Sh*#

Started well for 5km, then road deteriorated to corrugations but no big deal. Two twenty something year old guys riding the other way (done Gibb, Duncan Highway into the wind to get from Broome to Derby to Halls creek …

We must have camped somewhere between in the 106km between the WA/NT border and the road worker’s camp at the Balgo Turn Off but I can’t remember where; must have been too tired to record it!

Yesterday as energy died …

Slowly recovering my strength after horror stretch from Rabbit Flat to the border. Don also less energetic than usual. Early finish at 3:30pm to encourage further strength return.

Switching meds from morning to evening to see if that helps with …

Very little at border, NT “Welcome” with warnings about access permits, alcohol and firearms

WA side with 2 broken “Welcome to WA” signs including a five year old warning to observe covid quarantine (apparently police from Bililuna or Balgo would …

Don set fire and cooked as I was so tired I could hardly sit up for an hour after arriving at camp. Problem was mainly the dust and pea gravel in the last 22km, energy sapping pushing wheels through it. …

Day 28 TT 60.8km but this includes about 1.5km total going into and out of Rabbit Flat Road House (CLOSED since 2011) . Don went past me while I was at RF, he spent rest of 35km trying to catch …

Day 27 TT 49 km not bad considering 3h layover at security gate at The Granites goldmine for lunch and a rest and wash. Left carrying 30kg of water on my bike, Don had about 24 litres. With Don and …

Don said for me to leave when ready and he would catch up on his fat tyres. Would have worked if Don’s load didn’t keep coming loose.

Road mosrtly dirt except for a 10km random stretch of bitumen. About 20km …

Usual late start (10am) as Don pfaffed around packing up even though he started about 7am. Almost 30km downwind run but then the bitumen ended. Moderately dusty and sandy with occasional good bits.

Don left his gloves at the start …

DAY 24 TT 87 km Don left his glasses at “Floodway, markers indicate depth” sign at 31 km (S21.965623° E131.282320°), and lost a glove at lunch time. Met Mark Clarke, ex CALM WA from Narrogin at a rest stop and …

Two supermarkets open 9-3 on Sunday in Yuendumu, one with fish’n’chips. Not bad. Limited range but got basics.

Locals friendly, moderately curious about what we doing but not excited about strangers in the village. A middle aged white guy got …

Enjoyed a last meal of a cooked b’fast sausage bacon n Eggs to set us off well fuelled. Don followed up by having Delhi belly which slowed him down for the day.

All roadhouse staff at Tilmouth Well RH were …

Frost on the water bag this morning although didn’t feel that cold.

A short ride downwind to the Tilmouth Well roadhouse and green campground. Billed as a ‘resort’ for a weekend away from Alice Springs if you want some luxury. …