Distance for July 14 = 54.06 km; Total distance = 23,142.28 km; Location = Nundroo (7 km east of) – 31 56.598’ S, 132 15.579′ E; Start time = 0804, Finish time = 1628

Distance for July 15 = 54.30 km; Total distance = 23,196.58 km; Location = Penong (40 km west of) – 31 50.437’ S, 132 37.311′ E; Start time = 0847, Finish time = 1721

Distance for today = 56.04 km; Total distance = 23,252.62 km; Location = Penong (16 km east of) – 31 56.451’ S, 133 10.592′ E; Start time = 0838, Finish time = 1651

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/343353186

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/343353125

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/343353075

I continue to be dogged by long stints without phone or internet reception. It will probably persist for a little while yet, although I’m starting to reach the land of the living again, so the problem should decrease in frequency soon.

Sunday began with us singing Happy Birthday to Michael in the van. I won’t give away his age. We gave him his present around the early morning campfire.

The run was uneventful, although Chook and Silvia both did some running with me – 17 km in Chook’s case. Jeff rode the 47 km to Nundroo. I have now reached the agricultural zone, with very green winter wheat fields lining the road. It’s starting to look more like the eastern states.

Monday saw me doing a lot of running on gravel roads. The first 24 km was with Chook. He’s doing well to run that far on little recent training. Carmel left us a stash of food and drink along the way, marked by a pink balloon, making it easy to find.

I headed into the seaside village of Fowler’s Bay, had lunch at the camping ground, and headed out again on the dirt road. Silvia ran the first 10 km with me, after which I continued another 20 km to finish the day. We saw a dead wombat on the road, which is always sad – they’re such cute and friendly animals.

Jeff and Michael went out on a charter boat and caught heaps of snapper, all over half a metre long. Guess what we had for dinner on Monday night?

Today was another long one, as they will be for a while. A 56 km run now seems quite passé. Chook and Silvia ran the last 17 km with me, including past a hot pink windmill. Michael rode 47 km in tough conditions – he suffered about a bit, but not enough to stop him playing golf in the afternoon.

The countryside is now intensely green, courtesy of young wheat. In fact, it’s such an emerald green, it would be a match for the homeland of such magnificent Irishmen as Tony Mangan, Fergus Owens, Ray Alcorn, Sean Barrett, and Rick Curran.

Tomorrow is a special day. You’ll have to tune in again to find out why.