Day 10 Bush camp to Caiguna 67 kms

What a beautiful morning it was this morning. The weather was mild and the sky pink tinged along the horizon and then very blue all over. It is Georg's and my birthdays today and everyone was wishing us Happy Birthday at breakfast. Peter came out and gave me a big kiss on the cheek and then went to do the same thing to Georg. The look on Georg's face was precious and I wish we had had a camera ready.
We had planned to stop at the 50 km mark for morning tea but when we got there everyone had gone on. The wind was up their tails and they were traveling above 30km/hr all morning. Richard and Paul then Woody all stopped at the 55km mark and had a quick break before being blown down the highway to Caiguna.
We were all in by 10.30am and I'm sure we had all showered by 11.30 am and were fighting over the one washing machine available. 2 bush camps in a row can be a pretty dirty business. I spent the afternoon downloading photos and receiving phone calls from family and friends with birthday wishes. Collis shouted me a motel room for my birthday- not much choice for accommodation in Caiguna. The camping area is pretty basic. Richard, Paul, Jim, Woody, Annie, Mark and Kirsten all upgraded.

Day 9 Newmans Rocks to Bush camp 165 kms

Lovely nights sleep with a much warmer night all up. The camp noises were minimal with no road noises as we were about a km in off the road. Woody somehow got enough reception to make a phone call home around 9.30 pm so we all got to listen to the one side of the conversation. One of the ladies was talking in their sleep at some stage during the night, we think anyway as some of us heard a female conversation in the early hours. Poor old Annie ended up having nightmares during the night anyway, even though she wasn't scared when she went to bed, and then woke hearing someone saying Hello, hello outside her tent. She thinks now that she may have woken herself talking in her sleep.

Collis changed the distances for today at lunchtime. Instead of riding 110 kms to a bush camp he decided the winds were so favorable that they shouldn't mind doing the extra 55 kms and then stay at a rest area with toilets. Everyone was so happy with the winds today they were all in agreeance for the extra kms.
Marks birthday today and the "younger group" rode together playing cycle cricket all day. Sounded quite fun and they were making it up as they went along. Annie and Kirsten ended up with scores in the negative and Ben and Mark seemed to come drawed. Couldn't find a birthday card for Mark at the Belladonia roadhouse at morning tea so ended up getting him a postcard and a mug with Across the Nullabor emblem.
The salmon gums are getting scarcer and the trees are thinning very fast. I think by tomorrow we will no longer have salmon gums to look at anymore. The lack of wild life is still evident and I can't believe how little bird life is around in this area. After saying that Lorraine and Pat reported they saw an eagle overhead today. Up North there wasn't much wild life but plenty of birds so this change has been very noticeable.

Woody took off after morning tea and got on the back of Georg's wheel. He managed to keep up with him till lunch and then took off after John till the end of the day. I've never seen Woody pedal so fast as he did today. John and Woody were first into camp. John was pessimistic about our ability to have a cooking fire tonight due to the lack of firewood in the camping area. We even had Mark climb a tree to cut off a dead limb. He got pretty high up and there was some concern for how he was going to get back down. I just continued with the preparation of dinner and let them sort out the fire problems. Collis and a few of them took off in the car but only went as far as across the highway before they found a huge supply of firewood so problem solved.
Dinner tonight was Chilli Con Non-Carne (vegetarian) with rice and an upside down apple pudding for dessert. Everyone seemed to enjoy the meal and all food went. The girls did the dishes for me which I love. Kirsten made Mark a crown to wear as the birthday boy which was really cute.

Collis went for tumble number two in as many days when he tripped over the spade in the dark, flicking a large cut branch up in the air as he landed on his arm at the other side of the wood pile. A large abrasion down the underside of his arm and a sore wrist but he is OK. Getting OLD!! We had a wild black cat wandering around the campsite tonight so had to put away all loose food stuffs into the trailer.
A little drizzle of rain for about 5 minutes sent most people off to bed but it soon stopped and the clouds lifted to give a beautiful array of stars. Getting up for a toilet break during the night and looking up to the heavens, made you feel very lucky to be alive and viewing this marvel.

Day 8 Norseman to Newmans Rocks 140 kms

Freezing cold night last night and I slept poorly with nearly all joints aching from the cold. The riders all had a great night as they have thermal sleeping bags and were all nice and toasty. I'm determined I'm not going to have another cold night so we had to go to the IGA for Ben (who wanted some eggs)so Chris had told me about these throw rugs for $6.oo which should help a little. The $6.00 jobs were the ones with animals on them or a plain one for $12.00, so I got a dolphin blanket.
Scenery today was the pink lake (Lake Dundas), the salmon gums are still dominant and lots of water in the run offs and lying on the ground. The salmon gums won't last much longer so we have to get our fill of them today. There was some confusion over the tea stop today with Collis telling them that there was a rest area with toilets at 109 kms but when we went to look for it there was nothing there. So we kept driving on further until at 119 kms we decided the book was wrong and we stopped on the side of the road instead.
The riders were not so impressed and a few got a little frazzled by the happening. Collis couldn't work out what had happened at first and kept referring back to his bible when he realized he had read the distances the wrong way around mixing up his east and west. He owned up to his mistake and everyone calmed down. It just made the ride shorter till the end of the day, it didn't add a distance onto the days ride. Peter came across a wild camel, he was a big boy, and got a great photo of him as he did a little pose for him.
We had decided to camp at Newmans Rocks, where we had camped on previous rides. Collis was a little hesitant as there is quite often no wood at this stop. But it was worth it as it is such a pretty spot to stay. A few of us braved the water hole, it was pretty icy, with Peter and Kirsten both going for a swim but the rest of us just having a wash. Very refreshing!
There was no
wood problem tonight and a large camp fire was soon underway. I cooked a meatball casserole with boiled potatoes and followed by a very successful apple crumble. I think I have mastered this dessert at a bush camp dilemma. I have previously burnt the bottom of every dessert I have cooked but the last 2 desserts have been burn free. YES!!
Annie was a lot more relaxed at this camp and didn't see axe murderers everywhere she looked this time. We thought we heard wild camels at around 8 pm but then realized the noise was actually coming from John's tent. The night was much milder tonight and I didn't really need my dolphins but I was determined to cuddle them.

Day 7 Kalgoorlie to Norseman 183.5 kms

I slept well again last night but my mood didn't seem to reflect it. I knew I was in a slight panic over how we were going to fit everything in today but could not seem to calm myself down. The group is very lucky that Collis is so laid back and doesn't get frazzled about these sorts of things. Where on the other hand, I have to express my concerns and get frustrated when Collis doesn't seem to realize the problems we are going to have. I knew everything would eventually fit in but getting to that point was a long time coming for me this morning.
The group left in dribs and drabs today with Pat & Lorraine going off first around 6.45 am and Woody and Georg the last 2 around 8.30 am. Quite spread out but who knows, it may work out. We had a big day (the biggest this trip) with the terrain undulating, with more ups than downs. The group, including the new riders appear quite relaxed about the distance even though 3 of them have never done this distance before.
The scenery was pretty much all salt bush with some beautiful salmon gums along the way. We passed alot of dead trees with an abundance of new growth at their bases and it was difficult trying to guess what had killed the bigger trees in the first place, if it was a fire then it must have been quite a few years ago as none of the trees were black in any way. Some of the trees had some unusual adornments, one had miners helmets hanging from it, another had old jugs(kettles) and mugs and another had soft toys- interesting.
Just as we were leaving Kalgoorlie, we came upon a couple of huge wide loads carrying those large mining dump trucks. The load took up both sides of the road and they managed to get quite a speed up. So we sat back and let them pass, which is what the riders should have done but not all did. We could have had a nasty accident but were fortunate enough that the drivers of the trucks were excellent and slowed right down. We had to have a word to a couple of the riders about getting off their bikes when big loads like these were coming through.
At morning tea we found that Kirsten's mirror had broken off this morning and then Jim noticed his had dropped off as well so we are 2 mirrors down- not good. We have one spare one but they will have to make sure they are riding with someone with a mirror until they can get a replacement.
Today we needed to have an afternoon tea as well at the 150 km mark. We were just on the side of the road in a parking bay and everyone except Georg stopped for a drink and some nibbles. Collis sat down on one of the stools and went backwards scratching his back and spilling his precious tea all over himself. His pride was hurt more than anything else. It was quite a funny sight and seemed to happen in slow motion but I couldn't catch him before he fell.
Woody didn't get into afternoon tea until 4 pm and it will be pretty late before he gets into camp. He had broken another spoke, making this number 5 for the trip and 23 punctures with another one of them last night. He and Collis fixed the spoke and he is on his way again. He eventually gets into camp around 6 pm just as Collis and I were going out to look for him. He looked very tired but he was happy to be sharing a cabin with Ben tonight.
The wind today hasn't always been favorable for them but at least it hasn't been strong and at times it was behind them. There is water (quite a bit) in Lake Cowan which was pleasant to see. A top secret wide load went past late in the day with whatever was on the trucks were wrapped totally in white plastic.

Personal best distances for Paul, Richard and Kirsten today with 183.5 kms. Well done guys and well done to everyone else also.

Poor chris got a shock tonight as she walked into the ladies shower and went to grab a shower booth, only to be confronted by a very hairy bottom. Her immediate thought was, as a nurse she had never seen a women's bottom quite so hairy before. Mark had gone into the wrong showers, left his clothes on a bench away from the water line outside his booth and did not lock the door to the shower. Kirsten, who has known him for awhile had to get his undies for him before he could sheepishly make his way out of the showers.

Day 6 Kalgoorlie Rest Day 0 kms

What a lovely 'sleep in'we had. Nice and warm in our little A frame cabin. Thank you Collis for allowing me to have the best nights sleep ever. I was feeling so much better and was in a much better frame of mind.
Spent the morning doing chores and writing lists for shopping then we went up to Boulder shopping centre to have a look around and to get out of the cabin. We have done all the sight seeing sites on our other trips and the riders were all off seeing these things today ( like the museum and the Super Pit). Not alot to see in Kalgoorlie.
After Kalgoorlie there will be 10 days before our next shopping opportunity and we have 3 bush camps within those 10 days. You can imagine the shopping list I had for 3 camp meals for 17 people. Two of the meals will have to be vegetarian as it will be impossible to keep the meat fresh until we reach the camps, so lots of canned vegetables as well. It's pretty hard to keep vegetables fresh also.
Shopping all done (by everyone) and we now have food coming out of our ears. How are we going to manage to fit it in the car and trailer? That will be my main concern tomorrow morning, tonight I have to organize storage for my supply of food and pre cook the meatballs for the casserole which is the first bush camp. Eventually crawled into bed around 10 pm totally exhausted.

Day 5 Bush Camp to Kalgoorlie 97 kms

Another noisy night last night even though it was a bush camp. So many road trains going down the highway all night. Come morning they seemed to stop. Not so cold this morning but Annie was first up and had restarted the fire so we were all able to sit around eating breakfast in front of the fire.
Pack up after a bush camp is usually pretty grotty business but the girls and Theo had done a good job washing up after last night's meal so the job was cut in half (still grotty). We have had quite a bit of recent practice with the bush camps so we have it down pat and we were soon on the road.
The day is another lovely winters day with the wind coming up behind them again so they were getting faster on the road. Morning tea was at Coolgardie and we had a nut mix provided by Kirsten via Mark (Kirsten had bought too much food and gave this mix to Mark who decided to give to the group). Thanks to both.
Everyone was into camp early and all barr 4 riders decided to upgrade into dongers or cabins (including Collis and I). I have had some poor sleeps since leaving Perth and it is due to both arms aching all night, which I am blaming on the firm mattress and hard tray that we are sleeping on (probably due to the constant heavy lifting I have been doing over the last 5 months). A soft bed for a couple of nights won't hurt.

Day 4 Southern Cross to Bush Camp 130 kms

Pretty cold again this morning. The fire in the rec room had gone out over night and it was too hard to get it started again. Ben woke up feeling alot better after a good night's sleep. He and Woody shared a caravan last night and he had picked up some drugs to assist himself along (nothing illegal). The rest of the group slept pretty well also. Annie went for a massage early yesterday afternoon for an issue she has been having with one of her legs. The masseuse was a lady from Thailand and the best masseuse ever according to Annie. She walked on her back and everything. The pain is apparently much better today.
The wind was in their favor again today. Chris is managing very well since she got back onto the bike. It hasn't taken her long to get her fitness back. The new riders to this group are getting stronger each day. The group were once again spread out with Woody at least half an hour behind the next to last rider.

Collis' friend from his first ride across the Nullarbor in 2001 when he rode the route himself and before he started these supported rides. His friend Les (quite a character with a very long beard) and 2 of his mates have been on a road trip and were on their way home, knowing we would be on their route so organized with Collis to meet up at morning tea time. They had perfect timing arriving just after we had set up. Les gave us some tips on what sites there were to see up ahead and tested the wind direction with his beard. Nice to see you Les!
Lunch was at the Boondi rest area, which was quite a nice 24 hour camping spot and I did suggest we stop here for the night. The wind was too much in their favor for them to stop too early and who knows how it will be tomorrow. We sent Georg up ahead to find a good camp site (Ben and Mark went with him). He chose a site at another 24 hour campsite which was a huge area and perfect for our needs (it was a little short to the predicted 150 kms on the itinerary, oh well just a little further tomorrow).
This campsite had heaps of fire places and I wanted a fire started pretty early so that I could get the coals that I needed for cooking the dinner. John was spotted riding past the campsite and by the time we caught him, he had ridden an extra 15 kms so Collis brought him back in the car. John had just mended a flat tyre and had his head down and missed the cycle x sign. As our previous fire master and Ben our fire meister- both were obvious by their absence when I needed them for the fire building. So Chris and I took charge with Mark and a few others collecting wood and Jim chopping the branches. The fire did occur! I spoke to both Ben and John after the fact and I feel both may want to give up their titles.
Dinner went very well (even though I took over the rice cooking from Collis) and most went back for seconds. I still managed to burn the bottom of the cake but not as bad as some of my previous efforts. The fire was great and we sat around listening to some of John's new literary efforts and Annie's pop quiz.

Annie went for a walk around the camp site earlier in the night spotting a car further in the bush and then a chair sitting under a tree on it's own. She managed to scare herself so badly that I had to take her to her tent when it came time to retire.