Day 16 – Clare to Port Pirie 111 K / 69 Miles

I first spotted the crop duster as it made a high banking turn to our northeast, silhouetted in the morning sun. We were headed north out of Clare and it was working the vineyards to the east as we rode up the valley. The airplane reminded me of 3 separate occasions on our 2012 ride that we encountered crop dusters, Idaho, Western Illinois and Western Indiana.

We set a couple intermediate goals for the day. We anticipated numerous climbs and descents as we moved north and west toward the shore of the Spencer Gulf. Gladstone or Crystal Brook were options as was our ambitious goal of Port Pirie. Making Port Pirie would put us within a one-day ride of Port Augusta and the start of the Stuart Highway. The winds for the day tended out of the north and northeast. Our route was northwest. To some extent the wind was a wash as it both aided then deterred our progress. We found advantage on some long downhill and westerly runs into the small town of Yacka, then immediately realized the ferocity as our route took a northeast turn toward the town of Gulnare. Just past Gulnare our option to take the B64 to Crystal Brook was the obvious choice. We arrived in Crystal Brook in mid-afternoon and during lunch decide to press on an additional 30K to Port Pirie.

Deckland, David’s son, works as a pilot and supervisor at a sheep station in the outback, north and west of Port Augusta. Since it was a weekend Deckland and his girlfriend Melissa, decided to take the opportunity to fly down to meet us in Port Pirie. A rather short, 90 minute hop in Deckland’s airplane, the circuitous route by ground would have been a 5 hour drive. Deckland and Melissa were waiting for us in Port Pirie upon our arrival. We had the pleasure of sharing dinner this evening.

We were pleased with our progress today. Tomorrow we are contemplating a rest day as we would be riding into 35 mph wind with a strong possibility of rain on our way toward Port Augusta. Monday’s weather promises a bit less wind and no rain.