IndiPac Day 8 and 9

After a pretty wet rest day in Norseman, it's time to get out there and tackle some hills..7am had me packed up and out the door, all be it with a touch of anxiety about the next 190km to Balladonia .... I know I won't make it in one day... my main concern is water. Hopefully it's not going to be too hot a day...I'm carrying 14 litres which has to last 2 days riding, and an overnight bush camp....I  should be good, I made it In 2014, I should be right to make it to Balladonia. 

My Sydney training had me consuming 6L per 100km in Sydney humidity....it's pretty humid out here this morning after the rains, I'll do my best to save some water for camping....

Fortunately the temperature is only 21°C which is helping, and there's a slight headwind that's keeping me cool...this'll help water consumption. 😎 

It can be pretty hard yakka getting the Rotovelo up to speed when the humidity is high. 30km in and the crosswind is working well at keeping me cool...it's having no effect on my speed...only the gradients do that. As I've mentioned before,  these 1,2,3 AND 4% climbs certainly get the biological motor running hard and hot.... the secret is "cadence" keeping it at around 80-90 rpm regardless of the incline ..

Soon there's some good km's done, and it's time to get the "nose bag" on and stop for a lunch break. 

🎶... and he sat,  as he watched, and waited till the billy boiled ...... you'll come do IndiPac twenty three ...with me...🎶

Clean roadside rest areas are pretty good in W.A., bins are provided and occasionally with a "long drop" toilets...so far the ones I've used haven't been too badly vandalised considering they're out in the middle of nowhere. 

One hundred km done...and it's a pity that Fraser Range Station is still closed due to Covid 19... 

Last time I rode through, it was nice to duck in there and score an icecream, Coke and chocolate milk for 2nd lunch...to keep the legs rolling over for a few more km's in theafternoon...alas, not to be this time. 

A further 30km on and with an eye on the weather radar,  I was being chased down by menacing skies... some heavy rain looked like it was going to catch me....

...time for an executive decision...🤔 130km done,  not a bad effort, rain is closing in,.....

Time to camp up...early dinner, and hit the hay 😴 

Good decision...just finished dinner and the rain 🌧 starts...👍

A pretty rough night's sleep due to the wind and rain, BUT, I did stay dry. 

Day 9...

6am..rain gone, sunshine trying to get through, and packing up a wet tent..yik, not a nice experience. Breakfast of porridge, and a sports gel, because, hey...why not try something different 🤔  

Packed and out on the road by 7.15am. 

It didn't take long for 50km to pass under the wheels and Balladonia to be signposted as 5km away....

It must be closing time for the Pub...but more likely check out time for the accommodation...just as I was about to pull into the place, 5 road trains and 13 caravans all headed out in my direction...all West bound. Looks like peak hour 😯

Time for second breakfast and lunch combined...

But first...Coffee!

I had a bit of a look through their Museum, it's free, so why not.... everything else is pretty expensive 💰💰

Lunch consisted of hamburger and chips.... "sorry, we've only got wedges"...yeah that'll do....

$$ later and I ended up with a pretty decent sized meal... but, with my best efforts I wasn't able to down all of it..

Some minor cleat adjustments, lubricate the chain, top up all my water, from the bathroom hand basin tap, (because, by law, people must have clean water to wash their hands/ faces)

so, it's free...👍 none of this bottled water stuff...WAY to expensive. 

readjust the load so I can squeeze in amongst the full water bladders, and back on the road again. 

35km up the road starts the Longest, Straightest piece of road in Australia....146km in a dead straight line, absolutely no deviation. Balladonia to Caiguna 182km...

A 10min photo stop ends up a 40min chat fest,  as 6 other vehicles all stop in to do the same thing... and chat to the guy in the funny bike "What! It's not electric? " "You came from where?!"...."You're going to Sydney?!"....."You're Crazy!....yep, I resemble all those remarks...."STAY SAFE!" as they all drive off.....

60km further on, the sun is starting to set, time to bush camp 🏕.....

Home, sweet home...

Another night in the REAL outback again...dinner, desert, washing up done 

..no phone reception again...sent an "all ok" message out on the satellite tracker..

Bed time 6.30pm

😴😴😴