Betten On Bike

Day 42- 21^st May 2013 - Broome – Eco Beach

This morning it was time to say goodbye to Dianna – we had enjoyed her company for the past 2 weeks and together we had experienced some amazing adventures and seen parts of remote Australia that had left us both in awe of all its rawness and beauty.

Cycling Stats: 120 km

Cycling Average Speed: 30 km per hour

Now onward after 4 days rest and Walter’s shoulder appeared to be well and truly on the mend. Walter got on the bike at 7am in the rain and Andrea & I left a bit later after packing up and quickly buying a few grocery supplies and caught Walter at around the 70km mark. It was heavily overcast and a few heavy showers fell. There was a lot of headwind so not the best of cycling conditions and we could see that today although a shorter ride would rate as one of the tougher ones. But Walter put his head down and just kept going. He also said that for the first section he could feel that he hadn’t been on the bike for a while as he felt very stiff.

The landscape was initially a bushy / forested one and then changed suddenly to flat endless plains as far as the eye could see on both sides of the road. Noteworthy were the seemingly thousands and thousands of cattle dotted all the way to the horizon also on both sides of the road. This huge volume of cattle was a sight I had so far not witnessed so I was somewhat awestruck at the vastness of it all.

Some time later the landscape changed to low scrubby vegetation on both sides. We waited for Walter at the Eco Beach Resort turnoff and he put his bike on the bike rack for the 10km drive and jumped in the car for the rough drive over the red corrugated track which was also very slippery due to the large amount of rain that had fallen over the past few days. Miraculously the weather changed almost as soon as we arrived at Eco Beach – it fined up and the sky was a brilliant blue and the sun was warm on our skins after 2 days of rain. Now this place looks exactly like the brochures – the natural raw and peaceful beauty of the coastline and the eco principles upon which this resort has been planned and constructed in the dunes is breathtaking. Timber platforms provide a link from all the little beach houses o the main building where there is restaurant / bar / reception and the fantastic pool which is set into a deck on one side and the side to the beach seemingly floats over an infinity edge so when you are swimming you are totally connected with the view of the white sandy coastline and the aqua blue of the ocean. There is a large timber platform with table and chair settings which is protected by a shade structure where you can enjoy a drink whilst perched in a perfect location to take in the whole panoramic view of the coastline.

So we checked in and this little beach house (no. 7 – Triple Tail) is ever so well designed and beautifully positioned in the dunes to capture views to the ocean. It is tastefully and ecologically decorated – bamboo flooring and with solar power and it switches over to main power supply at the end of the day.

A lovely swim in the pool, a relaxing stroll on the beach looking at the beautiful shells and bright coloured stones, then the awe of the sunset colours - wine & cheese on the deck – life is indeed good in this stunning part of W A !!!

On another note it had to happen – yes the inevitable first flat tyre day which is amazing after over 5,000 and if it had to happen, it couldn’t have happened at a more suitable moment – whilst Walter wheeled the bike from the campervan to our beach house. The rear tyre – a Specialized Roubaix has lasted 5,000 km (from Brisbane to Eco Beach) and will be replaced with the Specialized All Condition Armadilo Elite. The front tyre is still going strong.

Thank you Specialized for these fantastic tyres !!!