Day 21 – Barclays
Crossing to Renner Springs
Cycling Stats: 135 kms
Cycling Average
Speed: 36km per hour
Walter left slightly
later as this is a short day’s riding compared to the previous 3 days epic
distances.
Also would like to
mention that late yesterday we met
a lovely gentle soul Sue who popped over just after we had eaten and said to us
that she wanted to wash up our dishes. She said she wanted to do something for
us because of what we were doing -
WOW – she wouldn’t take no for an answer – on her return with our clean
dishes she proceeded to give me a shoulder / neck massage and when Walter
returned gave him one as well. Her
words – she believes in acts of
human kindness . Needless to say we slept very well. We are constantly amazed
and awed by the people we meet whilst on this journey.
To get back to our day
– the wind was once more favourable and Walter enjoyed a wonderful day of
cycling – he tells me that he found the scenery over Whittington Range and Ashburton
Range was extremely interesting – undulating roads with gentle climbs and then
all of a sudden seeing a whole new landscape. More rain has fallen in this
region – you can see this because the vegetation is denser and more lush with
more large leafy trees and thick green shrubs which we haven’t seen for a
while.
My story today is one
of a sense of achievement and then reverting to dismal failure – I was
travelling along nicely to meet Walter for his first break until I found myself
behind one of those 53.5 metre cattle road trains. This one was travelling at
70 – 80 km per hour and slower going up some of the climbs. I was keen to catch
up with Walter and, 2 other campervans had overtaken me and then overtaken the
road train. I thought – well I can do this so I waited for a long straight
stretch with plenty of visibility and overtook this huge road train. I was proud of
myself but not for long…..
I caught Walter
and stopped a few kms ahead of him
and he indicated by our sign language that he wished to cycle an additional 10
km before taking a break.
I looked behind me to
pull out onto the Stuart Highway and believed that there was enough distance
between me and the cattle truck I had overtaken so proudly a few minutes earlier. Not so apparently
because I received a huge beeeeep from the truck driver. I was mortified and
when I stopped 10 km up the highway to wait for Walter this same cattle train
driver once again let me know what he thought about
We arrived in Renner Springs at around 11.30 am and set up camp. Walter had a swim in the springs (a bit muddy) to cool off so he went to the swimming pool for a proper swim.
Currently we are one day ahead of our planned itinerary so looks like we may have an extra day in Katherine.
No internet so will need to post this later.
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| My truck driver friend |
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| Walter loved cycling over the rises and then seeing the panoramic views |
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| The wide open country that we passed today |
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| 30km before Renner Springs |
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| Road side wild flowers |
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| Lucky to see another of these magnificent Sarus cranes |
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| Renner Springs |
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