Perth to Ravensthorpe

I thought I'd have another go at a blog, since I'm having another go at a long bike trip. Well, not as long as the ones I used to do in Europe with Hannelore, but a reasonable distance, it's 480k the way I'm going, cheating by taking the train out to Challis Station on the Armadale line.
Not that keen on riding with full panniers through the suburbs, in fact, I've never done it, and another fact is that I've never done a full pannier tour in Australia.
Challis Station brought me out on the closest route to the start of Brookton Highway, which goes up the Darling Scarp through Roleystone, and you reach the top at the easternmost point of that suburb.
It wasn't easy going, with the weight and the adverse wind.
It continued to be difficult after that as well, because it was quite hot, and because of the wind there were very few "free runs" down hills without peddling. I would have used up the whole three litres of water, that I carried, but managed to score several bottles from fellow travelers.
Anyway, I made the 85k to the camp I selected, set up here, had dinner, and so far have had only one episode of cramp.