Day 4 of Mawson Trail - Can we fix it? Yes we can !

Saturday 17 October
Distance:  42 km
Elevation gain:  509 metres
From the town to Clare to the town of Burra
About 3 hrs elapsed from 12pm to 3pm.

Quite a lot going on today.  Mel and I were up early and left Hawker a bit after 6am.  Our first stop was Clare where I would purchase spares and repair my bike so that I could keep riding the Mawson Trail.  We made good time on the highway - initially keeping to about 80km/hr due to the worry of kangaroos and emus on the road at dawn.  A ute caught and overtook us about 5km out of Hawker, so we decided to speed up and follow them at a respectable distance and rely on their bullbar to keep any wildlife at bay.  The ute took the RM Williams highway towards Clare so we had the protection we needed until the sun was up.  Not that it helped all the time.  There was one kangaroo on the side of the road that decided to hop down the middle of the road as we got close.  We followed the kangaroo for about 100 m and beeped the horn to no avail.  Finally it decided to hop off the road and we could get past.  

The first stop in Clare was to visit the local bike shop - Brake & Chain Cycles.  I bought 2 new tyres and 4 tubes - new rubber all round.  Also a new bike pump as I think my pump got worn out pumping up all the tyres yesterday.  Better to have two pumps.  Mel and I had a final brunch together before she had to hit the road and get to the Adelaide Airport.  She left me in Clare with my broken bike and the gear I'll need for the next week (clothes, food, etc.).  I decided that I won't be camping so Mel took the tent, stove, sleeping bag and sleeping mat back to Brisbane, lightening my load.

So, by 10am, I was alone in Clare with my broken bike.  I got to work in the carpark behind the bike shop.  All the old rubber was removed and tossed in the bin.  The new tyres and tubes were fitted and I took both wheels back into the bike shop to get the tyres pumped up with their air compressor.  I was done using a tiny hand pump to inflate those big 29" tyres.

Then there was the obligatory "fissing and fussing" to get all my gear packed correctly into the panniers, and after a quick change I was ready to literally "get back on the bike". My anxiety was sky high as I pedaled out of Clare; my destination was the town of Burra, the next town along the Mawson Trail just 42km away. 

My eyes constantly scanned the trail ahead for 3 corner jacks.  It was pointless but I did it anyway.  I relaxed as the ride continued and had a lovely breeze (=strong headwind) all the way to Burra.  Not much wildlife but lots of fertile fields and pastures with wineries, wheat, other crops, sheep and cattle all the way to Burra.

Along the way I crossed paths with a fellow Mawson Trail rider. The first rider I have met on this trip. He also started in Blinman like me, but he had cycled all the way (unlike me).  We traded stories about the trail and he had some really bad luck with breakages, flat tyres, and being stuck in remote places trying to make repairs.  It made my 4 flat tyres from yesterday seem like a small speed bump.  The lesson from me is that the Mawson Trail is a serious challenge. Especially the northern end, where the trail is very rough and remote.  There are so many factors outside your control that can ruin your ride - rain turns red dust tracks into unrideable mud, rock garden trails can roll tyres off rims, and if that doesn't stop you the 3 corner jacks might.  It reinforced my decision to focus on the more achievable segments near Adelaide.  I hope I can make it.

Anyway, I kept pushing into the wind and arrived in Burra.  My main emotion was a massive sense of relief.  I checked-in to the local motel and relaxed.    

Today’s theme song is by Sia - Elastic Heart

I've got thick skin and an elastic heart

But your blade it might be too sharp

I'm like a rubber band until you pull too hard

I don't want to let those 3 corner jacks with their sharp blades break me!!!  But I will admit they have done a real number on me.  

At noon I was ready to hit the trail.  All packed in Clare.

Earlier in the day, repairing my bike in the carpark.  Funny story - One of the regular customers of the bike store liked my TISM t-shirt.  He said that he had a bit of 'tism and thought I was raising awareness of autism. The bike shop owner corrected him that TISM is a band.  Either way, it's a good shirt, great band and a conversation starter about autism.

 

The trail today - and weather - were both fantastic.   In the distance you can see the Camel Humps range that was my major climb today. 

In Burra for the night.  You can see the rear panniers are loaded but only water bottles on the front forks.  No tent or camping gear.