A collection of long distance ride reports by Melvyn Yap
June 8th, 2011 Esperance to 33km East of Ravensthorpe Distance: 161km Total distance: 5234km Today I begin the 500km journey to Albany. Felt like I’m crossing another (mini) Nullarbor here. There are two sizeable townships along the way and nothing else in between. Importantly, this is the final remote area I’ll encounter for this tour. […]
Continue ReadingJune 7th, 2011 Esperance Distance: 8km Total distance: 5073km After the intense workout yesterday, I treated myself with a well earned rest day. A proper rest day with no side tour that is. This would be my last until I reach Albany, about 500km away. Spent my morning hunting for cheap and fast Internet around […]
Continue ReadingJune 6th, 2011 Cape Le Grand National Park to Esperance Distance: 69km Total distance: 5065km Woke up with a sad face this morning. Sad because I hear the sound of rain drops on my tent roof, which probably means no bushwalking for me today. Oh well, went back to bed. Nothing much I can do […]
Continue ReadingJune 5th, 2011 Esperance to Cape Le Grand National Park Distance: 70km Total distance: 4996km A slight miscalculation, my destination today was 60km rather than 45km, and I only found out after I left the hostel. Because of this, I was forced to ride a tad faster in order to make it before dusk. Leaving […]
Continue ReadingJune 4th, 2011 Esperance Distance: 28km Total distance: 4926km Yesterday, Selma (backpacker from HK) and I agreed to ride down the great ocean drive today if the weather is good. I was previously informed that there is a very nice bikeway on this road. Luck was upon us, it was sunshine today! It was still […]
Continue ReadingJune 3rd, 2011 Esperance Distance: 0km Total distance: 4898km An absolutely no riding day. My legs are still in a mechanically sound condition but a forced break is necessary to allow muscle tissue repair. After 2 weeks of continuous riding, it feels weird to be not on the move. The clock seems to tick slower […]
Continue ReadingJune 2nd, 2011 Grass Patch to Esperance Distance: 93km Total distance: 4898km This road is seriously no place for a cyclist. Still the same highway as yesterday but the lousy weather turned my ride today hellish. Rain and fog covered the road in the morning. As the day progresses, more and more road trains were […]
Continue ReadingJune 1st, 2011 Norseman to Grass Patch Distance: 132km Total distance: 4805km Who needs a rest day when you can still ride? My legs were fine, probably stronger than ever, haha. Actually, the main reason was the sad state of things in Norseman. Not an ideal place to have a rest day. Hence, after loading […]
Continue ReadingMay 31st, 2011 Fraser Range to Norseman Distance: 110km Total distance: 4673km The morning saw me getting up early and pedaled away by 6.30am. A cold and foggy morning at the Fraser Range Station. My attempt of leaving the park quietly failed when a sheep and a lamb bah repeatedly upon seeing a cyclist. 2km […]
Continue ReadingMay 30th, 2011 Balladonia to Fraser Range Distance: 94km Total distance: 4563km I only had about 200km to get to Norseman and hence completing Leg 4. But I wasn’t very keen on doing another long ride after yesterday’s. So I planned to break my journey at Fraser Range, riding only about 100km each day. Naturally, […]
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