Monday July 29.

Day 3 Northam to Meredin.

162 km in 7 hrs 1 min @ 23.1 km/hr.
Climbed 1407 ft
Distance so far: 266 km.
Present Elevation 1060 ft ASL
AHR: 112 bpm.
Punctures so far: 0

Out at 8 am. In at 4.45.

Slept well last night in the tent. Cold wasn't an issue. Took a while to settle down but then slept comfortably till 6 am. Time to move. Took quite a while to pack up the tent (Still wet from the morning fog) had a quick nourishing breakfast from my foodbox (muesli, cheese, Hungarian salami, bread and coffee) and then ready for departure. There was 162+ km ahead and sunset around 5 pm.

Before departure I was brought down to the park perimeter to see an enormous kangaroo just outside the fence. Even the Australians were taken by its size. I was told to expect dead ones on todays route but none appeared.

 I left at 8 am (later than intended) and rode with John and we move d along at a fast pace to make up time and to warm ourselves. It was 6 deg and foggy when we left. Regretted not bringing my full-finger gloves on this trip, but by 10 am the fog had burned off and it was a pleasant 10 deg. from then till we finished it was a pleasant day's cycling. After morning tea at Cunderin (54 km) I paired up again with Paul for the rest of the day.

Today's landscape wasn't as undulating as yesterdays. No steep climbs but a few long up-hills near the end of the journey.

Today was through serious wheat country (wheatbelt) and some canola (rapeseed). Fields were as big as half-parishes with forlorn trees scattered about and plenty of corn silos in the few towns that we passed through.

Along the road there were many signs warning of flooding and posts indicating how deep they could be...up to 1 metre above the road surface (and that was already up on a raised bed.) To me it seemed impossible that such floods could occur but it happens when deep depressions move down from the north in summer (Nov) and result in violent thunderstorms. Flooding then can cover an area as large as a small country.

Again the Water Pipeline (steel) accompanied us all day on the left or on the right. A real feat considering that it is 600 km from Perth to Kalgoorlie ( like Mizen to Malin Head)

We also passed where Rabbit Fence No 2 originally crossed the highway. No signs of it now. We will pass No 1 tomorrow) These fences were erected to curtail the westward spread of rabbits destroying crops as they progressed right up to the 40's. Not the fences but the Miximytosis put a stop to their advance.

The number of road-trains on the road increased today. Still, we just saw ones with 2 units...there are ones with 3 units. They do create a whoosh as they pass but the noise announces their approach.

Meckering is the location of Australia's worst earthquake in 1968. At the fault line both sides moved 7 feet horizontally and 6 feet vertically in opposing directions. We crossed the fault line but no signs of near the highway.

There were very few towns/villages along the route and only a very odd habitation otherwise. it will take us 14 days to cross the state of Western Australia but it has only a population of 2 million with 1.8 million of that in the Greater Perth Area. very sparsely populated although I  am led to believe that it is the size of India. Incredible.

We arrived in Meredin Tourist Park at 4.45 after & hrs of cycling. (We cycle while you in Ireland sleep. We leave around midnight and arrive as you get up for work....then we're free for the rest of the day!!)
For Paul it was his longest cycle so far (a mile Century) so was memorable and high-fives all round.

For tonight 4 of us are booked into a cabin ( like a well-furnished apartment) and we intend enjoying the sheer luxury...electric light and dressing while standing up, etc, etc !
Really enjoyed the trip and no physical issues. What a way to spend a day.

Thank God for the health and thank God for the energy.
to the 32 km mark where we all took a short break.