Day off.

Today was a welcome day off from the rigours of riding and support for our riders. After the usual domestic choices were completed (Tim actually just pipped me this morning to the washing machine and I was up really early, for me), we then had some time to relax and enjoy the area. Oh course that was after the stock-take we had to do of all the supplies we were carrying and rearranging boxes to make sure everything was under control. Maureen as ever had everything in good order with menus for the next 4 days highly orgainsied. Fruit and veggies are an issue as in the next 3 days we need to dispense with all these commodities as we cross the SA border quarantine. I guess the cyclists will be well feed on fruit and veggies prior to this point.
At lunchtime it was time to spread our wings and head out in 4WDs to see what the countryside had to offer.
Frank and I decided to brave it and walk the 4.8 kms to the telegraph station ( nearly 3/4 buried in the sand). As we were early to pick up the others, we decided to continue to the beach and on arrival found the elusive 'long jetty' we had heard so much about. The jetty is in need of much repair, but the beach and water made up it. The Southern Ocean was at its glorious best with a calm demeanour, turquoise in colour and just a gentle northerly breeze.
After this we headed back along the track to catch up with the others who had now made their way down to us. Unfortunately we did go off the beaten track a bit and ended up trekking over sand dunes in a direction we ' thought was correct'. (At least the compass said we were!) Finally Frank spotted a tree that looked out of place with the remainder of the environment and remembering the tree at the back of the telegraph station suggested we head towards it. On arriving back we saw the last of our party heading back to the cars: a desperate plea of " wait for us", saw some of the vehicles wait up, as we rejoined our party.
All 4WD then headed to the jetty, of which we had just come!, only to find Paul had gone onto the beach and got himself bogged! Tyre pressures lowered and it was just a matter of climbing out again - no real harm done, but now we had to pump the tyres back up again!
Mention was made about how Ray was actually going off-road in his Toyota! Tim must have been very persuasive! Next on the agenda was the Nullarbor Nymph golf  course - well hole really (Par 4), about 4 - 5 kms off the main highway. Hijinks was had with Barry teeing off an imaginary ball, Nick and Tim getting their gear off to becomes the Nymph etc. Good fun and lovely to see, all the stress of the trip disappear for little while at least.
Then the  really adventurous group decided to head east along the Old Eyre Highway into the wilds of the outback WA in search for one of the Blow Holes supposedly 38 kms down the road. With only 2 of the 4WD group left with 5 people off we went. I had my trusty WikiCamp Google map showing the route to get to the blowhole and when approaching we saw a strange construction of iron, rocks and a dead twig hanging out the top of the construction. I said to Paul, that this was the place, but he didn't believe the strange coloured rocks were actually what we were looking for. BUT THEY WERE! On closer investigation these strange coloured rocks concealed the entrance to the blow-hole: a 600mm diameter hole in the ground, made of limestone and blasting a wind from beneath the earths surface. The wind was incredible as not only was it strong but also cold as well. Paul actually had a temperature gauge that recorded the temperature of the outside ground at 22C whereas the hole only registered 8C!
We had Mandy put her head over the hole to get a video of the effect it had on her hair. ( I think if she was a nun like Sally Field in the Flying Nun, she also would have taken off!) The Quarantine man we struck when reentering WA,  said that all the caves/ blowholes around here are connected to the ocean and the water in there is salty, but extremely clear. The earth is an amazing place!
Well enough of the frivolity, it is now back to real time and onward again tomorrow. Both Darren and Barry ( I hear) are both going to attempt to ride again. Good luck to all!