Despite last night's plagues including train horn blasts, a barking dog, and the much too loud conversation of two German-speaking girls, I wake up refreshed and ready for my first full day of riding following my Adelaide intermission.
Except my tent and fly are soaked in dew.
And it looks like it's going to rain.
And it's starting to rain.
And now it's raining.
Sigh.
During yesterday's ride, I detoured from the main highway (A1), and am now thankfully on a road with little traffic. This is good because the road has no paved shoulder.
Today's ride, yet another day filled with flies (I hope this has an end), drizzle, and brutal headwind, leads me into Snowtown.
And what's Snowtown famous for?
The Snowtown murders (aka the bodies in the barrels murders).
And also (maybe? but probably not), The Big Blade.
Now, I've already discussed Australia's proud tradition of building big versions of traditionally not-so-big things, but I don't know that this particular roadside attraction fits in with the rest.
I don't know what I was expecting when I saw the sign pointing me towards “The Big Blade” (a sword? a knife? a knife-sword?), but I certainly wasn't expecting what it was: a “big” wind turbine blade.
Yes, I know what you're thinking, “Wait. Aren't wind turbine blades pretty big to begin with?” And the answer to your question is yes, yes they are.
I thought the same thing, and when first approaching I thought to myself, “No way is that a giant wind turbine blade.”
So I decided it was a sword.
However, upon further inspection (and careful analysis of the nearby informational panels explaining the ins and outs of wind turbines), I had no choice but to accept that this was a wind turbine blade.
Tonight I am camping in what appears to be a closed caravan park (either that or they're doing some serious renovations).
I'm alone here, but there's running water and some functioning outlets, so I'm satisfied.
Best of all it appears that nobody will be coming around to take my money.
Free camping is good camping.
- START: Mallala, South Australia
- END: Snowtown, South Australia
- DAY'S DISTANCE: 55.75 mi / 89.7 km
- TOTAL DISTANCE: 598.49 mi / 962.94 km
Hi Mac. Is the Canning Stock Route on your tour?
It is not. Should it be?
The Canning Stock Route is for the path less traveled cyclist or walker. Only one or two succeed each year. Many more abort. You need to borrow a fatbike as it is a journey into sand. I walked it alone in 2013 – 66 days. Cyclists take about a month to do the crossing. Love that part of the world.