Checked out the transmission oil levels in the bikes at first light ready for an early start but there was so much mist that we were not able to get underway until 9am anyway. Had a leisurely breakfast in the Roadhouse then loaded up to hit the road. Today was all about the straight roads again, but this time it was the pinnacle in straightness as we crossed the longest straight stretch of road in Australia. Now that is saying something in a country that must be a world record holder for straight roads, to cross the longest one was the highlight of the day. 27km east of the Balladonia Roadhouse and we rounded the last corner for almost 150km.
On we went, straight as a very unswerving thing in full linear mode on world linear day in the one unwavering direction for 150km. The Nullarbor was an interesting mixture of very flat land with no vegetation to a completely level ground with scant vegetation, occasionally it was also as flat as a pancake, albeit a very large pancake that is particularly flat, and notably was uninterrupted by any sort of bump or change in elevation. It was remarkable in the way the plain was able to maintain such an unchanging linear, constant, level and relatively lifeless expanse. I could go on and on as it really was very flat and lifeless, it was really exciting in the way it was so level that there were no deviations from the one unchanging plain which I guess is the genius of its name the “Nullarbor Plain” - brilliant really. Yes the way it just kept on going and going without any need for us to move the handlebars or shift weight on the bike due to the straight and level nature of the constant terrain. I bet you wish you were there? For hour after hour flat and level. The surveyor really must have had a brilliant compass to lay this road out, it is dead flat and straight. No corners.
Ok I admit it, the Nullarbor Plain is remarkably boring in its topography. What more can I say? After 150km it was heads up and pay attention as for some reason known only to the road builders they threw in a corner, albeit a very fast corner that required no change in pace just a slight change in direction. We definitely needed coffee and stopped for a quick brew, and fuel up. Then back into it, straight and level riding for another 300km or so. Every now and then a corner is thrown in for some reason, as if they road builders had proved that they could build a straight road so now they would just let the road bend every now and then to give everyone a bit of a thrill.
I am suspicious about Western Australia’s intentions, as we rode over four sections of road today that are emergency runways for the Air force. These stretches of road are wider than the standard and fairly smooth often with pull off areas for the planes. Why so many on this coast, are the Australian Military concerned about invasion from Antarctica? More likely civil war as Western Australia tries to break free from the rest of Australia. Apparently WA has had several referendums about becoming an independent nation and it has been a close run thing each time. Why else would so many runways be needed here so close to the border? Think about it, its obvious really, how can the eastern states not see it coming?
Crikie, I am struggling here, there must have been something else to mention, ummm, hmmm, no, not really. We stopped after about another 200km at a rest area to have a break and a cuppa, then continued to Mundrabilla Roadhouse for more fuel then stopped at the next roadhouse at Eucla. Chatted to a couple of different people who once again came up to talk about the bikes. One couple who have ridden there Triumph Bikes, a Cruiser and a Bonneville, from Perth to Cairns over a couple of months but are returning to Perth in a 4WD with the Bonneville in the back as she is pregnant, and they felt it was inappropriate to continue on their bikes. They seemed amazed at the mileage that we have done in the time we have been on the road, but seemed to understand when I got them to sit on my bike and see how comfortable it is. I would guess that the effort of riding over distance would be less than half on the fully faired BMW compared to the naked bikes they are riding.
Dinner in the roadhouse after a beer in the bar. Dad tried to strike up a conversation with the barmaid over tennis as Samantha Stosur an Australian Tennis player is cleaning up in the French open. She said she was not really interested in Tennis. Dad started to give a speal on Australian tennis success in the 1950s to 1960s but she walked off while he was mid sentence and started talking in a very animated way to a guy in at the end of the bar about Aussie Rules. She really wasn’t interested in Tennis then.
No comments:
Post a Comment