The Nullarbor??

jibi

the bike arrived.
and it's true about the flies, they are everywhere even now!!
went for a trip to Wave Rock and the noise of the flies is worse than them landing on you.

george

daviddd

Funny, we saw hardly any last Deecember, and went all over the place too. Maybe it's the season. Have to keep riding (fast!).

magfos

Ride above 20kph and the only flies to bother you will be the ones you are carrying on your back.

Some years and some seasons and some places are worse than others.

daviddd

I'm on my way at last; currently doing iced latte at HK airport and (free) surfing. I've updated the blog for anyone interested.

buttercupjan

Hi,

Is this a three way conversation or can anyone join in?!

Seems like a couple of you are doing what I did two years ago. Started in Perth and went anti-clockwise until I hit Perth again - just 14,173kms in between!

I'm sure you'll have a great time - if there's info I can help you with then feel free to ask!

jibi

Buttercup

Have you not got a blog or website?

its a forum anyone can join in.

george

rdaviesb

Greetings Jibi - bike and blue all in one piece?

buttercupjan

Hi George

No, I haven't got a blog or a website - I just came across this forum and thought I'd join in. Didn't know if I could help, I think that was the original posting - you were asking if anyone had been there, done that!

Are you going all the way round?

Butty

daviddd

No sign of George yet, I understand he's rode east of Margaret River - after todays ride there from Dunsborough I can understand why - might be only 60 km or so but steep up and down all the way - plus heavy rain showers twice an hour - Australia wasn't supposed to be like this LOL. I've had 3 layers including a gortex jacket and LF gloves on all day. Fantastic scenery though, through the SW Oz wine country, a vineyard every 500m and Kookaburra's falling over themselves to make a raucous noise.. Would've been better on a sunny day though.

geocycle

Nice website davidd. I'm following your progress with interest and not a little envy.
I hope the rohloff is behaving, the oil on the hub didn't look too serious from here -but I'm not cycling around Oz! Good luck!

Tourist Tony

Spent today scrubbing the bottom of my tent, as well as my tyres, to get any dirt off to keep the Aussies happy. George is ready for boxing, and then I shall be joining you.

David, did you take Caves road or the main road down from Dunsborough? I remember it being a bit "up" out of Duns, but can't remember what the rest of the road was like.

Getting twitchy now...a week to go, and I'm only doing a SHORT ride!

Tourist Tony

Just looked at your blog. The plant disease is "die back", and the parrot on the road sign is a "28", or Western ringneck. Sounds like you took the main Augusta road; I'm going to follow Caves rd.

daviddd

No I took the caves road Tony - I'm trying to avoid traffic like the plague. The road from Augusta (I didn't take the 12 km or so detour off highway 10) to Nannup is awesome - real bush, parrots, remoteness personified...

jibi

Hi guys
Davidd, I hoped you enjoyed Amanda's ,,,,,,, I had a great time there.

I have cycled down the South Western Hgw , Bridgetown, Walpole and am now in Allbany.
I met a couple from Perth on a tandem ( with a trailer) on te big hill coming out of Pemburton and spent 4 days with them,
Last night we stayed at a camping ground run by a friend of theirs in an executive chalet, loads of Bundy's and a Barbie, A couple of nights ago we stayed in shannon campsite in a hut with boards for beds, and Kookaburras for an alarm clock ( 4 30 am !!!!)
they have gone off to stay with relatives here and I am couchsurfing here. Restday tomorrow then off for a 5 day ride to Esperance.

today was the first warm day this week,

Loads of forests, fowers and road kill that you can smell for 100 yards away.


george

Tourist Tony

Counting down to Wednesday's flight. Guys, I wish I could take the time to do more than I can fit in.
David, that sounds like exactly what I am after. My daily mileage will get a bit nobbled by my birdwatching.....
I will be on the uppy downy Caves Road, but am planning to avoid Pemberton by way of the old Vassa Highway.
George, any reports on Albany-Esperance would be appreciated.
Should point out that George is Jibi, and George is my Galaxy.
Hope that helps.

in the wire

Tourist Tony wrote:

Counting down to Wednesday's flight. Guys, I wish I could take the time to do more than I can fit in.
David, that sounds like exactly what I am after. My daily mileage will get a bit nobbled by my birdwatching.....
I will be on the uppy downy Caves Road, but am planning to avoid Pemberton by way of the old Vassa Highway.
George, any reports on Albany-Esperance would be appreciated.
Should point out that George is Jibi, and George is my Galaxy.
Hope that helps.

What does that mean?

Tourist Tony

References to George in previous posts. My bike is George, and one of the two lads doing a much bigger ride than me is also George.

jibi

I am so glad you are not riding me then Tony

I am still trying to drag myself away from albany, info will be following soon, but from seeing maps and blogs it seems OK.

George ( the human not the bike)

Tourist Tony

Albany is supposed to be gorgeous, and so is Esperance. After Esperance you'll have the hot bits, so make the most of it.
How cold are the nights at present?

daviddd

It's been very cold at night recently - I'm going to buy a 4-season bag

Tony - birds - At the tree top walk at Valley of the Giants (awesome - don't miss it - near Walpole) there are blue wrens everywhere - so tame too. I've just posted a pic of one on todays blog (no text yet though. It poured rain today and I got soaked, staying in motel in Denmark tonight (luxury!!). Had a good W tailwind though.

The birds are amazing, so vocal and 'in yer face' - especially magpies, one of which attacked me the other day (it's nesting season). I love the Kookaburra.

To Albany tomorrow where I hope to Couchsurf (where George has been staying afew days)

John Stevenson

If any of you need a place to crash when/if you come to Sydney, drop me a line: john@bikeradar.com.

Sorry I didn't spot this thread earlier!

Tourist Tony

Well, arrived in Perth at 1720 local time today. Bike arrived to, and looks OK so far. I'll see when it gets put together.
David, have you seen any of the male splendid fairy wrens? Unbelievable colour!

daviddd

No, not seen those yet Tony. Once I settle into the adventure a little more I shall take more time out to sit with the binocculars and see what I can see.

jibi

the weather is cool, amazing thunderstorm tonight
the Wrens are a briliant blue colour
the magpies still whoosh me too.
the ride from Albany to Esperance is Ok for supplies till Mungrabilly, then NOTHING, for 108 km, and the water from the taps at the roadhouse is saline, makes you thirsty

the whole ride is very hilly all the way and wind is is all directions, different every day.
took me 4 days. 64, 83, 87, and 68 miles

Have fun

george

daviddd

Yes I got wooshed today too - I just scream at them and they don't seem to like it (well you wouldn't would you?).
George met me 15km W of Ravensthorpe today on his way back (driving) from Albany to Esperance. managed to get a few lousy sweets off him to satisfy my energy craving - what a hard day!
Started off well with Kookaburra coming to stand beside me as I packed up the tent - no fear at all!

Tourist Tony

I am sitting in a cybercafe at Margaret River having had a good breakfast and then setting off towards the woods. Caves Road is indeed a barsteward of a rollercoaster, and morning alarm clocks varied from kookaburras at 0530 to this morning's odious brats who decided to watch TV in the camp kitchen at 0545.
Thighs burning a bit, and iI have never spent so long in my granny ring, but on to Karridale and beyond!
First currawong today, but had two pelicans six feet away from me at the beach. Love the magpies' song.
Thunderstorms due tomorrow.

Bugly

When you get to Brisbane drop me a note, free feed, shower and place to sleep should be doable.

Good luck guys - you are choosing to do the ride in a hot part of the year.

Robert

PS david the white flower in your log is a calla lilly - a local weed escaped from gardens long gone... Other weeds of note are freesias and gladiiolli, we Europeans like to stuff up the local ecology , still they (the flowers) are pretty but not as spectacular as the wildflowers.

You wont get Yellow fever in Australia nor malaria but in the tropics Ross River virus is not uncommon. Coastal areas with mud flats breed large numbers of mosquitos. Carry sunscreen and a good insect repellent. In dryer areas ticks are plentiful and some do carry diseases.

daviddd

Thanks Bugly. I'm still in Esperance nursing a boil the size of an egg in the nether regions, no chance of cycling for a couple of days I'm afraid - going to seek out a Dr today. My partner is actually flying out to Bris to meet me (and her son / wife who live in Chermside) in Feb, so I'll be taking some time out there.
Just been watching the honey eater bird (not sure of name) doing a bee impersonation outside my window!

Bugly

Cheers David, saddles are real PITA. Wishing you a speeding recovery

Tourist Tony

Dave, I can identify any bird pics you might get. Just about to leave Northcliffe for Walpole. Weather has been apalling, even had snow between Albany and Esperance, I kid you not. Had a terrible 52 miles on Friday to Karri Valley; soaked to the skin, a lad I had met at Gracetown drove past me, pulled into a layby, and brewed tea for me. A true lifesaver, on a long hill with torrential rain.
Log off for now---it's stopped raining. There is a patch of bush with my tent's name on it...