Last night at midnight I stood stark naked under the Milky Way - well not quite naked I had sandals on as I didn't want to step on anything unexpected.
It was a warm night after a hot day and there was no one likely to be within 10 km so when I got up for a midnight pee it was sans clothes. I stood and gazed up at the sky for a long time, saw a couple of shooting stars and marveled in the silence. Who would have thought a late night pee would be so magical?
I am on the road shortly after 6:30 am - no wind, good surface I'm rocking along.
This is roadkill alley - dead kangaroos all over the road, also a dead emu. At one point I can hear a car coming up behind me as I am approaching a big dead roo directly in my path. No change in the pitch of the car engine, the driver isn't going to slow down or move over so I am forced to ride over the roo's tail trying not hit its body with my panniers. The car with van attached continues on past me hugging the edge of the road all the way on. Not sure whether the driver hasn't woken up yet or is distracted, either way I doubt he saw me or the dead roo.
Shortly after a mob of roos crosses the road just ahead, the last couple passing within metres of my front wheel. Another roo bounces along beside me and then suddenly swings away left into the bush.
Another 20 km and the wind has started to blow - for the 1st time in 3 weeks I have a genuine tail wind. I race along above 25 kph occasionally hitting 30 kph.
Another quick stop for water and a some scotch fingers - I can see dust on the horizon, at first I think it is smoke. A bush fire in this wind would be horrendous although there isn't a lot to burn here - mostly scrubby trees, the undergrowth is sparse.
I'm getting close to St George the road swings to the right, now the wind blowing across the road at me and I have to lean into the wind to stay upright. Dust swirling all around and then there are roadworks - I'm getting sandblasted from the unsealed surface.
Finally ride into St George, on a normal day this is probably a nice town. Camping is not an option in this wind so I pass the caravan parks and head to the Cobb & Co Hotel and get a basic room for $55.
Lunch is a curry chicken pie from a bakery in the main st. It is one the best pies I have ever had. Afterward I head to the supermarket to top up the food bag.
It is early but with weather so unpleasant I don't feel like exploring the town. The wind is gusting and the air is full of dust. Hopefully the weather will settle enough to allow me to move on tomorrow.
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