My guardian angels (17/4/14)

I was up early, which was fast becoming the norm, to make sure I got to the hardware shop for when it opened. After buying the fuel can I went to fill up the bike and the can and then went back to the hotel to load some of my bits on the bike and have some breakfast. I tried to make a phone call to a couple of hostels and campsites around Karratha to make sure they had room for me to stay but despite their answer machines telling me they were open no-one answered any of their phones. A little annoyed I gave up in the end and figured I'd find something when I arrived. I also phoned millstream national park to find out how much of their park was accessible by bike and was told that it was entirely 4WD and only some were 2WD but none of it sealed. This meant I wouldn't be able to go there unless it was on an expensive organised tour. My time around Karratha was looking to be very short indeed. I finished loading my bike, checked out at reception, and said goodbye to Camille, who was now awake, for possibly the last time. To combat the boredom of the straight roads I'd decided to listen to my ipod on this stretch to keep my spirits up and to make others that passed me wonder what the wailing noise was that would indeed be my singing. With the ipod cranked I hit the road and made like a shepherd (I got the flock out of there). This is ironic as about 20 minutes into the ride just outside town, and purely to remind me I was still being secretly filmed, a bird flew across the road and hit my visor. This was not a good start. Me and the visor were fine, the bird was not. I looked behind to see it laying in the road not moving. Oops. I toyed with the idea that this was a sign but figured it needed to be a bigger one than that. Then an emu ran out.... nah just kidding. Everything else went smoothly and I got my head down to try and chew up the mileage. On my way into Exmouth I'd been doing maybe 120 - 130 km/h (that is not admissable in a court of law!) but decided to stick to about 100 this time to see if that had much effect on the fuel consumption. So it was slower going but constant at least. I was riding along a section of road in the middle of nowhere at one point when I passed a yellow road sign that said 'RFDS emergency runway'. That's interesting I thought there must be a flying doctors runway round here somewhere. I then rode over some airfield threshold markings and immediately realised I was on the runway. The road widened and I frantically started to check around me and in my mirrors for signs of a plane. I had no idea how much notice you get, or in fact whether things in my rear view mirrors are closer than I think. I found out later that police get there before hand and close the road but it seemed miles from any town for them to achieve that. As the distance to Nanutarra roadhouse reduced I kept an eye on the fuel gauge and was surprised to see I hit 250 km and still had a reasonable amount of fuel left. Riding at this slower speed had a much bigger effect on fuel consumption than I had anticipated. So much so that I actually made the roadhouse at 280 km without needing to use the jerry can and without the fuel light coming on. I was still glad I had the fuel can though as psychologically it made a big difference knowing it was there. I took a short break at the roadhouse and whilst sitting there a couple of other bikes pulled in. One was a massive BMW and the other was a massive Harley. They both had a husband and wife couple on and were both pulling trailers. I wandered over to say hello and introduce myself, and to find out where they were heading for. I think they were all in their 70's and I found out they were doing a trip right round Australia. It turned out they were heading for Port Hedland that evening and this got me thinking. It didn't take long for me to make a decision. Karratha was looking like a pointless stop anyway and I was annoyed I couldn't get anyone to answer their phones to book accommodation. So I asked the group if they'd mind me tagging on the back just for a bit of company and follow them to Port Hedland. It was no problem to them at all but it would make my journey the longest I had done so far at around 10 hours. They introduced themselves and Steve and Gaylene were on the BMW with bells and whistles like cruise control, and Geoff and Vicky were on the slightly older, less economic, Harley. I was glad to hear that despite the comfy looking seats on both bikes they still suffered from ass ache. We soon set off and I trundled along behind them at the maximum 100 km/h, that they were allowed to do with trailers, pleased I'd finally found someone doing the same thing I was. We stopped periodically at roadhouses for a short break and to fill up with fuel and took the opportunity to exchange stories and find out a little about each other. It became quite a pleasant journey in the end although it was still gruelling. As you ride along these roads there are signs put up by the police at the start of each district telling you what the local police are now targeting. It's things like seatbelts, speeding, lights, that sort of thing. I'd seen loads so far. Before I'd left Perth I had been told not to stay, or of possible, stop in Roebourne as it was a really horrible place on the map. As it turns out we had to stop for fuel but that went off without incident. However, just to highlight what I'd been told, on the way into Roebourne there was the usual police sign that said 'local police are now targeting ..........'. And there was nothing. Just a blank space. I chuckled. Some little git had actually stolen the sign. I hope it wasn't a sign that said 'sign thefts'. I took the opportunity, while we were in a town and had phone reception, to phone the couple I was due to meet in Port Hedland tomorrow to make sure it was ok to arrive a night early. They said it was no bother to them at all, which was good, and I found out it was actually South Hedland where they live. So I got them to text me their address with a postcode so I could satnav it to their house once in town. We got out of Roebourne as quickly as possible once we'd all filled up and started the final leg of the journey. About halfway to Port Hedland we pulled over for a quick leg stretch. It was going to be the last time I'd get a chance to talk to them all as my turning for South Hedland was slightly before theirs. So I thanked them all and told them they had been my guardian angels for this leg. It had been a pleasure to meet them so I offered to do a video of them on my camera, along this next stretch, which I would try and send to them one way or another. I took Steve's e-mail address and we said our premature goodbyes and started the final section. The sun was now starting to set and it would be nearly dark by the time we got to Port Hedland but hopefully this would make the video look a little better. I rode past them trying my best to keep the camera on them and then slowed down for them to overtake me and recorded them going past. I did it a couple of times just to make sure. It's harder than it sounds, especially when you realise there's a car on the other side of the road coming at you. We all survived though. At my South Hedland turn off I rode past them all waving to say goodbye but as I turned I realised they had followed me. After a little confusion I figured they'd decided to follow the campsite signs that had pointed down my way and soon left them behind. I pulled over in the car park at the shopping centre to check my phone for the message and get some more precise directions. I put the address in my phone and stuck it to my phone holder on my screen and followed the satnav, and after 10 hours and nearly 800 km I finally arrived at their house. Their names are Ryan and Lauren and I'd met them once before, briefly, at the engagement party that I'd gone to right at the start of my time in oz. We didn't know each other well at all but Ryan's parents were good friends with my aunt and uncle and that seemed to be good enough. They made me feel welcome straight away and I soon had my bike round the back of the house, and my gear in my bedroom. I relaxed for a bit but took a shower fairly quickly as it had been another roasting hot day. We had no problems finding things to talk about and it soon felt like we'd been mates for ages. They had arranged to go out for dinner with a couple of their friends, which they readily invited me to, and I readily accepted, glad of the company. It was at a local members club and their friends John and Cherie arrived shortly after we did. We ordered our food after a quick chat and started on the beers. Our food soon arrived and I had a Tikka Masala as it went perfectly with the beer. A few drinks later we moved onto a karaoke bar just down the road, whose punters had clearly started a lot earlier, and spent a bit of time there. Port Hedland is basically a mining town and isn't renowned for it's beautiful scenery so there really isn't much to do there. So it's understandable that all the residents, who are mainly miners, spend their money having a few drinks. I was a little tipsy, as can be seen from the blurred photo, but nowhere near as drunk as them. It was funny to watch but the incredibly long journey was starting to take it's effect on me and I was soon yawning. The others were pretty knackered from work too so we said goodbye to John and Cherie and drove back home. We chatted for a short while at home and discussed the next day but I had hit the wall so wished Ryan and Lauren a good night and was soon in bed. It was nice to be in a proper comfortable bed for a change and I was soon asleep. It had been a test of endurance today but having my guardian angels had made it a hell of a lot easier.