Vanderpants Oz Tour

Km’s – 89
Climbing – 1,300 ish

Howdy all….

Well the road dried up VERY quickly and that made me a happy man – I can say that so far – each day has been better and better view wise and my body wise also – I can feel those cycling muscled coming back and the strength to do over a 1,000 vert each day and not get tired which makes enjoying everything a lot easier.

It started off at 7am after my continental breakfast

But I must say the Burra Hotel was very accommodating and very lovely – they let me put my bike inside and there were a few other cyclists doing small sections of the mawson so we shared stories which was nice.

The day did not dissapoint – it started after a few k’s of seeing the ‘Midnight Oil House” – this house is just your ordinary house (from a while ago) but Ken Duncan (Aussie photographer) took a photo for midnight oils album cover – was a nice little stop and take a piccie – Of course respecting the websites wishes and not entering the land or house – I can admire it just as good from afar.

After about 20km’s the scenery changed (snaps fingers) just like that and it went into rocky and hard surfaces (dried from the rain) which made it very corrugated. It was fine because the scenery was to die for. It truly was. It felt ‘outback’ with all the animals everywhere, red dirt, eroded river banks with exposed tree roots, windy dirt roads with EPIC views (especially Dares Hill Summit)

As I left the midnight oil house I approached my first bit of ‘devil red dirt’ – my nemisis and I thought ‘here we go Aidy’ – it’s hard to tell from a distance if it’s ‘rideable’ and upon reaching it and riding over it – HARD AS A ROCK WOOHOOOooo made me a happy man – although next couple days has 1-2mm of rain each day and i’m not sure what that’s going to do – let’s hope it’s not alot tonight and we’ll see how we go

so onwards (and upwards) to Hallett I Went.
the terrain from burra to hallett is all rideable with about 1,300 meters of climbing and nothing too steep (12% here and there) but not long ones. and if dry it will be rough but very rideable. There were some muddy patches and I had to let the bike get muddy, scrape it off with my favourite piece of wire I garnished and made from a bit of broken fence. It’s my new little gadget that helps get into all the spots. I also run my foot along the wheels now (front and back) to ‘shave’ the mud off. Then when the mud dries (about ten minutes) the bike starts getting all grindy and squeely…..time to clean the chain as the mud has dried. Once cleaned she is good to go until the next massive mud section. This routine was performed about 5 times but I got really quick at it. You do not want this grit grinding away at your drivetrain area or something will get stuck and go pop or you’ll wear your cassette and all moving parts very quickly.

On the mechanical side of things, as I went through a pile of mud my wheels were all caked again and then I heard pffffft pffffft pfffft as the wheels were turning and I thought ‘oh bloody hell just what I need’ especially when the whole bike was caked in mud……..after about 4 pfffffft’s, I couldn’t believe it…..the bloody tubeless tires went on a healing mission and rapidly too I might add. The Pfffft’s stopped and the inner sealant did it’s job might quick. No stopping, take everything off, clean tyre, change tube etc etc – I was soooo greatful – TUBELESS TYRES FTW.

After about another 25km’s you hit Sir George ‘Hubert’ Wilkins old homestead where he was born. The sign said not many aussies know of him but when I saw all of his achievements I was amazed. We probably haven’t heard a lot of him because he spent 50years overseas hahahaha. He went to University of Adelaide for while , shot the first combat film during the Balkan war, purchased a submarine (as you do) and attempted to go beneath the north pole from Norway to Alaska and went on antarctic expeditions and so much more – his homestead was in a beautiful place. What a guy

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I was close to Hallett at this point (20kmsish) I think so headed forwards – the day was cool with some sun which was beautiful. Side Note: The new garmin is an absolute Gem – eas

I got to Hallett and spoke toa. few guys who lost their friends out on the trail somewhere. If the day was hot and you got lost here – it could end in big trouble – I had barely no phone coverage all day and i’m not even that far from Adelaide. They went 40km’s way off the trail but luckily they found their way back. They were in a group too…..gotta be careful out here peeps

So I made it to Hallett and staying here the night – got the pin code from the local shop hahahahaha and i’m going to enjoy a snuggly night in the train station that never is anymore…….I hope you enjoy some of the scenery below and until tomorrow – be well

VANDERPANTS OUT!!

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