Latest News from AllTrails
16/05/08 On the road with AllTrails - Adelaide to Alice Ride
Photos from Adelaide to Alice
Day One Photos - Click for a larger image
Day Two Photos - Click for a larger image
Day Three Photos - Click for a larger image
Day Four Photos - Click for a larger image
Day Five Photos - Click for a larger image
Day Six Photos - Click for a larger image
Day Seven Photos - Click for a larger image
Day Eight Photos - Click for a larger image
Day Nine Photos - Click for a larger image
Day Ten Photos - Click for a larger image
Day Eleven Photos - Click for a larger image
Day Twelve Photos - Click for a larger image
Day Thirten Photos (Rest Day) - Click for a larger image
Day One
A Police escort made sure 25 cyclists behaved themselves as they rode north from the Adelaide Hilton. The pace picked up after Two Wells morning tea break, with three separate groups pushing hard to Wendy's "Café N Cake" shop.
Sam's pedal broke, but Greg's quick work got him to lunch at Balaklava just as the main bunch were leaving.
Fiona was not feeling 100% however she pushed on t5hrough vineyards and rolling hills, while the others arrived at Clare Motel to Susan's scrumptious peach slice, fresh fruit and a cuppa.
David bought a dozen bottles of local Clare Valley wine to share with all while dining in luxury before an early night.
Day 2 Clare to Melrose 135km
Cyclists rugged up as it was about 5C and the big breakfast warmed the body for the 40 plus k's to morning tea. The undulations, views, vineyards and cute cottages added variation, just like the Stone Hut Bakery, with pastry and pies a plenty.
Cycling into Melrose, the SA capital was a real treat, with the pub accommodation and dinning area tastefully refurbished in shearing shed décor. Mary, Michael & Alan went looking for kangaroos, Andrew, Bronwyn, Anthea & Chelsea explored the dry creek, others drooled on some expensive bikes in the MTB shop. Guys from the cabins were checking out the town.
Day 3 Melrose to Port Augusta 54km
"Day 3 started with a bush walk up Mt Remarkable with kangaroos, Corellas and galahs adding interest in the early light.
The unexpected Horrick's Pass was beautiful country but the curses rang through the air as cyclists discovered Phil's detour was like the Paris Roubaix cobbles.
A half day rest in Port Augusta relaxed muscles although John's bee sting still gave hot flushes to the face.
Walks and talks, cheese biscuits and grapes and a big 3 course meal before the big ride tomorrow.
Day 4 Port Augusta to Woomera 179km
Port Augusta is the junction where outback Australian adventures begin and we’re away! The red sand and mulga bush give way to undulating land of small rock and saltbush. Trees cannot grow here because of the harsh conditions making the horizon visible wherever you look. All riders shared a snack with Heinz who has been cycling the world for 40 years.
Outback style lunch roadside was effective and not too soon as the riders had passed the original lunch stop. Fiona and Sam rode side by side with 2 kangas. James watched the eagles high overhead on his way to Pimba, then Woomera. Everyone loved the tailwind into town, hoping for a repeat tomorrow.
Day 5 Woomera to Glendambo 119km
"Waking to a power blackout in Woomera was a bit eerie, with everyone walking around our hospital like accommodation with torches. Daybreak, breaky and pushing a headwind for 5km until we turned north west. The bikes on the stark open plains horrizon was beautiful to see.
Lake Hart salt lake is a massive white sheet glistening in the sunlight.
Great place for morning tea.
Two large groups of cyclists worked together, rotating the front, another snack stop before lunch at Glendambo.
A swim, massage, talk, rest and play were the afternoon activities.
Early to bed before a big day tomorrow.
Day 6 Glendambo to Coober Pedy 256km
The early start at daybreak was an exciting experience for all, with road trains, wild life and the unknown.
Morning tea was shared with Heinz Stucke, cycling his way to every country in the world. So far 600,000 km with a story for every occasion.
The pressure was on to make the cut off times for each break, with cyclists excelling themselves actually gaining time.
At 150km, with still over 100km to go, some expressed confidently they could complete the distance, others just did it.
A magnificent effort, good weather, guts and determination got cyclists to Coober Pedy, with everyone really proud of their achievement and hanging for a pizza or similar, 41/2 star accom underground. What a day, what a stay!
Day 7 Rest Day in Coober Pedy
Breakfast underground, an easy day to walk around and explore this fascinating cosmopolitan town, noted as the opal capita of the world.
Greg did bus tours around town, some riders swam, relaxed, wrote, slept, cleaned bikes, or simply waited for “clap time” where all cyclists are briefed on the day and the one to follow.
The “clap time” is for the effort of cyclist that day, whether they did the distance or sagged.
Dinner was on the rooftop of the Desert Cave Motel the only international underground motel in the world, certainly one of the best for architecture and uniqueness. Another great day.
Day 8 Coober Pedy to Cadney 156km
Departing Coober is cycling through a minefield with holes & humps scattered as far as the eye can see until snack time at the Coober 30km sign.
The landscape looks like the moon surface, with saltbush stubble.
Quad trailer road trains rumble by as cyclists enjoy sun filled sky, little or no wind on their relentless push north.
Cadney Homestead is a great place, swim pool, green grass and great meals. Popular was the “Outback Grill” of camel, kangaroo and emu on one plate, surrounded by veggies & chips.
Anthea, Bron, Barry and others upped the tempo, dancing the night away, giving Saturday Night something to remember.
Day 9 Cadney to Marla 81km
Beautiful sunrise, brisk morn and big breaky energized everyone for the short day to Marla.
Photos were taken in the early morning light, as the pushed north with a great morning tea photo in the middle of nowhere.
Just before Marla Anthea touched wheels with another bike and came off, unfortunately ending her ride with a RFDS flight back to her home town of Adelaide. With nearly everyone waving goodbye at the airstrip.
Afternoon is a great time to sit around with a cuppa and relive the day also doing the daily chores of washing clothes, having a Chelsea massage, refilling water, checking out the roadhouse facilities, making phone calls on Mother’s Day or simply having a nap.
Another rowdy dinner before bedtime.
Day 10 Marla to Kulgara 179km
Another beautiful sunrise, crisp air with a group of 20 cyclists linked together in a splash of colour across the red sandy desert.
The thundering hooves of horses racing the bikes alongside the road suddenly changed as they charged across just in front of the riders, making the riders sit up and slow down.
Cattle also crossed the road in a rush, from one green grassy area to another.
Marryat River was an ideal lunch spot, then a group photo at the Northern Territory border prepared us for the so called down hill run which never excisted. Another great day, great people, great ride.
Day 11
Photo shoot outside Kulgara Roadhouse immediately after breakfast was fun before our ride up the Stuart Highway.
Some hesitated and nearly rode out the road to Finke, an outback town on the big Finke River, when it flows.
The junction of highways at Erldunda for morn tea, replenished stocks then on to Mt Ebenezer.
The Aboriginal township is very friendly, the food ample and the people just great.
We had an outback game of cricket, dust everywhere. Cyclists serious about getting runs on the board.
Good meal, good bed, goodnight.
Day 12 Mt Ebenezer to Yulara (Ayers Rock) 192km
Breaky was big, with many choices including porridge, so the cyclists made the most of it, before the big 192km day.
Beautiful clean brisk sunny morn, waking everyone for our morning tea at the roadside camping area. Favourable winds to Mt Conner Lookout, however wind gradually turning sour.
Curtain Springs for lunch, where a roaming emu was amused by all the bikes and people.
Before long the riders were pushing further west with a hot sun. All riders exceeded our expectations, beating the times on the day sheet.
Gourmet dinner on the sand dunes was fantastic a digeridoo playing, astonomey lessons, drinks, laughs, sunset over Uluru and Kata Tjuta. Great night.
Day 13 - Rest Day
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