havebootswilltrek.com

The stats are filling up:

1. Albany : 658 Kilometres (from KD Cycles in Rockingham where I bought the computer).
2. Norseman : 1366 Kilometres
3. Ceduna : 2571 Kilometres
4. Port Augusta : 3050 Kilometres
5. Adelaide : 3385 Kilometres
6. Melbourne (possibly)
7. Sydney

Every trip has a low point, and the Port Pirie – Port Wakefield day was it. From the moment I left until the moment I arrived, nine hours later, my thighs were on fire as I fought the ever-increasing headwinds. The terrain looked flat most of the time but it felt impossibly difficult to cycle on. It looked like I was cycling on the flat but it felt like I was cycling across the Himalayas. On treacle. I stopped several times to check that my tyres weren’t flat, that my gears were OK and that my brakes weren’t catching. But no. Everything was fine. The wind made today a long, difficult and ultimately tat day. A definite low point.

The only highlight was the Lake Naivaisha-like lake I encountered which I didn’t photograph very well:

I had planned on cycling into Adelaide on Sunday so the traffic would be lighter. It was, kind of. Cycling in heavy traffic was a new experience for me. There are cycle lanes littered throughout Adelaide, but none on Grand Junction Road where I needed to somehow get into the fifth lane of traffic so I could turn right. Exhiliarating fun!

Sydney is a leisurely three weeks away from here via Melbourne. I was hoping to get over to Sydney before Christmas and get settled, but that was… “a little ambitious” If I went over to Sydney now, I’d be arriving right in the middle of Crazy Season. Until now, I’ve been able to just turn up at a motel or a caravan park and get accommodation but the school holidays are starting soon. Apart from there being lots of semi-naked jailbait on the beach, this means accommodation gets booked up and prices rise. The midday heat is also getting a bit much for cycling in.

So: I’ve booked into accommodation for a week here in Adelaide and I’m looking around for a room to rent until after the summer. Will update and let you know what’s going on. L8r!