Day 16 Miaree Pool to Fortescue River 80 km

Started packing up at 5.30 am and got on the rode at 6.30 am. Pedalled until 8.00 am when I pulled into a parking area for breakfast. Muesli and a cup of tea. There was no shade and nowhere to sit so I sat on the ground.

Breakfast by the side of the road

After breakfast I still had another 50 km to Fortescue River where I planned lunch. Spotted 2 cyclists coming the other way, Mary and David had ridden from Adelaide including  a month on the Munda Biddi trail. They are heading to Broome. We had a good chat. They saw Tony at Exmouth.

About 20 km from Fortescue I had more drama with the drive side front pannier. One of the clamps had separated completely from the pannier. The roadside repair job using cables ties took 30 minutes and it was quite hot.

The scenery in this area reminds me of Victoria River with deep red hills covered with fresh green spinifex. VR doesn’t have spinifex but the red green colours are similar..

Another Sturt’s Desert Pea picture

There are a lot of Sturt’s Desert Pea flowering in this area. The brilliance of the red stands out and when they flutter in the wind it is like dancing flames. I keep wanting to stop and take pictures.

Fortescue River from the bridge

I arrived at Fortescue River about 1.00 pm. It was stinking hot so straight into the roadhouse for a cold drink and a burger with the lot. No Veggie meal on the menu and I wasn’t going to fuss.

Due to the heat I decided I had gone far enough so I booked into the camping park and found a nice spot with grass, shade and a picnic table. I had a my first shower since Port Hedland 4 days ago ( I did swim in the river yesterday). Also charged my devices and gave myself a manicure and pedicure.

While I was cooking dinner Wally a retired Croation immigrant panel beater came over for a chat. A lovely bloke he was travelling by himself in a camper truck that he built himself. It is a very impressive truck and beautifully fitted out.

Wally and I had a good chat about keeping chickens. He used to keep Isa Browns but couldn't tell them apart so he grabbed some cans of spray paint from work and sprayed their tail feathers a different colour. His chickens were called Red, Blue and White!

He brought me soft drink and beer to have with my dinner which was Mee Goreng followed by Curry Lentils with rice, diced potato and carrot.  He also gave a solar shed light for my tent. It is a pretty good idea for touring and gets over the battery problem. I will have to mount the solar panel on the top of the rear luggage rack tomorrow.

I rang Tony, He is not having a good time and is stuck in Exmouth with nothing to do. Issues on the home front mean he may not wait for me and may be heading home after Monday.

It is 170 km  to Nanutarra Roadhouse so I will be planning to do it over 2 days.