To avoid a dangerous road, our route changed to take the backroad through Namadgi National Park. The translation of Namadgi is shit roads. Shake rattle and roll along a bumpy track.
Only 2 years ago 80% of the park was destroyed in the bush fire which raged through the area. An amazing amount of vegetation has come back. Nutrients released by the fire are available to growing plants, and there is also abundant light and space. Animals have it tougher but they too have strategies to survive.
Fire causes the opening of woody fruits in resprouting plants such as banksias and ti-trees and seeds are released onto the soil surface after the fire has spread. Epicormic buds also come into play. Ecology is fascinating.
Of course these thoughts were dormant at the time of cycling, as survival is of a higher order. The views helped though as the eyeballs were bouncing around it was difficult to focus at times.
Thankfully this was only for 20 miles or so. The next challenge was a 15mile entrance to Canberra on a maze of cycle paths. Safely navigated, tomorrows rest day awaits……
Travelling reflections 