Day 19 Nanutarra to Bush Camp 10 km from Burkett Rd 95 km

After another early start. After coffee from the roadhouse I was away by 6.30 am. Immediately stopping to take pictures of the Ashburton River in the early morning light. There was a slight headwind and the 1st hour was a drag. A few stops to take pictures of the wildflowers. Starting to see different colours and more variety of plants. I stopped at one bush that was covered with pink flowers. It had a wonderful scent.

About 10.00 am Dianne and Al drove past and tooted their horn.  5 minutes later I saw they had pulled up in a parking area so I pretended to turn around and ride the other way. When I got to them they made me a cup of tea and fed me biscuits. I had already covered 35 km and so was half way to Barradale Rest Stop where I planned to stop.

After Dianne and Al left the wind picked up and my speed dropped back. I finally reached Barradale at 12.30 pm. I ate lunch, a salad roll I bought at Nanutarra this morning with a diet coke  from “The Burger Bus” that was parked at the rest stop. There were a lot of camper vans and caravans arriving most of which drove further into the camping area to stay for the night.

I thought it was too early for me to stop particularly as there was another rest area on the map only 34 km away. The wind was very fierce but I reasoned even with a full-on headwind I could be there in 2 hours. Wrong!

25 km of roadworks as well as the howling wind meant I struggled to do 10 kph. At times I was only going 8 kph. Through a couple of sections I had to be escorted through roadworks where graders were working. I got covered in red dirt blown from the road. At the end of the roadworks it was already 5.00 pm and I still had 10 km to get to the Burkett Rd Rest Stop, The wind wasn’t slackening so I found a spot to bush camp of the road in a grove of trees. It was a good spot because it was down low and out of the wind.

By the time I set up the tent, had a wash and cooked dinner it was dark and the wind had dropped. Another night under a million stars. No phone or internet connection tonight. Also will have to get some water tomorrow. I may be able to get water form some grey nomads at Burkett Rd Rest Stop.