Cycling Ravensthorpe to Stokes Inlet, Western Australia (approx 114kms)
October 28th 2006 01:59
This is another long day of rolling roads which gradually iron out closer to Stokes Inlet National Park. Unfortunately, the closer you get to your destination, the worse the road surface becomes. It was a real battle to ride in a straight line on the verge and out of the way of roadtrains when rattling and bumping over corrugations and jerking over ruts, potholes and hard to see ridges.
Roadworks were underway close to the new mine near Ravensthorpe and you may even see some of your new roadworker friends from the Ravensthorpe caravan park. Perhaps they will improve the road surface at some stage soon.
Around 70-80kms out of Ravensthorpe, the only roadhouse is on your right hand side. It is run by a grumpy dude and hasn't much in the way of supplies so stock up in Ravensthorpe.
Across the road is a shaded park with tables where you can use the loo and fill your water bottles up. Make sure you do as there isn't any more water until you hit Esperance. There is an info map in the park showing exactly where the Stokes Inlet National Park is.
The Stokes Inlet National Park Campground is reached via an 8-10km gravel side road on the right hand side. The surface is pretty good though it is sometimes corrugated and has some deep sections of gravel.
It was a beautiful ride in the late afternoon sunlight with kangaroos leaping across the track ahead. It cost us $10AUS/2pax/night to camp. In peak times there may be camp caretakers but otherwise you need to pay at the pay station on the left hand side and attach your ticket to the outside of your tent for the ranger to check later.
There are three camping areas. We chose the one closest to the main road. It had a pit toilet and cozy corners to pitch tents but no water. There is no fresh water at Stokes Inlet so fill up in Ravensthorpe or in the Roadhouse on the way. The campsite closest to the water reputedly gets lots of snakes.
More roadtrains on the treacherous road to Stokes Inlet National Park, WA
Roadworks were underway close to the new mine near Ravensthorpe and you may even see some of your new roadworker friends from the Ravensthorpe caravan park. Perhaps they will improve the road surface at some stage soon.
Around 70-80kms out of Ravensthorpe, the only roadhouse is on your right hand side. It is run by a grumpy dude and hasn't much in the way of supplies so stock up in Ravensthorpe.
Across the road is a shaded park with tables where you can use the loo and fill your water bottles up. Make sure you do as there isn't any more water until you hit Esperance. There is an info map in the park showing exactly where the Stokes Inlet National Park is.
The Stokes Inlet National Park Campground is reached via an 8-10km gravel side road on the right hand side. The surface is pretty good though it is sometimes corrugated and has some deep sections of gravel.
Guido riding the access road to the Stokes Inlet National Park Campsite
It was a beautiful ride in the late afternoon sunlight with kangaroos leaping across the track ahead. It cost us $10AUS/2pax/night to camp. In peak times there may be camp caretakers but otherwise you need to pay at the pay station on the left hand side and attach your ticket to the outside of your tent for the ranger to check later.
There are three camping areas. We chose the one closest to the main road. It had a pit toilet and cozy corners to pitch tents but no water. There is no fresh water at Stokes Inlet so fill up in Ravensthorpe or in the Roadhouse on the way. The campsite closest to the water reputedly gets lots of snakes.
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