Just south of Nannup, WA, AU
When the flies go to bed near dusk, the mozzies come out. I can't win! They are little guys here with a nasty bite. And tonight while I was sitting outside trying to ignore the flies (better with practice), I saw something move near my feet. A spider! About 2 inches long and a reddish brown matching the leaves. After the requisite photo (hopefully I'll be able to find someone to identify it), I scooped it up in a dish and moved him (or her) a ways away from my tent. Do you think there could be a family of them underneath me?!?! I sure hope not!
Western Australia does not go on daylight savings. It starts getting light around 4:30. And dark about 7:30 now. In the morning I pull the sleeve of my jacket over my eyes to block out the light for at least another hour. This morning I was biking by 7. That's pretty early for me. It's cooler then, for sure. I'd like to take a break midday for 2-4 hours during the worst heat and bike again after 3, but what to do for those hours is the challenge. It's hot. The flies are swarming. I have no place to get away from them. It's easier to just keep pedaling. The umbrella helps immensely. Could not cycle here without it. That and my fly net. I must be quite a sight to passing motorists:). Then, between 3-4 I stop because I'm beat: from the heat, from the flies, from pedaling. I find my place for the night, get Spacey set up and climb in. Ahhh, no flies! And I usually fall right asleep. A nap feels great.
OMG! There's this amazing bright orange sunset through the trees of the forest! I can't wait to cycle up the west coast and hopefully catch some amazing ones! I'm just getting snatches tonight.
Back to my book, Cloud Atlas. Pretty interesting writing style.
November 21, 2015
Nannup, WA, AU
On my way into Nannup, a sweet small town with a caravan park, I passed this sign on the road.
So strange to see my family name in the middle of nowhere. I left a note on my biker card in their mailbox to share my excitement.
I've been in Nannup nearly a week having arrived on Tuesday and this being Saturday. How do these things happen? Sometimes always moving gets a bit old and when the weather forecast for the weekend was in the high 90s I decided I was right where I needed to be. I arrived to sign in at the same time Falk did. He's a German man just beginning an open ended tour. He's cycling the Munda Biddi on a homemade bamboo bike!
And the campground was full of an Over 55 Cycling Club from Perth. So lots of company and bike talk. They did some seriously long rides...ones that would have taken me 4 days to complete. But I got some great info about the area as well as Tasmania. Still haven't booked a flight out of Perth. I'm so indecisive.
During the week more Munda Biddi cyclists came through. A Brazilian couple living here with a local woman. I may meet up with the local woman, Karen, over in Margaret River when I cycle out there next week. I love having people to hook up with.
Passing the time here all week I've gotten to know a lot of the locals. There's the couple who own the campground. Then the ladies of the craft circle I interrupted one afternoon. The women in the grocery store who helped me get small quantities of veggies out of the discard bin and bread ties to use as clothes pins. And the woman in the funky store with decorating items and vintage clothes. Last but not least, I met today the owners of Moss Brook B&B when the spotted me in town and chased me down:). The previous owners named it. Their name was Moss and its on a brook...
That's an antique Mini van they have. They invest in antique cars for their retirement. Hmmm....?
Oh and I forgot, yesterday afternoon when Midi, who works her at the campground, kindly gave me an outing with her to Busselton when she went to get groceries. What a kindred spirit! Eating ice cream and sitting in the sand. Lovely time. So how can I be lonely? Too busy!
And today I met a couple that live south of Rome, Italy and have a hostel on the Via Francigena, an Italian camino. Now I have a destination to get to so I can see them again! Her mother lives in Tasmania so I may meet her also. Ya never know!
Blaze and Spacey are enjoying their much deserved rest. Maybe my chair Ned's a name too!
Livin' the dream,
BagLady
Facebook: Kathryn Mossbrook Zimmerman
