The stoney road improved as son as I had crossed into the national park (the NP service grades roads in the parks each year, delayed this year by the unseasonal rain) but the number of bogholes increased for the first half of the day.

Bogholes became fewer after lunch but were replaced by sand, corrugations and hills. Uuuughhh!

In mid-afternoon I came across a National Park campground and tank so took the opportunity to fill my water bottles. Just as well as there was no drinkable water at Dalhousie Springs (the artesian water was quite salty, not to mention it had been swum in my many people. I did top up the water bottles with water from the toilet block roof without ill effect however).

Finally across the salt pan and in to Dalhousie Springs campground about 4 pm. Even before setting up camp I went for a swim in the warm springs. Very nice.

Caravaning grey nomads were astounded to see a bicycle at the springs. I too was shocked by how difficult the road in had been.

One of the campers said that his son-in-law was a cyclist too. I might have heard of him – Stuart O’Grady!

Another lovely couple invited me over for dinner. Lovely to have a chat. Thanks Jacquie and Ozymandias