Cycling Australia Diaries

Grogsy rose early today to catch a train back to Melbourne while the remaining three of us cycled into NSW later in the afternoon. Had only just crossed the Murray and the change in landscape was instant. Very arid and windy with red sands. Camped 300m from the road amongst some trees and enjoyed our first camp fire for the trip.

A late start today after packing up camp. We raided the Balranald bakery in the afternoon, cleaning out all their hot food then checked our emails at the community center. We were interviewed us for a story in the local news. Left Balranald at 5pm then cycled 20km to Lake Paika where we were offered shelter for the night by one of the locals. We are now in the Mungo World Heritage area and are camped very close to a Burke and Wills camp.

Installed tube liners in our wheels this morning as we will not have any significant sealed roads for 4000km. Departed Paika and cycled through some dry lake beds which have been empty for 35,000 years. Arrived at Tin Tin Homestead and the site of another Burke and Wills camp not long after lunch. Fixed a quick puncture then headed off to Bidura Homestead, another B + W camp, camped close by and finished the day off with some damper.

This was our first day of warm weather! Began with a few quick puncture repairs then cycled to a water hole mentioned in Wills' diary. Today's cycling was on a rough fire access track which took us through the Prungle Hills and out to Prungle Homestead, yet another B + W camp. We were happy to accept accommodation in the shearer's quaters. Had our first shower since Sunday then sat around the open fire drinking coffee and cooking damper.

The owner of the Prungle Station drove us out to a water hole this morning which is known to be a B+W campsite then gave us some local knowledge about puncture protection. The road was quite corrugated today however we made good progress and arrived at Lake Mungo before sundown. Our food/fuel supplies are running very low and we still have 85km until our next resupply.