Day 237
No chance of the wind slowing today. It was already gusting at breakfast and continued throughout the day. Although flat it was still slow going with our average speed right around 12 km per hour. The trees that sheltered us somewhat from the wind gave way to grassy fields without a single tree in sight.
In these fields were herds of some the most healthy horses we’ve seen. While most animals run the other way when they see our trikes, horses are drawn to them. An entire herd came right up to the fence to watch us pass.
It was great to have a change in the scenery and the fields were quite beautiful with the clouds casting large shadows over the golden grass. Like the horses we have been broken and have accepted that if the wind keeps up this will be a slow journey. We could pedal all day long at 12 km an hour and we just might have to.
We arrived at Avon Downs Rest Area. There is water and toilets here and some well placed little trees for shade. Although we don’t really need the shade I would guess that the temperature never went above 25 Celsius today. We set up camp and were happy to have gravel instead of powdery red dust.
We ran into a couple traveling with their 3 very young children – a toddler, a 2-year-old and a 6-year-old, who we met in Edith Falls almost 3 weeks ago. Understanding our situation perfectly we were given a cold beer and a lemonade, maybe we should have offered to watch the kids for a few hours. After they complimented us on our bravery, I returned the compliment that they are quite brave, traveling for an extended period with children so young. Darren revealed that he and his wife had asked each other, which would you rather do, caravan with the kids or the trikes without the kids? His wife chose the latter, while he chose former. I have to wonder which we would choose in the same position. Although like most things that are challenging and rewarding, we will probably remember the struggle whether it be children or trikes with selective amnesia, sugar-coating the worst and highlighting the brief moments in the sun.