A collection of long distance ride reports by Melvyn Yap
May 29th, 2011 Caiguna to Balladonia Distance: 189km Total distance: 4469km As of this morning, I still haven’t given up my hope of riding 200km a day. I had one great sleep last night. Fully restored my energy level. A couple of hundred metres off the Caiguna roadhouse and I found myself riding into the […]
Continue ReadingMay 28th, 2011 Cocklebiddy to Caiguna Distance: 91km Total distance: 4280km Couldn’t sleep well last night. I think it may be too cold or the sound of the generator or both. Before I go to bed, I spent about an hour sitting on my trike enjoying the view of millions of stars in the sky. […]
Continue ReadingMay 27th, 2011 Madura to Cocklebiddy Distance: 97km Total distance: 4189km The moment I woke up, I was entertained by a hungry mouse picking on my rubbish bag outside my tent. Food must be scarce out here. I leave a small piece of bread outside my tent every night to keep the mice away from […]
Continue ReadingMay 26th, 2011 Eucla to Madura Distance: 190km Total distance: 4092km At the start of this tour, I was doubtful of making a 100km ride in a single day. I remembered how excited I was when I hit the three-digit for the first time. Things have changed now. For one, my legs are getting stronger. […]
Continue ReadingMay 25th, 2011 60km east of WA border to Eucla Distance: 78km Total distance: 3902km One great thing about cycle touring, you wake up every morning with zero knowledge of what’s about to happen and who you’re going to meet on that day. Today is one of those days that will stay in my memory […]
Continue ReadingMay 24th, 2011 Nullarbor to 60km east of WA border Distance: 132km Total distance: 3824km Took off from the Nullarbor Roadhouse with the hope of seeing some whales today and a strawberry milkshake on my left hand. Milkshake was crap, I didn’t get to see any whales, and it drizzled this morning. But not all […]
Continue ReadingMay 23rd, 2011 Nundroo to Nullarbor Distance: 151km Total distance: 3692km All hopes were not lost. Woke up in the morning to a silent atmosphere. No more tent flapping. A bit of drizzle and a one-off gust of strong wind while I was packing but that was it. Finally, Nullarbor seems to be calming down, […]
Continue ReadingMay 22nd, 2011 40km east of Nundroo to Nundroo Distance: 42km Total distance: 3541km I dreamt of riding with a strong tailwind last night. God it was such a beautiful dream! Still, a dream was just a dream. The extreme headwind continues today, only this time it’s blowing from 11 o’clock instead of 1 o’clock […]
Continue ReadingMay 21st, 2011 Penong to 40km east of Nundroo Distance: 43km Total distance: 3499km I knew the weather in Nullarbor wouldn’t be so kind. Yesterday was just an exception. Today I faced the greatest and most gruesome enemy for any cyclists: EXTREME headwind. Flapping tent woke me up early this morning. Peeked out to find […]
Continue ReadingMay 20th, 2011 Ceduna to Penong Distance: 78km Total distance: 3456km And so begins Leg 4: the crossing of the Nullarbor. Earlier, I made plans on where I should stay for the first three nights. I felt it was necessary because the first three days of riding are mostly farmland areas. Finding a place to […]
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