What a difference a day makes! After howling adverse winds yesterday, today we woke to clear skies, crisp temperatures and no wind. Set off under those same conditions. After an hour or so some scattered cloud began to appear and it stayed that way all day - lovely fine day. But more significantly a breeze sprung up behind us and the riders had a great run through to Port Augusta. In fact 21 minutes longer for 152km today than we took yesterday for 107km!
It was interesting to watch the countryside change along the route. We started out riding through beautiful green wheat fields, but as the day progressed that disappeared and gave way to lightly wooded country. Still further on the trees became sparser and more stunted so that we were looking at scrub. Then more and more saltbush appeared until it dominated the scene and trees were few and far between. By then we were into iron ore country. (One view of Iron Knob mine is sttached.)
Because this is the first "big smoke" since we left Perth, many people have been off attending to various needs including parts and fixes at a local bike shop. Roger, Edna, Eric and I did a bit of that and visited a coffee shop this afternoon.
As for me, getting on the bike again is getting closer. Depending on the weather and how I feel I might get on the bike for a short stint between "Gazzer breaks" - named after "Weak Bladder Gazzer". I'll play it by ear.
Speaking of Gazzer breaks, one of the riders said the other day that it takes some of the shine off the achievement if he has to admit that he did the ride with two grandmothers and Weak Bladder Gazzer. (Mind you I think poor old Gary is the scapegoat. There are others keen on the break...)
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