Well what a day today was – filled with fun and also trials and tribulations haha.

as I wokle I smashed my breakfast and made a sanga for the road. From Jamestown it was basically downhill to Laura – down down down – which generally means, that’s where the water goes hahaha and that it did – into a creek I couldn’t no go around so in I went up to my knees hahaha. I got stuck at one point as the mud was soooo boggy – but I managed ok – was fun because the sun was out so no cold feet hehe.

After about 15km’s from Jamestown you’ll hit the red dirt where as i’ve said – would be HARD going in the wet. But it was awesome today apart from the above video lol.

It was all secondary dirt roads all the way to laura and such a pretty day – the dirt roads were a relief from the bumpy and slippery roads and you could really take in the awesome day it was and just pedal along.

I was about 3 clicks from Laura for ‘brunch’ when I saw some dust from a car and heard it coming. I was aware that we would both hit the dirt cross junction at the same time and in the back of my head I go ‘I know farmers are looking for caras no bikes so I better just head right over to the left and let him enter the junction first and wait for the ‘eye contact’ and see if he sees me. Well i’m glad I did because he didn’t see me, cut that corner all the way over to my side and was headed straight for me. I had to swerve off the road and I reckon it was within a metre. I saw him look back and he didn’t even stop or wave sorry – bugger hahaha. Sometimes I think farmers are thinking about getting to the next paddock and know their roads so well and would never think a bike is coming so always keep that in mind people.

All good these things happen – just gotta have some wits about you on the steed and pretend you WON’T be seen.

That near miss aside, I made it Laura and was hanging for a coffee and some ice cream – of course – home of Golden North hahah. Unfortunately they don’t do tours of their factory anymore but at least I WAS THERE!

An old man came sat next to me whilst I was enjoying my coffee and we started chatting. He was 96 years old, lived in laura all his life and his father started his own farm in the ‘war days’. This guy was a legend. 96, no glasses, walking great, looking trim AND still driving (pretty good too I might add). We talked for about 15 minutes and I asked him ‘what do I need to do to look like you when I am your age’? His response was ‘well people have told me to stop eating meat for a long time so do that, work hard because everyone is complaining about sore backs who have never put a hard days work in and it will help your back if you stay moving, and eat your vegies plus wish for a little luck’ hahahahah sound advice buddy – he made my day – He also said he hasn’t fallen over in 5 weeks and the doc was pretty stoked about that hahahaha

OK that was Laura……..I had 62 clicks of the trail left to get to Melrose whhhheeeeeeen CLICK goes my spokes and I hear tink tink tink – my bloody spokes have popped – now I knew this bike was not realllly a trailblazer – it was only supposed to get me through the New Zealand ride and that it did and I did think i’ll give it one more crack – but CRACK it did hahahaha – I knew there was a mountain bike shop in melrose so I had to weigh up my options…..ride 40 clicks on the tarmac to mawson or that’s it….I called ‘Over the Edge’ bike shop in melrose and they don’t sell wheels buuuuuuuuut the mechanic said his mate just sold him some wheels and he will pop home at lunch and get them and see if they fit………..I was limping and didn’t know even if I was going to make it

so as I said – she was limpinmg hahaha and I tried hard not to hevey pedal it and cause any unwanted pressure. I was ‘crystal pedalling’ it. aaaaaaaaan I MADE IT – that was step one…..step two was does the wheel fit……..YES IT DOES woohoooo – it’s only a basic rim but I think she will do. he said I only just put a new rotor on it too – $60 and it’s yours – SOLD i said and right then and there he fitted it for me whilst I had a coffee, florentine AND a croissant hahaha. how good is that. Only thing is, it’s a schrader valve meaning a car tyre valve to pump it up so that means no tubeless. So I am running tubeless on the front and tubed on the rear now hahaha so after a bit of shoping (new feed bag, better lube as the road is drying my lube out too quick (that’s what she said), and a new top tube feed bag and I was all set. Within the hour I was fed and fixed.

so – here we are – 85k’s today and all easy hahaha…….i’m debating if I go tomorrow or wait two days for the rain to pass…..I’ll think on that over another coffee. Whilst I was ‘crystal pedalling’ it, i did manage to snap what I call ‘an album cover’ type of pic – if this was to go on an album cover I would call it – ‘Along the Red Devil’ – eat your heart out Ken Duncan

side note: How many swoopy boyz (maggies) want to swoop me hahaha I keep trying to film one but after i come back to get swooped again I think they have enough hahahah

Ok – stay tuned for tomorrows every changing adventure – see what’s on the menu

VANDERPANTS OUT!!

Today was what bicycle dreams are made of. it was everything you would want in a day – Apart from a bit of rain overnight I was a little weary but i checked the ground and it didn’t look too soaked. I have learned that the red devil dirt dries really quickly which is good for me. So apart from a morning drizzle the day was pretty much perfect in all bicyle kinda ways. Great piccies, rolling hills, beautiful old cottages, wildlife, some hills, some sun, a cool breeze, some rain to cool me off, half a day of tunes, a great lunch and a perfect ending hahahaha. I slept in a little because I was able to conjure up some wood and lit a fire – it was so toasty warm in my little old train station that I was all snuggle and woke up at 630 instead of 530.

So anyway the terrain leading to Spalding (about 40km’s from hallett – would’ve been 25% unrideable if wet so I was thankful. A few low creeks but nothing too technical. Some great scenery and only one big hill. Spalding general store had some killa baguettes and some great food – stopped for lunch there where the shop owner come out and said ‘hey, how would you like to score 5 grand??’ to which my reply was ‘Who Wouldn’t’

His response to my comment was – ‘If you keep that bike up against the window you’ll score a 5 thousand dollar bill if that glass breaks’ hahahaha i lolled, apologised and moved my bike. I always try NOT to do that but this time I forgot and of course it’s the time I get told hahahahahaha – that aside, it was a great shop for a town with a pub (which has the larget collection of types of barbed wire???? WTF hahahahah and one local shop. It was a well needed lunch stop anyway.
You know this trail is cycling heaven. Don’t get me wrong, it’s challenging for various reasons even if you’re fit. Bicycle maintenence is required, accounting for the heat (water), accounting for the rain, Making route choices on the go, steep climbs and much more BUT I was talking about how awesome this trail is – you literally just hop on your bike and just ride – that’s the pure beauty of it. Throw the GPX on your bicycle computer (have a backup paper map plus RideWithGPS route) and you’re set. You can enjoy the beauty of our lovely state and kill the corners, view the beautiful countryside and see the lovely little towns and just smile all day (whilst working hard) it really is just so bloody damn fun. I haven’t even finished it yet and I want to do it again. Every hour dishes up a different obstacle, different terrain, different weather – you can never think you know what the terrain will be like because when you do – it changes – and the changes keep on coming – I LOVE IT

From Spalding it became really rocky (and if it rained a lot – about 20% unrideable for anyone reading who wants to know) and I also rode in lots of paddocks with high grass and you don’t even know where you’re riding haha

From Spalding you’ll ride through a lot of farms as I said, some rocky terrain and also along the Bundaleer Channels. They are apparantly one of the 7 engineering wonders of Australian history. It was supposed to harness the water and channel them into resevoirs but pipelines were installed about 40 years later anyway. It was lovely to ride through anyway – one thing I couldn’t work out though is which way was it supposed to flow – I was looking at the terrain and couldn’t work it out hahaha

From the bundaleer channels it was up and down up and down all the way to Jamestown where I am now. Lots of farms, forrest and a little bit of dirt road. Today was a bloody day of GATES – when you’re on your own, it takes a little longer to open and close the gate on a bike hahaha I think I opened and closed about 25 gates today. One rule I learned from my Sis and Bro in law (thanks robby and ned) is………LEAVE THE GATE AS IT WAS.

I was kinda glad I have front suspension today – I clicked it on quite a bit and it helped through some of that rocky terrain and eased the vibrations more than I thought. If the bump of a rock is lessened by the front suspension, the rear is less also – funny that.

after about 1,000 of climbing and 100km’s I was done for the day – I had the option of camping orrrrrr 5 clicks down the road to Jamestown where I can get a nice dinner an blog quicker – well the decision was easy hahahahah – Still haven’t used my tent hahahahaha – until tomorrow peoples – I can’t WAIT.

VANDERPANTS OUT!!

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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Hi All. Well today was a ‘wait the muddy trail out’ kinda day which was still ok because we got to sample Burra’s heritage a little and had an awesome lil side trip which makes this mawson all the better really.

Gherns and I hopped on our bikes (after a lazy and welcomed sleep in) and packed up our stuff and headed towards COFFEEeeeee and had an awesome breakky at this little dainty quaint (sp?) cafe then headed to the info centre.

At the info centre – we purchased the key to city (as I was singing that song for half the day that I had the key to the city hahaha) but really it was to visit all the heritage areas such as the old police barracks and lock up area, the old mines (copper mines) and there’s much more but we only really rode to a few of them but it was still awesome. Did you know Burra mined 5% of the worlds copper at one stage – it was a huge operation here and I can see why this town is such a little gem on the way. I absolutely love this little place and one day will come back for the full tour.

it was great seeing how they mined it and get a glimpse of the times back then (which is really not that long if you think about it)

the first motorised fire truck in Australia (model T ford) was pretty cool and I like the police station too

My garmin packed up (BLOODY DAMN IT) but cammo came to the rescue as he was picking up Gherns anyway as her short but awesome trip has ended and her taste for touring and the mawson life (I would call more of a entree before the entree hehe) had come to an end. I researched garmins quickly and purchased the you beut latest which has triple the battery life, larger screen and so much more – can’t wait to load my map in there and get going again. Thank you CAMMO you legend

It was the first time I ate a this cornish pastie thing (update – remembered the name: tiddy oggy – thanks Gherns) but it was half pastie then half desert (apple pie) it was sensational hahaha. desert and dinner in one how good is that

the update for the rest of the trip is 50/50 i’d say – The weather is half cloudy and half rainy – although the next few days has some rain it looks like 1mm ish…..but i know a little bit of rain makes it instant sludge. Kind of like when your dough doesn’t have enough flour – that’s how sticky it is hahaha – After Gherns and Cammo departed after coffee, lunch a good old yarn I found my accomm, settled in – garmin on charge and do the blog plus work out my plan of attack – Luckily I met up with some cyclists that were going the other way on mawson and I could get some advice but they said they skipped out on 150 k’s of the track but their suggewtion was give it a crack it will be 50/50 as it was windy and not raining for two days so I MAY be able to ride it. So my plan is give it a crack and when the rain hits, see where I am and make a call to wait it out a bit and try again – then see where i’m at. If I didn’t give it a crack I would hate myself…….

so stay tuned for tomorrows report – will I get bogged and stuck somewhere, will I make it to a campsite or somewhere to pitch a tent – will I make it to my planned stop (which is an old school) – who knows – standby for tomorrow’s report –



VANDERPANTS OUT!!!!