Day 19 Port Augusta to Port Pirie

This was meant to be an easy day. Less than 100k and flat. Ask most of the riders and they'll say it was not an easy day. There are a couple of reasons. For one thing a cross wind blew with a slight head component - not a gale, but enough. And the road conditions made riding difficult. There was a lot of traffic and most of the time we needed to ride to the left of the white line marking the edge of the road. You had to be careful of the white line as it was an audible line all the way, and they are no joke on a bike. There were cateye reflectors to the left of the line that you had to keep dodging. (Hit one of those too fast and you get a snake-eye puncture.) Then there was plenty of gravel on the side of the road that needed to be avoided. Some largish rocks amongst it. So it was a matter of continuous concentration, no chance to look at the scenery (gulf on the right, Flinders Ranges on the left).

The weather looked after us. As we approached Port Pirie we could see a shower cut across Port Pirie but it passed by in front of us and left us alone.

As for me it was kind of a big day. Got on the bike for the first time since Balladonia after morning tea for a short while. Only a very short time - a measly 10.5k -but I still have absolutely no energy and it was a start. A little each day and we'll eventually get back there.