Thanks Bill. It’s nice to get the feedback.

One thing about the ride was that the roads (with a few exceptions such as the first three days) were rarely knee testing with climbs because the approx 8000 metres of ascents are mostly so gentle and spread over 4000km. On the other hand, the sheer distances (and winds) are knee testing.

The remarkable Jim McTaggart rode Adelaide to Sydney when he was 77 years old. He called in to visit us in Canberra on the way, and he looked fresh as a daisy.

I’m glad I’ve done the ride, but it’s not on my list of rides I’d highly recommend to anyone to any age because of the traffic dangers. There are plenty more rides in Australia and New Zealand I’d suggest before the one I’ve just finished.

Areas I’d happily go back to ride in would be The Eyre Peninsula, parts of The Riverina, and The Riverland of South Australia. The Nullarbor is amazing, but questionable as an on-road cycle touring destination. If I were to ride it again, I’d prefer to have a bike /tyres/wheels with more off road capability. Such a set up would be helpful for using side tracks and verges more often to avoid the stress of dodging big trucks.

As always, I have really enjoyed following along. Your journal helps alleviate the craving to ride Oz myself. At 75 with failing knees, it will never happen for me, but your nature shots are outstanding and help fill the void. I appreciate the ID info too.

Looking forward to your next ride, wherever that may be.

Thanks Victa. I’m happy with the photos, but I was so busy / tired riding 6-8 hours day, I didn’t put much effort into the writing. I wanted to post daily, rather than writing retrospectively. Anyway I’m glad I managed to produce a journal. I also used Facebook a lot on this ride, and the posts there had a good number of people taking an interest via that medium as well.

Thanks for taking us all along on your ride Graham, it was a great read.

Victor

Susan all I could think of was that brilliant Telstra advert with the gormless dad.

“Dad why did they build the Great Wall of China?”
“To stop the rabbits”

https://youtu.be/2yckqyg75oE

The lesson of the rabbit-proof fence, and of Australia's battle to control the European rabbits by physical or biological means (myxoma virus), was always a class favorite in my virus evolution lecture. And the same-named movie is one of my favorites. Thanks Graham!

Thanks Vince. The sprained hand is already a lot better. The ribs will take a bit longer but they will be ok. Just need a bit of rest.

Thanks Vince. I’m glad to arrive in Perth.
It’s been an amazing experience but I was ready to finish. Most of the route was fairly ok with a couple of exceptions.

As you probably already know, the Norseman to Coolgardie section is high risk. Do you best to do it at a weekend, or get local advice on when the mine trucks are less frequent. Roadworks are under way there, and it will be safer when they have finished widening the road.

Well done mate!!

I'm sorry to hear you had a fall Graham. I hope it heals quickly.

Thanks Rich for following the journal. It has been an interesting and challenging ride. Thankfully it wasn’t too epic.

Congratulations on arriving in Perth! I’ve really enjoyed following along on your adventure. Great photos and writing. Thanks and hope to see another journal from you in the future!

Declining rainfall, rising temperatures and drying soils are the long term trend here John. There are brief La Niña driven reprieves like we are having in SE Australia, but overall climate change is having observable impacts. The northern wheat belt of WA is badly affected. Other areas less so. We saw lots of healthy crops in the Central Wheatbelt.

I’m pleased the ride has finished safely. Donations are also coming in according to my former work colleagues back in Canberra. This is good to hear as it was a major reason for the ride.

Well done, guys! Have to say, weird tho' it sounds, that we could use some of that Perth rain. This May is the driest on record in Eastern Ontario, about 12 mm. The tree cover has its usual early-summer 50 shades of green, but the forest floor is dry-dry-dry.

Spiffy bike path into the city -- rivals some of the best I've seen.

Safe journeys home, John

Thanks John. Yes I have some paracetamol. Thankfully the injury is only painful in certain positions, and not painful when riding.
Only 40km to go. And I’ve been told ‘it’s all downhill’ by a local.