Pete's Coober Pedy ss1600k
Blackwood to Coober Pedy and Return
Time: 0150hrs to 2033hrs or 18 hrs and 43 minutes
Total Distance: 1726km by Google Maps
Overall Average: 92km/h
I left home in the southern suburbs at 0140hrs and headed up the street to the local 24 hours servo for a fill and start docket. My route needed to take me south to north across metro Adelaide. I crossed town in under 25 minutes and cleared every traffic light on the way, which I have never done before. It was seriously cold, with temp of 0-4 degrees for almost 400km and I was considering my sanity, as I was belting along in the dark, surrounded by a wet fog and thinking of the warm bed that I had given up. Despite thermals and various other layers, OzSTOC jackt and totally waterproof overjacket, and Hoteeze in my boots, the cold was seeping in to my body. However with my Venture heated gloves and heated grips, my hands were very snug indeed. When I stopped for a rather urgent roadside wee at Warnertown, I nearly couldn't find the little boy, who was hiding under all the layers and determined not to make an appearance.
My first stop was pre-dawn Port Augusta and I filled with fuel at the 24 hour Shell on the way into town, had a quick guzzle of water and a mueslei bar, and rode on into the cold and dark beyond. My wide beam Dualy spotties were great and provided a great flood of light. It was full moon, but the fog and cloud had it's face well hidden. The fog cleared well north of Port Augusta and it was lovely to see the orange glow in the east as the sky gently lightened and the warming sun eventually peeped above the horizon. I considered stopping for a photo, with the ST in silhouette against the dawn sky, and regret not making that stop for a classic Long Distance Riding photo.
By now I was in the groove, easily punching through the kilometers and maintaining a good steady speed. A cruise control would be a great addition to the bike for trips such as this. It's a great route for a Long Distance ride, as the road is good and there are few almost no towns, and the speed limit is 110km/h. A quick fuel up at Glendambo and in what seemed to be no time Coober Pedy was in my sights before lunch. Coffee, snack, fuel, rest, photos, and turn around docket and I was off again. The return trip always seems downhill and easier. It was a wonderful day for riding, with slight overcast conditions, not much wind, and temps around 15 degrees.
The “desert” landscape was green after the recent rain, the claypans and lakes, such at Lake Hart were all full of water. I had one quite close encounter with a Wedgetail on a road kill just around a corner and thought I caught the near miss on my video camera, but missed getting him on film. I did get him on video and have found the frame, which I've attached. I only saw one live kangaroo on the whole trip, and half a dozen emus.
I was chatted by some police at Port Augusta, who thought I was a nutter, and warned me not to drop off to sleep and become a statistic. After Port Augusta I was still feeling bright and strong and was starting to think that I could have a sleep at home, get up early and knock off another 800km somewhere before 1350hrs Saturday for a 2500k in 36 hrs. That thought soon left me, as darkness and cold descended upon me, and the weariness from the long day started to catch up.
As I pulled into the Shell at Port Wakefield a red ST1300 with Richo on board pulled in the up beside me. He had been watching my progress, and decided to ride to Port Wakefield to meet me. What a lovely gesture, and one that I really, really appreciated, as I was feeling quite knackered and the body aches were setting in. I had a restorative coffee and a snack, and when we left, Richo took the lead and escorted me back to Adelaide, which made the last leg much easier.
I was home by 8.45 pm, and will compile my paperwork for IBA today. There aren't many photos, as I was on a mission, but here's a few, including a lovely shadow on the road frame grab from a video. Most of my short videos were crap as the dash cam was shooting through a wet and dirty screen.
I wouldn't be dead for quids, love my riding, and thanks for all the encouragement and interest.
