Once Around on a Bicycle
Signs, signs, everywhere is signs. I like the one that says "250 Km to the next picnic table". That's a long way to go for a picnic. There are a few spots along the Eyre Highway used by the Royal Flying Doctors Service as airstrips. So, I saw that sign a few times. There were also a few versions of the "Beware of Camels, Emus and Kangaroos" sign. Wombats and ostriches sometimes replaced camels, emus or kangaroos.
They love their animal statues out here, no matter how tacky. Rooey the Kangaroo is holding a Victoria Bitter can ("VB stubby" in Australian). Hardy Norseman, the horse, is credited with founding the town of Norseman when, after a night of digging the ground where he was hitched, he unearthed gold.
They also love these signs that tell you how far you are from New York, Paris and Tokyo. Like I can't tell that I'm a long way from the nearset New York subway station. The sign should just say "If you're here, you ain't near nowhere".
It does rain on the Nullarbor. This rainbow appeared as I approached Balladonia at the end of a 190 Km day. My pot of gold was a hot shower and a comfy pillow.
You can get some dramatic pictures out here. I took this shot near Caiguna.
This is the Madura Pass which took me down from the Hampton Tableland to the Roe Plains. The Madura Pass Oasis Motel is halfway down the Pass.
What I wouldn't have given for a Slurpee right about here.
The bike has held up well. This would have been a bad spot for a structural break in the frame.
Downtown Penong. For $16 you too can have a room with a view (of the water tank).
Penong is known for its windmills. Notice how all of the windmills point to the East. That means headwinds for me all day.
Since I didn't leave the Eyre Highway on the 180 Km ride to the Nullarbor roadhouse, I took a sightseeing flight in this 1964 Cessna. Whale Air specializes in viewing migrating whales in the Southern Ocean, but it was too late in the season for me to see any. The Bunda Cliffs were pretty spectacular, though.
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