After riding my mountain bike from Adelaide to Darwin in 2005, I was keen for another such adventure, but one that returned to the kind of back roads I travelled when riding from Sydney to Melbourne in 2004. I hatched the idea of riding from the southernmost tip to the northernmost tip of mainland Australia, and rather than riding along the main (coastal) highway, try and ride a straight-line route that would necessarily take me on back roads and through a variety of terrains and climates.

Round Australia by bike - Day 027 - Sandfire Roadhouse

Day:027
Date:Wednesday, 15 August 2007
AccommodationCabin at Sandfire Roadhouse
SummarySleeping, eating, playing Minesweeper and Solitaire and helping to erect an awning at Sandfire Roadhouse
Start Time:na
Finish Time:na
Daily Map Kms:0
Total Map Kms:6,761
Map Kms To Go:7,650
Map Kms ahead (+)/
behind (-) schedule:		-489
Daily Odometer Kms:0
Daily Average Speed:0
Weather:Cool early.  Very warm and sunny later.  Strong easterly winds.
Nutrition:Toasted sandwiches for breakfast.  Pie and pastie for lunch.  Toasted sandwiches for dinner.
Encounters:None really.
Highlights:None really.
Lowlights:None really.
Daily Pictures: 
Daily Podcasts: 
Journal:Just spent the day lazing around trying to kill time and hoping my sore muscle was mending itself with the help of some massage and stretching.  In the afternoon I helped Ken, the friendly and supportive owner of the Roadhouse, erect a temporary awning over the front of his prefab shop/office.  As he pointed out, that meant the day wasn’t a total waste.  I also managed to get a crepe bandage from a St John’s volunteer I discovered was stationed at the Roadhouse with an ambulance to respond to any local medical emergencies.

I called Heidi at Scott Cycles in Karratha where I had arranged to get some new tyres to tell her of my predicament.  She told me her shop was open until 1:00pm on Saturday and that caused me to review my plans.

I decided to ride to Pardoo Roadhouse (137km) tomorrow as a tester for the leg and, if it was OK, to resume my average 270km per day average which would get me to the bike shop about 9:00am on Saturday morning.  If the leg fails the test my option of getting myself to Port Hedland airport via Greyhound Bus and flying to Sydney remains viable for the next few days.

Although I had been able to log on to wireless internet for a few hours each of the previous evenings, I was unable to tonight.  I must be on the edge of range and atmospheric conditions must need to be exactly right.

I have been feeling withdrawal symptoms all day from not riding.  I have had this nagging feeling all day that I should be on the road and it seems unreal that I am not.
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