My left knee has improved dramatically from the accident 4 weeks ago, but it still has a weakness. It is okay in a walking plane, but any twist or jolt and it is suspect. Well last night I gave it one such jolt. I have been dismounting from the bike on the RHS (the higher side) to favour the left knee.
Well last night I dismounted on the LHS and as there is so much gear on the bike I needed to hop sideways. Well the knee gave way and I finished flat on my back on the ground. As a result it has been uncomfortable all last night and today. I am back on pain killers for a few days, and more massaging. It will settle, but I guess I’ll need to get it looked at when I get home.
As a consequence I didn’t do much walking this morning so I looked at the Dales Gorge and Fortescue Falls and headed out. I also paid a visit to the Karajini Visitor Centre – this alone was worth the detour to the NP.
An exceptionally designed building, made completely from steel moulded to fit the landscape and symbolise the past, present and future. The steel is natural so it has turned a rust colour, which perfectly matches the surrounding Pilbara landscape. The Centre had a fantastic display of local materials and information. I think I spent over an hour just reading and looking at the display.
So although I couldn’t walk comfortably, I could ride. This was appropriate as I felt like putting some km under the belt and head further W. The Hamersley Range is just stunning and I crossed and ran through this most of the day. 
The environment was consistent with yesterday, predominantly mulga scrub, very little Spinifex and lots of stone.
I arrived mid morning at the mining town of Tom Price. Water is not in short supply here because the place is green – the homes, and public space are covered in grass and it was such a stark contrast to what I had been travelling through. The Rio Tinto iron ore mine is just outside town which really had a nice feel to the place.
About 85km further SW was the town of Paraburdoo, where I filled the tank and had lunch. Again a mining town but not as large as Tom Price. I had heard of these two towns with such wonderful names and now I have seen them – even if it was only in passing.
In both these towns were what could only be described as outdoor cinemas, like a drive-in cinema but rather than space for cars, there were plastic chairs arranged to view the screen.
So I carried on for 470km today and on hitting the North West Coastal Hwy (Hwy 1) I turned S for only 5 km where I am now residing for the night in a donga. I thought that I would have a proper bed for the night and see whether the rest and recovery helps my knee.
Oh, by the way the knee will not stop my forward progress of this motorbike adventure, around this absolutely fabulous country of ours – it is so massive and inspiring, if you have seen it then you will understand, if not just get out in it at some stage in your life and feel the experience.
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