The Return Trip To Perth

Day 1        April 16, 2010    Hampton Park to Horsham    339 Kilometres

A very cold morning found me travelling through Melbourne hoping to be able to spend the night very close to Adelaide however these ideas were swept away just after leaving Ballarat as, prior to then, weather conditions were perfect but all good things must come to an end, or so they say in the classics.

My enemy, the wind, which I had to contend with, showed its ugly face yet again. Tired of maintaining the scooter on the road due to the strong cross wind, I called "enough is enough", pulling into a motel in Horsham, some 428 kilometres short of Adelaide. Tis better be safe than sorry.

Day 2        April 17, 2010     Horsham Vic. to Port Wakefield, S.A.    523 Kilometres

A very wet morning which slowed my progress but no wind. I am able to handle that but after lunching in Adelaide the wind picked up a notch hitting me from the North East and was extremely strong and the scooter, which has been easily sitting on 110 k.p.h. for most of the trip ws having difficulty getting to the 100 k.p.h mark this afternoon. What starte out to be an easy ride in the morning changed now to be very difficult. Pulled into Dublin, a small town 60 Kilometres north of Adelaide to be told the closest accommodation would be in Port "Wakefield, a further 35 kilometres up the road. This was one of those occasions I thought to myself "Why did I ever make this trip" such was the dangerous riding conditions at the time.

Pulled into a motel in Port Wakefield just after 2.00 p.m. where I will spend the night hoping like hell the wind is a lot kinder tomorrow or I am sitting tight.

Day 3        April 18, 2010    Port Wakefield to Ceduna    677 Kilometres

At 5.30 a.m. I awoke knowing it would be about one and a half hourse before sun up. Out the door to for a cigarette and found the morning to be mild but raining steadily. To the nearest servo for a coffee and fill up with fuel then off in the darkness very much aware of the dangers of hitting a roo. Come dawn, I pulled up, not far north of Port Wakefield, on the side of the road to take a photo of the beautiful sunrise. There is a God.

Starting out this morning I had hope to get to Port Augusta at lease before the wind reared its ugly head once again but would have been happy to go as far as Port Pirie given my efforts of the last few days but, what a difference a day makes! Ended the day having reached Ceduna with only the last 30 kilometres requriring me to be concerned about the increasing wind velocity.

Day 4    April 19, 2010    Ceduna S.A. to Border Village W.A. 485 kilometres

Up before the sparrows again today and it didn't take long out of bed before I realised it was an extremely cold morning. Still dark, I pushed out of Ceduna as the sun was beginning to rise and found myself riding into a thick fog. This time, not the the Chicken Broth version but a real Heinz Pea Souper. My left and was being used repeatedly to wipe the screen of my helmet clear and it was this, I thought, was making it so very cold and sore. The air, being so full of moisture did not allow the dampness in my helmet to escape causing my helmet to have an enclosed micro climate and I believe it was raining in there wetting my hair and face.

My left hand steadily became more sore and colder by the minute. I continually worked my fingers in an effort to get the blood circulating but this had no effect. It was now time to refill the tank at the Nundroo Roadhouse as the sun was burning off the fog. This stop was not going to be the normal one as my hand, by this time, was no longer able to grip the handlebar and it would have been too bad if I needed to apply the brake.

Taking off my glove I was shocked to find the hand was a deathly blue colour meaning I had lost all circulation going to the hand. I was unaware of the cause of this until I took of my wet weather gear which had a tightish wrist strap. this strap had caused the elasticised bandage, I was wearing for the sprained wrist, to roll up over itself causing it to become so tight as to it no longer allowing blood to flow into my hand. I have had to wear this wrist bandage since buying it on day four of this trip, being 15 days ago. After I first put it on I found the it was cutting into the webbing between my thumb and pointer finger so have not been using it as it should since then but this was the first time it had rolled up to form this tight seal.

With a break of 45 minutes and taking a couple of pain killers, my hand was now working and the pain I had been feeling had all disappeared.

Back on the road, the fog had all cleared and only a slight breeze coming in from the coast, made riding conditions very good, next stop being the Nullarbor Roadhouse. After a coffee and refilling the tank, I set off for Eucla, a further 194 kilometres down the road however, I had travelled just over 120 kilometres before the wind strengthened to a point where I again had to fight against it. I was relieved to pull into Border Village, only 12 Kilometres short of Eucla and decided I would stay there the night.

Day 5    April 20, 2010    Border Village W.A. to Balladonia    502 Kilometres

Up before first light for a quick coffee and toasted sandwich before setting off. Noticed the wind turbines opposite the road house were facing south and were rotating quite quickly meaning I had yet another cross wind to fight. I was concerned about this, worried as the day wore on this wind would become stronger but this did not occur.

Today was the best weather I have had since this trip began while on the Eyre Highway. Was hoping to make Caiguna, 347 kilometres down the road but would have been satisfied with Madura but, with the weather still favourable at midday, rode on to Balladonia arriving here at a little past 11.00 a.m. W.A. Time.

Had tea in the Roadhouse restaurant tonight and as I was leaving, eating a peach, I came across a kangaroo who had come in from out of the dark surrounds obviously looking for something to eat. Without hesitation, she hopped over to me stretching her head toward the peach I was enjoying. How lucky are we in Australia to have such wildlife who are not afraid of humans?

The scooter continues without missing a beat with the only problem being it gets heavier to get it up on its stand as the day wears on. All being well, I should make it to Coolgardie come tomorrow.

Day 6    April 21, 2010    Balladonia to Southern Cross    587 Kilometres

Last night I was hoping to reach Coolgardie come this time today but here I am a further 208 kilometres past that planned destination. I had excellent riding conditions today with very little wind and the sun shining beautifully throughout the ride. Will be home tomorrow night all being well.

Day 7    April 22, 2010    Southern Cross to Home    374 Kilometres

This morning, being the last for this trip had me on the road at sun up looking forward to arriving home safe and sound after being there and having done that. Again, a great day for riding if not, a little on the cool side. Having ridden to Melbourne and back in the last 23 days I am satisfied with my adventure and completely wrapped in the scooter. It never let me down for a second, always willing to start when the starter is pushed and today was no exception. The last days ride was straight forward and without anything to report. Just relieved to be back home safe and sound all though the wrist has still a bit of healing to do.

So, anyone who may be reading this and would like to ride anywhere in this great land of ours with a fellow rider, how about you send me an email and I will certainly get back to you.

Leigh