Thursday 30th December 2010 – Ride statistcs:

Broken Hill - Cobar
Distance: 445.3km
Depart: 10.00am
Arrive: 5.00pm
Total ride duration: 7 hours
Temperature: 40.7C (at Wilcannia road house)

This morning, in the hostel, I met another couple who were on a bike. I told them about the problems I was having with my accelerator hand and he showed me this device he had called a Cramp Buster. It has a round bit which clips onto the accelerator and a bit that sticks out that your wrist rests on. I could tell immediately that this would help me tremendously so I whizzed over to the bike shop and got one for myself. What a difference it makes – you can rest your wrist on it which holds the revs constant while the rest of your hand can have a rest!

After my experience with the fuel yesterday and a warning from Sam that my fuel tank would not take me all the way to Bourke today, the second thing I did was buy a self-venting fuel carrier and filled it with fuel! It took me till 2pm to ride the 191km to Wilcannia (which included 1 hour for a belated brekky at the Little Topar road house). When I found myself gasping for breath whilst talking to some people at Wilcannia, I realised I was really overheating so went to the Ladies and plunged my head (and everything else I could fit) under the tap. By the time I came back out I was a mess but at least I could speak again. And just as well, as a couple of very attractive bikers (Glen & John) happened to ride up at this point and proceeded to dowse themselves in water too. After the usual exchange of travel plans, they asked if I would like to ride with them to Cobar. God, I could have kissed them (in fact I did later on!). So I followed them 200 of the 260km to Cobar (I had to stop 60km before we got there to use my emergency fuel tank to fill up). Luckily they were waiting for me at Cobar so I was able to thank them profusely for escorting me – its so hot and deserted I’d never have made it without them (or my Cramp Buster and my fuel reserve). Did I mention they were riding on to SYDNEY!!! that night! God these guys are hardcore.

Needless to say, I didn’t make it to Bourke today. I knew I wouldn’t after yesterday’s ride. So its off to Bourke tomorrow and hopefully on to Barringun, just over the Queensland border.