Day 12: Rest Day @ Batlow

March 27th, 2011

Batlow
Distance: 6km
Total distance: 688km

Woke up at 6am by a crowing rooster but went back to bed shortly after and slept through until 10am. The rooster was still crowing, what the heck? Last night was the coldest night so far, makes me feel nervous about my early winter ride across Western Australia later on. I wonder if my body will ever get adjusted to the cold weather. I am seriously considering a small portable heater for my tent, electricity won’t be a problem since on most nights I camp on powered sites.

Today is meant to be a washing and trike maintenance day, also a respite for my legs, and so that was what I did. While I was cleaning my trike, a group of Asians took an interest in my trike, I let them ride and from the grin on their faces, I knew they enjoyed it. There were three of them, two guys, one from Nepal, and one from Korean, and a girl from Japan. The girl, Kanami approached me first with a Konochiwa greeting. By this time, I was already quite used to people mistakenly thought I’m from Japan, all thanks to my carp streamer. This was a bit more unusual, she said I actually look like a Japanese as well. Apparently I gave a nod yesterday when I was asked (in Japanese) whether I’m from Japan or not, but I was just being polite by smiling and nodding whenever strangers look at me. Later on today, another Japanese guy spoke to me in Japanese, *sigh*.

The aftermath of dirt road riding in Wee Jasper
This is Kanami, whom like everyone else, mistaken me as a Japanese!
The recumbent grin! ^_^

I asked Penny, the caravan park owner where I can get mobile phone reception here and she said most people have luck on top of a nearby hill, called the Weemala Lookout. She said I should walk instead of riding since my bike wouldn’t be able to handle it. Yeah right, I’d still give it a shot anyhow, but turns out to be a stupid move. The road up to the hill lookout was insanely steep, but being young and stupid I switched to my granny gear and pedal up with all my might. Then a disaster struck. As I was riding up the steepest section, my rear wheel loose traction and slide down the road a few inches, enough to make my heart skipped a beat and sliced a small section of the skin on my right foot (due to contact with the chainring). Falling backwards on a recumbent is 10x more frightening than an upright bike. Also, I wouldn’t have injured my foot if I have worn my clipless sandals. Naturally I gave up riding up the hill, chucked my trike at the road side and just walk up. All these effort just to get a signal on my mobile.

The beginning of the steep climb to the Weemala Lookout
After the disaster, I made a rational decision by leaving my trike behind and walk up instead

From the lookout I can see the whole of Batlow but it was nothing to shout about. A couple of cars came up while I was there but didn’t even stop for more than 20 seconds. Went to the town after that to get more food since tomorrow night I will be staying in a reserve, apparently the reserve have no food and drinking water. A group of kids saw me with the trike and asked if they could try. Since they look innocent and harmless, I let them ride. Stewart, who was only 2/3 my height had difficulty pedaling it but had a recumbent grin nonetheless.

View of Batlow township from Weemala Lookout
Stewart enjoying the recumbent despite barely reaching the pedals

The rest of my day was spent in the caravan park, snacking on some food and finishing my laundry. I also found out that one can easily earn more than one grand a week for picking apples here! Tempted to stay here to earn the extra bucks but I would have to endure touring in winter later on, not a very fun riding condition. Spoke to Penny again and she forewarned me about the first 12-15km of uphill for my journey to Jingellic tomorrow. Hope my legs would have recovered enough for me to battle the hill.

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