Day 14: Cadney Park to Marla

Woken this morning at 5 am by a couple of family groups with mother's voices louder than the children's voices. They weren't considering anyone else in the camp ground. We are just fortunate that most of us were in bed by 8 pm last night - we had all had adequate night's sleep. Because of the early waking, the riders were all gone by 7.45 am and they only have 80 km ride today with the best tail wind you have ever seen.

Collis was hanging around in camp but I decided to go ahead as I thought the riders would be moving pretty quick today. I arrived at morning tea stop (43 kms- rest area) just after Annie arrived and just before Kirsten. The girls were leading the pack today. Problem was that Collis had the hot water for their cups of tea but I thought he wouldn't be far behind.I was wrong and the reason for this was discovered when he decided to tell the males of the group what happened to him back at the campground. Some ?Danish girls climbed out of their campervan and headed to the toilet when the second girl climbed out and looked to have no undies on. Turned out she had on a g-string but he was very taken aback and lost track of time. Hhmmmm.

The terrains was special today but not really sure why- it was quite flat and scrubby bushes up till morning tea when the trees kicked in. It was just so peaceful and serene. Arrived at Marla before lunch time so we now have to find things to entertain ourselves with after lunch, shower and some laundry.

Day 13: Coober Pedy to Cadney Park

Up early this morning and got the boiling water started early. Forecast for southerly winds today but unfortunately the road doesn’t go directly up the middle- it has lots of twists and turns. I think I upset a couple of riders at morning tea when I made silly singing noises every time the “wind” was discussed. I just became annoyed and bored when the winds were the main topic of conversation for every morning tea. How much can one say about the wind that your fellow rider does not already know. I think my issue is actually my guilt that I am sitting comfortably in the car and not suffering along with the riders. One rider said(out on the road today): “ We are getting about 5 kms of tail winds and then 5 kms of side winds. This is what we signed up for- there shouldn’t be any complaints.” Morning tea at 40 km mark with cold pizza, easter eggs, jam biscuits, dried fruit and fresh fruit. Who could ask for more.

The day started off with scenes of sandy mounds across the landscape and then this suddenly stopped- similar to little anthills. Coober Pedy apparently translates to “White man’s burrow”.

After morning tea the riders flew down the road with a very strong tail wind. Lunch was at the 90 km mark and Collis was way out on his estimated time of arrival for every rider. Some were in by more than half an hour earlier than predicted. The terrain has returned to low scrubby bushes and trees with occasional creek channels or beds. The soil is still very red.

We had a water break at the 120 km mark but no-one stopped because they had excellent winds. Poor old Gareth came along hoping to catch some of them at afternoon tea just to find they had all gone on so he thought he better not stop. Lew asked Collis to pick him up when he passes him down the road so we stayed longer than we usually do (just to encourage him to try and complete the day). When Collis drove past him he appeared happy to keep going. Lew rode the whole distance.

Everyone camping tonight after lots of discussion between Mark and Kirsten re- motel rooms and asking people to share. Not sure if anyone was asked but they both decided to camp.

Day 12: Coober Pedy Rest Day

Usual rest day activities with lots of bike cleaning, laundry and shopping in the morning followed by:

1. Lew, Kirsten, Jane and Mark all went on a 4 your town tour which was run by the caravan park. Apparently very interesting and informative.

2. Annie and Gareth did their own separate town tours visiting places that interested them and thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

3. Theo has been here before so he just wandered around the town.

4. Collis and I did another big shop for the next bush camp and the next 7 morning teas.

Collis decided to shout everyone pizza for dinner at the caravan park and he ordered 5 family pizzas- they were huge and we ended up having a whole pizza left over. Lew was overheard negotiating with Jane re- when he would get in the car tomorrow and when Jane would want to get in. Jane was noncommittal and I’m pretty sure she would prefer to ride as much as she possibly can. Pretty sure Lew is planning on getting in the truck tomorrow.

Day 11: Bush Camp to Coober Pedy

Woke before sunrise and hoping for an impressive sunrise to top off a great bush camp but we were sadly disappointed. Lew, Kirsten and Annie had flat tyres. Lew and Kirsten had to change their tyres but Annie managed to pump hers up and it lasted the whole day. We must remember to tell all riders to carry their bikes into all bush camps due to these prickles that looked like landmines.


The riders left from about 7.45 am until 8.30 am. We cleaned up and left around 9.15 am. Morning tea was fruit cake, biscuits and fruit at the 50 km mark down the road. Lunch was at the 90 km mark where Collis took my car and the blown tyre and headed to Coober Pedy to get a new tyre.

Lew grabbed a lift from lunch to afternoon tea and then he swapped with Jane who is having a bad day all round. It was a tough day even though the kms had been reduced and everyone was happy to see Coober Pedy. The campground has no grass (Kirsten states it's a carpark) and there is a centennial celebration in the town.

Day 10: Wirraminna to Bush Camp 158 kms

The day started off with a fantastic cooked breakfast out on the patio. Collis and I managed to get 20 farm fresh eggs provided as well. They allowed us to fill up all our tanks and containers with rain water as well. If anyone is out this way and looking for a really great place to stay then you can't go past Wirraminna. The bore water is full of minerals and a bit odorous but apparently really good for the skin. My hair came out really soft but Theo said his hair was a bit dry.

Morning tea was at Glendambo which has become very run down. We had the company of a very friendly kelpie for a while until his owner arrived from a nearby property and took him home. Gareth decided to buy a coffee, one for him and one for Jane, and handed over $10, only to be told it would cost $14. Not sure if it was worth the cost. Kirsten bought a small bottle of coke and it cost $4.70. Hot cross buns for morning tea.

Lots of cattle grids which the riders have been advised to walk their bikes across. Most have ignored this advice but Theo and Jane were doing it. Until one time we drove past Theo and he rode across the grid and waved to us at the same time. My heart skipped as he looked like he was about to come off his bike once again. Theo reassured me that it looked worse than it was as he does a mountain bike jump.

Lunch was on the side of the road at 90 kms but no-one was really hungry. I spotted a dingo or a wild dog slinking through the bushes at the side of the road. The temperature was warming up quite a bit by lunchtime. We had another stop at 135 km mark for water only. The camp site was revised and we will be going further than first estimated. In the afternoon they had little or no wind and if any wind then it would be a tail wind. The trailer had another blow out (second one for the trip). It was so violent that it blew the mudguard off.

Great bush camp spot tonight with no spiders or those pesky bush rats. Lots of flies were the only drawback. Flynets came into use. We had curried tuna and rice followed by apple crumble and custard. Most of it went and enjoyed by all.

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.

Day 8: Port Augusta to Bush Camp 135 kms

Driving out of Port Augusta this morning, the town came to a sudden halt and we were hit by the sight of the Aussie Outback. Today is April Fools Day and we were trying to think up a trick to play on the riders. At morning tea Collis told the riders that there was a change in riding plan today and instead of 135 kms they would be riding 177 kms to Pimba. He mucked it up by saying the weather was going to change and they would have southerly winds to help them. So everyone virtually just said yeah OK, except Kirsten who whistled at the distance. He then had to tell them it wasn’t true and was an april fools joke- it fell a little flat.

We couldn’t actually find the morning tea rest area so chose a cleared area next to the railway line. Kirsten arrived late for morning tea as she had a slow leak. Mark talked her into changing the tyre and he actually did the change for her. They rode off together but didn’t get further than a km down the road before the same tube was flat again. Mark came back and got us and they changed the tyre and the tube. This put them a fair way behind the rest of the group so I went ahead and Collis stayed behind to keep an eye on them.

Lunch was at a rest area around the 92 km mark and everything was going along smoothly now. The group was fairly well staying within cooee of each other and helping each other out in a full on head wind. Lew is struggling a bit today but was determined to keep riding.

Collis and I picked a camp spot around the 135 km mark in amongst the sand hills and trees. Not a huge choice around this area as not always a lot of coverage. As we pulled up Collis pointed out these huge holes in the sand and put in my head that they contained trap door spiders. When Annie arrived he told her to watch out for them even though I told him not to mention any of this to her as it would freak her out. Theo and Jane came in close together but it was awhile before I noticed Theo had some injuries on his R) side. He had run into Jane’s back wheel and went down into the middle of the road. Lucky no traffic at the time. No adverse damage and appears to be all superficial grazes- he was a lucky boy. Lew was helped in by Mark and Gareth as he was intermittently walking and riding.

Dinner tonight was a sausage casserole followed by bread & butter pudding with cream. It was enjoyed by all and only a small amount of casserole left and no pudding left over. Lovely night around the campfire although it was quite a humid night. Sunset was quite good but difficult to photograph and no stars due to cloud cover. Lew warned everyone to take their riding shoes into the tents with them as the bush rats have a habit of dragging off shoes if left out.

So in my mind I had trapdoor spiders crawling all over our awning and bush rats trying to climb up the inside of the truck all night long. Not much sleep had by me especially with all the trucks going past throughout the night as well.