Legs and Feets

Galena Campground, 15 April 24

Ride from Kalbarri to Galena Campground 51 miles. From Weather Underground history temperatures high 87, Wind 10-25 mph E to SWS. Rode up 354 to NW Coastal Highway. Moderate traffic.

The Red Bluff Bakery and Cafe opened at 4:00 A.M. and we decided to show up for breakfast.

Heading east we enjoyed the roadside vegetation in the Kalbarri National Park. The Banksia was starting to bloom and provided us with some beautiful red, orange and pink color.

Banksia blooms from the bottom of the floret. The upper floret has yet to bloom.

Banksia has many flowers per floret but only a few actually have seeds.

This Banksia floret has few seeds. The dark brown bumps are the viable seeds.

We had purchased extra sandwiches at the bakery and for lunch we found a pullout with some shade. It was very hot and the flies were very thick but hunger and wanting a break we stopped.

Lunch break. Laying down under the limited shade seen in the foreground.

When we made arrived at the junction of the NW Coastal Highway we looked for some shade to crawl under. There was none to be found. Up the road a short way we found a stock water tank to lay behind. After two hours of rest it was getting a little cooler. The tank was full so we wet our hoods to cool us off before heading out. The water was too salty to drink so we did not fill our water bottles.

Riding down the road we came to the Galina Campground located on the Murchison River. The river did not appear to be flowing but we did pull water out of the river to boil. One taste and we figured it was too salty to drink but we did use the water to cook dinner.

Arriving at the Galina Campground we pulled our packs and set up camp.

We took stock and of our drinks and found we had 9 1/2 liters of drinking liquid. Enough to be worried but adequate to make it to the next camp. We decided to get up early and on the road at 5:00 A.M. and enjoy an extra hour of cooler temperatures

Overlander Roadhouse, 17 Apr 24

Billabong Roadhouse to Outlander Roadhouse 30 miles. The following weather information from Weather Underground in Kalbarri. Temperature 100, Winds 5 to 26 mph E. Traffic was mostly light and everyone was respectful.

The Billabong Roadhouse opens at 6:00. Going to breakfast Legs had the typical eggs, sausage and toast while Feets had sushi. Well maybe not a typical breakfast but Feets did not have eggs, milk, tomatoes, potatoes, or cheese.

What a breakfast. At least we did not need to eat granola.

We did pull off the road twice once while big trucks were passing and one time while we were climbing a hill and the passing truck could not see over the top for oncoming traffic.

It was cloudy up north and after a short time lightning started flashing. We caught up to the shadow of the thunderstorm and noticed the storm was dropping rain. We did not catch the rain but noticed puddles on the road.

This was a short day arriving at Overland Roadhouse at 11:00. Ordering a room, eating lunch and reading books on our phones we waiting until 2:00 to take possession of the room.

Sitting at Overlander waiting for our room and protecting ourselves from flies.

Billabong Roadhouse 16 Apr 24

Galena Campground to Billabong Roadhouse 83 miles, From Weather Underground history Kalbarri since we could not get local weather. temperatures 95, Wind 5-25 E to SWS. Morning sun and afternoon intermittmit cloud cover.

Leaving Galena Campground at 5:45 we had another hour ride before the sun came up. It was really dark without the moon but a neighboring trailer had a motion sensor light and we used it. Before leaving we agreed that we would pull off the road if a vehicle was coming. Fortunately traffic was light and we only pulled off the road twice.

This must be something kangaroos do here.

We rode past a parking area with what looked like two water tanks. Pulling off the road we found one of these tanks empty but the other had water. We filled up both our empty 2 liter water bottles and had a granola bar for a snack.

The Government built several rain collection tanks along the road. This is the last set of tanks remaining. We filled up 4 liters of water.

Another hour on the road and we passed a camper switching drivers. These young Italian people had two year working visa and they were moving to a new town for more restaurant work. After taking about Italy, their travels, Saphira and where we were all headed. They filled our drinking bottles and we parted with a wave. With this water we were set for a long dry ride thank goodness.

At 11:00 A.M. we pulled off the road at a campground with toilet facilities. It was getting hot and the wind had changed to a nasty side wind. Clouds were approaching from the west. We decided to take a break that turned into a three hour lunch break. A German traveler came over and handed us two apples and we talked about all of our travels around the world. He stated years ago he had ridden a bike from Broom to Darwin.

Too hot to ride so we found a pull out and took three hours rest.

As we left the campground the clouds were giving us intermittent shade. Since it was close to 3:00 the temperatures were getting cooler and since the clouds caught up with us the front was no longer producing strong winds.

Pulling into the Billabong Roadhouse at 5:00 we found two separate motels both full. One invited us to pop a tent in the back parking lot and use their free showers.

Finely with all rooms rented we set up a tent behind the roadhouse.

Overlander Roadhouse 2, 18 Apr 24

Hamelin Pool to Overlander Roadhouse 21 miles, Weather Underground history based on Kalbarri. Temperature high 100 Wind 10 to 25 NEN. Just a return ride.

It was light enough to see at 6:30 and time to leave. The 5 km to road 353 had a stiff side wind from the west so heading west on 353 we enjoyed a stiff headwind. We did see a bird the size of a wren with spectacular irrodecent?? blue feathers, sorry no photos. Besides birds we saw no other animals.

Arriving at Overlander Roadhouse we ordered up a room and by 10:00 it had been cleaned and the desk folks allowed us to move in.