Countries – Page 46 – Simply cycling around

Dunmarra campsite, day off

It’s about nine o’clock now and my tent is under the sun but that’s fine because it’s not that hot yet. See, no one around here. This is a pretty nice day as usual up here. No clouds in the sky, more than 30 degrees during the day. The stuart highway is just behind these trees and we can hear and distinguish the traffic from here but I don’t really bother. Just behind my tent there is a big cage with five birds in it. They look like parrots. On the left side, outside of the picture (I like saying that as it’s very useful to describe something which is not visible :-) there is a tiny swimming pool. And the shadow coming from the bottom of the picture is the toilets and showers.

Newcastle Waters rest area > Dunmarra campsite (78km, 3h40)

This is one of my worse cycling experience today. Everything was perfect until I had that bloody “puncture”… That single, tiny, blood, little hole made my day unforgettable. I had two solutions to fix it, an easy one and a tricky one: I’ve chosen the tricky one. It did work but not without pain in the ass (if I can say that).

Newcastle Waters, day off

I always feel better when I’m next to water. So I found the best spot here! My tent is pitched 2 metres far from that water tank :-) I could not be closer. Well, physically I could but it’s not mine :-) Yesterday night, this rest area was full! it’s now 9:30am and nearly every caravan has left but a couple arrived already. The turnover is quick! I’m not going anywhere today. This is a rest day. I’ve washed all my clothes using as less water as I could. I enjoy reading and doing nothing. This is holiday!

Runner Springs > Newcastle Waters rest area (115km, 5h40)

Today is the first day when I can ride some few hills. There is still some long flat bit but I can enjoy the view sometimes. I expect to ride at least until Eliott and then I will improvise. I will sleep there or continue a bit more. I’ve met another cyclist too today. An English guy, George. He decided to cycle when he was in Darwin and he is going down to Adelaide. It’s gonna be cold down there, good luck man!

Tennant Creek Telegraph Station > Runner Springs (150km, 6h35)

Last night was very good. I’ve heard someone driving around maybe around 9, 10 or 11pm. I was asleep and heard a engine outside. The car disappeared and it stayed quiet the whole night. BIG day ever today! I’ve never thought I would be able to cycle 150 on day but that’s it :-) I remember the day I met a german motorcyclist back on the west coast of New Zealand. He told me when I would be in Australia I would do 150km to 200km per day with a good tailwind. It did not happen very often though. I’m not trying to be as fast as I can as I’ve got time but after that lazy day yesterday, I don’t know, I feel like cycling :-) And look at that landscape! Amazing sky! Amazing straight road! Everything is perfect haha :-)

Tennant Creek > Tennant Creek Telegraph Station (14km, 42min)

Today, I’ve spent most of my time in the library. The wind is cold again and this morning was hard to get my hand warm as I woke up early and nothing was open yet. I want to update my blog before I leave Tennant Creek because I’m not sure when I will get another connection. It might be in Katherine. It’s not a big deal :-) I won’t stay here another night as I have planned yesterday. There is too much Aboriginals wandering around and I don’t want to create trouble by sleeping somewhere they would maybe! I will cycle few kilometres out of town and will find a nice spot. I’m not worried about that.

Karlu Karlu (Devils Marbles) camping area > Tennant Creek (105km, 4h25)

I did start very early this morning. Last night was very windy and I hope strongly that it would be the same today as the wind comes from east/southeast. It shook my tent the whole night! At 6:15am, I’ve started packing. At 6:45am, I was on the road :-) The road towards Tennant Creek is still straight and I’ve seen a lot of campervan overtaking me. Then, one more car overtaken me and this time I knew who it was. I met those guys in Alice Springs less than a week ago front of the library. We left Alice the next day at the same time. They firstly went south to visit Uluru and Kings Canyon. We knew they would pass me on their way to Darwin around yesterday or today.