tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30108133570105225462024-03-12T22:53:36.895-07:00Nullabor 2010Ell on Wheelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17749009822380243083noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3010813357010522546.post-71777209895540243402010-04-18T22:43:00.000-07:002010-04-18T23:39:04.970-07:00Nullarbor, I'm not done with you yet, "I'll be back!"Our last leg home (Mt. Gambier to Melb) was 'interesting' ... we were both looking forward to and glad to be finally home but, at the same time a little sad for the end of our first BIG adventure :-/<br /><br />We've been home just five days now but already we've been discussing and planning our next big trip!!! ... I think we're hooked ;-)<br /><br />There were many places we wanted to stop longer in and explore, but time was the enemy ... so too our bikes in a way ... so in 2011, we're thinking about catching the "Indian Pacific" from Adelaide to Perth, then hiring a Brits van or similar to go see more 'stuff' around south WA and of course the Nullarbor, drive to SA and then fly home from there ... or something like that :-)<br /><br />But then, 2011 is the year of MY 50th!! OMG!!!! F'n FIFTY! :-O<br /><br />... maybe we should spend a few weeks heading north instead! ;-)<br /><br /><br />"Nullarbor Reflections" ...<br /><br />Our lovely big Beemers were brilliant for the job given (long-haul kms) but they also had their limitations - not all roads (unsealed) were suitable for big heavy road bikes and, if a photo 'needed' to be taken along the way, the camber of the soft gravel road edges was often uninviting, to put it mildly!<br /><br />Our rider > rider comms: a good start, but too often 'scratchy' and need improving - we'll investigate stronger units that will be hard-wired to the bikes ... Oh! and I need a helmet or bike cam! ;-)<br /><br />These really were the only 'negatives' about our trip, the other 98% was TOTALLY fabulous, and I'd do it all again in a heartbeat!! :-)<br /><br />Thank you all for following, I hope it wasn't too boring ;-)<br /><br />Thank you also to Vince at MotorCycle Motion for instilling a bit more confidence into this Nervous Nellie prior to our trip :-) And big thanks to Ed at Peter Stevens in the City for getting us geared up with all the good stuff! Wearing the right gear helped make our trip even more enjoyable! Big thanks also to our friends in SA, for putting us up for a few nights at their gorgeous place in Carey Gully - to have your support and friendship is invaluable :-)<br /><br />And the biggest thank you of all - to my man!<br /><br />Two and a half months ago, I was a "newbie rider on a BIG bike" who hadn't done more than a 500km ride (in one day, let alone consecutively!) prior to starting this trip. Chris planned and 'lead the tour', but had me constantly in his mirrors all the way and full of praise for every little achievement ... I'm nowhere near as good a rider as he is, but now having done this trip I'm a lot better - couldn't have done it without his encouragement though :-)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Sigh ... back to reality tomorrow, to start saving annual leave all over again ... BRING IT ON!!!!!!!!! :-DEll on Wheelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17749009822380243083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3010813357010522546.post-82303448153010203622010-04-13T04:21:00.000-07:002010-04-18T22:43:35.192-07:00Tuesday … Carey Gully to Mt. Gambier<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDGnpytlWegf3uLgbHYAhnTFGy7Lr0zensGsIfnV52koR-sTbadJw34UrV5pr0h6XV8FrnmCX6pk4l-bYghE2EeNgJFwSCGvjbxNdJtBcJPHIdIjSf6HJWgD2Tf4kIVTeJth9xsN-kNIY/s1600/Adl+to+Mt+Gambier.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 356px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDGnpytlWegf3uLgbHYAhnTFGy7Lr0zensGsIfnV52koR-sTbadJw34UrV5pr0h6XV8FrnmCX6pk4l-bYghE2EeNgJFwSCGvjbxNdJtBcJPHIdIjSf6HJWgD2Tf4kIVTeJth9xsN-kNIY/s400/Adl+to+Mt+Gambier.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459581160626624322" /></a><br />In the saddle around 9am, and we didn’t get lost finding our way out of Carey Gully this time ;-)<br /><br />We were all of 10kms down the Highway, when we spotted a Cop bike parked in the shadows of the trees in the center … radar gun in hand, he ignored our cheery waves … I wonder if the white Beasts had anything to do with that ;-) Then a little further up, two more Cops on bikes had another motorbike rider bailed up – I got a wave in reply from one :-)<br /><br />Rest stop and “2nd breakfast” in the pretty township of Meningie, on the shore of Lake Albert – what a historic past!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj__VqY9Q4eoYLncTrIjcCGmoZfRRPrt-3B8GhMLBS1hhlBIzxl0Cxgu0N8ssEDGCrbjvMM6sr4l-hSQRN0IbCLThTVln3dJ9r9YgPPqs4RKz-JXbzx3dgZZ8OaWhZ-JIipi5saAV3ABRI/s1600/1.Meningie.1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj__VqY9Q4eoYLncTrIjcCGmoZfRRPrt-3B8GhMLBS1hhlBIzxl0Cxgu0N8ssEDGCrbjvMM6sr4l-hSQRN0IbCLThTVln3dJ9r9YgPPqs4RKz-JXbzx3dgZZ8OaWhZ-JIipi5saAV3ABRI/s400/1.Meningie.1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459581973308661234" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTloKteIOMhLYH6p4KwbK3al1wQCTn07DsFTrsoHboeC6Mo5FTPyWSK6pGkxkMDYuzssShxhq71GkI9YbHVkbP_wJFwUh5U9Zf9VQJDGNgqlt7leXtUI9LZaYgnfy9lJAt8fonZHo8fuQ/s1600/1.Meningie.2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTloKteIOMhLYH6p4KwbK3al1wQCTn07DsFTrsoHboeC6Mo5FTPyWSK6pGkxkMDYuzssShxhq71GkI9YbHVkbP_wJFwUh5U9Zf9VQJDGNgqlt7leXtUI9LZaYgnfy9lJAt8fonZHo8fuQ/s400/1.Meningie.2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459581888574129138" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKPWQMqLhePAZbtfgfLhOH3VyoSZHSnJP7UjrJr_CEgQjn0evVmohe7JTn-_m0aDEMkLJbDwTRZe9yzMWIktUQOad9Nz4QsCb-vyRXfuKAL5zVwGE6eIQ____UVlomjK2WkTqH-coJN2k/s1600/1.Meningie.3.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKPWQMqLhePAZbtfgfLhOH3VyoSZHSnJP7UjrJr_CEgQjn0evVmohe7JTn-_m0aDEMkLJbDwTRZe9yzMWIktUQOad9Nz4QsCb-vyRXfuKAL5zVwGE6eIQ____UVlomjK2WkTqH-coJN2k/s400/1.Meningie.3.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459581807708283362" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOb9ekQ7kOQl_g8Q89T_CVDjKlhLtYEstC1XvELg04nI4B_ZyK_L0SaMEBTur49FS0_iqciH0u-zPq-1Pxvlc3HTgqHF97XXBzx3ycJBhlsv1xLfVCVJsm8d5spX1BM-tI2-iaDR4VqBw/s1600/1.Meningie.4.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOb9ekQ7kOQl_g8Q89T_CVDjKlhLtYEstC1XvELg04nI4B_ZyK_L0SaMEBTur49FS0_iqciH0u-zPq-1Pxvlc3HTgqHF97XXBzx3ycJBhlsv1xLfVCVJsm8d5spX1BM-tI2-iaDR4VqBw/s400/1.Meningie.4.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459581710642933986" /></a><br />The next 40ks of road out of Meningie were a casual picturesque 100km limit, with much of the undulating winding road running alongside the coastal wetlands and dunes … lovely! :-)<br /><br />Fuel at Kingston SE (does anyone know what “SE” stands for?) before pushing on to detour to Robe for lunch … such a pretty spot, we MUST come back for a much better longer look!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1e5mQamySsojHoMx_MLok4PK5q1_Cs9ZIeBQ9rF_Y0rWToX_Hzi-uPELiGa6hde8mJJTUaQz0OOKGLWWsVHmf3JmQqc9M2mHCbftmwk1mjKlOc70jPAm4RqwHnGxlddao8GPlF9jK04g/s1600/1.Robe.1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1e5mQamySsojHoMx_MLok4PK5q1_Cs9ZIeBQ9rF_Y0rWToX_Hzi-uPELiGa6hde8mJJTUaQz0OOKGLWWsVHmf3JmQqc9M2mHCbftmwk1mjKlOc70jPAm4RqwHnGxlddao8GPlF9jK04g/s400/1.Robe.1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459582514961229586" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpoBthzPN-RDaRWJRPaF5wxfy9K1BsZSiU7sbr5NksXEE_601Ch0jW7Ne4TcRUzmEsxqJ1gfp-ctZYQ6sK_iIDNqPqt1YfED8YNe46YFR976yNtwVq4Ue_U7r4qN0E3qFOIqxVfodvGhI/s1600/1.Robe.3.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpoBthzPN-RDaRWJRPaF5wxfy9K1BsZSiU7sbr5NksXEE_601Ch0jW7Ne4TcRUzmEsxqJ1gfp-ctZYQ6sK_iIDNqPqt1YfED8YNe46YFR976yNtwVq4Ue_U7r4qN0E3qFOIqxVfodvGhI/s400/1.Robe.3.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459582357999824722" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcwNsBH2pZeHwBN8LyxlJFPXXaYznVhZxWBReeyzt9YHTiMmkL-KavhlHI0gVLBNAUdRQL755SjAIJQVvAPnrTTr7uLD05WYA2R5nsNcyb7fg34gAgG50bgZmk9CnW6WLeiHT1iRQdCjE/s1600/1.Robe.4.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcwNsBH2pZeHwBN8LyxlJFPXXaYznVhZxWBReeyzt9YHTiMmkL-KavhlHI0gVLBNAUdRQL755SjAIJQVvAPnrTTr7uLD05WYA2R5nsNcyb7fg34gAgG50bgZmk9CnW6WLeiHT1iRQdCjE/s400/1.Robe.4.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459582263536625410" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivfCyPYlL0YRRuG5uz0zf6GbnYb6bXs9mWosUZiW5wZHL7uyVeJBV6LTwBfTWD2ZIG0qAik67UBdlTQj0mpYqKXWD8mvy2l-QpIS6W7zMBYjrfXfECXgLtouQSmOSHHbiybOKbaxXF_GQ/s1600/1.Robe.swans.1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivfCyPYlL0YRRuG5uz0zf6GbnYb6bXs9mWosUZiW5wZHL7uyVeJBV6LTwBfTWD2ZIG0qAik67UBdlTQj0mpYqKXWD8mvy2l-QpIS6W7zMBYjrfXfECXgLtouQSmOSHHbiybOKbaxXF_GQ/s400/1.Robe.swans.1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459582183364770034" /></a><br />Millicent, and a requested photo stop …<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6NZOlHDxvgbjAzSiGlfXf1fNbJ7f_RomSn4chYe9XNugCSG8RncWUflWgZxn0P96IQRvVr_tK7SL7LL1A2f2GqwAojCa2jlFzDB-mgKf4BSn_gY3C_OESxNE_NpNsZNbFO14IpyUUsks/s1600/1.Penola.1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6NZOlHDxvgbjAzSiGlfXf1fNbJ7f_RomSn4chYe9XNugCSG8RncWUflWgZxn0P96IQRvVr_tK7SL7LL1A2f2GqwAojCa2jlFzDB-mgKf4BSn_gY3C_OESxNE_NpNsZNbFO14IpyUUsks/s400/1.Penola.1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459582766418058882" /></a><br />This pic is dedicated to my Dad – for as long as I can remember, there has always been a boat of some sort “in the family”, and a little two masted wooden sailing boat called ”Penola” was in our family for a very long time – fond childhood memories :-)<br /><br />It’s getting noticeably colder and darker – Autumn with shades of approaching Winter is definitely on its way! The Beast’s heated hands grips are my best friends!!<br />Mt. Gambier finally, and it’s a lot bigger than I remember … lodgings for the night easily found, dinner at the Hotel across the road of Chicken breast stuffed with ham and Camembert … and we are just a short 25kms from the Victorian border!Ell on Wheelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17749009822380243083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3010813357010522546.post-22805700672634302802010-04-13T04:14:00.000-07:002010-04-13T04:20:48.512-07:00Monday … a rest day, spent very quietly, Blog catch-up done while seated outside in the afternoon sunshine (if only there could be a ban on those blasted peace-disturbing trucks using Greenhill Rd as a through-way!) took loads of photo’s of MsD’s garden ;-) and we enjoyed a yummy "last supper" with our friends :-)<br /><br />Of the 50 or more I took, just few of my fav's ...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqfw1LtOYxYwPScVTTJ_CTyn4S7b8WGLp3G6hWdHMFL_1iYTlIPiDiFJyt6bUfiRc-ZH04MYqaQDKHjU4miXAEySv04YXppJzq-OhDUouKWW2SKCo5QtexpQ4ff_WP-7ZtqUDeA2b0Zls/s1600/1.garden.1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqfw1LtOYxYwPScVTTJ_CTyn4S7b8WGLp3G6hWdHMFL_1iYTlIPiDiFJyt6bUfiRc-ZH04MYqaQDKHjU4miXAEySv04YXppJzq-OhDUouKWW2SKCo5QtexpQ4ff_WP-7ZtqUDeA2b0Zls/s400/1.garden.1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459579649490681058" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikFmNY_N0nrvq5szL4kCy6ZiVU-qm3YlpHmcRr7iI-WJoT6FpqdMQ8mLDjcgfXiQ1hxr1zT5VsW_G7MdJ2pmt42FcSROM6H1eeBTCN1oWTEez70rkB2aw-FIpuoubCm8YQMnJz1qc0Sws/s1600/1.garden.2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikFmNY_N0nrvq5szL4kCy6ZiVU-qm3YlpHmcRr7iI-WJoT6FpqdMQ8mLDjcgfXiQ1hxr1zT5VsW_G7MdJ2pmt42FcSROM6H1eeBTCN1oWTEez70rkB2aw-FIpuoubCm8YQMnJz1qc0Sws/s400/1.garden.2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459579559507387554" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGN1F9cRKB0hl9-OgLYLyhT_W0dFtemzEu4h4W8qpjE7I1aPeVwIYz3SJBAR5T5u-LTuJmQe3V-3MALokrAS-NslWHYVyvgae4XEnE7W8AU1SJNuhv_kgPbL9zIIkf3L7Eeb_ji9y_r6s/s1600/1.garden.3.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGN1F9cRKB0hl9-OgLYLyhT_W0dFtemzEu4h4W8qpjE7I1aPeVwIYz3SJBAR5T5u-LTuJmQe3V-3MALokrAS-NslWHYVyvgae4XEnE7W8AU1SJNuhv_kgPbL9zIIkf3L7Eeb_ji9y_r6s/s400/1.garden.3.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459579469929284018" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTVPEIGMf8cer6ZVR1uj87NxVx-M0ilkoc2yXA3JAo41LFF1zu0eCw12XyjE7TtDWnAyvAk_wcnrB8pTcWqPUVwYgzllL40bmWQ-pj62CgCOAOWlnwXv-PsjYFg5pUxOxHkF5ejexBzEE/s1600/1.garden.1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTVPEIGMf8cer6ZVR1uj87NxVx-M0ilkoc2yXA3JAo41LFF1zu0eCw12XyjE7TtDWnAyvAk_wcnrB8pTcWqPUVwYgzllL40bmWQ-pj62CgCOAOWlnwXv-PsjYFg5pUxOxHkF5ejexBzEE/s400/1.garden.1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459579958823004450" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTuLBC4INrx_i9OWqoKkX-LPM7TRsD8jlQCTPJe-8W6CpYhINrd8C8BJEzyXPJARRr4T51DPSUZfNGJ5Bd5TahalzyfaRJTF2bPoKpAXZY6bn5TSzwBCjcfbk5ZWxfVe3kq3yh0f455_A/s1600/1.garden.2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTuLBC4INrx_i9OWqoKkX-LPM7TRsD8jlQCTPJe-8W6CpYhINrd8C8BJEzyXPJARRr4T51DPSUZfNGJ5Bd5TahalzyfaRJTF2bPoKpAXZY6bn5TSzwBCjcfbk5ZWxfVe3kq3yh0f455_A/s400/1.garden.2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459579857141252674" /></a>Ell on Wheelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17749009822380243083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3010813357010522546.post-29899364365502258062010-04-12T01:17:00.000-07:002010-04-12T01:33:04.090-07:00Sunday … Port Augusta to Carey Gully (SA)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYA0Lj83-dRCKBjrM4gzYq9m72ezdcqTJt4h_9Zs1_HeMJ-vcaOaxurbUYLYIr7mP6RK6MgIGZfBsWoM_U2KGIl0NHl02wLci3-QqV0uWrJi8FjRMPYCvU1ZUr2OtGS2xiZy9lVq5OJDY/s1600/Pt+Augusta+to+Adl.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 324px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYA0Lj83-dRCKBjrM4gzYq9m72ezdcqTJt4h_9Zs1_HeMJ-vcaOaxurbUYLYIr7mP6RK6MgIGZfBsWoM_U2KGIl0NHl02wLci3-QqV0uWrJi8FjRMPYCvU1ZUr2OtGS2xiZy9lVq5OJDY/s400/Pt+Augusta+to+Adl.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459162915408157938" /></a><br />I’m up early, hoping to get some pics of the Flinders Ranges with a sunrise … 20 minutes earlier and I might have got some half decent pics … oh well, next time ;-)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZIsS28ISw-NEiJwfc8xHAuvRewmJGUWDCzazFzkadSUpcm7zmlipHznsGsptGzQdxdg0Dd0yRPBrTDH_Jrdohk8f1xT3-OJA092PVH9brWPuG497ObG8351DNrgVfGxhcuHXn6ik4Jus/s1600/1.Port.Augusta.1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZIsS28ISw-NEiJwfc8xHAuvRewmJGUWDCzazFzkadSUpcm7zmlipHznsGsptGzQdxdg0Dd0yRPBrTDH_Jrdohk8f1xT3-OJA092PVH9brWPuG497ObG8351DNrgVfGxhcuHXn6ik4Jus/s400/1.Port.Augusta.1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459165103435364754" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5KcHQQnldsc2Egoat5vjuFWnUX3LhSZ_NZjh4K6aPiyaiKnvgBQ6RLiF6a919-mJjkpOmm1fihyxeTnCXbByjWu3PpY1atyluyHwb-x66nzkiamcZcrY3zciOa8D7SP1cDgkgqvOzdxM/s1600/1.Port.Augusta.2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5KcHQQnldsc2Egoat5vjuFWnUX3LhSZ_NZjh4K6aPiyaiKnvgBQ6RLiF6a919-mJjkpOmm1fihyxeTnCXbByjWu3PpY1atyluyHwb-x66nzkiamcZcrY3zciOa8D7SP1cDgkgqvOzdxM/s400/1.Port.Augusta.2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459165008893841138" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Gd3wx4AlQ1HVleX2a1LitB9paCwIY79nnq7RNGT4FgNr1v6_lNlMsuQDCceuolKjYWXo9KSZFtYbaC9N0br3huLjoNnOPMd_UaKE4STHQhNBIIbXPMNN3Zz92IKA6ZBjTuHk3farEu0/s1600/1.Port.Augusta.3.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Gd3wx4AlQ1HVleX2a1LitB9paCwIY79nnq7RNGT4FgNr1v6_lNlMsuQDCceuolKjYWXo9KSZFtYbaC9N0br3huLjoNnOPMd_UaKE4STHQhNBIIbXPMNN3Zz92IKA6ZBjTuHk3farEu0/s400/1.Port.Augusta.3.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459164933140275506" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt1N7lJwg0mli4s-woIcEZgIa6XL_Cb7zCykSyhbhtvkhwC85vSrgRgU03pmIv4JRlOZatameZnE8NHBnCBUYCSkSR8xBYzX7nxx81jIX0BguLviNtXc4TE5HNJPpcqk75b7QBF6ynLLI/s1600/1.kitty.1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt1N7lJwg0mli4s-woIcEZgIa6XL_Cb7zCykSyhbhtvkhwC85vSrgRgU03pmIv4JRlOZatameZnE8NHBnCBUYCSkSR8xBYzX7nxx81jIX0BguLviNtXc4TE5HNJPpcqk75b7QBF6ynLLI/s400/1.kitty.1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459165499490871730" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiivsKtKUkDXWOW_3KkzDhdgFeKgE1eN18uaT80jRzcgqQ5TJ1S2jWHIVt7yppcXI2kPMpFl0CVsYMAnRP9Xsb64I-zW1IceBhJSoPJVBMcHIhcU8oOSbAnF8SCa9KJ7Sxm95PxAcxmLe8/s1600/1.kitty.2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiivsKtKUkDXWOW_3KkzDhdgFeKgE1eN18uaT80jRzcgqQ5TJ1S2jWHIVt7yppcXI2kPMpFl0CVsYMAnRP9Xsb64I-zW1IceBhJSoPJVBMcHIhcU8oOSbAnF8SCa9KJ7Sxm95PxAcxmLe8/s400/1.kitty.2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459165358890622898" /></a><br />The Motel's very friendly and personable "Kitty" drops in for brekky ... I share a little bit of my scrammbled eggs with her ;-)<br /><br />On the road by 8am and it starts to get very windy, but at least it wasn’t raining – yet? It had been threatening to rain though, with much of the southern end of the Flinders Ranges shrouded in dark low cloud, the furthest end invisible with rain … 100ks down the road, it was getting considerably chillier – we opt to stop at the next available servo to rug up some more; ten minutes later, it starts to drizzle and the road ahead already wet – the extra ‘rug’ had been good timing! Happily, it didn’t eventuate to more than a shower – for once the BOM got it right!<br /><br />Food, real coffee and fuel at Port Wakefield BP … by this point, we’re both tired of being buffeted by the strong head/side-wind BUT! The fact that it isn’t also pouring rain is enough to make it bearable!<br /><br />A friendly couple of elder lads stop to chat and check out the bikes – we’d passed them earlier towing a large caravan – they said we initially had them a bit worried by the “double bubble” in their rearview mirror … until we blasted past ;-)<br /><br />After all the fast Highway riding over the past three weeks, riding Greenhill Rd into Carey Gully was a treat! Thirteen kilometers of mostly uphill, fabulous twisty windy roads with a few switch-backs, 1st to 3rd gear stuff only that had us concentrating the whole way – great fun, and it’s easy to see why this road is a favorite haunt (weekend particularly) of local bikies, cyclists and vintage car clubs!<br /><br />Early afternoon arrival for a two-night stay with our friends again, dinner at a local wood fired Pizzeria to cap off the day. For a Sunday night, it was nearly full – easy to understand why - the food was GREAT!Ell on Wheelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17749009822380243083noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3010813357010522546.post-395823594231892052010-04-10T03:55:00.000-07:002010-04-12T01:16:46.781-07:00Ceduna to Port Augusta ...<br /><br />Limited (and expensive!!!!) internet access here, so today's full adventures and pics to come ... but can at least tell you we had a DRY RIDE!!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitXi9K30FyNXmdN_jLyaIN-SVemXqLDVexBVWoFLJu2qF8PC3D4c_RrLymBBLQ77N4FPMPv8-LZWLuuzvC0hYC18LS60VRKdcD5G4AaCzSK4_x7tk10KVMLlNxAw-ExGpydCmLAyUmWsU/s1600/Ceduna+to+Pt+Augusta.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitXi9K30FyNXmdN_jLyaIN-SVemXqLDVexBVWoFLJu2qF8PC3D4c_RrLymBBLQ77N4FPMPv8-LZWLuuzvC0hYC18LS60VRKdcD5G4AaCzSK4_x7tk10KVMLlNxAw-ExGpydCmLAyUmWsU/s400/Ceduna+to+Pt+Augusta.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459157881476783442" /></a><br />UPDATE:<br /><br />We’re woken early morning to the sound of HEAVY rain!! I thought those clouds late yesterday evening looked a bit too ominous, even though Chris thought they wouldn't amount to much if anything … ha! Famous last words! By breakfast though, the rain had cleared, by saddle-up, the sun was out more than hidden! Phew!<br /><br />Two pairs of tandem cyclists we originally spotted somewhere between Bordertown > Ceduna, had made considerable progress during our rest day – into a headwind, we rode past them again the other side of Poochera – Chris noticed their two support Campervans had “Perth > Sydney” written on their sides!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7lDaVKXsHCuE9oyqyfbe78IEmmTyA9yAO7yI0fr0iRhhaZaSUhtbjpbacBh0GwB5SEAdppO9kCCPrO65CrnEgfm7SwV9WcvORu3qQ4G2yhWA2XQ_ZUwka5W3G5feuqx25Y2AsCGIAY0w/s1600/1.Poochera.Etheridge.1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7lDaVKXsHCuE9oyqyfbe78IEmmTyA9yAO7yI0fr0iRhhaZaSUhtbjpbacBh0GwB5SEAdppO9kCCPrO65CrnEgfm7SwV9WcvORu3qQ4G2yhWA2XQ_ZUwka5W3G5feuqx25Y2AsCGIAY0w/s400/1.Poochera.Etheridge.1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459158730210905874" /></a><br />Rest stop at Poochera - checking the map, to the sound of full-bore Melissa Etheridge "Someone bring me some water ...", blasting of of one of the nearby houses! ;-)<br /><br />Food-stop at the local Bakery of Wudinna … great Beef Pepper pie and real coffee - just caught it though as the shop is open only during the good old fashioned Saturday hours of 9-12! It had just gone noon, and the owner was pulling in the street sign, but she was happy to make us a dose of caffeine and nuke something, as everything else in the pie-warmer had been sold … we weren’t her last customers in the door either – the window blind finally got drawn and door locked at 12.15 ;-)<br /><br />On our way to Perth two weeks ago, we had noticed from the road how impressive Iron Knob is, so we decided to take a closer look on our way back and dropped in to Iron Knob township, but what a total disappointment pictorially … the best viewpoint of Iron Knob was definitely from the Highway itself, the afternoon sunshine showing off the full colour range, but there is nowhere off road to stop! The vast and spectacularly sculptural Flinders Ranges: again, in the mid afternoon sun with shadows cast by clouds, the best pictorial view point was from the highway but sadly no roadside stop to take advantage of! The SA Tourism Commission (?) really needs to pull their socks up!!<br /><br />Slightly ‘lost’ into Port Augusta (missed the turn), almost hardly worth mentioning, but just out of habit … ;-)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggzNo58j1HszzCo0ghyphenhyphenRr4sr4FXCxVaqXWaIfoPOxHjW7wiEpCOICoaJvfRPJclcNE0SWBQuQXVLQ1erE5kYURm6WAauuOgQD9tQCyfCQ9eU0IcpzNhD8Nhzi6ALpVnUnI5P9YKinHS8Y/s1600/1.Port.Augusta.1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggzNo58j1HszzCo0ghyphenhyphenRr4sr4FXCxVaqXWaIfoPOxHjW7wiEpCOICoaJvfRPJclcNE0SWBQuQXVLQ1erE5kYURm6WAauuOgQD9tQCyfCQ9eU0IcpzNhD8Nhzi6ALpVnUnI5P9YKinHS8Y/s400/1.Port.Augusta.1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459161316191463314" /></a><br />And the significance of this pic is? ;-)<br /><br />Accom sorted and bikes unpacked, we stretched the legs with a walk across the western Port Augusta Bridge – busy with road-trains and other afternoon traffic, it was a relief to find stairs down to the river bank, and access the much older original bridge, which is now open only to foot and bicycle ‘traffic’ … lovely and peaceful!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5C36KOVav1l0USaIufZXpjxO21JzBjFOPhiTEyBvOibiOVpbdfD8wZE3wce85zOhV8r7B05mys3u3kyT3835ULu3isG3NjZ0V-Wl-np2lK-C9WY5DMPIJ9ocIBCB6a1CTRrn_tNW88OY/s1600/1.Port.Augusta.5.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5C36KOVav1l0USaIufZXpjxO21JzBjFOPhiTEyBvOibiOVpbdfD8wZE3wce85zOhV8r7B05mys3u3kyT3835ULu3isG3NjZ0V-Wl-np2lK-C9WY5DMPIJ9ocIBCB6a1CTRrn_tNW88OY/s400/1.Port.Augusta.5.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459159509487551026" /></a><br />A decripit large barge, left to rot in the mangrove swamp, original old bridge in background ...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0hkGTZkDv9DYbZwN03H2RedQF9o9NSUhc1gHtM1V009VlvzRG0gUBUcIevnnGC88r8YRDeD7SAizP6l3NdYUgdHUXy9ebuWH0e6t1OvAX8JtuOG4OcFtBLW1NSf-hQZjpm97N73LLdPA/s1600/1.Port.Augusta.3.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0hkGTZkDv9DYbZwN03H2RedQF9o9NSUhc1gHtM1V009VlvzRG0gUBUcIevnnGC88r8YRDeD7SAizP6l3NdYUgdHUXy9ebuWH0e6t1OvAX8JtuOG4OcFtBLW1NSf-hQZjpm97N73LLdPA/s400/1.Port.Augusta.3.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459160180216916050" /></a><br />"New" main western bridge ...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9_d0ifWt8Jd08mi14Ox4Z3qV8tv_rRR6XSRZkS2bNIuZOwpmGJUDi8wg48xmfl43Rk_BhbmfN8nnudkp_LGEl1t0ugq_xQuU3bDe1RgdpvzqPIFi6hBjRT7QkJaS89GXok_X9Z0xUe3k/s1600/1.Port.Augusta.4.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9_d0ifWt8Jd08mi14Ox4Z3qV8tv_rRR6XSRZkS2bNIuZOwpmGJUDi8wg48xmfl43Rk_BhbmfN8nnudkp_LGEl1t0ugq_xQuU3bDe1RgdpvzqPIFi6hBjRT7QkJaS89GXok_X9Z0xUe3k/s400/1.Port.Augusta.4.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459160547945926354" /></a><br />Just part of the massive sculptural Flinders Ranges ...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj8FewOV8xV29S0xBFk43PzS771uAhuXYZlf_tY4BcZ1foIdp-7bNsAmChkoXr4DP8dsZgstwOZy8PWzNoL8SX4O93HcUsiDM_-m-RMMzAcBee1TNYWlu7iPnWDNFmvBYpvG1km9TWMSk/s1600/1.Port.Augusta.6.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj8FewOV8xV29S0xBFk43PzS771uAhuXYZlf_tY4BcZ1foIdp-7bNsAmChkoXr4DP8dsZgstwOZy8PWzNoL8SX4O93HcUsiDM_-m-RMMzAcBee1TNYWlu7iPnWDNFmvBYpvG1km9TWMSk/s400/1.Port.Augusta.6.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459160926968222466" /></a><br />Really?? ;-)<br /><br /><br />Dinner of local whiting fillets at the WestSide Hotel … Ok for pub food.Ell on Wheelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17749009822380243083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3010813357010522546.post-63467871825225329032010-04-09T03:05:00.000-07:002010-04-09T04:38:13.480-07:00Friday … a rest day, a big Blog catch-up day (again!) and a day to DRY OUT!! Late brekky, a bit of washing, LOTS of clothes drying, and the sun thankfully comes out to dry the sodden sheep skin seat covers …<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-oTSrJc6eXGtgx5-XCMf8xSIqSbb3WwNGQtGkN2wqZl5VREtQkCJ2PlSTBkvL0HQIv8E-abGNHn7fAbxVPIVrwoJcdETlyBv8oP0Ffyoiy23HdmFG95R6gUWu4SdLM28bjmcAGZjNmV0/s1600/1.drying.out.1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-oTSrJc6eXGtgx5-XCMf8xSIqSbb3WwNGQtGkN2wqZl5VREtQkCJ2PlSTBkvL0HQIv8E-abGNHn7fAbxVPIVrwoJcdETlyBv8oP0Ffyoiy23HdmFG95R6gUWu4SdLM28bjmcAGZjNmV0/s400/1.drying.out.1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458099203989092978" /></a><br />A wander down ‘main-street’ Ceduna, send off a postcard, chat to three other bike-fellas headed for Perth … they were from Geelong too!<br /><br />Lunch … I don’t think we reeeelly needed it but, the chicken Caesar wrap looked goooood! A long stroll along the foreshore and on the Pier to settle the lunch … a Dad (blue jacket and cap) and his 8yo daughter fishing, had been to Geelong and Apollo Bay … What’s with this Geelong-thing!???<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmWWtJfBKa7jbKaMlBwEE7TjyK7oJAvLDiu9tquL8lpPcZ8sxYZHWbhWhMLWJ8gPQkJ67tTi0P0USOdLumasyCSwj6dGG47DsbWsZLnKGVaIz7gOpGc8viPK62yyGEVQZQdwEfVgldKyY/s1600/1.fishing.1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmWWtJfBKa7jbKaMlBwEE7TjyK7oJAvLDiu9tquL8lpPcZ8sxYZHWbhWhMLWJ8gPQkJ67tTi0P0USOdLumasyCSwj6dGG47DsbWsZLnKGVaIz7gOpGc8viPK62yyGEVQZQdwEfVgldKyY/s400/1.fishing.1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458099430444860514" /></a><br />As we were walking back from the end of the pier, we hear the little one shout “I’ve got one!” … she’d caught eight Leather Jackets to Dad’s two the day before ;-)<br /><br />One thing I have really enjoyed about our trip is the never-lacking amount of people, total strangers, happy to have a chat – this afternoon, long-moustached jovial Bill and wife Karen (from Cranbourne) who are also staying here, are no exception and Bill is particularly chatty and entertaining!<br /><br />Dinner … still full from lunch, do we really need any? We settle for just a dozen Oysters Kilpatrick between us – delicious! We have no complaints about the food or amount of at the Ceduna Comfort Hotel Motel, it’s definitely the best place for a meal anywhere here, as evidenced by the near full-house tonight!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCaAb4oGKMAIhcjSzCdazmPG2o-1OvC3-MO8fvWXtMUSOvmfGnw-4g1ug1ZG8KYOJQbIFzhOT9voqtQhGKWPnOBclnmRMOAhFxDRIPkJ2ytMst08e7MT7KZ3pV7DIcFKR_hzazNT1zu4A/s1600/1.silo.1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCaAb4oGKMAIhcjSzCdazmPG2o-1OvC3-MO8fvWXtMUSOvmfGnw-4g1ug1ZG8KYOJQbIFzhOT9voqtQhGKWPnOBclnmRMOAhFxDRIPkJ2ytMst08e7MT7KZ3pV7DIcFKR_hzazNT1zu4A/s400/1.silo.1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458099973218806130" /></a><br />The reason Ceduna is here: wheat!Ell on Wheelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17749009822380243083noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3010813357010522546.post-10578062025107525972010-04-09T01:41:00.000-07:002010-04-09T04:40:22.278-07:00Thursday … Madura to Ceduna … WET!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4eLPrNoG15_47DgKjM19h7L5nIokXW_Fkh1NzkkvYLmpCGiZVj-WSrt04gEWtBMB6DjUwKM8JnzdCftuUo6u8XHBNO9uHXR0JYPib43qMCSr5qYbJRrZsITYDosSdHnEI-99wTa3QGsY/s1600/weather.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 316px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4eLPrNoG15_47DgKjM19h7L5nIokXW_Fkh1NzkkvYLmpCGiZVj-WSrt04gEWtBMB6DjUwKM8JnzdCftuUo6u8XHBNO9uHXR0JYPib43qMCSr5qYbJRrZsITYDosSdHnEI-99wTa3QGsY/s400/weather.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458087689753000370" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHl-EGpfecqNoHasmyyRoh4f1hZaQcMpU0L1N5HOos0yJ-FZEtlrr6uT2m0qV_uwlqlNWV1mPq9P89rAEa9pBveYQ4PkRTw5ry51bVmFOhgbr4YRo0FZj8gdLyPNSP8OeG7HJ2QQgw6W4/s1600/Madura+to+Ceduna.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 203px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHl-EGpfecqNoHasmyyRoh4f1hZaQcMpU0L1N5HOos0yJ-FZEtlrr6uT2m0qV_uwlqlNWV1mPq9P89rAEa9pBveYQ4PkRTw5ry51bVmFOhgbr4YRo0FZj8gdLyPNSP8OeG7HJ2QQgw6W4/s400/Madura+to+Ceduna.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458086222914761650" /></a><br />All that grey cloud ahead of us yesterday proved to be a bit of an omen. Around 4am, woken first by the incredibly uncomfortable mattress (the badly sprung old type that rolls you into the center!) and then thoroughly by another guest starting up his motorbike and heading off (probably couldn’t tolerate his mattress either, as we saw him at Bordertown Roadhouse just getting back on his bike as we went through) we heard rain!<br /><br />Fortuitously, having to park the bikes on the gravel (no choice here) we’d placed a couple of pieces of found scrap cement sheet under the side-stands. We took advantage of the rain soaked bikes and easily wiped off yesterday’s smashed bug grime. A lovely big serving of yummy scrambled eggs (prepared by the Manager himself – obviously his speciality!) an exit strategy across the wet gravel decided upon, and we were set to face the day.<br /><br />Madura Pass > Eucla Pass – the escarpment on our left, what we could see of it through rain-spotted visors, ocean we knew was to our right … Before today, I used to like the sound of rain, especially on a tin roof or similar … and our first leg Madura to Eucla fuel stop, the pitter patter of light rain on the helmet and visor was Ok – in fact, we commented to each other that hey, it wasn’t so bad riding through a bit of light rain … with some respite while fueling up at Eucla.<br /><br />We had made a mental note two weeks ago to visit on our way back if we could at least one of the other photo points of the Great Australian Bight – as the rain had stopped, we were able to access with bikes the Western end, which had an unpaved but large car-park …<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc6J2mzjZ4JSdZys6I3npxCWGCyB5eHKjp5Hf746dCD014wdZg2wbwHbuWOKSImYLdqs11UPZGyCijeY26vxbjUFma48_S2SVEEmfMJ7oXfBHrTHQQOofoFsx38zFj3_fyS8z0Q4ObFy8/s1600/1.GreatAustralianBight.West.1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc6J2mzjZ4JSdZys6I3npxCWGCyB5eHKjp5Hf746dCD014wdZg2wbwHbuWOKSImYLdqs11UPZGyCijeY26vxbjUFma48_S2SVEEmfMJ7oXfBHrTHQQOofoFsx38zFj3_fyS8z0Q4ObFy8/s400/1.GreatAustralianBight.West.1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458089148152958754" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQbjCKzfOZTmPNBH_6COwR6cVIVLamnsOWBIzO_8lUoN_rGtRXA_eFQCsUuNezEEPxdhKr2X4K8xD9bFZBr-4HG9CsqtEbmVCn9mVgNDGvajUp_CCIWdhaD6e667hbXE_SnSOJ_dQgDRA/s1600/1.GreatAustralianBight.West.2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQbjCKzfOZTmPNBH_6COwR6cVIVLamnsOWBIzO_8lUoN_rGtRXA_eFQCsUuNezEEPxdhKr2X4K8xD9bFZBr-4HG9CsqtEbmVCn9mVgNDGvajUp_CCIWdhaD6e667hbXE_SnSOJ_dQgDRA/s400/1.GreatAustralianBight.West.2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458089067161850994" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaa46kKyxivgWznCi-xpU9qDzP3xFhcVNAd2-8DfRxyh8L4KROafTvRGy7HO2V18sTFIxGxovi-qEoH43bC1rZTZyiOJAS0VXUlZNJPJdBgc-MkFV813d4aHPI_sOt258TtrmzL1Xd95k/s1600/1.GreatAustralianBight.West.3.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaa46kKyxivgWznCi-xpU9qDzP3xFhcVNAd2-8DfRxyh8L4KROafTvRGy7HO2V18sTFIxGxovi-qEoH43bC1rZTZyiOJAS0VXUlZNJPJdBgc-MkFV813d4aHPI_sOt258TtrmzL1Xd95k/s400/1.GreatAustralianBight.West.3.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458088968406379570" /></a><br />Compared to two weeks ago, the horizon was invisible!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJyb0rXJQIW4BK7O7XjMZsx_LwsZJ3BqtldHcKKoy7JSmkeSLlUj1aXFEU6TaZ0Y-Mk6d1nNl8IVRgxBhlNOgutyaNvdVa1LNzM_7y6e5nBZH-QjvHZUvAGh2bUmxnje1RE8mYCXSgNiM/s1600/1.GreatAustralianBight.West.4.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJyb0rXJQIW4BK7O7XjMZsx_LwsZJ3BqtldHcKKoy7JSmkeSLlUj1aXFEU6TaZ0Y-Mk6d1nNl8IVRgxBhlNOgutyaNvdVa1LNzM_7y6e5nBZH-QjvHZUvAGh2bUmxnje1RE8mYCXSgNiM/s400/1.GreatAustralianBight.West.4.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458088876281659858" /></a><br />Pics taken, we were feeling pretty pleased with ourselves … and then, 10kms down the road, the rain started again, and heavy! Ok, that’s enough, the novelty has worn off, make it go away!! … we still had 520kms to do!<br /><br />Nullarbor Rd House for fuel and lunch … perfectly BAD timing, as it was “peak-hour” at the few premium pumps! The vintage MG car club (sorry Leaping, no pics) had had an AGM in Adelaide, and a dozen or so Perthians were heading back home … then there were also the cars with caravans, and us … everyone who needed fuel had to hand in their license before the operator would open the pump (because of the number of non-paying run-offs) … nonetheless, the system incensed Chris enough to give the operator an earful of “what is this country coming to!” He was not alone with that sentiment - other disgruntled customers agreed out loud as well – and still it rained.<br /><br />I don’t know why, but seeing puddles of water beside the road through the Nullarbor is not something I expected to see … OF COURSE it rains on the Nullarbor, but was still surprised to see it ;-)<br /><br />Another unexpected surprise was to see a Dingo loitering around the Servo, totally unafraid of humans … there were notices placed around saying do not feed the Dingos –a Dingo tamed with hand-given food is considered dangerous to human life and will be destroyed … this dog certainly wasn’t scared, but while we were waiting for fuel, everyone ignored it.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKIfes8rurfhc-oVZ0XM8n6Sw9_8P60bq5yPY1gSw5paMAhOqmomI5jc4vgvFkPN7V4-2vYYewpKQznfI2tpHTSvvbu5erAyiZO4ekpF5m7qhlb4298mhqfrPSzmDaxwqCX7ELhaVxDiA/s1600/1.Dingo.1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKIfes8rurfhc-oVZ0XM8n6Sw9_8P60bq5yPY1gSw5paMAhOqmomI5jc4vgvFkPN7V4-2vYYewpKQznfI2tpHTSvvbu5erAyiZO4ekpF5m7qhlb4298mhqfrPSzmDaxwqCX7ELhaVxDiA/s400/1.Dingo.1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458089906161491266" /></a><br />Off down the road again, and it still rained, and got heavier and heavier<br />Our next rest stop was supposed to be Nundura … with the heavy rain, it concerned Chris that the dirt drive might well be a quagmire and unseen pot-holes – we decided to try for Penong a little further up which we knew was paved, only to find it FULL of road-trains and caravans at every pump! And still it rained … we pushed on for Ceduna<br /><br />Ceduna being on the SA/Vic border, of course there is a regulatory Quarantine inspection – for Chris, the Quarantine Inspector was the ‘hero of the day’: “Have you got anything to declare?” … “Yes” says Chris, “one very sodden tired and sore body!” … the Inspector chuckles and waves him through, then asks me: I have no available humour left, the tank is empty and reply “No, absolutely nothing” and he waves me through too<br /><br />Ceduna Comfort Hotel Motel is easily found (thankfully!) and while collecting our room key from Reception (we have to wait in a queue, again!!) we drip water from every piece of clothing … I'd been relatively Ok over the past 300kms, but waiting for our key I start to shiver! Chris kindly lugs my bag into the room, while I can’t get in the shower quick enough! Every piece of clothing was wet somewhere!<br /><br />To date, it was the most miserable un-enjoyable day’s riding we’ve ever had - no scenery to be seen (we didn’t dare try to look!) just the road ahead with slotted white lines, and for me the back of Chris and his bike! Thank heavens for BMW standard issue heated grips, they kept me safe!<br /><br />The only saving grace of the day was being able to get some more pics of the Bight, some glorious sunset pics and knowing we had our palatial Ceduna room for two nights!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_sI1KBtQEEuigApd_aKpzl5I0_KHAOe6HvFVcH5jrhgN-kc4uO64iD2MSFZQZPySHeGXJHbpURC27Jsy9hs9-WHTX-2Ly88QgqLjKEJDuW1UwgrxwdOa-74UTMkrh5olXQQXkjLo6TaE/s1600/1.CedunaSunset.4.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_sI1KBtQEEuigApd_aKpzl5I0_KHAOe6HvFVcH5jrhgN-kc4uO64iD2MSFZQZPySHeGXJHbpURC27Jsy9hs9-WHTX-2Ly88QgqLjKEJDuW1UwgrxwdOa-74UTMkrh5olXQQXkjLo6TaE/s400/1.CedunaSunset.4.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458092069022324322" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Ml1HgkOCl6nYaAXyax3BxSt3zLNicEVn65u4c-QHLMTf6Lw48CPvBQkgL5Wb7G7rB_sZOU59PLww_oDtRn8bejSyTte21kuJlYUuyzkiH5kqfLn05uPmQd1POc765aUsR4ovWcI_zmw/s1600/1.CedunaSunset.1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Ml1HgkOCl6nYaAXyax3BxSt3zLNicEVn65u4c-QHLMTf6Lw48CPvBQkgL5Wb7G7rB_sZOU59PLww_oDtRn8bejSyTte21kuJlYUuyzkiH5kqfLn05uPmQd1POc765aUsR4ovWcI_zmw/s400/1.CedunaSunset.1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458091997520459538" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6xk1-iFVv4qGIJC4pHc8vDdQOyMhO85iBtkPuALd7tqNJtDag6lseGlQLEPoH3-RFsHWAYkbBROZXR2aowm3PFIDqV5fxjUmF7SIoHJTQYPBcVWbWddOma4P_fVyV36KMuSzYVogMsE0/s1600/1.CedunaSunset.2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6xk1-iFVv4qGIJC4pHc8vDdQOyMhO85iBtkPuALd7tqNJtDag6lseGlQLEPoH3-RFsHWAYkbBROZXR2aowm3PFIDqV5fxjUmF7SIoHJTQYPBcVWbWddOma4P_fVyV36KMuSzYVogMsE0/s400/1.CedunaSunset.2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458091918450531554" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCxRvsLRA6-qy7k7e5f4rLa22AVMulkIkHWQnyw-8gp0ktobGVG5BjDQS94_K_y_8IgYJRlwO_RkSiriz3MZ1T6iA_Cq2HuSpKhaIlpwlExxTQXCSojCv7p_nmzq2Cmt5ZnGVT6mpad5o/s1600/1.CedunaSunset.3.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCxRvsLRA6-qy7k7e5f4rLa22AVMulkIkHWQnyw-8gp0ktobGVG5BjDQS94_K_y_8IgYJRlwO_RkSiriz3MZ1T6iA_Cq2HuSpKhaIlpwlExxTQXCSojCv7p_nmzq2Cmt5ZnGVT6mpad5o/s400/1.CedunaSunset.3.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458091698891659826" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU2qetUSaw4JNgM1IuzceFi9AfdDUCZsgxkiFVzPcMAVwaGtnHJKJfB_9jqhyElWoMPJpRRf5L2saxREehSt-Fss5nH11aIpVuAlDXHaIZMFv-8iCHfZjeGrhZwkRaIjMaKwqB8BcTWjU/s1600/1.CedunaSunset.5.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU2qetUSaw4JNgM1IuzceFi9AfdDUCZsgxkiFVzPcMAVwaGtnHJKJfB_9jqhyElWoMPJpRRf5L2saxREehSt-Fss5nH11aIpVuAlDXHaIZMFv-8iCHfZjeGrhZwkRaIjMaKwqB8BcTWjU/s400/1.CedunaSunset.5.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458091574021609986" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ8SzbzLjN23g0CEN17fPS4T9_OPpc7giER-3zsfCBo3wxpi8rjQ4wktu60qIKjpRk_yZIC1qtpeHLM5Qv5zjD67uI92K3HHHkAJxzy_zphQbxzd2YZRqYm6PmP1Lz3cWZIV7acHu2rtM/s1600/1.CedunaSunset.7.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ8SzbzLjN23g0CEN17fPS4T9_OPpc7giER-3zsfCBo3wxpi8rjQ4wktu60qIKjpRk_yZIC1qtpeHLM5Qv5zjD67uI92K3HHHkAJxzy_zphQbxzd2YZRqYm6PmP1Lz3cWZIV7acHu2rtM/s400/1.CedunaSunset.7.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458091435459744306" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKM3afP8nnkvc0_25BETbP1nSyTZq3ZsFEgRfEWLXG9SOGtikhe2X3J4DnWJmktnNlbu511zrP2qIJSyVM-MaJCEJe7zN7UjBWEg6p8FIMWalMHN4n2pM-gvzh0279TJkqvJwufnBHfG0/s1600/1.CedunaSunset.8.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKM3afP8nnkvc0_25BETbP1nSyTZq3ZsFEgRfEWLXG9SOGtikhe2X3J4DnWJmktnNlbu511zrP2qIJSyVM-MaJCEJe7zN7UjBWEg6p8FIMWalMHN4n2pM-gvzh0279TJkqvJwufnBHfG0/s400/1.CedunaSunset.8.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458091312106257858" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAcsVltK6LWbhauWEXVfLX-rKfg3BXfvdgQCwYZFrn_s8uPP-jimtqgciXQH_Vmh4sqdM_-91EdWbN4huRkhoqvPGzBCvyIdVLJZAieOrdwhZA1fCckSQRfgD2AG7IOMf8n96uUujm_Ok/s1600/1.CedunaSunset.11.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAcsVltK6LWbhauWEXVfLX-rKfg3BXfvdgQCwYZFrn_s8uPP-jimtqgciXQH_Vmh4sqdM_-91EdWbN4huRkhoqvPGzBCvyIdVLJZAieOrdwhZA1fCckSQRfgD2AG7IOMf8n96uUujm_Ok/s400/1.CedunaSunset.11.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458091171662929586" /></a><br />A delicious Fillet Mignon for dinner, and a glorious sunset (which makes up for missing out at Madura), an early night is very much needed.Ell on Wheelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17749009822380243083noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3010813357010522546.post-36431745321557628022010-04-09T01:35:00.000-07:002010-04-09T03:40:46.880-07:00Wednesday … Kalgoorlie to Madura …<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8PYEARJhbFRtAVm2n8feUdEpILizQq6d-wIgLJdnOMGYFEULF9mkAq8apKflXcEKGORItmZcL8aaLekiWC_GRItLXKbwOlCV15rLkSYYnKKmrrULegMyaZyZN04GBE4sEAQ0vcfUDnfM/s1600/Kalgoorlie+to+Madura.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 224px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8PYEARJhbFRtAVm2n8feUdEpILizQq6d-wIgLJdnOMGYFEULF9mkAq8apKflXcEKGORItmZcL8aaLekiWC_GRItLXKbwOlCV15rLkSYYnKKmrrULegMyaZyZN04GBE4sEAQ0vcfUDnfM/s400/Kalgoorlie+to+Madura.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458085741217473618" /></a><br />Much to our disappointment, a modern establishment like the Overland Motel DOESN’T have REAL coffee but help yourself Nescrape! :-/ A fruit juice and cereal downed, side step the fake coffee, bikes packed and we’re off down Hannan Street to fuel up. The top end of Hannan Street takes us past the Kalgoorlie Super Pit … we didn’t realize how close this mine was and with a long day ahead, it’s a pity we don’t have time to stop for a gander … “peak-hour” out of Kalgoorlie – several caravans, utes and 4W drives, and a road train for good measure ;-)<br /><br />Fuel stop at the Norseman BP … while Chris is fueling his bike, I check the coffee options … OMG! They have a real machine!! Two strong c’lattes ordered, Chris decides we need curried egg sandwiches too and a quick fuel up becomes a ‘major’ stop … but boy didn’t we need it!!! The coffee is superb and has for me redeemed Norseman somewhat from its backwater status … Onwards to Balladonia …<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLlgM2gQ2Pmdsrr-MPiWjwCgqRDQpCA0BAj81b_gk_OwgjaC6ZAOHPuAND5qc9wxUYzCwUsquHWxXoS0aF8JzT9Gf-08BYXhIYFRSDIaZoOVUJpVWw5_9QxQOHM9-tI6jZixPC1gIoMk4/s1600/1.roadside.stop.1.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLlgM2gQ2Pmdsrr-MPiWjwCgqRDQpCA0BAj81b_gk_OwgjaC6ZAOHPuAND5qc9wxUYzCwUsquHWxXoS0aF8JzT9Gf-08BYXhIYFRSDIaZoOVUJpVWw5_9QxQOHM9-tI6jZixPC1gIoMk4/s400/1.roadside.stop.1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458080775791501026" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrsDxHDIfLkz8rlioiEOjzS4RrhxiYhjMguRifzCIrjSQUeLRjrTLDlmVjgfHD4X_m-fI5Vy9LWdj8OBXKV8oyG9-PcsLtC3Vgl30MB9DPf8yDRWGT706B9t1wqxNT0bIjsIoW52w8s2w/s1600/1.roadside.stop.2.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrsDxHDIfLkz8rlioiEOjzS4RrhxiYhjMguRifzCIrjSQUeLRjrTLDlmVjgfHD4X_m-fI5Vy9LWdj8OBXKV8oyG9-PcsLtC3Vgl30MB9DPf8yDRWGT706B9t1wqxNT0bIjsIoW52w8s2w/s400/1.roadside.stop.2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458080944527717010" /></a><br />100ks up the road, Chris spies a PAVED roadside stop/parking bay off the road, in amongst the trees … what a grrrreat place for a stretch! The bush was so dense with trees that’d you’d easily lose sense of direction, the air beautifully fragrant with gums and intermittent sound of birds … lovely!<br /><br />Balladonia fuel stop, before tackling that psychotic bean-counter’s straight stretch of 146.6kms again! SO glad we had the sun behind us by then near to the end of our journey for the day, and NOT facing into the sun over that straight road!<br />Nullarbor …<br /><br />About 60ks out of Balladonia, we came across two guys on the opposite side of the road WALKING! Each was towing a light-weight (aluminium?) high-wheeled ‘rickshaw’ with camping gear and other necessities … we figured they were probably into ‘day two’ of their four-day trek across part of the Nullarbor Plain … what were they thinking! I’d want to be sponsored for a charity fundraising before considering such madness! ;-)<br /><br />Cocklebiddy as a rest stop got skipped in deference to Caiguna instead … from there it was a short skip to our overnight at Madura. After the relatively flat Nuallarbor, coming down through the Madura Pass was special, with the flat landscape opening up to the Madura Tablelands! Getting the bikes parked in front of our room though was perhaps a little too interesting on the shifting gravel drive, for the end of a long day’s journey ;-)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKcZxfIX9MkHppZX89em0Vl9qqoAGS9l-PCgEPHK22WEM0Kl9nFoj-voA6sMOyLcNSlIY9C3KzhP-SVrE5nnZx6VZ0Kaa_E21NeKYEvWU1cqhUCj3sGesTmRCXXcVjX7BCkYapf6N_M0k/s1600/1.Madura.1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKcZxfIX9MkHppZX89em0Vl9qqoAGS9l-PCgEPHK22WEM0Kl9nFoj-voA6sMOyLcNSlIY9C3KzhP-SVrE5nnZx6VZ0Kaa_E21NeKYEvWU1cqhUCj3sGesTmRCXXcVjX7BCkYapf6N_M0k/s400/1.Madura.1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458083207625378194" /></a><br />Nonetheless, we determined to climb the hill that fronted the Motel, to get what we hoped would be some good sunset pics … it had been cloudy for most of the day, and the clouds had thickened to the colour of lead by the time we got to Madura … we hung around on the top of the Pass waiting for the sun to do its thing with the clouds ...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY0ML7tG84mqCZo4IyGLIMUbviNvlDydiJAQu0k7t0_9nfNAobVMZZB5Oi_0VMzA71oMOSY9QaM607PoUFvLnL8F0YJKc7UG5n6-80wZrYgA8tkLC4y6HYE0mmjjiwvbC359Y5JZkoaVE/s1600/1.Madura.3.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY0ML7tG84mqCZo4IyGLIMUbviNvlDydiJAQu0k7t0_9nfNAobVMZZB5Oi_0VMzA71oMOSY9QaM607PoUFvLnL8F0YJKc7UG5n6-80wZrYgA8tkLC4y6HYE0mmjjiwvbC359Y5JZkoaVE/s400/1.Madura.3.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458083582476051666" /></a><br /><br />Thinking that the sunset was going to be a non-event because of the extensive thick cloud cover, it turned out we didn’t wait long enough up there as the sky put on its best show once we were back down near the road! Bugger! Oh well, its beer o’clock anyway ;-)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdVQ6z7M5EZwwymdSPx-sboy9JEm8e5EKxPZxoDqm7_rwl2rjJxhDpsNvg5yAMg_7rfTe81VKL3EG8YKL72sqOScz448UMP5ZGCbqJO-hXpc5Lrx3XCjVYIOgm5SLeQe0EWxVN6ERUxFc/s1600/1.Madura.2.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdVQ6z7M5EZwwymdSPx-sboy9JEm8e5EKxPZxoDqm7_rwl2rjJxhDpsNvg5yAMg_7rfTe81VKL3EG8YKL72sqOScz448UMP5ZGCbqJO-hXpc5Lrx3XCjVYIOgm5SLeQe0EWxVN6ERUxFc/s400/1.Madura.2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458083399534390946" /></a><br />Evidence that the sea really was way up here!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlRS_j4sb7ph7mmO-clNLexv4cf3RrNryjU2l7dKJNOfbJHhifTzKAQWGf7-XrtZXRvkNx-8REpiPmlBJ4qbFQr_O1G61Vtnq1klUkUNwy-zlB1x1zrNY-MeZLnv9yqqoU56lIKQf-AoA/s1600/1.Madura.4.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlRS_j4sb7ph7mmO-clNLexv4cf3RrNryjU2l7dKJNOfbJHhifTzKAQWGf7-XrtZXRvkNx-8REpiPmlBJ4qbFQr_O1G61Vtnq1klUkUNwy-zlB1x1zrNY-MeZLnv9yqqoU56lIKQf-AoA/s400/1.Madura.4.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458083702840897538" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjSkQlLB9m4l4QJrdSUqRkL8_ewTBj3Owfa4e22J7zl2duULcFiC03qaq96jGVOROUtqzM8d_4kknFlfD6fHlkSQG-_fgck43vj6FHGoWVTXCE2UT1bLIdH0BLHCqrIJxd1xo7NAIRL6I/s1600/1.Madura.5.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjSkQlLB9m4l4QJrdSUqRkL8_ewTBj3Owfa4e22J7zl2duULcFiC03qaq96jGVOROUtqzM8d_4kknFlfD6fHlkSQG-_fgck43vj6FHGoWVTXCE2UT1bLIdH0BLHCqrIJxd1xo7NAIRL6I/s400/1.Madura.5.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458084446216425618" /></a><br />Yummy Barramundi lightly pan-fired with side salad for dinner, and an early night – it’s another long day in the saddle tomorrowEll on Wheelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17749009822380243083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3010813357010522546.post-66661387599702501982010-04-06T04:16:00.000-07:002010-04-06T05:13:32.240-07:00Homeward bound, it starts today ...Tuesday … Perth to Kalgoorlie<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGAJ13k1AdoSO1alnefkat2QMjiTrbBgAe-1PKE_iitypjKOfzpl-hB55KhYcaidDAMpbRcz1IudmLDHYzeI9XkHpSPeh7feObzQNTsq3zbXvyjfw0OKiP3zEwp5hIpIJP3tFdZNtkWDE/s1600/Perth+to+Kalgoorlie.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 246px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGAJ13k1AdoSO1alnefkat2QMjiTrbBgAe-1PKE_iitypjKOfzpl-hB55KhYcaidDAMpbRcz1IudmLDHYzeI9XkHpSPeh7feObzQNTsq3zbXvyjfw0OKiP3zEwp5hIpIJP3tFdZNtkWDE/s400/Perth+to+Kalgoorlie.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456995603729208594" /></a><br />Slipping out of Mosman Park by 7.15 (on time for a change!) we easily negotiate our way out of Perth (without making a single wrong turn, for a change!) with a stop at Midlands for fuel before kicking on to Cunderdin for a rest stop and stock up of Red Bull ;-)<br /><br />Lunch and fuel at exciting (!!!) Merredin (more I could say but won't) and onwards to Southern Cross - a top up of fuel here made rather more interesting by a ‘young’ fella and adult son who took an interest in the Beasts and stopped to have a chat … Geelong lads I found out (Meredith to be precise) had to be back home by Friday, had bought a new car, thought they’d run it in with a trip to Perth to visit a brother over Easter … and so the conversation sort of went on from there … then as we blasted through Coolgardie (oooh, but so many gorgeous old buildings! Can we stop, pleeeeese?), spotted the lads fueling up, cheery waves exchanged.<br /><br />Not much further down the road, the Overland Motel on the outskirts of Kalgoorlie … young girl at reception is looking a little flustered … one of the mines has been “shut down” for routine maintenance checks, which will take a month – this means there’s a huge influx of mine-associated personnel into Kalgoorlie currently, and she tells us it’s a very good thing we booked well in advance!<br /><br />“Signs” of the times on/in our room at our over-night stay at the Overland Motel, Kalgoorlie …<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWwFl3WPJJdXMaG50K0fPGy1NGWxsemJDjdny_KnVCB9JrBPVFqqjd7TuCFk0WY5wYBDwVi1T6iNXxum6nCf4PxQyDIs6sDYc9dqRf7oFUr90e4cvT9Wi9OuJ1iZCVWvuNvEWWiCntMTg/s1600/1.Kalgoorlie.1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWwFl3WPJJdXMaG50K0fPGy1NGWxsemJDjdny_KnVCB9JrBPVFqqjd7TuCFk0WY5wYBDwVi1T6iNXxum6nCf4PxQyDIs6sDYc9dqRf7oFUr90e4cvT9Wi9OuJ1iZCVWvuNvEWWiCntMTg/s400/1.Kalgoorlie.1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456988545589979906" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqs1278Pc7IDjUWR63VsWOk-o1rscLzIAMps7ICJnOJg7UdHMowjG0ImNGU-WRMH0sFrjM0ZjzuqKvrN4sqPiOEsNVcntjwXjl3vZdBthjsJ9JxTUMtDVUM9bs4VmHKwiq3ajZNiyMd_A/s1600/1.Kalgoorlie.2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqs1278Pc7IDjUWR63VsWOk-o1rscLzIAMps7ICJnOJg7UdHMowjG0ImNGU-WRMH0sFrjM0ZjzuqKvrN4sqPiOEsNVcntjwXjl3vZdBthjsJ9JxTUMtDVUM9bs4VmHKwiq3ajZNiyMd_A/s400/1.Kalgoorlie.2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456988454631490978" /></a><br />We take a lonnnnnng walk down mainstreet – “Hannan Street” – in search of a suitable place to consume the evening’s first beer: PINTS!!<br /><br />Something that has had the kilometers very quickly pass by today, are the endlessly beautiful trees - if nothing else, I've really developed a 'thing' for trees, especially since our visit to Walpoll's "Tree Top Walk"!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlo74loaVv6YBjH-_Ofd48lVTvCy7eaQ41vHB87e6rpOu0eGonYHtHTzjMUha3dHhK3qlq7k1aLJeKZJ6JAsAU3uEPruWjPsN5WpOJgpd0cXcw8mpuK5CUxv9Vhi9f6Fg0ntRGCN8eG_g/s1600/1.Kalgoorlie.3.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlo74loaVv6YBjH-_Ofd48lVTvCy7eaQ41vHB87e6rpOu0eGonYHtHTzjMUha3dHhK3qlq7k1aLJeKZJ6JAsAU3uEPruWjPsN5WpOJgpd0cXcw8mpuK5CUxv9Vhi9f6Fg0ntRGCN8eG_g/s400/1.Kalgoorlie.3.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456988380003050002" /></a><br />The first two or three blocks contain barricaded decrepit miner’s shacks or light industrial, until the main roundabout announces Hannan Street proper … THEN the street gets interesting, from my point of view! ;-)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj66aTIBefH4C1e-41AAQmfaVoA-RZ8YRg2SDCbTNQ6OUS_-B3BU3B193dYdXwjAXiCcCWJRbxjvQHRNEh_tNqgTaqNAfm5FMIH7_7Fk5QMyZqBOBj6KeUfy_ZsQP_iTUw9Kfd-VVF-u_4/s1600/1.Kalgoorlie.4.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj66aTIBefH4C1e-41AAQmfaVoA-RZ8YRg2SDCbTNQ6OUS_-B3BU3B193dYdXwjAXiCcCWJRbxjvQHRNEh_tNqgTaqNAfm5FMIH7_7Fk5QMyZqBOBj6KeUfy_ZsQP_iTUw9Kfd-VVF-u_4/s400/1.Kalgoorlie.4.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456990003986075954" /></a><br />Fabulous historic buildings, intermingled with the ‘modern’ … even though at street level the businesses within are of the times, the lovely old facades above don’t go unnoticed! ;-)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixiun7P3XO9KcLmsJ71g6X4BmhWe4z172ZS13s9dbhyqi_S_txDnC_kuwYAq88DDmnY4hmrWAEjGXVQ-z9BNMRICk1KHVNvDX7CTUaSIKal_-lvTJNoCeNfqG-auchcSfsz9t1cOTnsEo/s1600/1.Kalgoorlie.10.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixiun7P3XO9KcLmsJ71g6X4BmhWe4z172ZS13s9dbhyqi_S_txDnC_kuwYAq88DDmnY4hmrWAEjGXVQ-z9BNMRICk1KHVNvDX7CTUaSIKal_-lvTJNoCeNfqG-auchcSfsz9t1cOTnsEo/s400/1.Kalgoorlie.10.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456995294850615250" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjopMdRQb00Dx_oTfE4J1UlmZ3jQoZbDZYWVzGR9Dstx7IgZXhJPfJsqI8D3pAceGibeBPuTS8lFMJ13W2gVhFAMhyphenhyphenRIJghIaRbKF-M8W5f2tsou21jL49QSLs86xqW_c1rBtc2ZjkEWYY/s1600/1.Kalgoorlie.9.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjopMdRQb00Dx_oTfE4J1UlmZ3jQoZbDZYWVzGR9Dstx7IgZXhJPfJsqI8D3pAceGibeBPuTS8lFMJ13W2gVhFAMhyphenhyphenRIJghIaRbKF-M8W5f2tsou21jL49QSLs86xqW_c1rBtc2ZjkEWYY/s400/1.Kalgoorlie.9.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456990764981960898" /></a><br />Any idea how hard it is to take pics of fabulous historic buildings without modern day impediments like cars street lighting and traffic lights getting in the way??? :-/<br /><br />Not going to bore you all with endless pics of buildings – just a few favs ;-)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKDsn5oRUOOlG7lVrgpZrp_GiIdkaIdS7LQxKx_qy7_-UqUfcNFfso26mMcR25PmXjUL_nTgv2B263eG0pVcF2q5sJw0ZII3s6ABa-ZUFTsCUQ1-eYxVQRIEj_wQIPgJVFtUCwzNk6j_U/s1600/1.Kalgoorlie.5.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKDsn5oRUOOlG7lVrgpZrp_GiIdkaIdS7LQxKx_qy7_-UqUfcNFfso26mMcR25PmXjUL_nTgv2B263eG0pVcF2q5sJw0ZII3s6ABa-ZUFTsCUQ1-eYxVQRIEj_wQIPgJVFtUCwzNk6j_U/s400/1.Kalgoorlie.5.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456991097204686386" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghoEJOj70nTKXlrpg7bFU0pkRSwL-cgng9Uy0EjZE1AE-pEiosLvovu7fR6DbdK6nqD0aFftVY4ZeR4nZJjmApSXWYK-57e1VZ8XZZIV1ZQVM2WcvcHbw2TIdINFD8Q-mJgFnttog2qJY/s1600/1.Kalgoorlie.7.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghoEJOj70nTKXlrpg7bFU0pkRSwL-cgng9Uy0EjZE1AE-pEiosLvovu7fR6DbdK6nqD0aFftVY4ZeR4nZJjmApSXWYK-57e1VZ8XZZIV1ZQVM2WcvcHbw2TIdINFD8Q-mJgFnttog2qJY/s400/1.Kalgoorlie.7.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456991264413543202" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgChrm58biRV5DSMMSONtI2sj-b9eOfp10E0Sqmhu19h8VznDemkfsOisw1AS3WWbDi7D4kchnG2UPTtDyeCMbeJgN13m_qomKI9YPW20engtmqLIQ0Pp1wP-3HA08jPCa5Whp347CIn4I/s1600/1.Kalgoorlie.8.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgChrm58biRV5DSMMSONtI2sj-b9eOfp10E0Sqmhu19h8VznDemkfsOisw1AS3WWbDi7D4kchnG2UPTtDyeCMbeJgN13m_qomKI9YPW20engtmqLIQ0Pp1wP-3HA08jPCa5Whp347CIn4I/s400/1.Kalgoorlie.8.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456991364786410818" /></a><br />Below - we find a great window seat at “Paddy’s Ale House” (within the “Exchange Hotel”, bottom right of pic is "Paddy's") to street watch from, and decide the rib-eye with peppercorn sauce is the dinner to have! Steak on a bed of slimline chips arrive smothered in peppercorn sauce with a side salad … not as ‘disgusting’ as it sounds – we both scoff the lot! Yummm!! :-)~<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvkwhJt48f2WKgazO2bQeDIe3TkHNvmWVqKc5cnYiI4gHhNhIlrtSk_CceuOG3p3EYt4TCY22as0RnqZM6V7NooVPqKS17QyZ2e3fCdWNJ0qvErpiE_FaCu5YxEOcFdY4oXFQmLjuDhTY/s1600/1.Kalgoorlie.6.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvkwhJt48f2WKgazO2bQeDIe3TkHNvmWVqKc5cnYiI4gHhNhIlrtSk_CceuOG3p3EYt4TCY22as0RnqZM6V7NooVPqKS17QyZ2e3fCdWNJ0qvErpiE_FaCu5YxEOcFdY4oXFQmLjuDhTY/s400/1.Kalgoorlie.6.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456992544880052482" /></a><br />Taxeeeeeeeee!Ell on Wheelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17749009822380243083noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3010813357010522546.post-11816064089998803902010-04-04T19:45:00.000-07:002010-04-04T19:49:12.994-07:00Monday-itis ... is there such a thing while on holidays? ;-)<br /><br />It's our last day here in Perth, before starting our return trip ... I'm really looking fwd to getting more Nulla "in my face"! :-DEll on Wheelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17749009822380243083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3010813357010522546.post-56484332912608077552010-04-04T01:39:00.000-07:002010-04-04T02:38:48.389-07:00The F1 Grand Prix in Malaysia is good for one thing at least - Chris is on the couch and I get to catch up with very overdue Blog updates ;-)<br /><br />Vettel 1st, Webber 2nd, Rosberg 3rdEll on Wheelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17749009822380243083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3010813357010522546.post-66149450548698612842010-04-04T01:24:00.000-07:002010-04-05T01:32:40.035-07:00Saturday … the Beasts are finally rid of their smashed-bug grime from 4,400kms across the Nulla to Perth, and get a wash … can’t help being a bit more fastidious than Chris – it’s a girl thing ;-)<br /><br />Bags and bikes packed, we’re off to stay three overnights with Chris’ eldest brother – a mere 15mins down the road at Mosman Park … but first to negotiate that much too short right-hander out of the drive! Having already dropped the big girl 6 weeks ago from a stationary start into a right hand turn (my fault entirely, not enough revs to haul herself around the turn with – already committed to the turn, stalled stopped dropped!) and with three days out of the saddle, I’m rather anxious … with revs up, I tippy toe diagonally across the short drive entry/exit, on to the road proper and utterly relieved to roll down the hill without incident! Even though we’re literally just popping down the road, it’s great to be back on the bike … should have suggested to Chris we take the 'long way around' though, the ride was much too short! :-(Ell on Wheelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17749009822380243083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3010813357010522546.post-6130845165076148472010-04-04T01:18:00.001-07:002010-04-04T01:27:35.012-07:00Good Friday… and it’s Chris’ 50th Birthday today! :-D<br /><br />Breakfast of the freshest yummiest croissants and hot cross buns, fruit salad and of course coffee ;-) We’re off to see his folks, and a big family to-do …<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgxdyWFOn8L_MWiFbSjawuc8dJSwf2vtxiyakQeRsDPHj2QWzN8GdjsDvey0gg8_Ujk_5PX0wnNdT8ez0BdIOCSafYtHK7TUAxhzVtXbvcLHFxyla0WSsXPUPRmjYibIp4IhB-EX9UkB0/s1600/1.Perth.2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgxdyWFOn8L_MWiFbSjawuc8dJSwf2vtxiyakQeRsDPHj2QWzN8GdjsDvey0gg8_Ujk_5PX0wnNdT8ez0BdIOCSafYtHK7TUAxhzVtXbvcLHFxyla0WSsXPUPRmjYibIp4IhB-EX9UkB0/s400/1.Perth.2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456194067780518226" /></a>Ell on Wheelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17749009822380243083noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3010813357010522546.post-34711077623116531432010-04-04T00:26:00.001-07:002010-04-05T02:49:22.420-07:00Wednesday … bad sleep the night before, late brekky, late lunch, but a successful shopping trip at Harbor Town in the afternoon, Perth’s version of Melb’s DFO! Potentially back for more tomorrow<br /><br />Thursday, April 1st … even though it’s only parked in the ‘drive’ here, I’m missing riding my bike already :-/<br /><br />This afternoon, Chris’ niece Camille is involved in an end of semester school performing arts competition, and we go along for a look … OMG, wow!!! Do these kids have talent!! Dancers, actresses, songsters of the future! The standout performance for us though was a group of little Year 7‘s doing a lip-sync version of Jackson 5’s “Rockin’ Robin”! Five little ones with fluro costumes and fuzzy black wigs, with the rest of the troupe in red-robin styled red and grey ‘bird’ costumes with red tummies … perfectly in time, obviously very professionally rehearsed with not a step or dance gesture out of place! Don’t know about Chris but they gave me goose bumps, and they got the longest loudest applause of all the year level groups and disciplines presented! The two (?) hours we were there was SO worthwhile, but annoyed I forgot to take the camera :-/<br /><br />Having done a bit of reccy of the shops at HT yesterday, we do make another trip and spend up big for Chris at ‘Colorado’: items that are already heavily discounted to clear have the added attraction of “second item a further 50% off”. We take home five pairs of shoes for Chris, one pair for me, and eight polo shirts various – “Imelda” now has shoes to last the next four years at least, so he says ;-)<br /><br /><br /><br />Annnnnnd, HAPPY 60th BIRTHDAY to our great mate Leon, currently slumming it on a 3week holiday in Paris, as a pressie from his wife Sue! Ahhhhh Leaping, I do hope you know how truly lucky you are ;-) Hugs!!! E&CEll on Wheelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17749009822380243083noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3010813357010522546.post-50295662980182688032010-04-03T23:09:00.000-07:002010-04-04T01:32:50.301-07:00Tuesday … Margaret River to Perth<br /><br />As the Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse was on our way through, I request a ‘tourist stop-over’<br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqxUQfim9uIrQV8zi-bYhUcO0-Xe6rYgRp_BO1juct9pgfF1UlDqVXmLLv8uwMjmZ-Ldyt3Z2icDmSFD3Ous-BFcvk41Prrnb8Huc4Ndm93UaDr1ByeD0S4rEVw6p550X98MjyRItuV7Y/s1600/1.Cape.Naturaliste.Lighthouse.3.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456181527617534098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqxUQfim9uIrQV8zi-bYhUcO0-Xe6rYgRp_BO1juct9pgfF1UlDqVXmLLv8uwMjmZ-Ldyt3Z2icDmSFD3Ous-BFcvk41Prrnb8Huc4Ndm93UaDr1ByeD0S4rEVw6p550X98MjyRItuV7Y/s400/1.Cape.Naturaliste.Lighthouse.3.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDSlIB9RIFhZJLcxJXwlBoakqQWQL0sXPbheN7wxsr4lV5ugUeiB9UarxUMPZMtCkVd80kcwRBRBagzl54lFA1ZoaRDhZdvpwrUWHMYkjSrF5LjANt8hw11Gdg_k1mlwrnPQBWtcyYY-o/s1600/1.Cape.Naturaliste.Lighthouse.1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456181771378715666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDSlIB9RIFhZJLcxJXwlBoakqQWQL0sXPbheN7wxsr4lV5ugUeiB9UarxUMPZMtCkVd80kcwRBRBagzl54lFA1ZoaRDhZdvpwrUWHMYkjSrF5LjANt8hw11Gdg_k1mlwrnPQBWtcyYY-o/s400/1.Cape.Naturaliste.Lighthouse.1.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgseHyLDsL3KMOdnQQiKI4r2GPprUbFmyoy28_hj2pCNfuZvT0oWIHlzf92HoYIRwjw4v5YohrqixwbFcKJgLzUVcyb_vY2LuUtubUhkvFjX-MCez9yBYWy1MU8UcMPa1zZer3fe1dBSyA/s1600/1.Cape.Naturaliste.Lighthouse.4.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456182646981507522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgseHyLDsL3KMOdnQQiKI4r2GPprUbFmyoy28_hj2pCNfuZvT0oWIHlzf92HoYIRwjw4v5YohrqixwbFcKJgLzUVcyb_vY2LuUtubUhkvFjX-MCez9yBYWy1MU8UcMPa1zZer3fe1dBSyA/s400/1.Cape.Naturaliste.Lighthouse.4.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Once inside, the guide gives each tourist piece of white cotton cloth to "use" up or down the stairs - smart move, with two handrails made of copper: no sweaty acidic palm/finger prints, and they get a polish at the same time!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtVTR2b7RZVJ-MxLX1gL8Q3fZIDyJ6KLXgN2mSWnvx9Jrhc83aKmaOjwO-cFIYICgYI0h5bs07uHTQhkjfj7UxG3mbsKBvwf1JJ9c3nMOGWXwdhT1VUFZe8f23m6mhAwebS3mnKX7Tjuo/s1600/1.Cape.Naturaliste.Lighthouse.5.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456182545993048498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtVTR2b7RZVJ-MxLX1gL8Q3fZIDyJ6KLXgN2mSWnvx9Jrhc83aKmaOjwO-cFIYICgYI0h5bs07uHTQhkjfj7UxG3mbsKBvwf1JJ9c3nMOGWXwdhT1VUFZe8f23m6mhAwebS3mnKX7Tjuo/s400/1.Cape.Naturaliste.Lighthouse.5.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />That light globe, bottom right hand of pic above, is worth $1,000! Life expectancy is around 6-8 months, and with two in use there is always one in reserve.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxhBwdu7CFhGUGnAWf7xElCDPqoSI3EyoKGhFTKe30MC43OAxgFqXK1p2Yv7qnP3Csf7PxXTIJU9NbYyUWdCJX2ZYFjmAiFJ5CxUoXkOX8dReLyyyIJ9NKE__meH6n-tPHSbiCFnnZ1TA/s1600/1.Cape.Naturaliste.Lighthouse.7.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456182422003872930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxhBwdu7CFhGUGnAWf7xElCDPqoSI3EyoKGhFTKe30MC43OAxgFqXK1p2Yv7qnP3Csf7PxXTIJU9NbYyUWdCJX2ZYFjmAiFJ5CxUoXkOX8dReLyyyIJ9NKE__meH6n-tPHSbiCFnnZ1TA/s400/1.Cape.Naturaliste.Lighthouse.7.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Chris was somewhat amazed to see that this tiny electric engine is the only thing powering and turning the lenses above us ... and plugged into? Just your average household powerpoint!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcEB5JtRpJzFGcK8II6Ficm-baBX_bt5RLppsLoVr9JPuMnWARraRAZmePzWfeLJDgh7o952d7HBNpD7nHB6PxZHk9esmFmZs1awoOi2NP78cLhCHjqXRaxFB8_w-ma5aZ8xV3BRbKoD4/s1600/1.Cape.Naturaliste.Lighthouse.8.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456182329922274258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcEB5JtRpJzFGcK8II6Ficm-baBX_bt5RLppsLoVr9JPuMnWARraRAZmePzWfeLJDgh7o952d7HBNpD7nHB6PxZHk9esmFmZs1awoOi2NP78cLhCHjqXRaxFB8_w-ma5aZ8xV3BRbKoD4/s400/1.Cape.Naturaliste.Lighthouse.8.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />The three original buildings above (each with two chimney stacks) have been restored and are in full use as part of the Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse tourist facility.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirNL9Y_OjNXNLhY4HJbqypm3JGoDkxcjEf41P-_FWdfw0S6HyHgMxpt4cC3Gif5KiJFMGL5BXq22JqJJmb_hlYGMkRrydixZ7Wpv-HZWdL7nJuMikAIL0RVWkklinIztBBo62vCUCw32o/s1600/1.Cape.Naturaliste.Lighthouse.9.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456182190467364066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirNL9Y_OjNXNLhY4HJbqypm3JGoDkxcjEf41P-_FWdfw0S6HyHgMxpt4cC3Gif5KiJFMGL5BXq22JqJJmb_hlYGMkRrydixZ7Wpv-HZWdL7nJuMikAIL0RVWkklinIztBBo62vCUCw32o/s400/1.Cape.Naturaliste.Lighthouse.9.JPG" border="0" /></a> This pic will never indicate how HUGE these two spectacular lenses are! Each is worth over $1million!</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDrQt353xK67sfIsttR4pB9Tf7l_1-5Bdi4EHglSWOSrx7IMF2JJO4YJ8mnxdlUHYVhwFNwJoWpwCO-BynTnoV2_pIcSbbf7t5n42D9_R-XYW8NKmrOLTPqJfN7sRPzmH9YnlY62UJa4o/s1600/1.Cape.Naturaliste.Lighthouse.11.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456182069043730674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDrQt353xK67sfIsttR4pB9Tf7l_1-5Bdi4EHglSWOSrx7IMF2JJO4YJ8mnxdlUHYVhwFNwJoWpwCO-BynTnoV2_pIcSbbf7t5n42D9_R-XYW8NKmrOLTPqJfN7sRPzmH9YnlY62UJa4o/s400/1.Cape.Naturaliste.Lighthouse.11.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />We wuz here! ;-)<br /><br />Onwards from the Lighthouse, our planned route of travel was to take a leisurely and scenic ride along the Old Coast Hwy.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBZz40-0gSrCcZJTyw34ao-0HKB02uw1lIusELeFOOyGE50yc7E4J615kvwir_yiEGglBdcMJKSKKuq-lft8T70f_tAjYFtpXeYzDA0FzK3y_cAe48vfSpcozIPZiF_9Rzu8KHUQqsu2E/s1600/Margaret+River+to+Perth.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456161248823822674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 355px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBZz40-0gSrCcZJTyw34ao-0HKB02uw1lIusELeFOOyGE50yc7E4J615kvwir_yiEGglBdcMJKSKKuq-lft8T70f_tAjYFtpXeYzDA0FzK3y_cAe48vfSpcozIPZiF_9Rzu8KHUQqsu2E/s400/Margaret+River+to+Perth.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />To our great disappointment, the scenic Old Coast Highway was virtually non-existent with exception of the first 10kms, the rest of which had been bypassed with a long boring span of three-lane Hwy akin to the Melb/Geelong Fwy! Plainly, a fact Google Maps is yet to catch up with! >:-(<br /><br />Lunch at Bussellton, such as it was! As we'd had a pretty decent breakfast at Margaret River, we weren't famished but just in need of a top up, before facing the last leg into Perth. We lobbed at a decent looking al fresco style Cafe in 'mainstreet' and perused the Menu - the gourmet pizzas looked the deal, though pizza size/s were not indicated. When the waiter arrived, we asked for the gourmet of choice, but could we have a small ... the only 'small' on offer was from the Kiddie menu, of pineapple and ham!!! And no, we couldn't have the gourmet of choice in a small size!! Barely disguising our disgust at the lack of menu flexibilty, we ordered the gourmet anyway, and proceeded to pick off just the yummy bits - it looked like road kill when we'd finished! ;-)<br /><br />Perth pre-Easter and peak-hour traffic – a fabulous combination! Fortunately, without incident. Next obstacle – Chris’ brother’s place is in the beautiful but hilly suburb of Nedlands: the house is half way up the street, on the steepest section … of course I’m worried. We come to a stop outside the house and need to wait a few mins until Chris’ sister-in-law arrives home – with the road camber sloping down towards the gutter, I’m nervous about the angle the Beast is leaning on her side stand, even though Chris assures me it’s Ok … bikes unpacked, we carefully maneuver the bikes backwards onto the firmly packed but sandy drive, find an off-cut bit of wood for the side stand and the most worrying bit for me of the afternoon is done!<br /><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxcgqzGyEsIq9UqcCd-DJZ8zo0MBPHsPrNnQ5LRsqe2rT0xI_6N6MQV5nRpWnF9rrgt6WuKeTFgLgFpeoFaJDlFz3zOlAs6WRE0I5p5b1L-5VW78tleRxvJYCeibTLKc-M9GTS4BQ2z0s/s1600/1.Perth.1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456164528776080194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxcgqzGyEsIq9UqcCd-DJZ8zo0MBPHsPrNnQ5LRsqe2rT0xI_6N6MQV5nRpWnF9rrgt6WuKeTFgLgFpeoFaJDlFz3zOlAs6WRE0I5p5b1L-5VW78tleRxvJYCeibTLKc-M9GTS4BQ2z0s/s400/1.Perth.1.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Now, where’s that stress-relieving beer!!?Ell on Wheelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17749009822380243083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3010813357010522546.post-12624341028894582612010-04-03T02:21:00.000-07:002010-04-03T23:07:32.208-07:00Monday … gorgeous sunny morning, dew on the bikes and mist ethereally still drifting up from the dam ...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihB1xI_-Bj3YQN9xuyXh-PDYY_OgPHg884CHxuy3wmILAp8hqp63PbmLHLX-WtDjHTjgK99Xr4rosADs69_C3SdTo5gb_gXuAec6LYpsEU37KIja5CIinWe_u6wz_SrBQTGTdMFMJ1sdo/s1600/1.Denmark.1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihB1xI_-Bj3YQN9xuyXh-PDYY_OgPHg884CHxuy3wmILAp8hqp63PbmLHLX-WtDjHTjgK99Xr4rosADs69_C3SdTo5gb_gXuAec6LYpsEU37KIja5CIinWe_u6wz_SrBQTGTdMFMJ1sdo/s400/1.Denmark.1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455839694297209666" /></a><br />Happily we were able to ‘share’ breakfast with our new old friends, before heading off on the next leg to Margaret River … Maggie keenly ‘supervised’ our departure prep with lots of interested questions, but I felt for Bob, being a bikie from much younger days (dirtbikes as a youth and onwards, until MD caught up with him) and regretted we didn’t wait for him to get himself up and shuffle out to the bikes … Maggie said he’d ‘probably cry’ – I regretted our haste even more then …<br /><br />The “Tree Top Walk” and “Valley of the Giants” near Walpoll had been highly recommended by Anja, so it was our first stop ...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJA-Ssn8yj1x1uZ9-JCeLLKb5nN-TFgb475jmDFQ2Ur3uBnUDJVfVgVQ3jUiZW3xYCJJ3KjwEWOGWobIoPV_ouMZ8xi3jfr1XW6FZLvnxP2d_53P7tJnIbGsXp7YR_8fl9dk54rTnXy14/s1600/1.Tingle.Tree.Top.1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJA-Ssn8yj1x1uZ9-JCeLLKb5nN-TFgb475jmDFQ2Ur3uBnUDJVfVgVQ3jUiZW3xYCJJ3KjwEWOGWobIoPV_ouMZ8xi3jfr1XW6FZLvnxP2d_53P7tJnIbGsXp7YR_8fl9dk54rTnXy14/s400/1.Tingle.Tree.Top.1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455840693445103234" /></a><br />Despite the somewhat unnerving swaying of the tree-top walkway spans, many pics were taken, trying to convey the immense size and grandeur of these beautiful trees ...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCjwEhbiquFcZW9WsAm_RMGODF7D8doSMGGem2jFGu1-ugcgqYE54TBVep5Gf3PvhrtKkK5esCv8TWw9yDHzy4LBQQwS6WwON0g1ZlDLLO4DGO1RIK9kA8kjBa5MUEOzzB8-MO57P9zTs/s1600/1.Tingle.Tree.Top.3.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCjwEhbiquFcZW9WsAm_RMGODF7D8doSMGGem2jFGu1-ugcgqYE54TBVep5Gf3PvhrtKkK5esCv8TWw9yDHzy4LBQQwS6WwON0g1ZlDLLO4DGO1RIK9kA8kjBa5MUEOzzB8-MO57P9zTs/s400/1.Tingle.Tree.Top.3.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455841861058398242" /></a><br />Yet again though, like the Great Australian Bight, these glorious trees have to be seen to be believed! Note the tiny shadow bottom right corner of pic below - it's not that we're that high up, it's the immense expanse of the base that makes my shadow look little! :-o<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYyv9cEBYwUEGJxMU6L5fPwP_tS7ssl8DLA9aKlZNxcnXMFfHp5D4DUEVciRLAQAzFwdhPA0qZ_AmrX2MDIDgLao9tFc6rg5hyC0tgagBElec0pC7Il5ZiqvyjFj0VyDGgXsIvx36DA0w/s1600/1.Tingle.Tree.Top.4.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYyv9cEBYwUEGJxMU6L5fPwP_tS7ssl8DLA9aKlZNxcnXMFfHp5D4DUEVciRLAQAzFwdhPA0qZ_AmrX2MDIDgLao9tFc6rg5hyC0tgagBElec0pC7Il5ZiqvyjFj0VyDGgXsIvx36DA0w/s400/1.Tingle.Tree.Top.4.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455842147361634562" /></a><br />Some of the biggest and oldest Eucalypts anywhere in Australia are found here, some estimated to be around 400 years old ... the Red Tingle particularly lives only here in this unique small ‘pocket’ of bush in WA!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUbqssPcHdvKxWYj6fyepxS4piCzURkxLjMHZNKVaCfzEWW1HwkcQv-j2cET3QXnJ1hsoiQzmBSNuLDY1YGAdc-PvUDZb27o5MKIvkrB8dmeBy7YbUBvue4m4YxMN5K0_PNebtNVh5hYA/s1600/1.Tingle.Tree.Top.5.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUbqssPcHdvKxWYj6fyepxS4piCzURkxLjMHZNKVaCfzEWW1HwkcQv-j2cET3QXnJ1hsoiQzmBSNuLDY1YGAdc-PvUDZb27o5MKIvkrB8dmeBy7YbUBvue4m4YxMN5K0_PNebtNVh5hYA/s400/1.Tingle.Tree.Top.5.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455844174577672290" /></a> This beautiful tree lady is known as “Grandmother Tingle” or the “Gate Keeper”, thought to be the oldest tree in this pocket …<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMB3ci2ugG12Y1EzBTA2pA-csMQij6YWDsEFnRnzw63vfiuddaApanWnu5qsigNLz9VzPyBl-TvVVBvzIxbAa9YxLPM7SsQ9C0oBAaVOlvILrhn-tE5uJRX6gn3upBQNMI0g8E2CpuNh4/s1600/1.Grandmother.Tingle.1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMB3ci2ugG12Y1EzBTA2pA-csMQij6YWDsEFnRnzw63vfiuddaApanWnu5qsigNLz9VzPyBl-TvVVBvzIxbAa9YxLPM7SsQ9C0oBAaVOlvILrhn-tE5uJRX6gn3upBQNMI0g8E2CpuNh4/s400/1.Grandmother.Tingle.1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455845150028228738" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTneZtwng8Jk3gNdrf812n9q5n8i53WLRAJgbnG6bHsi5enYiLdupdA3WA4MPo5s09cPX7X_C8p_AeFUV89hKjCa68pmtQ7enDvOfJoc-YDz2DCfoXuVGKbCUv3WwYRYXHcDsFc839mMc/s1600/1.Grandmother.Tingle.2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTneZtwng8Jk3gNdrf812n9q5n8i53WLRAJgbnG6bHsi5enYiLdupdA3WA4MPo5s09cPX7X_C8p_AeFUV89hKjCa68pmtQ7enDvOfJoc-YDz2DCfoXuVGKbCUv3WwYRYXHcDsFc839mMc/s400/1.Grandmother.Tingle.2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455845044358436434" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6I3nVnoe_PI8mHi15KgDl8wzAwzAu1GOFcJofriSbL8NhNBjxvMjG1JsedpDEoyOGUbyxsK4mqXfK2D1BqZtxPB_4R_7FhAUUSSurkB-ZLDdnm61_Ii_yifMpAWs2DyzlHo13_GPY68s/s1600/1.Grandmother.Tingle.3.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6I3nVnoe_PI8mHi15KgDl8wzAwzAu1GOFcJofriSbL8NhNBjxvMjG1JsedpDEoyOGUbyxsK4mqXfK2D1BqZtxPB_4R_7FhAUUSSurkB-ZLDdnm61_Ii_yifMpAWs2DyzlHo13_GPY68s/s400/1.Grandmother.Tingle.3.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455844962713924226" /></a><br />The fires of 1937 ...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-14YJJEOtszKvq6ykgr8Bs4kxZCE3UMAu-UAz_VjC27pCpnB8ca_Y-uyRxI2p9ZYX_JMvnovF8N3v34o-SUOKTkW85F8vFx_TMGuZOStvU2G9FNtABjod2nlkTnTqmK-hxDSYTMIcBTk/s1600/1.Tingle.Giant.3.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-14YJJEOtszKvq6ykgr8Bs4kxZCE3UMAu-UAz_VjC27pCpnB8ca_Y-uyRxI2p9ZYX_JMvnovF8N3v34o-SUOKTkW85F8vFx_TMGuZOStvU2G9FNtABjod2nlkTnTqmK-hxDSYTMIcBTk/s400/1.Tingle.Giant.3.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455845422574036498" /></a><br />Even today, the trees still bear the charcoal scars ... this huge Tingle, despite the burnt out center, is happily still well and truly alive!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl6pj7HE-xlmbzbU58s7gTfNhSHIxxu69UpvmC5esfN59PZRloVBa2aA_F5EJ-NUvmxKTi7zhQnBEuKzQ-kB3Zs3IZqs4K8xAHlv_TRRy5sjxs51MnjLk4mPLOkSNPaWria6n2iRNBjvA/s1600/1.Tingle.Giant.1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl6pj7HE-xlmbzbU58s7gTfNhSHIxxu69UpvmC5esfN59PZRloVBa2aA_F5EJ-NUvmxKTi7zhQnBEuKzQ-kB3Zs3IZqs4K8xAHlv_TRRy5sjxs51MnjLk4mPLOkSNPaWria6n2iRNBjvA/s400/1.Tingle.Giant.1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455846392588319778" /></a><br />Inadvertently, but fortuitously, we take a “wrong” turn from the Southwestern Hwy to our lunch/fuel stop in Pemberton – there are two: the Vasse Hwy further up and the earlier Middleton Rd … Middleton Rd, through to Northcliffe is picturesque, but the Pemberton-Northcliffe Rd was even more so! From Northcliffe through Brockman National Park and ending within Gloucester National Park, we travelled along some of the most spectacularly beautiful treed twisty road, some trees so close to the side you could almost have touched them as we rode past! You couldn’t help but “rubber-neck” and we slowed the speed right down to safely do so ;-) At one fantastic photographic point, the road went just straight through a vast “tunnel” of the most amazing trees meters high! A beautifully sunlit pictorial opportunity for the begging, with Chris on the bike ahead … sadly not able to stop, will just have to commit the ‘view’ to memory … note to self: will endeavor to research some sort of in situ pic-taking from the bike for future road trips :-)<br /><br />Fueled up, Pemberton Hotel for lunch (more egg and bacon, on a roll this time – whoopee! - with Red Bull) before pushing straight through to overnight at Margaret River.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF4bLRLjBfHg64IbzOqe-wkpA9xDABzVu9NbKx2vVe1eqtwRb2Hwzz1Cb1JQG9BC9h7HqurBlELGSNjQF8y_aGrpyqUw4J0CfUhe7pYEIT-aPd9paOsWhNrjZTbbe5VT5d9A4BeRrRSSg/s1600/1.Margaret.River.1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF4bLRLjBfHg64IbzOqe-wkpA9xDABzVu9NbKx2vVe1eqtwRb2Hwzz1Cb1JQG9BC9h7HqurBlELGSNjQF8y_aGrpyqUw4J0CfUhe7pYEIT-aPd9paOsWhNrjZTbbe5VT5d9A4BeRrRSSg/s400/1.Margaret.River.1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456159048152751218" /></a><br />Our accom for the night at MR - what IS that thing on the ceiling supposed to be!<br /><br />The township of Karriedale, just before Marg River, is rich with 'timber' history and has unique ties with old London and Melbourne towns, as we learnt ‘over dinner’ at “The Grange” on Farelly Street ;-)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgltkMOaIdXO3k_YmXOr_ZAF2hY279KXU1QDOkvloMpl0XT6-Kc1uXG1qZkk9AueeuAce4NmWnJLSa2jlpftoaa2nS-ZPfweCxIwn8ra6U2IbUfa3Y2DUlEuNOAzXY_r6wdI0PDxIa-lz4/s1600/1.Margaret.River.2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgltkMOaIdXO3k_YmXOr_ZAF2hY279KXU1QDOkvloMpl0XT6-Kc1uXG1qZkk9AueeuAce4NmWnJLSa2jlpftoaa2nS-ZPfweCxIwn8ra6U2IbUfa3Y2DUlEuNOAzXY_r6wdI0PDxIa-lz4/s400/1.Margaret.River.2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456157042982435410" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicIwScwAlWtypaiJetgGhtBIHtzL-uZYuLdrAzyplrm743gCqGb6DfBLUZF4LxGq9KcK0V_pL8YMx118fs1pdtXTDBiuMgwSwzdqRPCr-QTNLYIbF9bVNUTqh0uQfz8GV9UV8uVNjowjI/s1600/1.Margaret.River.3.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicIwScwAlWtypaiJetgGhtBIHtzL-uZYuLdrAzyplrm743gCqGb6DfBLUZF4LxGq9KcK0V_pL8YMx118fs1pdtXTDBiuMgwSwzdqRPCr-QTNLYIbF9bVNUTqh0uQfz8GV9UV8uVNjowjI/s400/1.Margaret.River.3.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456156970668696274" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg726fqVl_s6c5a8o031KhWSLcysmgUrAnX99nWLV4LFHhA8t72TSB-j251lTxlN_RfGzTp3KOvqSmaH-ngwmU9rtHyFTIXWB7s1jU_BO3ezFTdfq7N_0OHOWUuzlllIDQElarCtGrZKJ0/s1600/1.Margaret.River.4.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg726fqVl_s6c5a8o031KhWSLcysmgUrAnX99nWLV4LFHhA8t72TSB-j251lTxlN_RfGzTp3KOvqSmaH-ngwmU9rtHyFTIXWB7s1jU_BO3ezFTdfq7N_0OHOWUuzlllIDQElarCtGrZKJ0/s400/1.Margaret.River.4.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456156899421404418" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinNS71wV9OByuqEzkiE788V9tkoe8SJUcYzLQuKVyHqnRa16UFbectDXEd2S4aZ3coFBMrLGRWVG28-ApO4VQZ5sKjKEKwuUSph9-hREuPhgNokF8_lMBmTRoN3lpG2wvWorKJWi5iAKI/s1600/1.Margaret.River.5.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinNS71wV9OByuqEzkiE788V9tkoe8SJUcYzLQuKVyHqnRa16UFbectDXEd2S4aZ3coFBMrLGRWVG28-ApO4VQZ5sKjKEKwuUSph9-hREuPhgNokF8_lMBmTRoN3lpG2wvWorKJWi5iAKI/s400/1.Margaret.River.5.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456156824599963426" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigW0KILvatf4GPRxvKb52zICcUljn_rPgXogN0S5_XbZUhkY63AugHkAkdyYFVbgwqo_dcD_tSapcSe-RdsnRrAAIj_qSy3DU-qz5BLmklNArkh87U5wYkTG1K4T7qnXOoFNMZwxIN9L4/s1600/1.Margaret.River.6.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigW0KILvatf4GPRxvKb52zICcUljn_rPgXogN0S5_XbZUhkY63AugHkAkdyYFVbgwqo_dcD_tSapcSe-RdsnRrAAIj_qSy3DU-qz5BLmklNArkh87U5wYkTG1K4T7qnXOoFNMZwxIN9L4/s400/1.Margaret.River.6.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456156731328880210" /></a><br />The original pic is blurred but we were still able to count a team of EIGHTEEN horses!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1jC42E7o2I_CSwpCQtec8iwk05YcZ_2eBoFzZZg0ForkSdizEP0ZCRIJTElypRAMVj0UFSe2N_DKy5jRDv_FdE-A34Mhx2bozMkXKBd69VGAzpnZD6vwHnTU53cAU8nG-OLuA9L_e9yg/s1600/1.Margaret.River.7.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1jC42E7o2I_CSwpCQtec8iwk05YcZ_2eBoFzZZg0ForkSdizEP0ZCRIJTElypRAMVj0UFSe2N_DKy5jRDv_FdE-A34Mhx2bozMkXKBd69VGAzpnZD6vwHnTU53cAU8nG-OLuA9L_e9yg/s400/1.Margaret.River.7.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456156615364276178" /></a><br />Dinner - totally delicious melt in your mouth Beef Burgundy with garden veg for mains, with the resident young chef knocking up an ‘emergency’ desert of Pear Tartin, as the chosen Apple Crumble was “not up to standard!” in her view … what a total contrast to the “are yous ready to order?” at Norseman!Ell on Wheelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17749009822380243083noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3010813357010522546.post-60902419779335376092010-03-31T19:42:00.000-07:002010-04-01T06:45:08.114-07:00Monday ... post 'work in progress' deleted, commentary didn't match/line up with pics - grrrr! ... will try again later :-/Ell on Wheelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17749009822380243083noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3010813357010522546.post-43289405956111448682010-03-27T22:52:00.000-07:002010-03-31T19:41:35.639-07:00Sunday … a day of rest, but of course ;-) The sun is finally out, we’re here in Denmark for another day, before heading off to Margaret River tomorrow, so it’s lunch of Smoked Salmon with light cream cheese on crackers, Ham off the bone with Gouda on a fresh bun, washed down with a Grolsch ... Blog catch-up finally completed for the previous few days, and now it's time for the Melbourne F1 telecast for Chris! ;-)<br /><br />Our hosts Anja And Matteus decided to go visit and catch up with some friends and left us “home alone”, but were expecting the arrival of two other guests and could we make them welcome and show them their room – but of course we could, more than happy to<br /><br />Sitting on the decking enjoying the late afternoon sun around 4pm, a silver Terrago rolls into the drive and onto the grass … ahhh, I say to the silver haired gent driving, you must be Bob! Not yet knowing about Bob’s ‘special needs’, I casually say just park the car back where our bikes are … it wasn’t until Maggie popped out and introduced herself and explained that for Bob, just getting out of the car was in itself a huge effort! I saw this in part as Bob grabbed a leg at a time with his left hand and heaved them into 'place' in order to be able to stand - both legs and right arm were barely useful …<br /><br />Trying to be helpful I offered a “lady on each arm” to which Maggie thought was a lovely gesture and replied, in Bob’s better years he would have loved that, but now he needed his stick on the ‘other arm’ to help with traction … I felt awkwardly useless and couldn’t watch the slow shuffling of this still stately tall gent, and excused myself to go off and do ‘something’ …<br /><br />Bob’s rare form of muscular dystrophy (he is one of only 20 known cases Australia wide!) had started to present itself at around 30 years old, affecting first the diaphragm and oesophagus bringing on the onset of sleep apnoea so bad that several times he stopped breathing, as noticed by his motorbike mates on one of their trips … over time this also caused brain damage, accelerating his condition, to a point that basic skills we all take for granted had to be relearned, and now sleeps with a respirator! Chris and I felt honoured to have met such a determined but gracious gent, and that he was comfortable to talk openly about his rare and debilitating condition. We also have a great respect for bubbly energetic Maggie, ten years Bob’s junior, and of the ‘task’ knowingly undertaken – Bob and Maggie met online only two years ago.<br /><br />Dinner tonight was nothing glam (chicken take away, as this eatery and the Chinese take away were the only places open on a Sunday night!!) but it was full of chatter laughter and lots of great stories! Sometimes people come into your life already “old friends” – and so it felt like this with Maggie and Bob!Ell on Wheelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17749009822380243083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3010813357010522546.post-57317680439291289842010-03-27T21:40:00.000-07:002010-03-27T22:58:58.655-07:00Saturday … we head for the Emu Point Café for breakfast, which has a good reputation for very good food, and conveniently it’s walking distance from where we’re staying … but not one to let a good photo opportunity go by, I convince Chris we should take the bikes ;-) Besides, sore seatbones or not, I already do plenty of walking at work!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXS9CtAnfSXcsGChBy3YQ8d73mwAlXIxvWEzcwFSs2Sw5hcMatQuQ40zcuSEywLAZwnVmUw2b28Vx5e8w7jVo27CA2jJEE2ATn8eXHjPHMLb-aihqAGc-CW8LGLGcV3QsDn6ATQowNdng/s1600/1.Albany.1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXS9CtAnfSXcsGChBy3YQ8d73mwAlXIxvWEzcwFSs2Sw5hcMatQuQ40zcuSEywLAZwnVmUw2b28Vx5e8w7jVo27CA2jJEE2ATn8eXHjPHMLb-aihqAGc-CW8LGLGcV3QsDn6ATQowNdng/s400/1.Albany.1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453540537695746258" /></a><br />Chris orders Blueberry and icecream topped pancakes, I go for the café’s Big Breakfast … without even having to move from the chair, the camera is busy while we wait ...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDHw0s6Ohr3g5zZGX223uFW_XkGxLkaRjRE0u6cxKZJRPk99aLBdTJ5Lwx3NBPDcSvdW0Fx8CG36JK1NMvXHjKiWckSuVNsLSGbzfgy1T0yrNjzFq2nWZrxPph1a7za1AdzHI5PTcDoaQ/s1600/1.Albany.2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDHw0s6Ohr3g5zZGX223uFW_XkGxLkaRjRE0u6cxKZJRPk99aLBdTJ5Lwx3NBPDcSvdW0Fx8CG36JK1NMvXHjKiWckSuVNsLSGbzfgy1T0yrNjzFq2nWZrxPph1a7za1AdzHI5PTcDoaQ/s400/1.Albany.2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453542651105882514" /></a><br />Below, an open ended tidal swimming pool ...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_9GJ1YJ8TlRZFp_tt_84vDvOFwNdccbJLoGq9a9XMfLOhFS8p-OYKBRXkuxtvKIHWpgq8e_sB5vs_2c1wBdjoKcDcKti4bnveFNrcz5qqJcevCWAk2wH7DNUmr0YTH3eqxwekHNKpF04/s1600/1.Albany.3.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_9GJ1YJ8TlRZFp_tt_84vDvOFwNdccbJLoGq9a9XMfLOhFS8p-OYKBRXkuxtvKIHWpgq8e_sB5vs_2c1wBdjoKcDcKti4bnveFNrcz5qqJcevCWAk2wH7DNUmr0YTH3eqxwekHNKpF04/s400/1.Albany.3.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453542521369108674" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQmJFOL9WXO_rYlpXrE6A35pRbNpkI5RDsTQJsLwbcVTCIu-oVMCFYI9u9oKowuB_zGdiRFgNRYL7OIokqDw1zoXae0sMf_Vlu_ZYa8BON2UOfberAL8fzYcdWmctUDdNDWGKZImBAmGY/s1600/1.Albany.4.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 238px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQmJFOL9WXO_rYlpXrE6A35pRbNpkI5RDsTQJsLwbcVTCIu-oVMCFYI9u9oKowuB_zGdiRFgNRYL7OIokqDw1zoXae0sMf_Vlu_ZYa8BON2UOfberAL8fzYcdWmctUDdNDWGKZImBAmGY/s400/1.Albany.4.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453542394959823954" /></a><br />Even the pelicans find it a useful rest spot ... thank heavens for zoom!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ-M2wnVbpZ_WtMmpaCOr3X-lCPjV4Jq_QjFlMOLHvKemdTIXSY5o0fO5kr_HwOUld4-XF1JCjpv-ZcpsSAD8z4-WnYccgDnMsGIhZHqXwwskAqZ8XAsWHuAS9bKYdRz22dCDAnIpRUx4/s1600/1.Albany.5.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ-M2wnVbpZ_WtMmpaCOr3X-lCPjV4Jq_QjFlMOLHvKemdTIXSY5o0fO5kr_HwOUld4-XF1JCjpv-ZcpsSAD8z4-WnYccgDnMsGIhZHqXwwskAqZ8XAsWHuAS9bKYdRz22dCDAnIpRUx4/s400/1.Albany.5.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453542165485136402" /></a><br /><br />… and still we wait … and wait … when our orders finally arrive just as I’m getting off my chair to check progress (20mins if not more, and the Café is not busy!!!) the portions are generous very tasty and Chris doesn’t finish it … um, I do! Oink! ;-)<br /><br />Directly behind the Cafe, is more to look at ... Emu Point would be jumping in peak season!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjccKBg1TTnHxSLexT7LiN7V2kLbMDckPj5aZdW9DCCGKfIwuF0awm0xEx_vUcuF8Yp9x2yy8uBuRYX3gkMPOphRuQCH4-GI_DUVwXaHpa5eScK7xp-oo6ui1zYwDMGkYjHHno4LkbonLU/s1600/1.Albany.6.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjccKBg1TTnHxSLexT7LiN7V2kLbMDckPj5aZdW9DCCGKfIwuF0awm0xEx_vUcuF8Yp9x2yy8uBuRYX3gkMPOphRuQCH4-GI_DUVwXaHpa5eScK7xp-oo6ui1zYwDMGkYjHHno4LkbonLU/s400/1.Albany.6.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453546550073172082" /></a><br />Random couple ...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH9AKgNBEfwjiQmLLESrMOnW29FF_GoIy0-UXeI265qG0iHAY-_DIT56dBd3pUgbSMctW85mn_UZsZ7wXdGYXtK1Ka9k4BHtbeQyKm-kaUr4DRTZp4TErgIyfYGaEJJ_J6CnHAQFpgs7o/s1600/1.Albany.7.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH9AKgNBEfwjiQmLLESrMOnW29FF_GoIy0-UXeI265qG0iHAY-_DIT56dBd3pUgbSMctW85mn_UZsZ7wXdGYXtK1Ka9k4BHtbeQyKm-kaUr4DRTZp4TErgIyfYGaEJJ_J6CnHAQFpgs7o/s400/1.Albany.7.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453546429670386546" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_xtOg-L6FQ60BlHlqf8iQ-Nl514ORunTcsfVamYYNiwv7MTFbSKmvv8uY5WLdczdWVjyjkOZrJneaknbtwV1ngx18AMgEcmfNep5B0oGUPEzJB1Q0joaDl2fX0wmBeQU_0W6kH_irq74/s1600/1.Albany.8.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_xtOg-L6FQ60BlHlqf8iQ-Nl514ORunTcsfVamYYNiwv7MTFbSKmvv8uY5WLdczdWVjyjkOZrJneaknbtwV1ngx18AMgEcmfNep5B0oGUPEzJB1Q0joaDl2fX0wmBeQU_0W6kH_irq74/s400/1.Albany.8.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453546256990437522" /></a><br />Today we have the almighty big journey of just 60ks to Denmark! If not for the sore seatbones, I’m almost disappointed the bike ride is so short! ;-)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAjf5A8HSwCGhoYMzvgggKLHpprBRAsnmUtQWaxpn6Z9PQCQy2UEQu7NLrujn46p7iGyGdiNgxc_J2yyvHI2BCyo7Xp0IvecKHYGj6Rn3TNTdcDNMJ7Xqrl-vMrGmshs4IBRgBTyIiBwA/s1600/Albany+to+Denmark.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 242px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAjf5A8HSwCGhoYMzvgggKLHpprBRAsnmUtQWaxpn6Z9PQCQy2UEQu7NLrujn46p7iGyGdiNgxc_J2yyvHI2BCyo7Xp0IvecKHYGj6Rn3TNTdcDNMJ7Xqrl-vMrGmshs4IBRgBTyIiBwA/s400/Albany+to+Denmark.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453541109119298850" /></a><br />Without even getting slightly lost this time, we arrive at “Windrose BnB” well before check in … for a change the sun is out (briefly, before it drizzles again!) and we settle at a rough-hewn wooden outdoor table with book and laptop to wait for the owners who are out until 2pm<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT9RE27TLQu8rjKzLvcYn4pc6IzlCDYkMgfyQYrTA0jbyS0DkCGE4tZdQ2ZCRVVxUDi8DK3DJMqNsOGks7MO_-2Es86FPulW6FujTC8Le-zseVMUtEvHdi-VyymBtqPacxJPwV83hEd9c/s1600/1.Denmark.1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT9RE27TLQu8rjKzLvcYn4pc6IzlCDYkMgfyQYrTA0jbyS0DkCGE4tZdQ2ZCRVVxUDi8DK3DJMqNsOGks7MO_-2Es86FPulW6FujTC8Le-zseVMUtEvHdi-VyymBtqPacxJPwV83hEd9c/s400/1.Denmark.1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453544057559941698" /></a><br />Hidden behind the trees, our accom for two nights...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQXAl6dj7WtxwNbFx1eFMGY65fxsjij9VsxTqeg4MPc8SORomynPlZvL5f8LNXELYWW_8ynaJf552ifElm4SnBDckaXFHvMqFS9hwHsM_eryTEYh2yMVnDGtbnqxCU5-qq7xbU12QN6fA/s1600/1.Denmark.5.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQXAl6dj7WtxwNbFx1eFMGY65fxsjij9VsxTqeg4MPc8SORomynPlZvL5f8LNXELYWW_8ynaJf552ifElm4SnBDckaXFHvMqFS9hwHsM_eryTEYh2yMVnDGtbnqxCU5-qq7xbU12QN6fA/s400/1.Denmark.5.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453548738907397314" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_gmDNyRIcorw7CDa2qpGGcVdq9PIE6YBTRUa8MxaoMXnp4yx_AQuzK6auYCbnXmd7U4rIM2AgDmWRhvkfzUd2L98sGlk0v5UO65AfwNhCoyVzKOREKTrniT6rUY2sxNAHcsekjOtURa4/s1600/1.Denmark.2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_gmDNyRIcorw7CDa2qpGGcVdq9PIE6YBTRUa8MxaoMXnp4yx_AQuzK6auYCbnXmd7U4rIM2AgDmWRhvkfzUd2L98sGlk0v5UO65AfwNhCoyVzKOREKTrniT6rUY2sxNAHcsekjOtURa4/s400/1.Denmark.2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453544634823721618" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt_iipONkpy3LvH7a78vrRVGXH1BRd1l1HcwhyphenhyphenWfuTfz5tfOiJxQJCwdMeT6_kWmR50Ymgg3BWicGvCYGPjYHGz0sRRM0uTgFTK1hDIXjakAz-FQpWcGzdgDPrQVaI-Rkeall_Ln74Lws/s1600/1.Denmark.3.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt_iipONkpy3LvH7a78vrRVGXH1BRd1l1HcwhyphenhyphenWfuTfz5tfOiJxQJCwdMeT6_kWmR50Ymgg3BWicGvCYGPjYHGz0sRRM0uTgFTK1hDIXjakAz-FQpWcGzdgDPrQVaI-Rkeall_Ln74Lws/s400/1.Denmark.3.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453544998544965714" /></a><br />German born Anja and Mateus and three kids, with Fritz the big black dog are very welcoming, and once settled in our room opposite the dam, we need to decide on dinner … our huge breakfast more than took care of ‘lunch’!! ;-)<br /><br />Meanwhile, an afternoon visitor puts a huge smile of Vonja's face ...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaUgwYimPbRH_0ZHy1mGmC-w_p-D0iPzH74zrqmfrUt02hQ4zLoc6Z_oMejCsacrNH0l65RumrcmhYKzW6WG7kBnjtn7JXRSsW3RUapbKk8-fX6z1HL8A3M3n5yDnKRdzHqjdSGs_cWgM/s1600/1.Denmark.4.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaUgwYimPbRH_0ZHy1mGmC-w_p-D0iPzH74zrqmfrUt02hQ4zLoc6Z_oMejCsacrNH0l65RumrcmhYKzW6WG7kBnjtn7JXRSsW3RUapbKk8-fX6z1HL8A3M3n5yDnKRdzHqjdSGs_cWgM/s400/1.Denmark.4.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453556667973987426" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKe-idjS0WAIpX1bFpEd9UAjzC8PD7R1DWvtpHs8YgQiXIKhZENzty9J0C48kh3D8ms5RpbjtZafmQ_WhMB0_e4C_s9elSWm18YaNUwsWZC2xG_I2_Li_c1LhptLjhM_u3ZN0zPy8fTaw/s1600/1.Denmark.6.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKe-idjS0WAIpX1bFpEd9UAjzC8PD7R1DWvtpHs8YgQiXIKhZENzty9J0C48kh3D8ms5RpbjtZafmQ_WhMB0_e4C_s9elSWm18YaNUwsWZC2xG_I2_Li_c1LhptLjhM_u3ZN0zPy8fTaw/s400/1.Denmark.6.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453556800726584898" /></a><br />Anja recommends a local restaurant close by that does excellent pizza … our hosts kindly allow us to borrow their little Polo car and we return with pizza wine champagne beer and provisions for a light Sunday lunch.<br /><br />The gourmet chicken and avocado pizza is absolutely excellent (and has re-inspired Chris to pull out the pizza stone at home again) the Grant Burge champagne delicious, and the chorus of frogs from the dam delightful unobtrusive ‘background music’ … Windrose BnB is definitely a great place to stay! :-)Ell on Wheelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17749009822380243083noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3010813357010522546.post-36803791367071124702010-03-27T21:26:00.000-07:002010-03-27T21:39:25.910-07:00Friday ...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPDS99wnNp0bBTOqOPNDYWAk2ZGl5bIMKjop7qxoWYdGQ3GYil5p0UOv8vZhxO2h0jSbaR9MlSNad6mI4Wz0T1O9TEyVhuOgREC90fXXVpr0iNQ_JiX4iJYUrtZ5e4_zuKKfRjOqa8bxo/s1600/Norseman+to+Albany.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 280px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPDS99wnNp0bBTOqOPNDYWAk2ZGl5bIMKjop7qxoWYdGQ3GYil5p0UOv8vZhxO2h0jSbaR9MlSNad6mI4Wz0T1O9TEyVhuOgREC90fXXVpr0iNQ_JiX4iJYUrtZ5e4_zuKKfRjOqa8bxo/s400/Norseman+to+Albany.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453110569586561762" /></a><br /><br />We’re woken in the wee dark hours of early morning by rumbling thunder! Chris jumps up and checks out the window for rain – the bikes are parked on a driveway of dirt! Thankfully no rain, just the entertainment of distant thunder – phew!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfKO4gFsfpqf6_WiXsn2N-dvMo3SmwNKzHDXr1nlkdszb-tXs53K1nPr7iNmmGZ_L76qoqBvzZMQfOVsn1DzPeBgSU6WxvRKP8oJZy0sbSfXEi-2lUL_pheDSMHBifshTLJ_obFhSjDYE/s1600/1.Norseman.1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfKO4gFsfpqf6_WiXsn2N-dvMo3SmwNKzHDXr1nlkdszb-tXs53K1nPr7iNmmGZ_L76qoqBvzZMQfOVsn1DzPeBgSU6WxvRKP8oJZy0sbSfXEi-2lUL_pheDSMHBifshTLJ_obFhSjDYE/s400/1.Norseman.1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453537320858837618" /></a><br /><br />Breakfasted (such as it was! NO COFFEE!), packed, we head off in the direction of Esperance, the sky ahead growing darker … about 100ks down the road we come to the little place called “Salmon Gums” – I need to stretch the left leg and we’re hopeful of a real coffee … HA!! Nescrapé or teabags! In ‘desperation’ Chris opts for ‘crapé and in ‘protest’ I dig my heels in and have a Tetleys … that’ll be $5, thank you – cough!???<br /><br />Grumble grumble grumble … off to Ravensthorpe, and the sky ahead is looking threatening. We’re not more than 10ks down the road and it starts to rain, accompanied by a fabulous display of lightning and thunder from a spectacularly formed leaden cloud formation! If only there’d been an opportunity to stop somewhere for some pics but we pushed on, dropping the speed somewhat to concentrate on wet and unfamiliar roads … forgettable ‘scenery’ (what I saw of it) as we’re now in rural WA. Compared to the Nullarbor, the vast rolling paddocks were totally boring!<br />Then finally, the rain takes a rest and we have dry roads!! Even better, the final 40ks into Ravensthorpe are winding sweeping undulating “twisties”, with not a car or truck in sight! As it turned out, we had the road all to ourselves to have some respectful fun with!<br /><br />Ravensthorpe and we pull over opposite a little Café called the “Stuffed Cocky” … Chris gets his helmet off and is wearing a huge ear to ear grin – priceless! The 40ks of sweeping twisties had more than made up for the shitty wet roads beforehand ;-) We wander across to the Café …<br /><br />“A REAL COFFEE MACHINE!!!” is the first thing I say inside the door, to the great amusement of the two young girls in charge ;-) AND they have great food on offer! No bacon and egg sandwich with Red Bull lunch for us today! Chris opts for lasagna, and I have the frittata, both served with fresh Greek-style greens!! Yumm yummm! And after being deprived of any decent and REAL coffee the past few days, a mug of lovely strong coffee from the Stuffed Cocky was total heaven!<br /><br />Now feeling very good in the tummies and skies clear, just another 110ks to cover past the Fitzgerald River National Park to the next fuel stop at Jerramungup … not long out of Ravensthorpe though it starts to drizzle AGAIN! And by the time we get to Esperance, the wind has really picked up and makes for fairly stressful riding – poor viz, wet strange roads, and where the F is a servo!?? In looking for a servo, we get moderately lost … in all the towns we’ve been through so far, there’s a servo just before or within the entry/exit of the town, but no, not shitty wet windy Esperance! Hehe, I’m sure it’s a lovely place to stay, we just didn’t get to see it’s “good side” today ;-)<br /><br />Finally a BP presents itself, the attendant is very helpful with directions, and off we head (into more drizzle!!) for an overnight in Emu Point, Albany … of course we get mildy lost looking for the accom but hey, it’s all part of the adventure!<br /><br />Poor Chris, he’d had a terrible day in the saddle in trying conditions – his main concern? Me. Not only did he have to contend with navigation, wet windy unfamiliar roads, but also keeping a constant watchful eye on me … he was exhausted by the time we got to Albany, so quietly I determine to treat him to a relaxing dinner: York Street is the ‘place to go’ for top-notch eateries and we cab it to the “Mean Fiddler” … it’s busy, but we’re in luck as a table for two had just been vacated! Chris orders Pork Belly, I have the Veal Saltimbocca, along with a recommended (I’ll tip it down the sink if you don’t like it, says the Italian owner) Castelli Cab Sav … generously loaded plates of scrummy food arrive in good time, and we assure the owner the wine doesn’t need to be tipped into the sink ;-)Ell on Wheelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17749009822380243083noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3010813357010522546.post-39754425823530942542010-03-26T17:10:00.000-07:002010-03-27T21:25:19.807-07:00Hi y'all! :-)<br />I know it's been several days since this Blog has been updated, but nil Internet access (or even mobile coverage!) has made making daily updates impossible! However, I have been busy (in the background) keeping a word.doc 'diary', so a massive Blog Blast, as follows! ;-)<br /><br /><br />Monday night – a sumptuous yummy dinner of marinated lean pork strip and tasty salad, scrummy wine, loads of chatter and laughing … Next day, a rest day at Carey Gully, to relax with our friends … sleep in, late brekky, Blog a bit, wander the garden of my guru mentor, take loads of pics, late lunch of gourmet baguettes with wine, which knocks Chris over (nana nap needed) … below, just a small selection of pics from MsD's garden ...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7S_GGjnDgVK_YHdaH4eW1BgcmW4hnsGEMSXBeC_6Vz8BYhi4wSaZuru1CUl60kA_ZJN1sBM1x4WEgAs84S04PPXDnCrKmfkY0jRoGK8oOhQd5cPQ61QQGZPAkR_TOY0ocMiAYPGIvUOA/s1600/1.DanniesGarden.1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7S_GGjnDgVK_YHdaH4eW1BgcmW4hnsGEMSXBeC_6Vz8BYhi4wSaZuru1CUl60kA_ZJN1sBM1x4WEgAs84S04PPXDnCrKmfkY0jRoGK8oOhQd5cPQ61QQGZPAkR_TOY0ocMiAYPGIvUOA/s400/1.DanniesGarden.1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453106876345963314" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF-S3-i23Zfvo59hZd0OWeSll9-PBfdwkBj4xEELwr21lvD40D9izeE3kxW_g9mmj3ahqGpw1CYdzgaXA1J0iS2_TzikdnDaQt6brD0DGK2jDrWcYubaAiXwohOP7F-OKYQ65EN0cmKAY/s1600/1.DanniesGarden.2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF-S3-i23Zfvo59hZd0OWeSll9-PBfdwkBj4xEELwr21lvD40D9izeE3kxW_g9mmj3ahqGpw1CYdzgaXA1J0iS2_TzikdnDaQt6brD0DGK2jDrWcYubaAiXwohOP7F-OKYQ65EN0cmKAY/s400/1.DanniesGarden.2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453106705817632322" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPnxmgpu327W2IYLZuNlvgDEmZZQ6w0RJG9B-bufnQMpFO2go6QQpHoNmMzvwaBoTT9wBDO33GaxIIHhkxvC-SqI_vaISo7XaDZ2pHXW7gXGTZcDPluVVz43kLnvsrJyXzLRWLx2eO0bo/s1600/1.DanniesGarden.3.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPnxmgpu327W2IYLZuNlvgDEmZZQ6w0RJG9B-bufnQMpFO2go6QQpHoNmMzvwaBoTT9wBDO33GaxIIHhkxvC-SqI_vaISo7XaDZ2pHXW7gXGTZcDPluVVz43kLnvsrJyXzLRWLx2eO0bo/s400/1.DanniesGarden.3.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453106435783998194" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh-3x1cefWZfhAaBUnsIyNGq4ny_3kToThsT61e63ywarFXHtc9JZIfaPIQf6ScRNNEwN3uTxddD2L1KO9xhgTg8NRGH_Ot2Cvoc4WWidaQLkWm0NWhhs8sWRF9aGiNiNdeI5bsaeqz_s/s1600/1.DanniesGarden.4.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh-3x1cefWZfhAaBUnsIyNGq4ny_3kToThsT61e63ywarFXHtc9JZIfaPIQf6ScRNNEwN3uTxddD2L1KO9xhgTg8NRGH_Ot2Cvoc4WWidaQLkWm0NWhhs8sWRF9aGiNiNdeI5bsaeqz_s/s400/1.DanniesGarden.4.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453106252995311282" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgptUvVLS_xza0dbIcaEZR7acbqY75yS7-l-X237bmgEe-YOfbSghK5JButRVtle8em5jhSyqzEMjTgT-wapCFik25RLZkKMHCK1fPuJfzedd9abp05jmXS023NogPCdZW_qiMunK4S6Zk/s1600/1.DanniesGarden.5.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgptUvVLS_xza0dbIcaEZR7acbqY75yS7-l-X237bmgEe-YOfbSghK5JButRVtle8em5jhSyqzEMjTgT-wapCFik25RLZkKMHCK1fPuJfzedd9abp05jmXS023NogPCdZW_qiMunK4S6Zk/s400/1.DanniesGarden.5.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453106063419420290" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLQ35e2FU2CxwY7-fuFWa4miYRj02v4InGmwcobUEhmuSwzbQ3cit9sTmyFhQcZSkCpKbEglTQ-7DXtCvM-_B-eWKQdtrpQAiZI-WzMF-PZId0orwdXQ0ls-6emh_7libw_5vwZ9Kaztg/s1600/1.DanniesGarden.6.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLQ35e2FU2CxwY7-fuFWa4miYRj02v4InGmwcobUEhmuSwzbQ3cit9sTmyFhQcZSkCpKbEglTQ-7DXtCvM-_B-eWKQdtrpQAiZI-WzMF-PZId0orwdXQ0ls-6emh_7libw_5vwZ9Kaztg/s400/1.DanniesGarden.6.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453105853697498658" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN_COB_gkDIro60PTs_wN8V9sk4ZergWMtB7aMmVkNKbMU3Sg7Do3PQ4PhvMFlfKfzkTx39Gs7jvo8IClKMf7K0tRqPwAsoDhVBYbJCMa5YBvAi2C7qbWBVxb5cqZdICOzBAxc1_5N4y4/s1600/1.DanniesGarden.7.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN_COB_gkDIro60PTs_wN8V9sk4ZergWMtB7aMmVkNKbMU3Sg7Do3PQ4PhvMFlfKfzkTx39Gs7jvo8IClKMf7K0tRqPwAsoDhVBYbJCMa5YBvAi2C7qbWBVxb5cqZdICOzBAxc1_5N4y4/s400/1.DanniesGarden.7.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453105729339401138" /></a><br /><br />Tuesday … alarm set for 6, we aim to leave by 7am – ha!! Best laid plans ;-) By the time Atomic coffee was made, breakfast eaten, chat some more, pack the bikes, say our goodbyes, it was already nudging 8! ;-)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFBCbupQerkuzUSvyc-dN-vbkvmd8owHDLjWytuJE8dSxtU_Mb4c4AlNZaU6wVrEgSD1PAtFKSXsW2w9eo6YE_6KngKX6Sh-3p7Pli3U3IUBY9-Tj6JKW_mjleXkvUlbo2i1Xf3khP-Ew/s1600/Adl+to+Streaky+Bay.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 276px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFBCbupQerkuzUSvyc-dN-vbkvmd8owHDLjWytuJE8dSxtU_Mb4c4AlNZaU6wVrEgSD1PAtFKSXsW2w9eo6YE_6KngKX6Sh-3p7Pli3U3IUBY9-Tj6JKW_mjleXkvUlbo2i1Xf3khP-Ew/s400/Adl+to+Streaky+Bay.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453108239227336258" /></a><br /><br />Bit of a “Heart-starter” negotiating the short gravel section of MsD’s drive onto the road proper, and we’re away … sort of … before too long, we’ve missed the necessary turn-off to take us on to the Freeway, and we’re stuck in the rat’s nest of windy roads through Stirling! Two unplanned U-turns later, and we’re finally on the correct road to join Adelaide style peak-hour traffic ;-)<br />Somewhere in North Adelaide 50ks up the road we finally get to stop for fuel, fully expecting to have been able to stop much sooner! Port Wakefield is a rest stop, and elderly Darby and Marlene (with two yapping dogs in their Winnebago, towing a trailer with what looked like a big “super scooter” under the tarp), warn us of the storms in Perth … erm, thank you, but maybe those storms will have pushed off by the time we get there, in a week’s time ;-)<br /><br />The vagaries of maps! Next rest stop was supposed to have been a Mambray Creek Roadhouse, which turned out to be non-existant! So we pushed on to Port Augusta for lunch and fuel, where we meet “Ian”, who had lost his mate some 300ks ago … no mobile, no rider comms, mate is in his 70’s with a heart prob! As we’re about to set off again, we briefly chat to a couple of cyclists on their touring bikes, each towing a trailer – they’re headed for Albany!! ETA? Four weeks!<br /><br />On the road again, and we miss the turnoff for Kimba … another U turn, and on the right track … along the way, the huge “Iron Knob” is a very impressive sight … unfortunately, pic opportunity unavailable due to the narrow road with soft gravelly edges … onwards to Kimba and the “Giant Gala” for a rest stop … according to the sign on the local shop above the door, we are supposedly half way across Australia! Well, wouldn't that rather depend on where you started from? ;-)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcMZGtVzL0CfU5k53cRjzzn1KpPC67TaX67B8YGYEyilpHmM0AMPFS5Ed7F1e85YL_d7qKtOu-bubT_ykbKYC4r10MHy1IBhayzw536n9C4Bu7bKpJrkfLaLTk8tzw7i4XmNPrPw5GkHs/s1600/1.kitch.1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcMZGtVzL0CfU5k53cRjzzn1KpPC67TaX67B8YGYEyilpHmM0AMPFS5Ed7F1e85YL_d7qKtOu-bubT_ykbKYC4r10MHy1IBhayzw536n9C4Bu7bKpJrkfLaLTk8tzw7i4XmNPrPw5GkHs/s400/1.kitch.1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453280730842536562" /></a><br /><br />Some momentarily distracting 'amusement' from the shop window:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzszM7glRpzq1_uUy25ZrN4cBpbdcG1C4NNPjlU5YlWYEMXZb2-STq00X7tUMX0RzH3JjWCcVXfiA2Cz1gC2-ZLGymufqNmlESO2haVpt6zpn1aC4VKVE9S2TF-lOwZHnvAab-abKWrOo/s1600/1.kitch.3.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzszM7glRpzq1_uUy25ZrN4cBpbdcG1C4NNPjlU5YlWYEMXZb2-STq00X7tUMX0RzH3JjWCcVXfiA2Cz1gC2-ZLGymufqNmlESO2haVpt6zpn1aC4VKVE9S2TF-lOwZHnvAab-abKWrOo/s400/1.kitch.3.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453280957246227826" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiFLn5y6PhKwo9_iM30cR1SCfDwf9R4_rAoxShEh8z4OhpVxVd4JubVozJb5OSpb-RVIjnNjfg62kYtRJCQkRIgOFVAp6Lgzov9MidYL-JlZZ2k88C1uWUuorS7xgXiwZxkR1azJxRbFM/s1600/1.kitch.2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiFLn5y6PhKwo9_iM30cR1SCfDwf9R4_rAoxShEh8z4OhpVxVd4JubVozJb5OSpb-RVIjnNjfg62kYtRJCQkRIgOFVAp6Lgzov9MidYL-JlZZ2k88C1uWUuorS7xgXiwZxkR1azJxRbFM/s400/1.kitch.2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453280837483281586" /></a><br /><br />And here's where we're headed next:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibc43xZ_3ioV2Cz67OKymozF6d_ffhiXMwuRvvFsYj60ofuBZry5Le6bjeBhTWbvIAzKJHvlz7IfLgs7VWBCTBunFz_d5FsIgOrW7MI1NGf4bQPVe1DBYXcFOn7siyHYj77jhL3W9A2KQ/s1600/1.kitch.4.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibc43xZ_3ioV2Cz67OKymozF6d_ffhiXMwuRvvFsYj60ofuBZry5Le6bjeBhTWbvIAzKJHvlz7IfLgs7VWBCTBunFz_d5FsIgOrW7MI1NGf4bQPVe1DBYXcFOn7siyHYj77jhL3W9A2KQ/s400/1.kitch.4.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453281091264223170" /></a><br /><br />Fuel at Kyancutta, before taking a left towards Streaky Bay Hotel Motel, to overnight …<br /><br />Dinner - yummy deep fried Camembert with Cranberry jelly for entre, King George Whiting for mains, accompanied by a rather nice 2004 Port Lincoln Shiraz … tomorrow, we tackle the Eastern side of the Nullarbor<br />PS. No mobile phone coverage here, unless you’re with 3G (thanks Telstra!) and no internet access unless you want to pay for it with your credit card!!<br /><br /><br /><br />Wednesday – gorgeous sunny morning to start the day with!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidTTvITg2LGpiTufwVVSd4qGrqij053qdE5WuXb5NNltRp-Z5otyPSqBRxAvsNFQIT9oK36dSbh7yXfQZCCtmwNlOljuK2SNl3FGqYhA7JJLUfz68NUh5BXZMUJdCbrEnA8WEzPAN7KWA/s1600/1.StreakyBay.2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidTTvITg2LGpiTufwVVSd4qGrqij053qdE5WuXb5NNltRp-Z5otyPSqBRxAvsNFQIT9oK36dSbh7yXfQZCCtmwNlOljuK2SNl3FGqYhA7JJLUfz68NUh5BXZMUJdCbrEnA8WEzPAN7KWA/s400/1.StreakyBay.2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453282814298531442" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQee1gcsMAJ3Dt6oS2p-Ea2P96wrrrbXcTObf65ntBq2moOd9US7sTY1zn0gX3E2h1Df0O7OrElOs5JkTNc-NujcmHMWnByptbgjJRn3l72eLNxc0tJRRm7YDW8F2s32CFg5Oy0DXd04E/s1600/1.StreakyBay.1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQee1gcsMAJ3Dt6oS2p-Ea2P96wrrrbXcTObf65ntBq2moOd9US7sTY1zn0gX3E2h1Df0O7OrElOs5JkTNc-NujcmHMWnByptbgjJRn3l72eLNxc0tJRRm7YDW8F2s32CFg5Oy0DXd04E/s400/1.StreakyBay.1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453282463133480210" /></a><br /><br />We casually pootle (at 100ks/hr) back along some of the road we took last night to get to Streaky Bay, before turning left onto Flinders Hwy – sea on our left, sunshine on our right – luverly! Have decided that the first morning leg on each day so far has been the most pleasurable!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzRjpLfDdoCsB_gYeb_rQIMZGX3HDnWObHpWnLvPVHZp_6uYv7JNnQKjdQRbMJ6Z11DVcE-ws_HkBQ33243AIE6JsziIPjQAT5VSQCHPXr-dA5YxKXYt9h1w7LK_8KdWHHKFjffUCq8-8/s1600/Streaky+Bay+to+Eucla.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzRjpLfDdoCsB_gYeb_rQIMZGX3HDnWObHpWnLvPVHZp_6uYv7JNnQKjdQRbMJ6Z11DVcE-ws_HkBQ33243AIE6JsziIPjQAT5VSQCHPXr-dA5YxKXYt9h1w7LK_8KdWHHKFjffUCq8-8/s400/Streaky+Bay+to+Eucla.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453109797819984834" /></a><br /><br />Over the past couple of days, there’s been loads of motorbikes going in the opposite direction. There had been a big Ulysses “AGM” in Perth about three weeks ago, approximately 3,000 members had attended (number varied, depending on who you spoke to). Most folk had long arrived home, but some were still making the most of it as an good excuse for a holiday … so there were lots of opportunities to offer a friendly wave as they went by … not everyone waves back – there’s at least one “grumpy old fart” in ten who can’t be bothered ;-)<br /><br />And the Cops won’t wave back either … except one, just before the WA border, who was waving at us before we saw him! ;-)<br />First rest stop Penong, and we chat to a fella parked there who owns a big shiny cpper coloured Honda Goldwing – 1.8 liters “under the hood”!!<br /><br />Nundroo ... fuel stop, a blast from the past and we grab a sandwich to keep us going …<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_jTxPZBRatWz31J6GA7riFy3e4ECD1MgeJktDaYyYr7iCClmEbyZJ3gyhQGwvFFaB460M93E77tqNerMCfeEjrkc6Z_UQA-LlkTuLM8BYhggr0cLZqAZj9KqDcwnNwiXbpM1jl1g9WNs/s1600/1.Nundroo.1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_jTxPZBRatWz31J6GA7riFy3e4ECD1MgeJktDaYyYr7iCClmEbyZJ3gyhQGwvFFaB460M93E77tqNerMCfeEjrkc6Z_UQA-LlkTuLM8BYhggr0cLZqAZj9KqDcwnNwiXbpM1jl1g9WNs/s400/1.Nundroo.1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453529289490841202" /></a><br /><br />Nullarbor Road House … the last fuel stop before getting to the WA border and Eucla … even though it’s outrageously expensive at $1.79/liter, neglect to fuel up at your peril!<br /><br />Finally, we reach the first pic opportunity at Great Australian Bight … it’s a dirt track, and the viewing point is a good 400m off the road- we opt to leave the bikes parked safely (we hope!) on terra firma (bitumen) on the side of the road and hoof it … within seconds, we’re mobbed by bloody little black flies! Despite the heat, I decide to leave the helmet on, visor down - the lesser of the two evils – while Chris is immediately doing the ‘great Aussie wave’!<br /><br />The trudge in bike boots to the edge of the Great Australian Bight was oh so worth it! It is spectacular beyond belief, and the few pics I have here just don’t do it justice – it truly is one of Australia’s most beautiful places to visit! Long way to get there for the view but HIGHLY recommended!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOnS0klOStZ6lUOUD1VRHnNNWE_kIP0JAG6C11bpmVRgFQwOvnfFNR93_5Fm1MUAdlpsicpaaSKzZ5BauPWLmUwcLHeFRjZKHVOnaSE7GrU18Ud0Lr6_ZOmYsKQi3lWGdcldW-ddDQHqQ/s1600/1.Bight.1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOnS0klOStZ6lUOUD1VRHnNNWE_kIP0JAG6C11bpmVRgFQwOvnfFNR93_5Fm1MUAdlpsicpaaSKzZ5BauPWLmUwcLHeFRjZKHVOnaSE7GrU18Ud0Lr6_ZOmYsKQi3lWGdcldW-ddDQHqQ/s400/1.Bight.1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453286850238749618" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgArQmg4bvjo1a57FmBUkQ0KL5OmlCKZ2i6L4NlGX7g0S6xiWJVb9xLZ2JcUQjSPCoLKNqrjFC_X4kIHQGsf-8YP15a7NQ_E2gAgjBbegCNYXudf5G8ksTkfDj2L4XjbU_mf5ltlVZ7TrQ/s1600/1.Bight.5.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgArQmg4bvjo1a57FmBUkQ0KL5OmlCKZ2i6L4NlGX7g0S6xiWJVb9xLZ2JcUQjSPCoLKNqrjFC_X4kIHQGsf-8YP15a7NQ_E2gAgjBbegCNYXudf5G8ksTkfDj2L4XjbU_mf5ltlVZ7TrQ/s400/1.Bight.5.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453287348728688882" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYqrems3VLAqM5JlIOC_35VrtRM9YnQ-eC8_ny7blCbC_wIt3o_Fu7PwgVm_5RQtFc1p4dqZBCPkX7j7RfV-4tPW5lTA0F0PW0-eWASns2YkkWQS97H8W7owaz-E8KrV6BRk0biLaOWRU/s1600/1.Bight.4.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYqrems3VLAqM5JlIOC_35VrtRM9YnQ-eC8_ny7blCbC_wIt3o_Fu7PwgVm_5RQtFc1p4dqZBCPkX7j7RfV-4tPW5lTA0F0PW0-eWASns2YkkWQS97H8W7owaz-E8KrV6BRk0biLaOWRU/s400/1.Bight.4.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453287209715411058" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGQonr1qfcXIVCnuTlVbNreF7ppDV3xEn2jlO073X_L7aDU1vb046-VsXcHZT87hgDbForQKqDN4WA0r4KlFejjgQkeAVYmBI62oQGp5_KdNp7uOjeNkF-iz0WIFYBkH5eksDH6drqRiQ/s1600/1.Bight.3.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGQonr1qfcXIVCnuTlVbNreF7ppDV3xEn2jlO073X_L7aDU1vb046-VsXcHZT87hgDbForQKqDN4WA0r4KlFejjgQkeAVYmBI62oQGp5_KdNp7uOjeNkF-iz0WIFYBkH5eksDH6drqRiQ/s400/1.Bight.3.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453287077645115874" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdFjQHZEpbeZtGKtynrYSAbiBAYgsUXfALgX5HcaojHn52G1j2QFQfBbf_16YScYGw4YmI5ENS-k04DYMDrsyMdrYk4JWOCvJ8Ljp9evAMvRlpjls78OlBvWDNW2mupnpsFHj-_5EO47U/s1600/1.Bight.2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdFjQHZEpbeZtGKtynrYSAbiBAYgsUXfALgX5HcaojHn52G1j2QFQfBbf_16YScYGw4YmI5ENS-k04DYMDrsyMdrYk4JWOCvJ8Ljp9evAMvRlpjls78OlBvWDNW2mupnpsFHj-_5EO47U/s400/1.Bight.2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453286963224338530" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9kv7Ogml2FdiDlYkHcow-6iaRnSzLUdciEfT36t8aV8mQctwcSpNuQZ9m1TW3f0ju77cHMr1aG-gHyyEem_IKd5PGtr44dv3zeSAk_Lz6IXJXc4sykE3qIEHBcitFgtGtmC0OEuELi94/s1600/1.Bight.6.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9kv7Ogml2FdiDlYkHcow-6iaRnSzLUdciEfT36t8aV8mQctwcSpNuQZ9m1TW3f0ju77cHMr1aG-gHyyEem_IKd5PGtr44dv3zeSAk_Lz6IXJXc4sykE3qIEHBcitFgtGtmC0OEuELi94/s400/1.Bight.6.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453287461784928946" /></a><br /><br />Back in the saddle, it’s a relief to escape the flies, and soon we come upon two other viewing points – we keep going, but note to visit at least one of these on our return journey … then “The Doctor” of the Great Australian Bight kicks in and the temp drops a noticeable and welcome 10 degrees at least, and a Southerly change in wind direction considerably eases the wakes of the oncoming road trains.<br /><br />Border Village quarantine stop … the fella in the pic did his utter best to not be included! Heheee!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUI0Rh0tUirmpmMhqpypHpt_ZAFK-M0jjHcr9g5vuuR-AQytxfYsTSDJJi8QbJpmKMJvpn7coaMer1FeGpTFXDtZduA6LkMA9S46uiIcuXzPS4cDpTuJhpD8fjKzKW8euZ2-sCNksKd9E/s1600/1.Eucla.1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUI0Rh0tUirmpmMhqpypHpt_ZAFK-M0jjHcr9g5vuuR-AQytxfYsTSDJJi8QbJpmKMJvpn7coaMer1FeGpTFXDtZduA6LkMA9S46uiIcuXzPS4cDpTuJhpD8fjKzKW8euZ2-sCNksKd9E/s400/1.Eucla.1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453288548299070306" /></a><br /><br />He and his staff would have had a busy time of it when the Ulysses bikies were passing to and from their AGM three weeks ago ;-) We heard that the guards were insistant on checking everything, and too bad if your esky was buried beneath a ton of almost inacessable luggage! When we arrived at the checkpoint, there was just a ute with horse-float attatched … Of course the guard wanted everything opened, panniers, soft luggage bags, topboxes, and was especially interested to know if we had any honey aboard … mate says Chris, we’ve just come across the Nulla in the warmest part of the day, something like honey wouldn’t survive the trip! But you’re welcome to check and open anything you like … he just settled for both topboxes and that was it ;-)<br /><br />Onwards to Eucla, a shower, an air-conditioned room and??? Beer!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrCwE4dQVZ-U1nMj6g-nWPruuoixslqmC_jRbEEdq3LZJwG3OkIQbepRRgzdW9dHYCXssCdNT6yHqvaI7o3ToGZ0PdviT9hawhAKTfJi_Xsj9w0rPVIJA5rkUZJd-znppu-ilqz0PpUfk/s1600/1.Eucla.2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrCwE4dQVZ-U1nMj6g-nWPruuoixslqmC_jRbEEdq3LZJwG3OkIQbepRRgzdW9dHYCXssCdNT6yHqvaI7o3ToGZ0PdviT9hawhAKTfJi_Xsj9w0rPVIJA5rkUZJd-znppu-ilqz0PpUfk/s400/1.Eucla.2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453288900553130786" /></a><br /><br />Below, just a few reference markers ;-)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7iJqbkRqgxGFR7t-eKopJ5BQo_uwQC6KAuKpzX4U6zusbQoJlBDB9sjFEcrtnlsKPPDx8x_I-tDUwzQgBGACRSO-ndb8365wfaQUSDgdHllC3mKwRwuSxAM1Wb2iSdOdLmfT4G6ajlNE/s1600/1.Eucla.3.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7iJqbkRqgxGFR7t-eKopJ5BQo_uwQC6KAuKpzX4U6zusbQoJlBDB9sjFEcrtnlsKPPDx8x_I-tDUwzQgBGACRSO-ndb8365wfaQUSDgdHllC3mKwRwuSxAM1Wb2iSdOdLmfT4G6ajlNE/s400/1.Eucla.3.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453289019644467330" /></a><br /><br />We were as yet too early for the dining room, so we took a short walk to a viewing point behind the units … unknown to us, we were actually on private property (noticed the sign as we left – ooops! Oh well …) but the view was gorgeous in the setting sun – didn’t bring the camera though, bugger!<br /><br />At last, it’s “beer o’clock!” and we get settled with the ubiquitous Nobby’s Nuts and two (very expensive, $6 EACH!!) Coronas and dissected the day’s happenings … soon after, we get chatting to a tall gent and his wife - Steve and Cath – whom we ended up having dinner with … two very knowledgeable and well-travelled people: Steve the rider, Cath the pillion, on a Honda ST1300, towing a small trailer.<br /><br />Steve tells us about one of the road etiquette rules truckies operate by in the Nulla: move to the left of their oncoming approach and they will move over to their left as much as safely practical – if you don’t, they won’t bother either and you’ll get the full force of the ‘wake’! Advice is well noted, especially when the wind is blowing from the North! ;-)<br /><br /><br /><br />Thursday –we wake to a windy morning, and up a bit too early for breakfast, so we go for another walk to the view behind the units, with camera this time! Knowing that yesterday we were on ‘private property’, we walk to another viewing point, which was nowhere as good as the private property view point, so we pretend to not know any better (if found) and got to see the sun hit the clouds and the dunes …<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVQXvUPm2vUucapP0YxxepL8l1KAch2dBgOx7gkVBv0tx3TNSY6WVOG7EE5VqM2eiqWpPRjpfKciM5q9Z6R27iG9Q4v2V0_fXHNGCtgP5H-Wvcswe2Grtz01EbkjsDeEMsdTbBNpvG-wo/s1600/1.Eucla.3.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVQXvUPm2vUucapP0YxxepL8l1KAch2dBgOx7gkVBv0tx3TNSY6WVOG7EE5VqM2eiqWpPRjpfKciM5q9Z6R27iG9Q4v2V0_fXHNGCtgP5H-Wvcswe2Grtz01EbkjsDeEMsdTbBNpvG-wo/s400/1.Eucla.3.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453531769718818018" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVzoB0aoAL53Cs02sDJnzLBmsdQIShMM2u-zS3bLU5ygrx1-RLVsDaDjRZjprQDqYtPlz5SXSOFVGYY_2KNMHkCqYbR5DtyjIIZt8lsRg0V61QwWiyzeL9-wjryqHl4JWpog1-lfKJYpo/s1600/1.Eucla.2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVzoB0aoAL53Cs02sDJnzLBmsdQIShMM2u-zS3bLU5ygrx1-RLVsDaDjRZjprQDqYtPlz5SXSOFVGYY_2KNMHkCqYbR5DtyjIIZt8lsRg0V61QwWiyzeL9-wjryqHl4JWpog1-lfKJYpo/s400/1.Eucla.2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453531662076291810" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Jy-Uwer26Alty0GVHWJdsIL4AJuCoU0-JSszp1j6ioho61nIYmwFWu-iw8_2iCuMCftLr54EG82Iu6GHhQiNZ4GzBmBesF5D601-B9db7n_xo2BP6dsKXUtnJyPMCkWUkB8C6DXCaEQ/s1600/1.Eucla.1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Jy-Uwer26Alty0GVHWJdsIL4AJuCoU0-JSszp1j6ioho61nIYmwFWu-iw8_2iCuMCftLr54EG82Iu6GHhQiNZ4GzBmBesF5D601-B9db7n_xo2BP6dsKXUtnJyPMCkWUkB8C6DXCaEQ/s400/1.Eucla.1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453531550738705330" /></a><br /><br />Breakfast, if you can call it that was scrambled eggs on a bit of white toast … two lattes had also been ordered and a few minutes later, one mug arrived … oh, the other will be along shortly, we thought … then a gent walks up and says “um, excuse me mate, but that’s my mug!” We all have a bit of a giggle and he asks if he can have it – but of course! And no we haven’t touched it because we’re actually waiting for our two! Off the gent walks with his mug … When ours finally turns up (after a little gentle prompting from me) they were scalding hot (this barista/coffee snob had to endure the sound of the milk being ‘murdered’!!) and tasteless – we gave it our best shot but they really were undrinkable and left it! On our way back to the room, we met Steve and Cath headed in for breakfast: we warned them off the coffee! Bikes packed, we were soon on our way to Madura<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE-pcxmFi_KnbYIxGRcyWsJw6iG57yk4CnxvQzPrGp9bt5E-YWafic6MWn7ORWpNMBTLuUFybjqEMRZ3b3U0iAMXXvPIO1nxC5DT39jfFGGn4nm5dWenX-Hm3pvV53zIuK4U_YXWjpKhM/s1600/Eucla+to+Norseman.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 188px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE-pcxmFi_KnbYIxGRcyWsJw6iG57yk4CnxvQzPrGp9bt5E-YWafic6MWn7ORWpNMBTLuUFybjqEMRZ3b3U0iAMXXvPIO1nxC5DT39jfFGGn4nm5dWenX-Hm3pvV53zIuK4U_YXWjpKhM/s400/Eucla+to+Norseman.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453110239716944050" /></a><br /><br />Not long down the road though, we both decided we were over dressed with too many layers – the day was heating up very quickly, thanks to the gusty Northerly, and at the next available opportunity, we stopped at Mundrabilla to shed over jackets and a T-shirt layer<br /><br />Madura to Cocklebiddy … Cath had said the coffee was good there … I’m sure it was, but unfortunately didn’t have time to search for “the spot” and on we pressed for Caiguna, just a short 66k hop down the road.<br /><br />With the next leg to Balladonia being the longest straightest stretch of road in Australia of 146ks (gulp!), we stop for lunch (was that what it was!!) in Caiguna … oh yum, yet another egg and bacon sandwich, washed down with Red Bull! Bikes fueled and bodies somewhat, we’re off to face some weirdo accountant’s sick sense of humour! Who else but a bean counter would make such a long straight stretch of road!!<br />My backside is really starting to ache now … when does it ‘wear in’ like I’ve heard about??? ;-)<br /><br />The Nullarbor landscape … ever changing, not all flat but undulating, and utterly and truly amaaaaaazing!!! For long stretches at a time, it’s the same, then in a blink of an eye it changes and you think “Shit! Did I miss something? When did that change!” because it’s gone from desolate nothing in part, to salt bush scrubby shrubs and stunted trees in the blink of an eye! And there were signs beside the road warning of unfenced roads, beware ‘roos, camels emu and stray cattle … saw none of those, too hot apparently, but felt extremely priviledged to briefly see in passing a magnificent Wedge Tailed Eagle on the side of the road, atop a relatively fresh road kill of wallaby – it was a HUGE bird! At some point further up the road (I forget where now), a trio of WT Eagles up high on the thermal currents.<br /><br />Riding/driving the Nullarbor is plainly not everyone’s cup of tea, but from an aeroplane you don’t get to see WT Eagles or have the landscape of the Nulla so in your face! Loved it, and looking fwd to the return journey to get some more!<br /><br />Fuel stop at Balladonia, and off again to Norseman – 192kms! Oh my aching seatbones!<br />In the last 50ks or so before Norseman, the vegetation suddenly changed again … scrubby stunted growth now ‘replaced’ by true bush, and some really really beautiful ‘red’ trunked gum trees … finally arriving in Norseman, early, we take a walk into main street in search of a well earned beer (momentarily accompanied by someone’s ‘stray’ German Sheperd – only a young dog, says Chris). Along the way, we come across one of those ‘red’ trees and take a closer look – trunk is perfectly smooth and exquisitely coloured!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwIJ1JRoZezby_gjy8FDYg1S1oDp6AgnSj-D_lbsQ8AUrnEt125l95FvL_Ija_tVm4TZM2CtjxkKowAPZA6P62XrXd9I9gYwHGfmfPtoAeAhkx5Yc80NNtDt4WaT2HRIo80JZniYb-GPY/s1600/1.Norseman.2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwIJ1JRoZezby_gjy8FDYg1S1oDp6AgnSj-D_lbsQ8AUrnEt125l95FvL_Ija_tVm4TZM2CtjxkKowAPZA6P62XrXd9I9gYwHGfmfPtoAeAhkx5Yc80NNtDt4WaT2HRIo80JZniYb-GPY/s400/1.Norseman.2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453533406505826050" /></a><br /><br />A one-pub town, we don’t have much choice in venue. The beautiful Art Deco period “Norseman Motel” further down the street is open but unfortunately not serving beer – stunning AD ceilings, sweeping staircase, club lounges, classic AD light fittings (wish I’d taken some pics!!) it’s under new management and as yet no liquor license. But at least the Pub has a varied beer selection, unlike Eucla!! Emu Export for Chris, Becks for me … ahhhhhhhhhhhh, that’s much better!<br /><br />Chris phones his brother … Mick is happy to know we’re doing Ok (particularly me) and making good progress, and that we should visit Walpoll when we get to Denmark … off the phone and Chris says, well I think Mick is jealous – you’ve got one up on him: he’s never crossed the Nulla on a motorbike! In fact, I reckon you’ve got more ‘balls’ than most men I know! … I chuckle, it’s a huge compliment from Chris!<br /><br />Slightly staggering back to our overnight quarters after two beers that barely touched the sides, a noisy screeching in a tree got our attention – above our heads, a large superbly coloured parrot was literally doing his best impression of “shake a tail feather”! Gorgeous!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhiP5UJyKI2OBSFcKwwNq2Cvqwb7Tkb146vlWMHtQP0VVy_0ZJGQdea0JI6WLfqnRDObUEsdDbXsQ_OJcmRkvImKm2NezhXxS7NT_yJAlqa546hP3DboWk4b8v3RZuTD0gnqncyB45CaY/s1600/1.Norseman.5.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhiP5UJyKI2OBSFcKwwNq2Cvqwb7Tkb146vlWMHtQP0VVy_0ZJGQdea0JI6WLfqnRDObUEsdDbXsQ_OJcmRkvImKm2NezhXxS7NT_yJAlqa546hP3DboWk4b8v3RZuTD0gnqncyB45CaY/s400/1.Norseman.5.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453534139147674930" /></a><br /><br />Dinner! LOL!! Barely are we seated in our chairs with menus in hand, a young voice comes from behind the bar 20 feet away “Are yous ready to order?” … oh dear! The wine list was sparse, and even though the reds were all crossed off as not in stock, there’s still two behind the bar – we pick a dubious Shiraz, but just a glass of … Rump steak for Chris, chicken stirfry for me – at least that was safe.<br />‘Ordering’ breakfast for tomorrow – no room service (as you’d get from any other Great Western Hotel) but instead you ‘order’ what you want and then wait for it to be put on a tray for you, to take back to the room yourself! Upside at least is, Chris had pre-paid the room prior to leaving Melbourne, so we can eat and buzz off when we feel like it tomorrow … hmmm, another long day in the saddle – best get some sleep!Ell on Wheelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17749009822380243083noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3010813357010522546.post-40459177963050380302010-03-22T01:26:00.000-07:002010-03-26T17:22:01.388-07:00Sunday "Post Script"<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgswZgVnh8baHKU7h-Z_NvxcI0-FwaWS0mODglg77dRm8mT7arDpq5bCOmiSTaj4siVMCeThq4mZiSYN-fDu6irRXI7PlpcL8uVRPl61awl0NKFlHD_4OQ6KNaWMv28KCtoW_4WZtSOaBk/s1600/Mel+to+Adl.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453101037933027298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 239px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgswZgVnh8baHKU7h-Z_NvxcI0-FwaWS0mODglg77dRm8mT7arDpq5bCOmiSTaj4siVMCeThq4mZiSYN-fDu6irRXI7PlpcL8uVRPl61awl0NKFlHD_4OQ6KNaWMv28KCtoW_4WZtSOaBk/s400/Mel+to+Adl.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Well, here it is, "THE DAY" has finally arrived, after months of saving up annual leave, months of planning (accompanied by several bottles of red), sober re-planning, and spending a small fortune on gear! New helmets, new textile jackets, knee/shin guards, rider-to-rider comms, and all sorts of other minor 'things' ...<br /><br />Awake well before the alarm – 4am!! What the??? Oh well, may as well get up … yawn … computer on … yawn … download some more music into the iRiver … yawn … check FB … yawn … 5.30am I hear the alarm go off, the boy is up and it’s time to put the Atomic on … scrammed eggs, mushies and toms, yummm! Planned departure time of 7am is approaching way too fast, and we’ve not even got the bikes out yet ;-)<br /><br />Eventually the bikes are packed & fueled up, riders caffeined up, now all we have to do is get on and head for the hills - Adelaide Hills that is ;-) 7.30 and we’re finally out the drive and unbelieveably we are actually doing this ride!!! Wooop!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjq7vdfSga4j637A5LnovHukYYaTcm4qX3FmSifX6qv0GpnkwfvjSfwYx_80zN4jV7TmxrdjK2AR40whiM4IVRT4D64CjRkTvwaSzF-69_08tSQgnYRaeZ4kgDg57WoOSRKUASIydkEW4/s1600/1.bikes.1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453101677719804562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjq7vdfSga4j637A5LnovHukYYaTcm4qX3FmSifX6qv0GpnkwfvjSfwYx_80zN4jV7TmxrdjK2AR40whiM4IVRT4D64CjRkTvwaSzF-69_08tSQgnYRaeZ4kgDg57WoOSRKUASIydkEW4/s400/1.bikes.1.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />It’s cool, it’s windy, but at least it’s not raining! Yet … until Ballarat gets closer, with it’s seemingly permanent low-hanging cloud!<br /><br />First rest stop, Beaufort servo, and immediately amazed by the friendliness of complete strangers – it seems that if you ride a motorbike, people want to talk to you … As I’m walking up to the door of the servo, older gent, wife in the car, filling up with gas, says to me “nice bikes mate, what are they?” Beemer RT’s … “oh, they look like police bikes” … I just smile and politely say they are, ex-Cop … “Oh!!! Really? Wow!!!” … by all means go and have a look if you want to, and the gent finishes gassing up and promptly walks over ;-) Inspection done, he hangs around for us to start the bikes – know this because he states it … so I start the Beast, give it a few revs and ask “happy now?” and he grins and says yep!! And off he goes … True story!<br /><br />Horsham fuel stop, lunch and a “Red Bull” … fuel done, and this particular servo starts to look familiar … and then I remember! Do you recognize this spot, I ask Chris and he doesn’t immediately, until I point out the turn off to the Grampians … coincidently, we’re at the very same servo that the charity ride “Murray to Moyne” support buses and other vehicles use, before turning off and heading through the Grampians!! Ahhhh, those were the FIT fun days of pedal power!! ;-)<br /><br />Note to self: when in country Vic and ordering a side of “large bowl of chips”, pre-check the bowl size! What arrived was enough to feed the whole of Aus! Ok, slight exaggeration, but we couldn’t finish it!<br /><br />Next rest stop at Bordertown and another Red Bull, couldn’t come quick enough – getting very tired, weary of being buffeted by the gusty side-wind, the left hamstring is starting to ache, and no amount of shifting around on the seat would relieve it!! Stopping and finding something knee-high to prop the foot on and stretch was instant relief, and thankfully then not as bothersome for the rest of the trip.<br /><br />Last fuel stop, Coonalpyn, and we’re finally on the last leg into the late afternoon sun of Adelaide, to stop overnight with friends … but we miss a turn off and end up in Stirling ;-) We ask a friendly local, and we finally find our way out of Stirling and back onto the highway to Carey Gully … and a thoroughly well earned beer!<br /><br />Pics to come ...Ell on Wheelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17749009822380243083noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3010813357010522546.post-25391135351385790992010-03-20T12:22:00.000-07:002010-03-22T02:10:32.131-07:00Ell on Wheelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17749009822380243083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3010813357010522546.post-44865789832492709732010-03-17T23:11:00.000-07:002010-03-17T23:34:05.386-07:00Ok, for all you Blog "Fashionistas" out there, I'm a Blog "Virgin" so be nice ;-)<br />I'll do my best to keep idle prattle to a minimum, piccies interesting many & varied, and commentary precise ... I also promise to never let the truth get in the way of a good story!! Hehe ;-)<br /><br />One more day of work to get through (tomorrow) and only three more sleeps to go!! :-DEll on Wheelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17749009822380243083noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3010813357010522546.post-85452778337711892522010-03-14T15:22:00.000-07:002010-03-18T01:57:42.238-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx0EpjqIesZ87pJf4sLuvqH4_6S-YSxpeimqb1Rz7WjAl1fus5uJ8bIkx5YZnPxhvcV5Y0qxg952sFjqgXeW_PFnfTTR19_XZ-tDr4laQ9GjX9CVMpIDvdq6nDB9kQ-4EuApaJp1SxUII/s1600-h/1.Worlds08.1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx0EpjqIesZ87pJf4sLuvqH4_6S-YSxpeimqb1Rz7WjAl1fus5uJ8bIkx5YZnPxhvcV5Y0qxg952sFjqgXeW_PFnfTTR19_XZ-tDr4laQ9GjX9CVMpIDvdq6nDB9kQ-4EuApaJp1SxUII/s400/1.Worlds08.1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448620789721623570" border="0" /></a><br />If someone had said to me a couple of years ago, that I would be 'trading' this, my 8kg Italian "Pinarello" track bike ...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqRhw2UYMberqzR0ikEbgrIgHxb-ShwNICmlicEeHRbMXmBhAioUs7AE5NxXpQ4kVnDkyUpcS-NmMWokZrepS-_NUnwVJn6ky8gckTUA2oyeqJzwXxtgWpNvqvGyBZjRf7PUeWKffykb4/s1600-h/1.Beemers.7.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqRhw2UYMberqzR0ikEbgrIgHxb-ShwNICmlicEeHRbMXmBhAioUs7AE5NxXpQ4kVnDkyUpcS-NmMWokZrepS-_NUnwVJn6ky8gckTUA2oyeqJzwXxtgWpNvqvGyBZjRf7PUeWKffykb4/s400/1.Beemers.7.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448621571753720818" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />... for this, a German made 280kg BMW Beast ...<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />... I would have said something like, whatever drugs you're on, I don't want any ;-)<br />How things can change in the space of mere weeks! A disheartening lack of results at the World Masters Track Championships of that year, a post-comp lung infection for the following three weeks, and a new change in 'focus' was badly needed ... enter, the world of bikes with MOTORS!! ;-)<br /><br />Fast fwd to March 2010, and we're close to setting off on a cruisey unhurried four week motorbike adventure across the Nullabor to Perth! ... starting this Sunday!! :-)Ell on Wheelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17749009822380243083noreply@blogger.com13