Saturday. August 17.

 Day 21.           Kimba to Port Augusta

Distance: 156 km in 6 hrs 53 mins at 22.6 km/hr 

Distance so far: 2368 km.

Climbed: 1694 ft.

Elevation tonight: 66 ft.

AHR: 98 bpm.

Punctures so far:  0

Out at 7.20 am.         In at 3.00 pm.

Not cold this morning as we left Kimba. Still all the layers were on for the first part till morning tea. At least the rain has gone and the forecast looked promising. Set out at 7 deg and finished well onto the 20's. Big change from yesterday.

Before we left Kimba we had to locate the Big Galah. Each town in Australia likes to have a claim to fame with The Big This or The Big That. Kimba's Galah is 8 m tall and dominates a square before a tourist shop. The galah is a grey, white and pink bird much the same size as a pigeon. We have seen so many of them all along the route and their gentle call has awoken us in bush-camp. Sometimes 'galah' is used as a derogatory term of a person.

True to form, Kimba had lots of harvesting machinery on display - John Deere and New Holland.

Just behind the Big Galah stands the Half Way Across Australia Tourist Shop. Kimba claims to be the half-way  point as the crow flies between west and east coast. We had our half-way celebration in Ceduna; my own half-point will not happen till we have our next Rest Day in Clare (2500 km)

For the first 15 km the landscape was the same as yesterday...wheat, wheat, wheat.... . Then it changed back to bush and scrub stretching way into the distance. Also the land began to roll so we got a glimpse of what lay around us. Hills began to appear in the distance and form a more definite horizon.

Today we were heading in a north-east direction so not facing onto the rising sun. The wind was westerly and generally helped us. 

The roads early on were quieter than during the week but by the end of the day road trains were coming in both directions but giving us plenty of leeway.

At one spot, I thought that I was near home with a familiar signpost. I have seen very few sign or names of places that looked familiar. I expect that more will crop up in the next week or so.

Today we had blasts from the past. From 70 km on the vast bare surrounds returned as well as long straights of 5 km or more.Thought I was on the Nullarbor again. The only difference was the undulations of the land.

At morning tea there was a spot of trouble with one bike and expertise was called on to replace a gear-cable.Nothing as bad as being stuck with only one gear especially with the hills of today.

Iron Knob was unusual as far as the landscape was concerned. It dominated the landscape to our right for a long period. Not a lot of activity was evident in this facility.

Pine Creek was welL signalled as a major river, one of the first we had seen since the Nullarbor. However, not much water was flowing today.

Lunch today was on a high spot over the surrounding plains. Accordingly it was very windy but the flies were swarming about us. It made enjoyment of our food boxes impossible. But the view in all directions was impressive.

For the last 25 km we joined the highway into Port Augusta from Port Lincoln. We all found this last 25 km wearisome at the end of another long day. I could see Port Augusta on the distance but it didn't seem to be getting any closer.

Tomorrow is Rest Day and we booked into a cabin, Paul, Woody and self. All facilities here and very near to the centre. I stayed in for dinner ( pasta, tomato and sausage)

As I write some Aussies and a Kiwi are with us looking at the Test match from Sydney. The Aussies feel humble as it has just finished with a comprehensive decision.

We have a group breakfast tomorrow morning and then I intend to see what Port Augusta has to offer.

Thank God for the health and thank God for the energy.