After riding all night, I crashed before dawn at a park bench in Eucla, hungry and thirsty but satisfied, knowing that I don’t have to battle the winds.
I woke up at about 8am, and a friendly staff member in a motel uniform approached me. I thought I was in trouble for crashing on their property, but what happened next was unbelievable.
Manzoor was from Pakistan, and when I told him what I was up to and about Freedomseat.org.nz, he was moved.
He asked me to meet him at his office in an hour and pointed me to a building. After packing my bike, I headed to his office to say goodbye, but instead he offered me the biggest plate of the freshest, made from scratch and spiciest lamb rogan josh.
Best morning ever. I was devouring the food while listening to his stories about his life in Pakistan. I felt terrible at times, as I was giving my 100% concentration to the rogan josh. Flushed it all down with ice-cold water and chocolate milk after that.
Forever indebted for his kindness. It’s help from trail angels like these that keeps you going and makes the journey a lasting memory.
“Next time you come, I make you the best Pakistani dum biriyani. Just for you. All from fresh ingredients. Now go well and good luck my friend.” He said that and gave me a big, tight hug.
My IPWR journey is entirely fuelled by kindness and rogan josh :)
I got to Border Village and wanted to quickly refill and hit the road to cover the 189km to the next roadhouse in Nullarbor before it closed (10:00pm).
Seeing my mad rush, a customer at the roadhouse pointed me to a clock. The clock with the label SOUTH AUSTRALIA read 2:30pm. Time difference, the tiniest detail I completely ignored.
No way to cover 189km in 7:30hrs. Not in these conditions. It’s 94 (33C) out there with crosswinds for now.
Friends, be mindful of the time difference when you get here.