The scenic way home.

September 14th to 27th

Part 2

Packed up camp at Wilpena pound about 9 am and slowly made my way back to Hawker and on to Port Augusta. A stiff head breeze ( Gail ) made the going tough. I dropped speed to about 80kmph and pushed on. Thinking that at Port Augusta that head wind would turn into a tail wind.

I made the turn north for the run up the Stuart Hwy only to have the wind turn with me. This head wind would be with me for the next 2500km or so. It would change from soft and gentle to a roaring gale but as Ned said "such is life" now on with it.

Heading north on to Cooper pedy and the scenery changes from flat nothing to rolling hills and back again as if by magic. Off in the distance I can see something then with a turn of the head you are passing it.

Hundreds of km's pass and the fuel tank is getting low so pull into spuds for fuel. Bugger me that head wind is costing me $4 extra. And so it was for the next 2500 km from 1 or 2 dollars to a nasty 6 dollars a fill.

Still on the northern run to the NT border and I pass a few salt lakes some with water from the storms a day or two earlier.

Not sure of the time but I arrived at Cooper Pedy with a few hours of day light to have a look round. Stopped in at Johns for Pizza and Beer.

In the morning it was back on the road and north on the Stuart Hwy and get some tar under the tires. Now heading to Ayers Rock. Need to knock up some kilometers. 

Somewhere north of Marla as I approach a eagle feeding on road kill, I brake as the big bird heaves into flight. I pass under this magnificent animal with it only a foot or two above my head. This was to happen two more times and with one I had to duck to pass under it. What a high light this was, one of  many on this trip. Well I'm passing a eagle on some road kill and he stays put on his prize. I hit the skids to grab a picture and pull in to the gravel. I flick down the stand and jump off with camera in hand. The bike lays toward the stand but fails to stop. Over she goes. I lift her back up and settle it on the stand, nothing damaged just pride. And all for this very poor picture.

I continue the journey and cross into the Northern Territory.

I take the turn off to Ayers rock from the Stuart Hwy and start on the 600km round trip. As you head toward the rock, on your left, you will see Mt Conner a super impressive mount indeed.

With night falling I pull into Curtin Springs for the night..

CASH always carry a few hundred CASH when traveling out here. I arrived at Curtin spring with a few dollars in my pocket. Had a few beers and was in need of some Cash. BUT the Phone lines are down no EFPOS no cash. With $12 left I hit the sack and Hoped that the phones would come on line in the morning. The morning come and the lines are out. I used the last of my cash to fuel the bike. With the 5 liters in the jerry can I had maybe 400 kms of fuel. I took the risk and rode the 80 kms to the rock in hope the phones would come back. At the resort the ANZ bank staff had gone into hiding and all I could do was wait. With Mobiles and land lines down you are really stuck.. 10.30am and my mobile phone beeps with a message I rush to the bank teller to be about 5th in line $500 cash and I'm back on the road. Problem with the phone lines out here is it can take days and days to fix them..

To be continued