Touring Tips

• Do not carry all of your water in one container. Vibrations, especially on gravel roads, tend to break plastic containers.
• WA has large triple headed thorns, which are the bain of cyclists. Try to use the thicker thorn resistant tubes if possible, or be careful if riding on grass or pushing the bike off road to get to a camping spot.
• If bush camping, don't camp near a roadside road stop. It's usually littered with rubbish and toilet paper, and the other stuff that goes with used toilet paper.
• There are fruit inspection points on the Nullarbor at the WA/SA border and at Ceduna. Put a cardboard sign on your bike well before them saying "I'll eat your fruit and vegies". Some people will stop and give you their fruit and vegies.
• A lot of roads are gravel. Thin tyres on a road bike will not survive long especially when heavily loaded.
• The time zone for Perth is +8 GMT. Daylight saving is not practiced in this state, but there is a trial which some people use, whilst other people ignore it.
• The emergency phone number for police, ambulance and fire services is triple zero - 000.
• Mains electricity is 220 - 240 Volt AC and 50 Hz.

Heading North?

Water can be hard to find. Roadhouse water is usually bore water, and tastes salty. The town of Northhampton is about 50 kms north of Geraldton. If heading north, as you reach Northhampton, there is a large sign on the side of the road - "Limited water further north, fill up at shire caravan park". The caravan park is on the right just past the tavern. The tavern is on the left with a big red roof.

If touring in the heat, during the heat of the day, sleep in the shade. Shade is defined as under a bridge, under a tree if you can find one. If none of these are available, look for a road culvert, usually a concrete drainage tunnel. You can sleep in these. Some of them may only be big enough for your to squeeze into. Lay your bike down first, otherwise people will keep stopping to ask if you alright and you'll never get any sleep. You can ride in the early morning or late evening or at night.

Heatstroke

Make sure that you know what the symptoms of heatstroke are. Heatstroke is serious and can be fatal. Continual exposure to high temperatures and insufficient fluid intake can leave you vulnerable. The symptoms are:

• General feeling of being unwell;
• Not sweating very much or not at all, even though it is hot;
• high body temperature of 39 Degrees to 41 C (102 F to 106 F);
• The skin may be flushed and red;
• Severe throbbing headaches; and
• lack of coordination.

A sufferer of heat stroke, may be confused or aggressive, and eventually become delirious, and may convulse. Hospitalisation is required. While waiting, get out of the sun, soak clothes and drink plenty of cool fluids.