The school sits right on the Goyders Line of Rainfall - a demarcation line mapped out by the surveyor George Goyder in 1865 marking up to where average rainfall was still suitable for cropping. North of the line he suggested would be only suited to light grazing and coincided with the southern boundary of saltbush country.
After the usual porridge and coffee, I rolled out at 9am.
After ascending Dares Hill summit early in the day the Mawson trail traveled west as it passed through the small town of Hallet towards Spalding.
The strong westerly that helped push me to Mt Bryan East last night was now a headwind again!
Approaching Netfield - restored birthplace of Polar explorer Sir Hubert Wilkins.
With the wind, it took me 3 hours to travel the 38km to Hallett!
Stopped at the general store at noon and ended up ordering the big breakfast - fried onion and tomato, 3 fried eggs toast and coffee. Lovely lady running the shop; didn't look at me strange when I asked if I could swap out the sausages and bacon!
I knew the next stretch would be equally hard if not harder as it was all open fields ahead!
It was a steep and long climb over the Brown Hill range which is littered with wind turbines. The perfect location given the strong wind whipping over these hills.
Due to my slow progress, I decided I would stop early in Spalding.
The last stretch into town was along the eastern half of the Bundaleer channels.
I was dreading his 30km section of the Mawson trail, as it is renown for three corner jack puncturing many riders tyres! I stuck to the left wheel track, stopped and nervously checked for thorns and somehow made it unscathed into town.
With no campgrounds in town, I booked a room in the local pub. It was great value at only $45 for a clean bed and continental breakfast.
Ride distance 84.4km
Elevation gain 889m
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