Wednesday, July 31.

Day 4.

Southern Cross to Bush Camp.

127 km in 5 hrs 25 min @ 23.5 km/ hr.

Distance so far: 501 km.

 AHR: 100 bpm.

Total Climbed today:1123 feet.   ( "climbed" is probably a misnomer)

Tonight's elevation: 1371 ft ASL.

Punctures so far: 0

Left at 7.45 am.    In at 2.45 pm.

 Today's cycle I dedicated to Saoirse, our eldest grandaughter in San Jose. She has good ability on the bike and may attempt a similar adventure some day. She took great car of our chickens ( especially Pinky) during her recent holiday in Tipperary. Thank you, Saoirse.

We (3) had a comfortable night in the caravan and slept till the alarm sounded. At that stage it was 7 deg outside although it had been much lower during the night. 

Three of us, Paul ( Aus but..), Jim ( NZ) and self pulled out on the road at 7.45 and turned east. For the first 10 km or so we took it handy till the body warmed up.

With the cold morning, I covered up in layers and felt snug. By 9.30 temperature was up to 14 and layers had to be shed. By 11  I was down to the Tipp Wheelers shirt and bare arms till the end of the day. Even in bush camp as we set up tents, it was still over 22 deg and sunny. It feels strange with the sun rising in the east ahead of us, then swinging around to the north before setting in the west.

Sun had been up for about an hour and shone directly into our eyes as we started out. It also shone into the drivers coming up behind us and we needed to be careful and keep well into the left just in case they didn't see us. At all stages of the day we do the same when road trains come up from behind, but especially when two going in opposite directions pass. Then it's wiser just to get off the road. The drivers are generally considerate, but just in case.

For cars coming up from behind, it's a matter of cycling along the white line ( not the one in the centre of the road, silly !) I saw my first 3 part road train today. Many more to follow, I believe.

 East of Southern Cross, the wheat belt petered out. Just a few large red- soil fields that had just been sown. For the rests of the day not a field in sight. We will not see farmland again for another 1400 km. We are now moving into the goldfields around Coolgardie, Kalgoorlie and Boulder. ( If I happen to pick up a nice bit of gold, Margaret, I'll bring it home to you! )

Before we saw the last of the wheat belt, we noticed some examples of round straw- bale art, arrangements depicting Foo, Humpty Dumpty and Redback the Spider.

In some  fields, large earthen dams had been formed to collect the rare precious rain that falls. Most seem to be of recent construction.

Again there was bird activity during the early hours. Got a better view of the galahs ( not fast enough to catch them on film) and I noted that they feature pink, white and light grey. You'd like those colours, Saoirse.

All along the sides of the road since we left Perth there have been crosses indicating where lives have been lost due to whatever......speed, fatigue or drink or else. At one place today 3 crosses marked such a tragedy, truck drivers I am led to believe killed in 2007.

 For a short while today we lost a companion, the Water Pipeline. Just before Ghooli, it veered off to the left into the wilderness and left us for about 20 km. It's now back with us again. And tomorrow we get to the end of it in Kalgoorlie and our first Rest Day. Pulling out of Northam Kalgoorlie was 500+ km  distant and now we have it under 100. Just 97 km tomorrow.

Came across the first kangaroo victim of road kill strewn along the white line. The Australian cyclists are a bit surprised at how few have been seen. Possibly that they don't need to come to the roadside foraging asa result of recent rains or maybe the undergrowth/ wilderness hasn't recovered enough from fires to offer them a home.

As the day progressed, like all other days groups pass and overtake each other. Some just pedal on all day, others stop to investigate or take a few interesting photos or just to take a breather. Lorraine and Pat ( Vic) have crossed our paths a few times.

 Some of these extremely long straight stretches can play on the mind. For diversion, Paul and I at one stage started guessing what was over the brow up ahead in the distance. Never surprised. The road stretched to infinity ahead and behind. The wilderness stretched to infinity to the left and right to a perfectly horizontal horizon. Never a hill in sight. Mind- boggling.

We pulled into bush camp at 2.45 just about 50 m off the highway. It was at a recognised pull- in and rest area complete with seats and a fire pit. We scattered about in the surrounding bush and picked a suitable level spot for the tent and set about pitching. It didn't  take long and then a chance to dry out some clothes. 

The usual route- rap at 5.30 and shortly apricot and chicken and rice tastily prepared and served by Cathy. It was delicious and plenty of it and topped off with a dessert. As we ate ( each with their own head- torch) and the stars twinkling above, it was a most pleasant experience. We eveni had some wine and Paul jcelebrated the great news he got from home. congrats, Adam. 

It wasn't yet cold but we sat around the blazing fire for a period with a bit of an observation quiz, a cyclist's poem and a ghost story as the cold of the night moved in. I believe that it not be as cold tonight as previous nights. 

As I sit here in the tent writing up the blog on the Ipad illuminated with my head- torch all is quiet about except for the odd road train thundering by 100 m away but deadened by the trees and growth.We'll sleep thorough that. But it isn't cold.......yet.

What a great day your day has been ,Saoirse. Thank you. We all enjoyed it and already look forward to tomorrow.

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