New Year's Resolution

[Digger]

Hello Snowflakes,


Update - Mawson Trail - End of Day 6.
I continue heading southwards and I stick to the Trail when it suits me. Sometimes I go off track and will stick to arterial roads when it is impractical to stay on the Trail. I have made good time over the last couple of days by putting in bigger than expected distances. I am effectively two days ahead of schedule. It’s time to pin it back a bit. Tomorrow I may have to make some changes to the Trail due to some local hazards and conditions.
Distance covered to date; 380.3km.
See captions below.




The stretch from Wilpena to Hawker via Rawsley Station had some steep bits…so steep that it indicated that most Riders will be walking up. I would’ve had no chance so I decided to bypass that section.




The said ‘steep section’.



I continued on down the Highway.



Sometimes you gotta act like you own the place. As long as I don’t interfere with others, I’ll charge it anywhere I can. This region does not have a lot of tourist traffic at the moment…getting hot.




I was warned about the locals nicking my food if I left it out. I always make sure everything is stowed away after dark; in particular my footwear. Dingoes and the like enjoy eating leather…it’s like beef jerky to them.




I bought a series of 9 maps outlining the trail…expensive but helpful when doing initial planning for the trip.




There is a $20 App which has been my ‘go to’ for all and any info needed for the Trail. Very extensive and a useful tool. The maps are a backup in case the technology fails (flat battery or similar). Call me old school if you like.

See you on the other side!

[Digger]

Hello Slackers,

Update - Mawson Trail - End of Day 9

Toughest day so far today (Friday). Blistering temperatures (40+), steep hills and no respite from the sun. Towns and resupply have been haphazard till now but as I continue further south, towns are becoming larger, more frequent, with more options for accomodation and better chances of mixing up the diet.

Distance cycled to date: 577km.

See captions below.



Parts of the Trail are a no go zone during winter…the clay type surface clogs wheels to the point where you have to remove the wheel to clear it. Thankfully, I am here during late Autumn and it’s dry (as a bone!).




No respite from the sun…no shade anywhere while riding thru farmland.



Farmland for as far as the eye can see.




I left the Trail and headed for Jamestown to avoid an area renowned for causing punctures by Three Cornered Jacks (a very nasty prickle).




The Three Cornered Jacks…at their most feared during Summer.




Jamestown, the birthplace of RM Williams.




The abandoned Hallett Train Station…now accessible for walkers (Heysen Track) and cyclists (Mawson Trail).






Inside the Station with bunks for 6.


Inside the Station with bunks for 6.






Local communities support both Heysen Track and Mawson Trail users because they bring much needed revenue into the towns…this Community evens provides a wash down bay for muddied bikes.




I stayed at the Hallett Sports Oval ($10 with access to toilets and shower). The Oval hasn’t seen a lot of action for many years. This is the score board. Scores are Nil all!





Black Jacks Cabin. Another hut for shared use by cyclist or walkers on the Trail.




Enough bunks to sleep up to 6 people






Went past Burra Lodge. The thing that makes this old abandoned house famous is that it was the Album Cover of Midnight Oil’s Diesel and Dust Album from 1987.





The Album cover.

InReach Link is here;

https://share.garmin.com/YZW3R

[Digger]

Hello Slackers,

Update - Mawson Trail - End of Day 13.

On the final stretch now and should be in Adelaide on Friday with a view of flying back to Perth on Sunday. I was ahead of schedule and can now take it very easy for the remainder of this journey. Thankfully the vegetation and landscape is becoming a little more varied because endless days of rolling terrain and farmland were beginning to take their toll.
Distance travelled to date : 769km.

See you on the other side.

See captions below.



The Mawson Trail does not travel in a straight line and this section was suppose to be excellent riding according to some literature. This day was one of the worst I have ever experienced in the Saddle. Hot, steep climbs, no respite, 40 degree temps…a real ball breaker. I was ready to throw it in. The next day made up for it.




Got to Clare in time for the Remembrance Day Service and then found a power source in some back alley. Gave the Battery a bit of a boost for two hours and then headed for Riverton.




The Riesling Rail Trail from Clare to Auburn. Flat, wide, quick, and slightly downhill…made great time. Unfortunately, the Rail Trail was formed as a legacy of the 1983 Ash Wednesday fires when half of SA was on fire. A lot of the infrastructure for the Rail was destroyed and never rebuilt.




The view from my Office window that day.



The Rattler Rail Trail from Auburn to Riverton. This was a great morale booster (much needed) from the previous days riding.



Kapunda, its existence was due to the discovery of Copper. Statue of MAP KERNOW (translate to Son of Cornwall) at the Towns entrance. It appears that the Miners from Cornwall in the UK were specialist when it came to Copper Mining. I would’ve thought that Mining is Mining, no matter the material.

InReach Link is here;

https://share.garmin.com/YZW3R

[Digger]

Hello Slackers,

Update - Mawson Trail - End of Journey

I made it.

The last day on the Trail was the most interesting when I arrived at a town (Lobethal) expecting to find accomodation. There is nothing in town…no Pub rooms, no Air BNB’s, no BNB’s, no Motels, nothing. I wasn’t expecting that. The 30km day ended up being a 70km day as I ended up riding to Adelaide. There are some really STEEP descents as you go thru the Adelaide Hills. Spending a couple of days in Adelaide and return to Perth on Sunday.

Distance covered - 918km.

See you on the other side.

See captions below.


Steingarten Lookout. Overlooking the Barossa Valley. Tough and difficult climb to get here.



The view from the other side.


I deviated off the route and headed for Mt Pleasant…no camping facilities at Birdwood.



Have you got your fire plan in place? Hopefully, it will never come down to this!



One of my last challenges toward the Southern end of the Trail…disconnect the trailer and portage over the ramp seperate to the bike.




Trailer disassembled, cleaned and ready for packing up.




Thank goodness for these guys, Pack & Send. The major players (Aust Post, Toll, Ipec) didn’t want to know about it. These guys made it happen.



Battery packaged and ready to go. About $100 Adelaide to Perth. Should be there in about a week.

Back to work Slackers!

[ASTRO WA]

well done steve, a most interesting trip. i think you are correct in calling us "slackers" as we sit in our comfortable chair sharing your adventures.

[Digger]

Hello Slackers,

Now the pain really begins...

I have to view over 600 video files and give each one a Title. After that I can begin the editing process and start joining the dots.

First vid should be out just in time for Christmas.

Ho, Ho, Ho!

[Digger]

I love this place…

https://youtube.com/shorts/V5qv-n1nJzM? ... AeieSkSAQt

[Cookie]

Another great adventure and photos to prove it, keep up the amazing work.

[Digger]

Hello Slackers,

Come and join Ol’ Mate as he cycle tours the 900 km off road Mawson Trail stretching from Blinman in the Flinders Ranges to Adelaide, the Capital City of South Australia. This trip has it all…suspense, drama, heartache, misery and most of all; a sense of achievement.

Grab ya gear; Lets go!



See you on the other side!

[Digger]

C’mon folks…

Let’s get this Thread over 200,000 views before the year end.

Watch this space!

[ASTRO WA]

200,000 sounds like a memorable number

[Digger]

Hi Folks,
Come and join ol’ mate as he cycle tours the 900 km off road Mason Trail stretching from Blinman in the Flinders Ranges to Adelaide, the Capital City of South Australia. This trip has it all…suspense, drama, heartache, misery and most of all; a sense of achievement.

In this vid, ol’ mate continues heading south but needs to make some changes to the Route to allow for some really inhospitable terrain and to ensure he doesn’t become homeless and ends up sleeping rough. He gets his elbow patched up and also celebrates a birthday!

Next Vid out next Friday 29th.

Grab ya gear; Lets go!

[Digger]

200,000 views…
BOOM!
Thanks for all your support over the recent years. Have a great New Year and all the best for 2024.
Next vid out on 29th Dec.
Grab ya gear; Let’s go!
See you on the other side.

[Digger]

Hi Folks,
Come and join Ol’ Mate as he cycle tours the 900 km off road Mason Trail stretching from Blinman in the Flinders Ranges to Adelaide, the Capital City of South Australia. This trip has it all…suspense, drama, heartache, misery and most of all; a sense of achievement.

In this Episode, I bump into more people on the track in 5 hours then I’ve seen in 5 days! There is no respite as I cycle thru endless Farmland and encounter torturous hill climbs that even a Billy Goat would struggle in. The last night is spent in Hallett with a small group exchanging stories and experiences of cycle trips far and wide.

Grab ya gear; Lets go!

[Digger]

Hi Folks,

Come and join ol’ mate as he cycle tours the 900 km off road Mason Trail stretching from Blinman in the Flinders Ranges to Adelaide, the Capital City of South Australia. This trip has it all…suspense, drama, heartache, misery and most of all; a sense of achievement.

In this vid, ol’ mate experiences one of the worst days he has ever had on a bike…and this isn’t his first Rodeo. Blistering temperature, long distances, no respite and depleted energy levels make for a dangerous cocktail where anything could go wrong. The following day is one of his best and he quickly forgets about the misery that can be associated with Cycle Touring as he finally rolls into town to rest his weary bones!

Grab ya gear; Lets go!