Posts Tagged ‘Farina’

Day 458. 117km. Farina – Creek near Parachilna

Posted: September 21, 2016 in Australia, Cycling
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The hills have started. On the horizon on both sides of the road are the last ridges of the Flinders Ranges. Emus are everywhere, the odd kangaroo, and the eagles are soaring on high. Fields with sheep and cattle – endless grass where normally there is just red dust. We are slowly leaving the remoteness of the Australian Outback.

Road to Parachilna

Road to Parachilna

We passed the last of the cyclists on the Race to the Rock – two New Zealanders that were taking it easy. They were hesitating on continuing – rain is coming and they don’t know about the dirt roads. Give it a go! It is a beautiful track, and if it rains, you just have to wait a few days.

Cyclists on the Race to the Rock

Cyclists on the Race to the Rock

The day started in Farina with a group of emus checking out our camping spot. They circled our tents while making a deep thudding sound – their call.

Emus

Emus

Farina is a town of ruins. One of these buildings must have been where my great grandmother was born. Many many years ago. Back then when Farina was a happening place.

Farina

Farina

We are camping in a small river just before the turnoff into the Flinder Ranges. More dirt roads tomorrow.

Day 457. 106km. Alberrie Creek – Farina

Posted: September 20, 2016 in Australia, Cycling
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The roads were bogged and we were stranded in a ghost house in the middle of the desert, surrounded by weird statues made from rusty machine parts. Inside it felt like a squat – graffiti on the walls, a dusty smell, and ‘Keep Out’ signs on the doors where once someone had dwelled. Still, it was a homely place, and was clearly being taken care of. Everything worked. We slept in, talked, and did our washing with an amazing contraption made from a bike, parts from a car, and a barrel.Thank you carers of Alberrie Creek!

Washing machine at Alberrie Creek

Washing machine at Alberrie Creek

Getting away from our home of two nights was a slow affair. With a melancholy mood, I swung on my bike, and we made our way down the not too muddy road. We passed several cyclists taking part in the Race to the Rock bike race – from Adelaide to Uluru as quickly as possible. These people are doing 300km a day, and are amazingly chirpy and not worried at all. We passed one that is planning on arriving in William Creek at midnight, wants to eat something and then continue. Our bike trip is feeling very normal indeed.

Bikers on the Race to the Rock

Bikers on the Race to the Rock

We arrived after sunset in Farina – where my great grandmother was born. A look around will have to wait until the morrow.