Day 41: Gawler Rest Day

It's supposed to be 22 degrees today which sounds like a heatwave after the cold weather we have had this leg. Jacquei and I decided to go for a drive to check out some of the villages in the area and have breakfast out. We stopped at a little place called Williamstown which had the best op shop I have ever seen. I didn't buy anything but it was all so beautifully presented and the staff were absolute treasures. Breakfast was great as well.

Jacquei then went out for lunch with a friend, Collis took Peter into Adelaide and was then going to pick up Jen from the airport. I just did some shopping. Jim went to breakfast with Doug, Di and Peter and then I'm not sure how everyone's day panned out. Except for Doug, who managed to get his bike fixed. So he can ride with the group tomorrow.

Our two new riders are Jen and Neil.

Day 40: Clare to Gawler

Everyone seemed to have a comfortable night except for a couple of (military- according to Jim) helicopters flew over in the early hours of e morning. It appears only Jim and Jacquei heard them so everyone else obviously did sleep well.

We left later today and stopped for a coffee at Auburn at a very nice cafe which catered for cyclists and they were very excited with what we were doing. We again stopped at another town on the way and had another morning tea. Peter is still on the bike path and still enjoying himself. Doug has damaged his cable and is riding on his own as he has very few gears and is going quite fast. Jacquei was riding with Di for awhile but then she dropped back to take photos.

We were all in at Gawler by lunchtime and were given a spot down by the creek on lovely green grass. Collis asked about a camp kitchen but all they have is the BBQ area. The manager came down with a fridge for us.

Tonight is Peter's last night and Collis ordered in pizzas and some wine and beer for the occassion. Tomorrow we have two new riders joining us for the last section home.

Day 39: Laura to Clare

Cold morning with frost and fog. The fire still had glowing embers so Jim was first up and got the fire going beautifully. Such a treat on this very icy day. They are predicting a lovely day by the afternoon so let's hope they are right.

Rolling hills and picturesque scenery with canola fields, wild life and  wineries all the way. The day started with a coffee for Jacquei, Peter and Jim in town before leaving. Their stop was not planned and therefore Di and Doug were unaware and they ended up quite a fair way ahead of the group. We have to cater for the group as best we can and when they are so far apart it is not easy. Unfortunately Di and Doug were waiting for quite awhile and were not happy as they had got cold during the wait. We will have to reintroduce the times for morning tea and lunch so people can plan their day in advance- working out what time they will leave to manage to get to tea on time.

Peter rode the bike path for some of the way and thoroughly enjoyed himself. He came in quite a bit later than everyone else but saw much more than they did. This is what these rides are all about. I don't know how many times we have to remind the riders that it's not a race.

Collis and I decided to take a cabin tonight as our previous experiences of Clare are for extremely cold nights and I wanted an electric blanket. The riders have come prepared for the cold nights being equiped with down sleeping bags and thermals night wear whereas Collis is a minimalist and would allow me to pack an extra blanket or two for these cold nights (so now he can pay the price).

All the riders went out for dinner and we stayed in. I wonder how much we were discussed as both our ears were burning.

Day 38: Port Augusta to Laura

Cold old morning this morning with another thick fog. We chatted and gave some advice to some Korean cyclists that arrived last night- they are riding 7050 kms from the Gold Coast to Perth via Uluru and the Great Victorian Desert. They are supported by a Korean based company but they are carrying all their own clothes and they share one tent. All very basic. Also another guy who is unsupported and riding up to meet his son in Pimba. His son has ridden from Germany to Adelaide by the time he finishes.

Doug and Di are concerned about traffic out of Port Augusta and seem concerned regarding the climb over the Flinders Ranges (although I found out later that wasn't the case) so they left as soon as the sun appeared. They were going to ride to Melrose unsupported as the others didn't feel the need to leave so early.

We stopped at the lookout on top of Horrocks Pass and decided to have morning tea there. Lovely downhill ride into Wilmington and then onto Melrose for lunch. Di and Doug were still there when we arrived and they bought a couple of things at the bike shop. The shop had a welcome sign out for us when we arrived as well.

Then an easy ride into Laura although there was a little headwind for a short period but it soon turned around. Jacquei rode with a bee next to her for 5 minutes waiting for it to sting her but he just flew off.

Day 37: Port Augusta Rest Day

Another lovely day once the fog lifted. Collis and I went out for breakfast then onto the flea market where I bought up big again. After this we went to the Arid Lands Botanical Gardens.

In the afternoon I dropped Collis off at the races before Jacquei and I went back to the botanical gardens for lunch. Peter arrived here just as we were finishing. Great local food at the gardens and plenty of it.

Group dinner tonight with Peter cooking a lamb roast, Di and Doug doing the veggies and gravy, Collis and I contributed a Quandong pie (bought at the market) and Jacquei bought a bottle of red wine. Jim doesn't like roast lamb so he went to the pub for dinner. He had sausages and mash. Great meal- thanks everyone.

Day 36: Whyalla to Port Augusta

Everyone is looking forward to another rest day tomorrow so high spirits taking off today. They were warned that the traffic will start to increase even further from here into PA. cold and a little foggy today so take off was a little delayed waiting for the fog to lift slightly for better visibility.

Getting through Whyalla wasn't as bad as most of them thought it would be but Jim and Jacquei took a couple of wrong turns but still made good time. Morning tea was at the junction of the Eyre Highway and the Lincoln Highway. Lots of trucks and caravans around here but we were in a rest area so all good. Short run into PA from here so nice relaxed day(or so I thought).

The riders found riding into Port Augusta a bit hairy but I think they have forgotten what city travel is like after being out in the bush for so long. Anyway everyone made it in safely and settled into the caravan park by early afternoon.

Jacquei, Collis and I went and had lunch in town before going to the movies to see The Last Cab to Darwin with Michael Caton. Great movie and most of the places he stopped at, we had visited just in the last 5 months so this made it even more enjoyable. I cooked in tonight and early to bed.

Day 35: Cowell to Whyalla

Lovely sunrise this morning which we witnessed over the water. Everyone still very relaxed and weather is looking promising again today. The wind was more than favourable today and Doug said the scenery was the best so far. Actually we are back in saltbush territory so it was looking just the same to me. You do see different things when on the bike compared to what you see in the car.

We were into town early again and Collis dropped his car off for a wheel alignment. We are again camped on the foreshore and loving it. The camping area is a little cramped but the scenery make up for this. Peter is loving the amp kitchen so he is eating at home whereas Collis, Jim, Jacquei and myself went to the Spencer Hotel for tonight's special of soup and schnitzel for $15. Nice night. Doug and Di were deceived by the outer facade of both hotels so picked an expensive restaurant on the foreshore- apparently the food was good.

Collis watched the footy at th camp kitchen and the Swannies won his week.