DAY 52 - QUORN SA

QUORN SA

DAY 52

MELROSE - QUORN

70.33 km

Total Time: 08.15 – 12.45 (4h 30m)

Time on Bike: 3h 39m 07s

Max. Speed: 42.6 km/h

Av. Speed: 19.2 km/h


One of the better rides in recent history, this morning.

A nice 10 km downhill run out of Melrose opened the account and things really didn’t deteriorate from here.

The rain has mostly cleared, though there may or may not be some more during the week.

Melrose is traditionally one of South Australia’s coldest places so I’m not so concerned about what the temperature is doing.

Port Augusta is traditionally 4ºC or more warmer, so it will all work out.

I’ve taken an extra day to visit Quorn just for the sake of it.

It was easy enough to take Horrocks Pass straight into Port Augusta this morning but instead I’ve chosen the Pichi Richi Pass and will arrive tomorrow.

Quorn is very much a part of the landscape of the Flinders Ranges.

And now getting a taste of what lies further north, I’m tempted to keep going.

Trouble is, as incredibly beautiful as the Flinders may be, it isn’t long before the roads begin to feralise and this is not good news.

With the luxury of an appropriate vehicle or as a quite well prepared cycle tour, there is no doubt the Flinders is one of Australia’s more unique and exotic locations.

Underrated too, I daresay as the tourist sheep flock to the “Outback” of the Northern Territory and elsewhere.

Unfortunately this time around, I’m not prepared to go triking for great distances along unsealed roads and this is the deal when travelling the Flinders.

Personally, I would prefer taking this as an entirely separate trip and do it properly.

For an Aussie Outback experience, there seems little value in choosing the drudgery and distance of the Nullabor or the commercial rort of Uluru over this particular part of world…..

Enough said and I will begin travelling around the Eyre Peninsula shortly.

Heading south of Port Augusta, this part of the journey will commence.

I am looking forward to it greatly as this is the first coastal travelling I have done so far.

The round trip return to Port Augusta should take around 3 weeks – 2 along the coast and 1 of semi-arid riding back along the Eyre Highway to PA.

I also have some feelings that this section of the trip will be a photography bonanza.

Now I will say no more, or else it may rain mercilessly for the next month…..