I changed the way I went about things. Instead of waiting for Pierre and Vero to rise, I packed soon after I woke, which was around 6:00am. I had almost completed packing by the time they woke, which was about 7:30. Even so we didn't get going any sooner than usual, which is about 9:00am.
The headwinds that had been with us since day 3 persisted and it was slow, tough going for the first few hours. Even more of a problem were my feet. Pierre kindly offered me his shoes, which helped. He started using mine, but found them unbearably hot so he changed to my tevas. We rode that way for the rest of the day. Though better I did't think this would get me to Darwin.
Despite the tough going we still managed to get to the Bon Bon rest stop, about 80 something kms, around 2:00-2:30.
It is another desolate place, but obviously popular with the caravaners. Bon Bon has toilets and a water tank, which is fed by rain off a shelter roof, with a foreboding warning to drink at your own risk. We drank and soaked ourselves. Tasted and felt great. I drank heaps and realised later I hadn't drunk enough before leaving Glendambo.
8 to 10 vans were in various stages of coming ,going, or settling in for the day. One of them settling belonged to Kevin and Kim, who were in their late 50s early 60s and born and raised in cairns. Whilst we were resting under a shelter Kim came over for a chat and kindly offered us a cuppa back at his van. Turns out they had been on the road in the van since 2002.
The cuppa and the clean, cool water from the tank revived us.
We got going from Bon Bon about 3:30 and wanted to ride for a couple of hours, which hopefully would mean making another 30 or so kms. As ever the headwinds were against us, but we still managed the 30kms stopping as the sun was setting to pitch our tents.
Pasta with tuna was again our meal for the night and again it tasted wonderful.
After another tough day it ended with us all in good spirits.
It is 140kms to Coober Pedy from where we are camped, but it is possible we could get there tomorrow night as it is only 25 more kms than we did today. Here's hoping.
By the way, the vanners are talking about the headwinds as they are dramatically affecting fuel consumption. Kevin said he doesn't drive if the wind is over 30kms/hour. Not worth the fuel. And there are some massive vans out there.
...go to day 10 - May 19