Day Thirteen
Flowers Bay Conservation Park (Absolutely Epic Sand Dunes)
Day 13, A Moment to Breathe
The day began with perfect weather clear skies, a gentle warmth as the sun rose, and a light breeze that kept the heat manageable. With only 250 kilometres on the agenda, today felt like the perfect chance to slow down and enjoy the ride. I left Penong at 7:30 AM, cruising through open roads that seemed to stretch on forever. As I made my way through Flowers Bay Conservation Park, the vast sand dunes caught my attention an endless sea of gold. It was the kind of view that made you stop and just take it all in. I had the chance to get the drone up for the first time in a while, capturing sweeping shots of the dunes, the bike, and the horizon stretching out before me. Those moments flying the drone over the dunes or capturing a side view of me and the bike felt like they were frozen in time, just me and the road.
The ride had a peaceful rhythm to it. I didn’t push myself today, just letting the bike take me through the scenery. After passing through Coorabie and making a quick stop to fix the bike box outside Yalta, I continued on to Nullarbor, where I would spend the night. The Nullarbor roadhouse felt like something out of a Western movie rustic, quiet, and in the middle of nowhere, but somehow just right for the journey. There was something satisfying about arriving here after a day spent with nothing but the road and the open sky.
The simplicity of the day gave me time to reflect on the journey so far. It’s easy to get caught up in the kilometres, the gear, and the little setbacks along the way, but today reminded me of why I started this trip in the first place: to experience the world from a different perspective. The landscape, the quiet moments of peace, the freedom of riding each day brings something new. From the massive wombat at the Scotdesco Art Gallery to the calm stretches of gravel road, today was a reminder that sometimes, it's the small, unexpected moments that make the journey worthwhile.
As the sun set and the heat of the day faded, I looked back at the 250 kilometres I had covered today. With a total of 4,614 kilometres now behind me, I felt both accomplished and grateful for each moment along the way. Today, I didn’t race to a destination, I simply enjoyed the ride.