NQ 2 NT Journal Entry
Day 10
Mt Garnet to Georgetown
By: Mark “Sharky” Smoothy
Daily statistics
Distance: 216km’s
Average speed: 28kmph
Total Ascent: 783metres
Air Temperature: 34 degrees
Humidity: 25%
Wind direction: South east,
Road kill count: Roo’s X 109, Pigs X 1, Hares X 4, Echidna X 1, Cows X 8, Fox X 1, Pheasant X 2, Dingo X 1, Toad X 1, Back half of a fish X 1 and unknowns X 2. All up quite a busy day but the majority of the kill was in the first 100km’s. As Schindler would have said, “we are entering the “Kill Zone.’ This is a reference to a zone where a mass animal slaughter has taken place.
Today’s leg to Georgetown was the longest of the entire trip and I awoke not looking forward to riding, let alone riding for up to nine hours. This is due to the fact that three of us are sick with a bronchial virus; both Scotty and I and my sister Kim have come down with it. Scotty is only minor and is not affecting his performance. Kim is dealing with it but feeling miserable and I am the worst affected with a distinct lack of energy and breathing is difficult. We began the day having decided that if I got worse we would pull up early at Mt Surprise, which is 120km’s into the ride. We planned to get away by 7am but I was a bit slow in getting ready and Kimmy rang the cowbell to send us on our way at 7:35a.m. Smiddy riders you will be pleased to know that Kevvy has lost his power whistle.
So we rolled out to a beautiful misty morning that was cool enough for me to wear a thermal under my cycling top, as well as my wind jacket. The first 70km’s we had the wind at our left side and I found the going quite tough. Our average speed was just 25kmph. Falcon was in his usual cruise mode and making light of the work. The Falcon is having a great tour so far with no real bad patches in 10 days of riding; he is certainly living up to his nickname as he truly does soar like a Falcon. Morning tea came at 72km’s and while we were eating by the side of the road a lady, by the name of Renata and originally from Germany pulled up and gave us a $10.00 donation. She said she knew what we were doing as she saw the story on Win TV on Tuesday night. Renata was a cancer survivor.
The next 50km’s into Mt Surprise was with a direct tailwind and our average for this particular piece of road was close on 35kmph. The road was flat and the pedalling was easy and for the first time in two days I was enjoying my cycling again. With regards to our road crew procedure it is not like what we do on the main Smiddy ride where Kevvy tail gates us the entire way. As we are only two riders there is no need for a follow vehicle, so Kevvy and Kim leap frog ahead 20km’s, pull up and wait for us. If we need food or water we just pull over where Kevvy has parked, if we need nothing we just cruise past with a wave of the hand. Today it was 20km’s after morning tea that we passed the two K’s (Kevvy and Kim); Kim was clearly asleep and Kevvy we thought was pretending to sleep.
Scotty and I ended up getting all the way into Mt Surprise and still no sign of our road crew.
Through a friend of mine we were told to drop into the local Police station and meet the only copper for the next 200km’s. So that is how we met Craig and Jane Hughes and their three children, who have been stationed here for the past 3 years. They kindly filled our water bottles and offered us a cup of tea. The two K’s pulled up a short time later, clearly relieved to have found their riders. It was agreed that from now on they would tag team when having a power nap. We ended up spending a good 40 minutes chatting away to Craig and Jane; the offer was there to sleep in the converted prisoners cell, but reluctantly we decided to continue on as the wind was still at our backs and my head and throat had cleared sufficiently for me to feel confident I could make the next 100km’s. We got a group photo before waving goodbye. Thank you Craig and Jane for your hospitality.
The last 100km’s was through some amazingly harsh but stunningly beautiful countryside. It is through this region that you can see where the name ‘The Savannah Way’ came from with the rolling hills and the wooded Savannah grass-lands. We had, what seemed to me anyway, an awful lot of uphill and it was with great relief when we crested the New Castle Range and the remaining 20km’s into Georgetown was mostly downhill. It had been a long day and we rolled into town right on 6p.m. Upon stopping I did not immediately fall asleep so I am hoping this is an indication that my health is improving.
Georgetown has a small population of just 254 people. It was established in 1870 to make way for the great gold rush. But by the early 1900’s the gold had done its dash and cattle grazing took over as the main industry to keep Georgetown afloat. It is also home to the multi award winning Terrestrial Ted Elliott Mineral Collection. This collection, which is the work of one man, Ted Elliott, contains over 4500 mineral specimens in a myriad of fascinating colours and shapes from this region and throughout the world.
Incredible acts of kindness today included Anna Burley from Frontier Services giving us full use of her work place, which has a house tacked onto the back, for us to spend the night. Frontier Services is run by the Presbyterian, Methodist and Congregational Churches and are the major provider of residential and community support throughout the vast Australian outback. Thank you so much Anna for trusting us with your great facilities, we had a very comfortable nights stay and thanks also for your shout of beers at the local pub.
I began this journal entry last night around 9pm but my eyes refused to concentrate enough to get the message of what I wanted to write through to my brain. In other words, I was tired. After a restless night’s sleep I awoke before sunrise and penned this remaining few hundred words. I am sitting on a verandah that has eastern views and the orange glow of a promising warm sun is just starting to make its presence felt. I wish I had the words to describe how beautiful a sight it is. Of course I see sun rises every day back home as I am always up before the day comes to life, but somehow they are different out here, bigger, more magnificent, blinding dazzling beauty. It is something you yearn to share with friends.
I would like to leave you with these words on my mate Adam. The beauty I am witnessing this morning, right at this very moment as I pen these very words, don’t come close to the beautiful nature of Adam’s personality. I have had some tough times these past two days and I like to think that he is doing his best to help me, with regards to the tailwinds and the cooler conditions thus far. I know once my health improves we will get hit with the hard stuff. For now he is looking after us.
Thanks and see you again soon.
If you are inspired enough to donate for either Scotty or I please follow these links.
Scott May
Mark Smoothy
Sharky.