day 118,119 & 120

Day 118 was the day i left the Carnavon Gateway Hotel and proceeded to I.G.A (8 o'clock open ) for a food supply stock up and then off to Wooramel R/H some 120kms away. After reaching there and still having a bit of time and energy left in me i decided to pedal till i had enough and camp where ever. About 15 km out, a car stopped on the other side of the road and  a guy got out and waved me over to come to his car and i thought, here we go. But all was good, it was Leon and his clan offering me oranges and a cold drink. Even tried to give me some sap ,or lollie as he called it but Tina said that it would give me the shits if your not used to it. (could of done with it a few days before) Leon was expressing how much he admired me riding a push bike around and just was overwhelmed with it all. Leon Galby and his Partner Tara are from the Wooramel/Carnavon area along with Tara's sister in law Tina. I rode off thinking ,now theres a bunch of guys who are living life and getting on with it.

Tara with big Leon and the kids with me on the end..

Tina posing with me.

Kept going a little while longer and came across a scenic lookout rest stop, so that will do me for the night i thought. Rode up and camped next to a nice Dutch couple camping out of there car, Kirsten and Rutger. Both 29yrs old and have been in Australia for 18 months travelling and said that there favourite spot was  Kakadu because it was like a summary of Australia all in one spot. They only have one week to go and there off back home. Very pleasant to talk to and to spend some time with.

Rutger and his darling Kirsten.

Me standing on the hill lookout

Also on the scenic hill was a gathering of gnomes with names written on them representing peoples spirits who had died over the years and placed to look out over the  view.

Back view of the guys looking over toward Shark Bay.

Happy buggers.

DAY 119 started with packing up my tent and saying goodbye to the Dutch couple and heading to the Overlander R/H. On my way though i was stopped by Laurel and Brian who i had met the day before at  Wooramel R/H and they gave me a frozen pasta dinner and invited me into there mobile home for a cold orange juice. Brian is 84 and Laurel is 80 but both in good health. Brian used to run marathons and i think was right up there with the big boys after listening to him. He was genuinely impressed with my bike ride which i was happy to hear  coming from him. Great people, and to be getting around like that together all the way from Victoria is fantastic.

Brian and Laurel beside there motor home

Continued onto the Overlander R/H and then onto the Billabong R/H. Still with time and energy did another 45kms into the dark to a 24hr rest area and set up my tent and had that beautiful pasta dish Laurel gave me and then retired to bed.
Day 120 was going to be a  long ride to Binnu R/H and off i went excited as i knew Dean, my plumbing mate was going to be on the road driving to Shark Bay and we would be catching up with each other somewhere. Sure enough there he was with his best mate , Flavio driving and Deano asleep.

Deano on the left who was supposed to be keeping an eye out  for me , has just woken from a deep sleep.

Flavio , Deans personal driver posing for the blog and me too.

Next port of call, Binnu R/H. And typical when i get there their shut (Sunday)so i have to keep going to Northampton other wise i will have to ration the five pieces of bread i have left for the whole afternoon and night before they open in the morning. Another 37kms on and i finally find humans and buildings which accommodate people. So i booked myself in to the so called Motel here and it started to pour down with rain Had my standard counter meal and was told by the cook after ordering soup ,steak and sticky date pudding i have a big appetite. I wonder why i thought.
Well for your information everybody, i have 477 kms to go and 6.5 days to do it in which equates to 73.3kms per day.Nice to have only that to do as bad weather is on its way. I also have swollen leg at the bottom of my shin (left) above the foot which has come out of nowhere. Maybe it  could of been a spider bite.Voltaren cream doesn't do anything. But don't worry the 19th is the day and i will now let you know the programme
1. Meet at the Sorrento car park 12.45pm for stretching and warm up lead by Doc and Jackie in Lycra.
2. I arrive with Yern 12.55pm and exchange handshakes, hugs and tears of JOY.
3.  1pm we take off at a pace Grace can manage and smile at everybody as though we are enjoying it.
4.  We arrive at Pearl Headquarters around 6pm, no make that 2.30pm and collapse on the back lawn as though it hurt.
5. We exchange more handshakes and hugs with the bastards who didn't ride and listen to them pump my tyres up and hear all the excuses why they couldn't ride ,enough by 4pm
6.  Presentation of awards,such as best Blogger and best Host on the trip plus special mention of the sponsors..5MIN (Bruce ,Linds, Cyclops, Jackie ,Doc ,Frz ,Jono etc etc ,I wonder!!!
7.  Speeches by myself and anybody else who likes the sound of there own voice.55min
8. Wrapped up by 5pm and everybody out ,because Pearl and i are going to bed for a 12 hour spooning and squeezing session:-)

Don't forget everybody and anybody is invited to the cycling extravaganza and welcome back for a coffee and one biscuit. Lets make Jim proud one more time.

I'm finally flying with the Eagles.

This  Govt thinks of everything, even roadside power stations.

With the wild flowers blooming we shall now call the North West Coastal Highway the "Jim Kelly Memorial Drive.'

Bye for now,
Grant