2 flats, hills and headwinds, after headwinds!

Date: 04-04-2010
Day 57: Orroroo, SA
Distance cycled: 127km

We found that the weather forecast of mild northeast wind was ‘slightly’ inaccurate.

We started the morning from Burra cycling into Halett about 30km away with some strong headwinds. On the way, we saw a family Easter-egg-hunting that reminded Lukas of Easter with his family when he was a little boy. Those Easter eggs were yummy! ;=)

We stopped several times to pump up Sue’s rear tyre until we made it to Halett. After breakfast, we decided to fix the (first) flat in Halett. It went well. Just 5km out of Halett, the tyre we fixed started to lose air. As Sue pumped it up, the metal valve broke. We knew the drill and (frustrated but still patiently) fixed the second flat. We wondered if Sue was really THAT strong or if the manufacturing of the bike tube was sub-standard.

Not long after we hit the road again, we were forced off it by a truck approaching us from behind. The car coming from the opposite direction slowed down and pulled as far off the side of the road to give way to the truck and 2 bikes. The truck, refusing to make way or slow down, blew his horn at us and we had to pull off the road onto the unpaved gravel ‘shoulder’. Considering how many lives that he is putting at risk, what could be so important that he cannot spare seconds or minutes to lawfully yield to rightful road users?

Despite some setbacks, we quickly gained momentum and motivation to make our destination. We took a lunch break at Terowie where coincidently was the meeting place for a family reunion of 150. We were told that Terowie was a formerly bustling town where 2 different railway tracks used to meet. This was the point where passengers and goods were transferred from one train to the other to continue with their journey. Now that the tracks were no longer used, many businesses closed down and it has become a quiet little settlement.

It was about 23km from Terowie to Peterborough. Most of the way, it felt like the hills stretch to the end of the horizon. Ironically, we took this 18km longer route towards Port Augusta because we were told at the Burra Visitors Centre that it would be a flatter (hence easier) terrain than alternative routes. There was a continuous 4km climb in the heat of the mid-day sun before we rolled into Peterborough in the next 10km (guess it’s not that bad). In Peterborough, we were finally able to recharge with good meals and determined to take on the last 35km to Orroroo despite the option to stay in Peterborough and call it a day.

For reasons we cannot explain ourselves, it was a short 2-hours ride to Orroroo. We were racing (not intentionally) at speed up to 30km/h against headwinds at times. Even a bloke from the caravan park later mentioned that we were riding at a pretty good speed when he drove past us.

Orroroo is a neat little town. We decided to take a break, especially since we were told that there would be even more (and tougher) hills to climb on the way to Port Augusta before we hit the meandering descent that was the only other thing (besides level terrain) mentioned at the Burra Visitors Centre. We knew they (the flat and then downhill) sound too good to be true.

Destinations: [NSW] North Sydney - Heathcote - Coledale - Wollongong - Robertson - Moss Vale - Goulburn - Queanbeyan - Yass - Gundagai - Wagga Wagga - Narrandera - Darlington Point - Hay - Maude - Balranald - Euston - [VIC] Mildura - [SA] Renmark - Barmera - Morgan - Burra - Orroroo