Another warm welcome in Port Hedland

After finishing yesterday 65km’s past 80 Mile Beach it was decided by all involved to head back there and stay for another night at the caravan park that had made us feel so welcome. We were invited to a BBQ hosted by the Vietnam Vet’s and then found that they wanted to donate $500 to our cause. With other donations from holiday makers and grey nomads we left there this morning with $750.

Again I got on the road early at 4am and cycled through a thick blanket of fog for the first two hours without seeing any wildlife or traffic. The roads were still flat and the surface had slightly roughened up, but relatively comfortable to ride on. Around the 100km mark the landscape changed slightly with piles of large boulders randomly forming piles over the vast plains.

I clicked up 157km before stopping outside Port Headland around 10.00am for the mandatory second breakfast of 8 pancakes with maple syrup. I managed to catch up on an hour’s downloading of pictures before joining about 20 locals for a 10km run into the Port Headland Army Barracks. John Russell from the army up here had organised runners from all different work places to join me and then enjoy a lunch time function at the barracks. During the luncheon they raised $1674 from raffles and donations. We also received a brilliant painting of 80 Mile Beach from a local painter that is worth around $2000 (this will be sold at our Moby’s function). Today is our last time of seeing the ocean for about 20 days as we head into the back of the Great Sandy Desert.

Have a nice weekend, Craig

Nearing Port Hedland

 

Craig's entourage for the 10km run into Port Hedland

 

Half way there

 

Beautiful painting of 80 Mile Beach donated by a local artist

Sea mists and jumping fish!

Up at 3.30am this morning and started the day with a 20km beach run. The beach here runs for about 240km with no houses or other signs of civilisation insight, just pristine white sand and crystal clear blue water as far as the eye can see. After the early morning run I got in the water and on the Epic Ski for a 45km paddle just as the sun was coming up.

As we looked out over the horizon we could see what looked like enormous storm clouds rolling in, however as we got closer and closer we realised it wasn’t a storm but a massive sea mist. This made navigating a bit of a challenge and for a few kilometres we had to guess the direction we were heading in by the swell.

Lots of sea life around today namely sea turtles and other ‘unidentified’ creatures swimming under the ski (they moved so quickly I couldn’t tell what they were!). There were also large schools of fish swimming around, which was great for the guys in the support boat who have adopted a new style of deep sea fishing… which is to just sit back and wait for the fish to come to them… which, strangely enough, is exactly what happened with a 30cm long fish jumping into the boat after being chased by a much larger fish!

Finished up for the day at around 12pm and about to go and have a big feed in preparation for another big day tomorrow. We are headed into Port Hedland tomorrow where a fundraising afternoon has been planned at the army barracks there.

Big thank you today to Eighty Mile Beach Caravan Park who have looked after us and to the holiday makers staying at the park who have generously donated to the charity.

We still have no reception today so CCIA is again blogging on my behalf. Unfortunately this means we can’t send through any new photos or video so we have included a few shots of the magnificent scenery we have encountered on our trip to date. We really are lucky to live in such a beautiful country.

Until tomorrow,
Craig

Ok so this one was actually taken on Sydney's Northern Beaches when I was still training for the marathon... but such a great photo though!

 

Tweed Heads

Suttons Beach, Recliffe QLD

Longreach Sunrise

Kynuna

 

Edith Falls

 

Lake Argyle