All funds raised during my ride across Australia went to either the Australian or New Zealand Heart Foundation depending on the donor’s wish.
It was a thrill to be named Best Individual Fund-raiser for 2011 by the Queensland Branch of the Australian Heart Foundation.
Special thanks to EVERYONE who supported my ride.
It was a thrill to be named Best Individual Fund-raiser for 2011 by the Queensland Branch of the Australian Heart Foundation.
Special thanks to EVERYONE who supported my ride.
Day 3 - April 2nd, 2011
Kellerberrin (WA) to Southern Cross (WA)
171 kms
Kellerberrin (WA) to Southern Cross (WA)
171 kms
DAILY PREVIEW:-
Today I will proceed along Highway 94 (still) to Southern Cross!!! And - more hills!!
I will pass through Merredin, the largest regional centre in the eastern Wheatbelt - and still on the Golden Pipeline Heritage Trail. Merredin is a thriving business centre with plenty of parks, gardens, and a wide range of accommodation and cafes.
Attractions include Merredin Peak and Tamma Parkland where you can enjoy bush and rock walks.The Cummins Theatre, historic buildings, the longest grain storage facilities in the Southern Hemisphere, museums and the remains of many military installations from the town's role as a line of defence during World War II. Wildflowers and granite rocks sites add to the attractions of the area.
My day will end at Southern Cross, the centre for the Yilgarn Shire (Yilgarn is the Aboriginal word for white stone or quartz). Southern Cross is situated in a prosperous, well established farming area including some of the largest farms in the state. The history that surrounds the district complements the beauty and adventure of the Shire of Yilgarn. Wimmera Hill Lookout gives a panoramic view over the town and surround farmland and goldmines.
Gold was discovered in Southern Cross in 1888 by Tom Risely and Mick Toomey. They named the place after the stars that had been their guide. Today all the streets and the salt lake of the town are named after stars or constellations.
The early settlers relied on horse and camel teams to transport goods. Chaff to feed them was expensive and so crops were grown on the 160 acre Miners Homestead blocks. Later, in the 1920s, a number of blocks were opened up as a Soldier Settlement, followed by the Miners' Settlement project establishing miners suffering from 'Miners' Phthisis' on the land.
Today I will proceed along Highway 94 (still) to Southern Cross!!! And - more hills!!
I will pass through Merredin, the largest regional centre in the eastern Wheatbelt - and still on the Golden Pipeline Heritage Trail. Merredin is a thriving business centre with plenty of parks, gardens, and a wide range of accommodation and cafes.
Attractions include Merredin Peak and Tamma Parkland where you can enjoy bush and rock walks.The Cummins Theatre, historic buildings, the longest grain storage facilities in the Southern Hemisphere, museums and the remains of many military installations from the town's role as a line of defence during World War II. Wildflowers and granite rocks sites add to the attractions of the area.
My day will end at Southern Cross, the centre for the Yilgarn Shire (Yilgarn is the Aboriginal word for white stone or quartz). Southern Cross is situated in a prosperous, well established farming area including some of the largest farms in the state. The history that surrounds the district complements the beauty and adventure of the Shire of Yilgarn. Wimmera Hill Lookout gives a panoramic view over the town and surround farmland and goldmines.
Gold was discovered in Southern Cross in 1888 by Tom Risely and Mick Toomey. They named the place after the stars that had been their guide. Today all the streets and the salt lake of the town are named after stars or constellations.
The early settlers relied on horse and camel teams to transport goods. Chaff to feed them was expensive and so crops were grown on the 160 acre Miners Homestead blocks. Later, in the 1920s, a number of blocks were opened up as a Soldier Settlement, followed by the Miners' Settlement project establishing miners suffering from 'Miners' Phthisis' on the land.
Kellerberrin to Southern Cross
Distance covered - 171.02
Highest speed - 60.3 kph
Average speed - 30.3 kph
Hours on the bike - 5 hours 38 mins 37 secs
YAY the figures look better for today!!!! The wind was only slightly head. My little Giant Avail was humming along most of the way, and I was thrilled with the time I made. I did head out earlier, leaving at 7:15 am - it was quite crisp then which was great peddaling weather. The wind got stronger as the day wore on - and the sun got hotter, so it was great to reach Southern Cross mid afternoon.
Lunch today was at the rabbit fence.
On one loooooooong stretch of road, I thought - is that another cyclist ahead????? Sure enough it was!!! I gradually caught up, and then biked along with a guy from Israel who has biked across every continent in the world!! I've left his card in the "Jucy" but will get it for next time I write - his name sounded like Roy - but I don't think it is spelt like that!! - Check out his website - www.dreamwithopeneyes,com = his name is Roei "Jinji" Sadan.
We stopped and took photo's of each other - he laughed at the weight - or rather, the lack of weight of my bike!!! I couldn't even lift his!!!! He is travelling unaccompanied on a "Thorn" bike - front and rear panniers laden, huge water bottles - if anyone thought I was mad - well - nope - compared to this guy I am completely sane!!! He has been 4 years on the road and when he finishes in Sydney in July - I understand there will be big celebrations!! By that time he will have cycled across 5 continents.
A quick stop at the Carrabin Roadhouse gave me the opportunity to cuddle a little "Joey". A kindly woman rescues them from their roadkill mothers and rears them. She had several in "pseudo-pouches" - cardboard boxes filled with towels. A real labour of love as she regularly fed them, cleaned them etc!
No punctures today, no punctures yesterday - so after the 2 on the first day we are feeling a little happier!!!
Just giggling at the "message" below - biked past a pig farm today - and the smell!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Must have been why I had my fastest high speed so far!!!!
Distance covered - 171.02
Highest speed - 60.3 kph
Average speed - 30.3 kph
Hours on the bike - 5 hours 38 mins 37 secs
YAY the figures look better for today!!!! The wind was only slightly head. My little Giant Avail was humming along most of the way, and I was thrilled with the time I made. I did head out earlier, leaving at 7:15 am - it was quite crisp then which was great peddaling weather. The wind got stronger as the day wore on - and the sun got hotter, so it was great to reach Southern Cross mid afternoon.
Lunch today was at the rabbit fence.
On one loooooooong stretch of road, I thought - is that another cyclist ahead????? Sure enough it was!!! I gradually caught up, and then biked along with a guy from Israel who has biked across every continent in the world!! I've left his card in the "Jucy" but will get it for next time I write - his name sounded like Roy - but I don't think it is spelt like that!! - Check out his website - www.dreamwithopeneyes,com = his name is Roei "Jinji" Sadan.
We stopped and took photo's of each other - he laughed at the weight - or rather, the lack of weight of my bike!!! I couldn't even lift his!!!! He is travelling unaccompanied on a "Thorn" bike - front and rear panniers laden, huge water bottles - if anyone thought I was mad - well - nope - compared to this guy I am completely sane!!! He has been 4 years on the road and when he finishes in Sydney in July - I understand there will be big celebrations!! By that time he will have cycled across 5 continents.
A quick stop at the Carrabin Roadhouse gave me the opportunity to cuddle a little "Joey". A kindly woman rescues them from their roadkill mothers and rears them. She had several in "pseudo-pouches" - cardboard boxes filled with towels. A real labour of love as she regularly fed them, cleaned them etc!
No punctures today, no punctures yesterday - so after the 2 on the first day we are feeling a little happier!!!
Just giggling at the "message" below - biked past a pig farm today - and the smell!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Must have been why I had my fastest high speed so far!!!!
I was speeding down a narrow, twisting, mountain road.
The woman was driving very slowly uphill, honking her horn and shouting at me: "PIG! PIG!!".
I flipped her the finger and shouted back "BITCH! COW!!"....
Then I collided with the pig!
The woman was driving very slowly uphill, honking her horn and shouting at me: "PIG! PIG!!".
I flipped her the finger and shouted back "BITCH! COW!!"....
Then I collided with the pig!