Wed 29 July 2009,

My knee was still aching in the morning, but after looking at my map, I figured I was only 20 miles short of yesterdays original goal of Joy. I would also be passing a river, which was good news. I had enough water for oatmeal, a half litre to drink, and a further half litre to get me to the river. Going was tough, but I just had to grit my teeth and get on with it. I reverted back to pushing on the steeper climbs, which was marginally better for my knee than attempting to cycle. I made the river with a couple of mouthfuls to spare, and filtered another 2 litres which was more than enough to get me to Joy, which was at mile fifty of the Elliot Highway. I got there at about midday, and although it was only about twenty miles, it was more than enough for me.

Joy is s strange little small holding/ settlement. The store is known as the Arctic Circle Trading Post, and after setting up camp by the duck pond, I investigated their supllies of muffins and other assorted goodies. A nice 18 hours without cycling was just what the doctor ordered, so I entered into 'relax' mode, especially, and this was the real bonus, there were no mosquitoes!!! I had some time to spare, so I cleaned through some kit, trimmed my sprouting beard, scratched a few old mosquitoe bites and generally refuelled and rehydrated.

I also got talking to one of the lads there. The conversation started sonmething along the lines of ' Well, my granddaddy had 23 kids' etc etc. So instantly I was on to a winner. Now, all the younger generation do look VERY similar. I thought about checking everyones hands for extra digits or webbing, but it might have been considered rude. The lad I spoke to had this excellent way of clicking his tongue at the end of every sentance, and his favourite word was 'evidently'. Great stuff.