this great little area for the camp tonight and start setting up. The weather has become quite warm and by the end of the day we are all into short sleeves and some have shorts on. The wind has been kind to them today and everyone makes good times but no-one as good as Jacquei, who passed all of them and arrived in camp first. At one stage I drove past and gave her the challenge to catch Peter but did not expect her to pass Di and Doug as well. She is quite chuffed but wants to iterate that the point of her holiday is not to be a race but to be able to enjoy the surroundings and take her time.

Jacquei also made a sultana and cranberry damper for dessert tonight while I made a tuna casserole. Jim did another great camp fire after Jacquei used the chain saw to chop up nearly a whole tree. Great night had by all.

Day 18: Norseman to Newman Rocks

Collis' thermos has had the gong- this is his German model. So he has bought a smaller one made in China (no choice in Norseman). I picked up some grated cheese for one of the recipes I had decided on for the second bush camp and it would have not been the same without this ingredient.

Tonight is a bush camp at a very nice spot called Newman Rocks. We have camped here many times and it has a rock pool with usually enough water in it for a decent wash and sometimes even a swim. We are all looking forward to our first real bush camp for this leg.

The terrain is quite undulating today and everyone is struggling a little. Jacquei is feeling BLAH today and is not sure just why- hopefully she will pick up by the end of the day. Fran and Jim are riding together again today with Jacquei out in front of them.

The rain has been threatening all day but we have managed to get into camp before it started drizzling. It drizzles on and off most of the evening but never too heavy to spoil the camping or the meal. I cooked up a spaghetti sauce last night at Norseman and added into the noodles for a great spag boll. This was followed by a peach sponge type concoction with custard on top (not too bad once it cooked). Jim got a fantastic fire going and it was very pleasant sitting around until a late 8.30 pm.

Day 17: Salmon Gums to Norseman

Lovely caravan park but frosty morning this morning, it was -0.1 degrees at 6 am but quickly went back up to 7 degrees by 7:45 am. The girls shower was still cold this morning and a bit smelly. So again I decided it wasn't worth a cold shower just to smell nice.

Lots of salmon gums lined the local streets and in the natural bush areas. These ones are not as pink as up north but still a favourite tree. We are heading north toNorseman and the wind was a NEasterly. Both breaks today were just on the side of the road. Peter's new bike has developed a noisy bottom bracket. The boys all had a look at it but couldn't fix it.

When we got into Norseman, Peter and Collis rang the bike shop in Bunbury where Peter bought the bike and tried to sort out some sort of solution. It's a bit difficult as there are no bike repair shops anywhere from here to Adelaide. Collis took 3 of the boys shopping for food and I had already done the shop for the next 3 bush camps. I had a word with Peter about the amount of food he had in both eski. Peter is worried he will run out of food on the Nullarbor but we were able to reassure him this has never happened. He did a big cook up tonight to get rid of some of his excess.

Fran, Jim, Di, Collis and I went to the motel next door for dinner. Doug went to the roadhouse for a hamburger and Jacquei and Peter cooked in. The motel meals were quite huge and Di and I were unable to finish them. There was some party activity somewhere in town tonight but I mostly slept through it.

Day 16: Esperence to Salmon Gums

I took a quarter of a sleeping tablet last night and with my new thermals I was toastey and warm and slept straight through. Apparently I didn't wake up to Collis' call to nature or some arguing in camp around 2.30 am. I love my new clothes!

Everyone was away by 8 am and it was a great days ride except for a little drizzle early in the day. The weather cleared and was fine for the rest of the day. Lunch was at Grass Patch which had a very interesting history of the local hero who received a Victorian Cross. Quiet small little town with a quaint little pub.

The day finished at Salmon Gums where Collis shouted everyone Pizza for tea at the local pub. It was lovely and warm by the pub's fire and Collis got to watch the Swans being slaughtered by West Coast.

I went to have a late shower only to find that the water was freezing cold and couldn't work out how to fix it in the dark so I went to bed unclean.

Day 15: Esperence Rest Day

So nice to sleep in again this morning. I ended up taking half a sleeper so I could get a good nights sleep. I was still woken by someone chatting away in the early hours of the morning. First off I thought he must have been on the phone or talking in his sleep but then someone was answering him. A bit annoying but at least we got to sleep in till 7 am when woken by someone looking for laundry detergent. Not too bad as we had gone to bed around 8 pm, so close to 11 hours.

Collis and I have offered to drive the riders out to Cape Le Grand today but Jacquei, Di and Doug decided they weren't all that interested.

 So Collis took the boys and Jacquei and I had a girls day in town with shopping and lunch. I ended up buying myself some thermal pyjamas and Jacquei surprised me with some merino bed socks. I can't wait to go to bed tonight. The boys loved Cape Le Grand and it seems like it is a four day visit next time.

It has rained on/off all day but it is forecast for clearing skies tomorrow. The washing didn't dry at all so it was wait in line for the dryer and then 5 spins later most of the washing was finished. Pumpkin soup and crusty bread for dinner- great.

Got a text from Sam to say they made it to Salmon Gums and yes it did rain most of the day but all good.

Day 14: Munglinup to Esperence

Great night although there was a couple arguing in the middle of the night which woke the camp. Not sure who it was but they were quite loud. Poor old Di has a cold and was coughing a lot of the night- she doesn't sound good. Sam stayed with us last night and is anxious to get to Esperence to get his bike fixed. He has another day in the car with Collis before this happens.

Peter was up early and what Collis and I thought were local indigenous people making noise at 6 am turned out to be the local shearers over at the roadhouse buying their daily grog supply before work. We had to put the generator on early so that we could boil water for breakfast and morning tea supplies. Only one complaint and that was from one of our own riders.

Canola fields all morning giving the scenery a lovely yellow hue which is quite spectacular against the dark grey clouds. No rain as yet but looks threatening. Lots of Port Lincoln parrots flying around. Road still undulating but nowhere near as bad as a few days ago.

Him and Fran ended up riding for approximately an hour in the rain but everyone else seemed to have missed it. The sky opened up as soon as we got here and rained on and off all evening and night. I'm certainly glad I brought my umbrella (much to Collis' disgust) but he has been using it tonight.

Most of us went out to the pub for dinner and met up with Sam and his mate John. John has already fixed Sam's bike and they are heading out tomorrow to Salmon Gums. The boys want to stay a day ahead of us just in case something else goes wrong.