We broke down at the Nullarbor!

Date: 19-04-2010
Day 72: Eucla, WA
Distance cycled: 13km

Sustaining on rationed cookies and crackers yesterday, we treated ourselves to breakfast before we inspected Lukas’s bike. We were eager to investigate the noise that returned less than 10km to the Border Village last evening. We suspected that the problem lies in the hub of the rear wheel of Lukas’s bike but were optimistic that we could move on. We also gave both our bikes a good clean and lube, especially since we have procrastinated doing so for several weeks.

We left around 10am crossing the SA/WA border, hoping to make our way to Mundrabilla which is about 77km away. After a mere 6km, *tack*… a spoke from Lukas’s rear wheel broke. The wheel also went out of true and started to wobble. Sue took some weight off Lukas and we continued to ride another 7km to Eucla to determine our options.

Outside the roadhouse in Eucla, we met William, another eastbound cyclist who broke down in Eucla and has been waiting in Eucla for 2 days as his parents in Perth try to locate a logistic company to have a truckie deliver a new tyre to him. Yesterday, while crossing the Nullarbor, we ran into yet another cyclist David, who told us about William, the walkers (who may have just left Border Village earlier today) and also another older couple on push bikes heading west. William did not seem too excited when we mentioned our encounter with David. Competition by chance of these 2 young chaps, perhaps? ; )

At the Nullarbor roadhouse, we have seen one too many signs or stickers for sale that said “We broke down at the Nullarbor”. Never would we have thought that it will occur to us after 2,846km (and at the Nullarbor?!?) and our journey could come to an end. Now where can we buy that sticker?

After a short chat with William, we set up our tent and let the reality of our situation sink in. We gathered some information from the lady-in-charge at the roadhouse whose first sentence was “What do you want?” There is no (public or shuttle) bus in or out of Eucla. Mail is delivered once a week, next time is in 5 days. Hitchhiking in WA is not illegal (according to the 2 police officers we spoke to). We also looked at the type of food and drink available to us in Eucla and the prices. After collecting all intelligence, we started to bounce ideas and options of each other while weighing cost, time and risks of different scenarios.

In the afternoon, the crowd of caravanners was gradually pouring into the caravan park. At the camp kitchen, a casual chat with Nicole who was feeding her puppy Bobo led us to meeting a group of kind strangers she was travelling with, the Royal Enfield Club of Australia heading west. After a short chat with Russell, we found a ride onboard Russ’s bus tomorrow. It was a fun thought that push-bikers catch a ride with a group of motor-bikers, bikers stick together! ;=)

Our journey continues…

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 - Port Augusta - Kimba - Wudinna - Streaky Bay - Ceduna - Nundroo - Yalata - Nullarbor - Border Village - [WA] Eucla