Day 4&5 - Robin falls to Pine Creek - 133km
I had an early start and was on the road at 5am, frogs jumped across the beam of my lights as I set off. It really made a difference riding in the cool mornings, I drank less water and travelled further, reaching the Stuart Highway around 9am. A local at Batchelor had told me that the road via Grove Hill to Pine Creek was in good condition, so I headed that way, trying to get as far as I could and hopefully make it to Pine Creek the next day.
Grove Hill is a historic pub, A tin shack, seemingly in the middle of nowhere, I went there once a few years ago after prospecting in nearby Margeret diggings. It's a time capsule an old pub that has been there for generations, it serviced the local miners and prospectors in the gold rich regions around it. The story goes that back in the day, people would jump off the train, have a beer and a feed and jump on the next train going past. Sadly it closed a few years back but the old owner is enjoying his retirement there.
I camped behind a giant termite mound next to the train line and listened to the feral donkeys into the night. The next morning the road slowly deteriorated and I spent hours pushing my bike up and down, rocky water destroyed tracks, wondering if one last look as Grove Hill was worth it.
I've put my feet up at Pine Creek, had a feed and a much needed shower and I'm going to stick to the Stuart from now on, hoping to get to Katherine in two days time.