Sunday Beside The Sea Part 1: Myponie Point Road to Tickera

On Sunday morning a small breeze ruffled the calm waters of the Spencer Gulf.  Little boats puttered out of the marina and bigger boats followed them, all of them seeking the best spot to fish or drop their crab pots.  It was too nice a day to stay at  home.

Take two on the road to Tickera via Myponie Point Road, with backup organised in case of flat tyres.

Myponie Point Road hugged the coast from Point Riley to Black Rock and just begged to be cycled, so off I went to do just that.  Point Riley lay a scant 3km from home via an unrideable beach, forcing me to cycle 6km the long way round on a little gravel road with just enough sand and corrugations to keep me awake.

Point Riley at the end of the road.

The silos at Wallaroo were still clearly visible from Point Riley.

The little boats that had puttered out from the marina while I had my breakfast were anchored in the coves and shallows along the shore, separated from each other by polite distances so as not to break fishing etiquette but close enough so that everyone could spy on everyone else's fishing spot to determine where the fish- and crab-related action might be.

The one thing Myponie Point Road did not have was ponies.

Coming as I did with low expectations, Myponie Point Road delivered on a perfect cycling experience.  Where other coastal roads huddle on the wrong side of the sand hills, Myponie Pt Road curled along the cliff tops and extended its fingers down to the beach at every opportunity.  If other coastal roads bogged me with sand and rattled my teeth with corrugations, Myponie Pt Road kept me comfortably on my toes whilst allowing me to appreciate the wide reaches of ocean mottled with dark meadows of sea-grass, the ledges of seaweed along the shore, and the cormorants that decorated the pink nubbins of rock at the foot of the headlands.

If other roads gave savage ups and downs through coastal gullies, Myponie Pt provided comfortable downhill coasts and uphills that were politely challenging and ended with wide views of the Spencer Gulf and the fishing shacks huddled just above the high tide line.

Some shacks small and weather-worn, others a little grander.  Some (not pictured here) more aptly called mansions.

I took my time, stopping at the top of every hill to take too many photos. 

I ate my banana overlooking a cluster of fishing shacks where two kayaks waited patiently for paddlers.

Beside me, clusters of last year's tumbleweeds festooned the fence.

I could have ridden along Myponie Point Road for ever but alas, no road lasts forever and Myponie Point was no exception.  In what seemed like no time at all I reached Black Rock and had to turn my back to the sea and strike out across an ocean of wheat.

Goodbye, Myponie Point Road.  I enjoyed our time together.

Neat rows of stubble marched to the horizon.

Farmers conducted important harvest discussions beside headers.  I waved.  They were too busy to notice me.

I turned north toward Tickera, finally passing the point of last week's puncture with a shudder of puncture-related flashbacks. 

Onward!  A tailwind blew me along, and the fly net came into its own.  After Myponie Pt Rd, this was just a tad underwhelming.

I found a spot overlooking the sea in Tickera, and settled in to wait for Roger. 

Could be worse.

So ended the cycling section of Sunday Beside the Sea.  I'll tell you about the rest of the day in a minute.  In the meantime should you find yourself in Wallaroo with a bicycle, don't hesitate to ride along Myponie Point Road.  

You won't regret it.