Day 12 on the Birdsville Track ... Still

We all elected to do an early departure strategy again, with Ric waking us up at 5:15am so that we can see the sun rising as we are ride along the Birdsville track. This morning there were some clouds in the sky, so we had a very impressive display with vivid reds and oranges.

We all love the first couple of hours riding, with generally low winds and the great light.

We cycled 93km today along a challenging track with the day progressively getting hotter (it is a desert after all!) We had a head wind for most of day.

Many sections of the track today were in very poor shape after the rains, and we had a large section of water that we needed to cycle through. Dom was in the lead and headed off into the 50 meters of water at a depth of about 30cm. I think he was expecting us to follow him through, but we all stopped to see what was going to happen.

Dom made it, and then the other lemmings made it through too.

At one stage Pete looked back and saw Ric and Dom being chased by 60 head of cattle, yelling "don't stop, keep cycling". After the cattle passed us, Andrew chased them down the road. Pete and Dom commented that he is likely to bowled over by the cattle, perhaps Andrew has some kelpie in him?

Ric found his mojo again on the bike, and he headed off for a 6 km run in the late afternoon while Pete Andrew and Dom took it easy in the shade set up by Alan.

We have 53km tomorrow into Birdsville and a rest day which we are looking forward to. The Birdsville Track has certainly been a challenge.

Alan and Julie again found some shade and another great camping site in the Simpson desert. Just amazing to see the desert lights and experience how inhospitable the desert landscape is. The thorns have been a real challenge for legs and tires. The flies became a real menace today both on the bikes and at the camp site.

Alan and Julie left to go to Birdsville this afternoon to get Alan's hand looked at at the medical centre. When collecting firewood Alan had cut his hand a few days ago, and it has become infected. It was a little eerie to be left in the Simpson desert under a shade tarp. The cyclists were wondering if they should muck up while "the adults" had left on an errand.

All went well at the medical centre, with antibiotics and the instruction not to have any alcohol. Alan brought back some XXXX beer which was shared with parched cyclists. Alan had good news that he has been invited to participate in the "Sculptures by the Sea" in Bondi with a series of life size zebras.

The boys are planning to have bacon, eggs and beer at 9:00 am tomorrow morning when we (hopefully) arrive in Birdsville.