Sunday, August 25

.

Day 29.        Salt Creek Roadhouse    to   Robe.

Distance:133 km in 4 hrs 56 min at 26.8 km/ hr.

Distance so far: 3019 km .

Climbed: 817 ft.

Elevation tonight : 47 ft ASL.

AHR:122 bpm.

Punctures so far:  0

Out at 7.15 am.          In at 1 pm.

 

A mixed day with a pleasant ending.

Cyclist 11 (of 15) John (NSW) originally from England; always sure to have a literary input at bush- camp. Knowledgable re bicycle mechanics.

Cyclist 12 (of 15). Jim (NZ) Roomed with us a number of times; has used my tent. Doesn't mind the cold.

Today was a mixed day. It started pleasantly enough at Salt Creek Rodhouse with a nice sunrise and wildfowl flying across the morning sky. At briefing for today’s route, time was given to Annie whose birthday occurs today...the 6th  of the group. She received a cap, a card and chocolates.

Before I moved off, I had to address an issue with the bike. The headset seemed very stiff and clicking from position to position. This had just occurred in the last two days. Apparently, I had tightened the top screw too tightly and was putting excessive pressure on the bearings. I found it hard to believe as I hadn’t touched that screw since Perth. However, today the steering felt much looser and more normal. Hope that I don’t have to worry about that again.

As I pulled out of the park at Salt Creek, I could hear the waves crashing on the seashore across the Coorong. Sounded as if. There was a motorway with road - trains just over the dunes. Calls of birds and swamp life set us on our way.

The morning was promising with some blue visible in the sky. Also the forecast was good for this region. An assisting tailwind helped and we all made good progress.

This fair weather lasted for the first 70 km but dark cloud could be seen moving in to cut us off. We had morning tea before this change in weather and each one dropped their bike on the ground, with derailleur uppermost always. This is not a pile-up as seen on Tour de France.

As the day moved on we came to the end of the Coorong with giant sand dunes near us on the right. Fields appeared on both sides.

 

From 70 to 120 km the rain blew in from the right. The rain gear was on and I was prepared to stay in it for the rest of the day. Our lunch stop was to be in Kingston SE during this time. It was arranged for the foreshore, but due to weather it was brought back 3 km or so to a BP station. I just used my food box before moving on.

Actually,Kingston was labelled as the Gateway to the South East....not the sunny south east on my experience today.

After Kingston, while it was still raining, I passed along by the golf club. Nobody out playing on any of the fairways I saw, and not a single car in the club car park.

Today I passed the 3000 km mark. Another 800 or so to Melbourne and then another 1000 for me to Sydney. The roads today were rougher than previously. It felt that I was cycling on a corrugated surface. The surface was solid but it seems that the groundwork underneath was defective or just unstable. I continually needed to seek out the best line to take. 

 

After Kingston SE I came across planted forestry again. But, this time it was referred to as Carbon Bank. It’s unusual to see lines and lines of plantation over here. This is only the second time I’ve come across it.

At 120 km (about 13 km from destination) the slanting rain stopped and blue skies appeared again. I removed the rain gear although I was pretty well soaked inside. I hoped to end the day on a good note. Shadows appeared on the road again and I did arrive in Robe on a positive note.

We three, (Paul, Woody and I) checked onto Cabin 6 with Woody getting the queen bed as it’s his turn. (my turn at the next stop in Port Gambier). It’s a lovely cabin on an elevated part of the Lakeside Tourist Park (owned by a family of Moloneys). Lovely view out over the lake this evening.

The hot shower was Número UNO on the agenda once I was in the cabin. It washes away all the negative feelings after rain etc. 

Then, I really enjoyed a pot of tea. Tea bags have been available at all stops but it meant making the tea in a cup. Not for me. Tea just has to be made on a heated pot and allowed to draw on the ring. I really enjoyed it with a banana sandwich. Life can be so simple!

However, I didn’t have much time to savour the views around as jobs had to be done....laundry, shopping,cleaning the bike and attending to dinner. Those are done now, so I’m free to investigate Robe and its attractions tomorrow.

 I prepared a lovely meal of steak, potatoes, stir fry and a little glass of wine. I felt that I deserved it.

Tomorrow is the second last Rest Day. Hope that’s it’s fine so that I can be off on the bike to its various attractions.

Thank God for the health and thank God for the energy.