Date:- 20 August 2010
Distance:- 62.02 Km
Distance to Date:- 9482.30 Km
Start:- Galena Bridge Rest Area
Finish:- Northampton Caravan Park
Comment:- It was very cold this morning. I heard one of the caravaners say it was 4 degrees. I finally broke the ice about 6.45 am. Had breakfast and then packed. There was a heavy dew last night so I had a wet tent to pack.
On the road by 8 am. Nice morning although still quite cool. Cloudless sky and a 5 kt south westerly wind puffing in every now and then. I have had a few hills to contend with in the early stages.
Turn Off to Kalbarri National Park came up on my right about 13.5 km out from the rest area. Cropping for as far as the eye can see. Wheat, Oats, Barley or Canola seem to be the most popular.
Stopped at the Service Station come General Store at Binnu for my break. Had a pie and a sausage roll and a free coffee (Driver Survivor). There is a large grain holding facility at Binnu.
There are a few patches of wildflowers around not like yesterday.
There are a lot of game fishing boats being tow each way on the road, possibly people getting away for the weekend. I am back on the air with mobile phone coverage 20 km from Northampton.
I am now riding through an area rich with wattle bushes or the like with yellow blossoms and there are Banksia bushes mixed in as well. This was about 15 km out from Northampton.
As I got closer to Northampton I could hear lambs bleating then I could see sheep with lambs at foot. It bought back memories of my experiences in the wool industry. I haven’t seen too many sheep since I left home.
I arrived in Northampton about 3.30 pm I think, and it is certainly bigger than I expected. Rode through town and found the caravan park and booked in. Very nice little park within walking distance of everything. Put my tent up, had a shower then down to the supermarket to get something for tea and breakfast. The park has a good Camp Kitchen. Back to the park, and as I needed a haircut, I so found a person in the park who cuts hair. Now I can put the comb away again.
Doing my diary in the Camp Kitchen and now that I have phone coverage, update my Blog site.
Tomorrow I hope to get to Geraldton about 50 km from here. I need to vote there. I am having a rest day on Sunday before heading for Perth.
Geoff Must about time you had the haircut after all is several months since you left home?? Can look too wild and woolly for Perth. Now that you are starting to feel the cold again you are now beginning to feel what we Victorians have had to put up with for the last few monhts. Wet weather is still persisting with everyon suggesting the drought is finally over or at least close to finality. Keep those pedals turning and enjoy your rest in Geraldton.
ReplyDeleteRegards
Stuart and Jill