Day 54 – Wed, 1 Sep to Exmouth

As well as today’s post I have also posted day’s 52 & 53 so check those out first.

This morning was a little cooler to the past days, well actually weeks. The past few days reached 37C and as I had not showered for 2 days, last night’s shower was wonderful. Today I headed out and it was only 20C and it would only reach the mid-20C’s, so exceptionally comfortable riding weather.

The night in the donga, the pain relief tablets and the rest (not having to crawl in and out of a tent) all did wonders for my knee. It is still a little stiff but feeling really good again,  back to almost where it was before my back flop of a couple of nights ago in the wilds on the Pilbara.

I headed out from the Roadhouse and continued S. What a wonderful day’s riding. I usually don’t put music on so early (if at all), but this morning I just felt like something light and easy. I have a range of genre on the GPS MP3 player and I selected some old Seekers music. Yeah I know not to the taste of you young ones, well I guess anyone post date my generation, but hey I enjoy it.

Well the second song up was “I am Australian,” well how appropriate was this song. The music, its theme and references to this great country that is Australia, well I got all emotional. Yeah I know us “macho bikers” shouldn’t get all emotional, but that is how I felt. Especially when it referred to the “rock, the sky and the rivers when they run” all so to the point given my experiences over the past 2 months – yep 2 months tomorrow since I left home.

As I road I started to see some of the wild flowers that the West is renowned for, I hope that I see more as I head further S, especially as Spring is now upon us. I headed S, then W and eventually N to Exmouth. In all 300+km today and reached the most W town of Australia (well I think it is, it sure looks that way on the map). I rode as far N as I could up the peninsula, where I hit the restricted area of the Naval Comms Base at the tip of the Exmouth Gulf.

On the way up the Exmouth Rd it runs parallel to the Exmouth Gulf and I stopped at one memorial spot  – I just happened to see it on a small sign about 30km S of Exmouth. It was a memorial to the Z-Force (a special operations force) of WWII. The Memorial was to the men who set off in the MV Krait from that exact point to sneak into Singapore Harbour and destroy some 37,000 tonnes of Japanese shipping. What made it all the more significant was that today was the eve of the actual date they departed on their successful mission – 2 Sep 1943.

I saw my first sheep for the whole trip (well for I don’t know how long) grazing on the sides of the road heading towards Exmouth. The old Wool Pathway that you can follow from as far S as Geraldton to Exmouth in the N is clearly signed, but this travels on some of the current roads but also through some wilderness areas to the S.

I am staying in the Potshot Hotel Resort that also includes a backpackers section – that will do me. Fantastic facilities, my own room with en-suite and the bike at the door. All within walking distance to the shops that supplied me with a great steak, fresh vegetables and dessert for dinner which I prepared in the communal kitchen. What more could you ask – well I am writing tonight’s post in the beer garden with a cold ale. Stay safe out there.

Oh, I also saw a few emus, and in fact Exmouth still have wild emus grazing down the main road into town – sorry in town - saw one today to my total amazement.