GTG – Day 7–Lyndhurst to Marree

It’s up bright and early, and we head off towards Marree.

Luckily for us, the road is open, and in pretty good condition. In no time we’re barreling along the trail, and it’s becoming apparent that there is a whole lot of nothing out here….
 

We stop for some refreshments near a little ghost town and campsite called Farina.

The intercontinental hotel has seen the last of its 5 star days, I feel….

Back on the road after a wander around Farina, and fixing Peter’s first flat tire (boo).

Rolling into Marree is something of an anticlimax… like being hit in the head with a long stick. Dusty, dirty, and a bit of a hole. Hmm. At least there are some old trains for the boys to play with.


Once camp is set up, the inevitable migration to the pub is the only thing on the list… where the buffet is a welcome sight for the eternally hungry cyclist.

Some of the locals put on a little movie and popcorn about a photographer taking amazing time-lapse picture in lake Eyre, and it’s hard not to nod off in a comfy chair.
Off to bed. It’s a big day tomorrow.
<end of day 7>

GTG - Day 6– Beltana to Lyndhurst

Leaving the quaint little settlement of Beltana, it’s a fantastic bit of dirt road to the bitumen, before a speedy charge into Copley to the bakery for morning tea. Yummo!


With a belly full of Sausage Roll and Quondong pie, it’s a bitumen and downwind streak to Lyndhurst, and a pleasant surprise in the campsite – grass…!


And there’s time for a quick nap before we wander over to the Lyndhurst pub for a well deserved cold beer…

<end of day 6>

GTG - Day 5 – Angorichina to Beltana

It’s back on the bike, and a pretty ride out of the ranges for a quick coffee and gelati at the scene of the crime the previous night (The Prairie Hotel).
   
 
Crickey. It’s our first head wind, and the sign telling us the pain ahead (702 km’s to Birdsville) is not a welcome sight.
 
We plug into the wind to a quaint little township (if you could call it that) Beltana. In an amazing twist of timing, Sarah’s uncle Barry happens to drive past and offered some customary Red Hill encouragement – Pedal faster ya mug!
 
Legs are now officially weary, and it’s early to bed for everyone – mostly dreaming about tail winds and smooth roads…
< end of day 5>

GTG–Day 4 (Angorichina Rest Day)

It’s a leisurely start, and those who left bikes behind head to Blinman to ride down to the campsite. It’s a blessing in disguise, as the egg and bacon dampers at the Blinman store are nothing short of brilliant.
We finish morning tea, take a few shots, and head off for the 15km (mostly) downhill dirt road to Angorichina.

The rest day is more of a “fix the bikes” day, and Kym get’s his hands dirty completely rebuilding the rear derailleur on the tandem for Paul and Chris.

Dinner is at The Prairie Hotel at Parachilna, and a magnificent meal is enjoyed by all. (along with a suitably sufficient amount of beer and other beverages)


< end of day 4>

GTG – Day 3 – Rawnsley Park Station to Angorichina

Up early to a magnificent sunrise.

Before long, we’re all packed and getting the briefing… it’s a long day of riding ahead.

Pete, Kym, Andy and JD (the Team Mawson contingent) are given the responsibility of helping the group become acquainted with the technical parts of the ride.

The scenery is amazing.

After a rest for morning tea, it’s off to the Mawson trail behind Wilpena, and yet more “real” mountain biking, and of course spectacular views.

After an hour of fun bashing along the trails, it’s up the BIGGEST hill ever, with a reward of a fantastic view, and some well deserved lunch.

Heading off for lunch sees us riding through 3 hours of energy sapping hills, creeks and sand. Making the road that joins Wilpena and Blinman was a welcome milestone, and a dusk ride into Blinman for a beer.

Its too dark for some of us to ride into Angoricnina, and some of us leave the bikes in the store at Blinman, and we head down to Angorichina in the bus for our first rest day. (save for riding the bikes the last 15km in the morning!)

< end of day 3>

GTG – Day 2–Quorn to Rawnsley Park Station

Waking up in Quorn caravan park to the call of a rooster that can’t tell time is the first reminder that we’re in the country, and we’re on our way.

Packing up after the first night is less than smooth, with my gear seemingly expanding to twice its previous size overnight….

With the gear is on the bus, and breakfast out of the way, it’s onto the road for our first full day of riding.

100 km ahead of us, and luckily the wind is behind us. The terrain is changing all the time. It’s stark but you can tell there has been a lot of rain.

There are quite a few ruins throughout the area, and it shows the history of settlement before everyone realized that this area was not the farming oasis that was originally thought.

Stopping for lunch in Hawker, all is going well, except for at the coffee shop, where the one guy making coffee was a little bit stressed out seeing 34 people hanging out for a well overdue caffeine fix!

We leave Hawker, and we’re making really good time, and before long we’re getting a good glimpse of the mountains around Wilpena.

Our first piece of fauna caused quite a bit of interest with our international visitors….

with an unfortunate end a few minutes later when it tried to cross the road…. oops.

The turn into Rawnsley Park is a welcome sight after over 100km in the saddle, and it’s a beautiful place to stay!

Unpacking, setting the tent, dinner and some time around the fire is enough to send us all to bed early, and we’ve got a huge day tomorrow…. and we can’t wait.

<end of day 2>