Storms
Lightning
It is near impossible to sleep because of the humidity, I was still awake and sweating last night at 2am and in the tent with no air moving my sleeping bag was ringing wet when I got up. So I climbed out again at 5 and got rolling out of Noonamah around 6:30. I waited a little for the servo to open so I could get milk for breakfast but the thought of warm porridge killed my appetite.
The threat of rain was very present, I could see a huge thunderhead to the north and coming my way. Rain at night is nice to cool things down but I very much wanted to avoid getting caught out in it on my bike. I was fairly pounding on the pedals all morning, the mass of dark grey behind me pushing me on as fast as I could go. By the time I got the Adelaide River the combination of heat, humidity and effort had me near total exhaustion but the storm was getting further away.
War Cemetery
Adelaide River was the furthest southerly point the Japanese bombs came on the Australian mainland. There is a war cemetery there to honour those who died in the fighting. It is a beautifully peaceful tribute but also a horrible reminder. After taking a break, having some lunch and my free driver-reviver I pressed on. There was another storm forming to the east, and the wind whilst nonexistent tends to swing around a bit. No sooner than was I on the bike again sure enough the wind picked up from the east. I could see flashes and hear the occasional rumble getting closer. As luck would have it some 33km after Adelaide River there was a rest area not on my maps with a big shelter over a couple of picnic benches. Not 5 minutes after I got there the rain started, but I didn’t care happily stretched and sheltered out on a table. I even fell asleep for about 90 minutes, waking when a march fly decided the have a chew on my forehead. These flies are a curse!
According to my map there were two service stations between the little town of Adelaide River and Pine Creek about 120 km distant so either one of those would make a good rest stop for the night. I was fairly sure there would be heavy rain soon – the air was think with moisture – and having someplace to shelter under seemed appealing. However what neither the map or the road signs indicated was that both these were closed. I passed the first, ok but when I got to the next and found it closed too and was not too pleased. I wanted something cold to drink so I stubbornly pressed on to Pine Creek. I got there just before total darkness, just like the last time and pitched tent. Shiru was there too, I figured he’d be further down the road but he was taking his time.
That night as I was cursing the mozzies that were trying to destroy me as I lay on the grass a storm rolled on in bringing rain and blessed relief from the humidity. I tucked myself up in my tent as the storm got closer and the rain got heavier. The thunder got steadily louder until it was properly overhead. Suddenly there was a flash of lightning and instantaneous thunder than left my ears ringing for ages afterwards, wherever it struck it was way too close. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t bricking it for a moment. After days of not being able to sleep it was cool though and despite the thunder, in no time I was out for the count.