Day 25 - Bunda Cliffs (2nd lookout) to Nullarbor Roadhouse
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I had a very pleasant evening chatting to my camp neighbours around the campfire. Pleased they had brought some wood with them, as it certainly gets cool in the evening. When I went to bed I was happy I camped behind a bush, as the wind picked up during the night.
This morning I awoke and packed everything away by sunrise. As I wanted to be on the road nice and early before it got to hot. I was riding about 10 minutes after sunrise.
The wind was of course still blowing, but not an headwind, a crosswind this time. About 40kms I took the turnoff for the Number 1 lookout. The view from this lookout was spectacular. I stayed there for a while chatting and just enjoying the view.
After I was still riding with a crosswind. As the wind was blowing from the north it meant it was a very warm wind. Plus there is no shade. Even in the rest areas there is just a bin. Be great if they built a small bench and awning, like in WA.
The wind was getting stronger, the sun hotter and of course no shade. I was starting to feel the heat and not enjoying the ride. I pulled over a couple of times just to rehydrate. Then I saw a turnoff for a rest area. I pulled in, of course no shade. But then I saw this work vehicle which had been left there. It was giving some shade, so I sat in the shade of the vehicle for 15 minutes. It felt great letting my body cool down there.
Once I was cooled down I was riding in the sun again. I had about 4 litres of water left and still 50kms to go to the next roadhouse. So I started to set myself mini goals. For example when I had travelled another 5kms I would have some more water.
The last 10kms to the Nullarbor roadhouse were hard. It was 36c outside, plus a warm northerly blowing, decided to blow harder. I was down to my last 500ml of water. Those last kms hurt. I was so pleased to be at the roadhouse.
Roadhouses to me are like little oasis in the desert. When I walked in the air con felt so refreshing. I grabbed a nice cold ice coffee and ordered my usual. I then decided this would be my destination for the day. I checked myself into a backpacker room for the night and enjoyed a nice refreshing shower.
Today has certainly been one of the hardest rides I have ever done touring. At times I was hating it. But now I have completed another part I am pleased with how I managed overall in the heat. Tomorrow is meant to be cooler and I'll be heading down to the Head of Bight to see the whales.
This morning I awoke and packed everything away by sunrise. As I wanted to be on the road nice and early before it got to hot. I was riding about 10 minutes after sunrise.
The wind was of course still blowing, but not an headwind, a crosswind this time. About 40kms I took the turnoff for the Number 1 lookout. The view from this lookout was spectacular. I stayed there for a while chatting and just enjoying the view.
 |
After I was still riding with a crosswind. As the wind was blowing from the north it meant it was a very warm wind. Plus there is no shade. Even in the rest areas there is just a bin. Be great if they built a small bench and awning, like in WA.
The wind was getting stronger, the sun hotter and of course no shade. I was starting to feel the heat and not enjoying the ride. I pulled over a couple of times just to rehydrate. Then I saw a turnoff for a rest area. I pulled in, of course no shade. But then I saw this work vehicle which had been left there. It was giving some shade, so I sat in the shade of the vehicle for 15 minutes. It felt great letting my body cool down there.
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The last 10kms to the Nullarbor roadhouse were hard. It was 36c outside, plus a warm northerly blowing, decided to blow harder. I was down to my last 500ml of water. Those last kms hurt. I was so pleased to be at the roadhouse.
 |
Roadhouses to me are like little oasis in the desert. When I walked in the air con felt so refreshing. I grabbed a nice cold ice coffee and ordered my usual. I then decided this would be my destination for the day. I checked myself into a backpacker room for the night and enjoyed a nice refreshing shower.
Today has certainly been one of the hardest rides I have ever done touring. At times I was hating it. But now I have completed another part I am pleased with how I managed overall in the heat. Tomorrow is meant to be cooler and I'll be heading down to the Head of Bight to see the whales.