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Hello to all, At the moment Ken is at Spalding in the mid north of South Australia. The temperture has at times reached 41 degrees celsius and has sorely tried living outdoors. Thank God for pubs in those little towns along the way. He has, in the last two days made early morning rides, starting out at around 6 in the morning to try and beat the worst part of the day. Daily rides usually take around 6 or so hours and the distance between available drinking water and campsites – often ovals or showgrounds- govern where he settles down. Spirits  are up and the plan is to continue North towards Gulnare, Georgetown Wirrabara Forrest and up towards Quorn, then a quick trip around the top of the gulf (Port Augusta) (no water) to start again at Kimba and head down the Eyre Peninsula and back home.

More people to thank Mich Phin and hubby, Andrew of Booboorowie Seeds in the small town of “Boob” as the locals call it, who furnished Ken with fritz and sauce sandwiches  and Neville Clarke, local Quarterhorse breeder, who “just like that” showed up with two bales of hay for the horses in Spalding. Sonya Neville, Ken’s old workmate (they’re everywhere!!!- no he’s just been working for a long time), who thought of everything, even an extra warm blanket when the temperature dropped over 20 degrees suddenly one day and yours truly went into shock!!!!

The country has changed dramatically from the Riverland, checkered with vineyards and citrus groves, marginal cropping country and native scrub, parched and struggling with water shortage- drought level 4, to rolling country side with good cereal crops and hay cutting and transport in full swing.

It did make us a bit sad to ride up the railway lines in the mid north, that no longer function to come across old railway stations – a living reminder of our heritage and history, disintegrating before our very eyes. Part of the magic of riding for me and I think I can speak for Ken too, is to follow (albeit in a modest way) some of the paths of the early settlers and to experience how it must have been for them, at the whim of the weather and water availability with harsher conditions than what we are used to. I fear that part of our heritage and character is not honoured in South Australia, by letting it slip away!! It would be nice if we could maintain the railway stations at least.

The weight continues to fall off, the shoes are holding up good – good on you Rossi’s – and we still might reach our thousand miles yet!!!!            New photos on Gallery 3.

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