DAY 45 3 AUGUST MOLE HILL TO MATARANKA

Bit of minor drama last night.  About 3am a lot of dramatic huffing and puffing just beyond the camp. After a few minutes of this Brian charged out with his shovel and torch at the ready to do battle (what he would have done against a bull buffalo I don’t know). Turned out to be a donkey, probably a jack making a mild challenge to find out what the tents were about.  Brian’s torch sent him packing.

Up at 6 am for Brian’s porridge (I kept it down this time, attributed to the less stressful riding the day before and the lower temperature).

Off past the entrance to Mole Hill Station and onwards over glorious bitumen.

Filled the water bottles at another tank/picnic table at 23 kms and lunch at the turnoff to Elsey Station 30 kms out of Mataranka.

I bonked 8 kms from Mataranka outside the Mataranka lime burning works for Northern Cement almost on the turnoff onto the Stuart Highway.

A few bites of a sandwich and down the mainly downhill run into Mataranka. Arrived about 4pm.

All very tired so straight through town and right turn down 3 kms to the Bitter Springs CP recommended by Bruce who had been through a few days earlier.

No energy from anyone for a fancy dinner so Brian did another of his great spaghetti and tuna meal followed by most of a very sweet watermelon bought at the CP office.

And bed!