Wednesday, Sept 11.

Day 42    (Of cycling).   Shepparton to Yarrawonga.

Distance: 82 km in 3hrs 32min at 23.4 km/hr.

Distance so far: 4135km.

Climbed: 253 ft.

Elevation tonight: 446 ft ASL.

AHR: 109 bpm.

Punctures so far:  3

Out at 8 15am.        In at 1pm.

 Weather looked good as I set out. The day was a series of sunny spells with a weak westerly wind of 10 km/hr which suited me just fine. During the last km into Yarrawonga a light shower started but it came to nothing.

No problems from the back wheel today; no need to stop and give it a blast of the pump. That one piece of wire was the culprit in all three cases, I’m thinking. The good surface of the road helped and I had a wide shoulder for most of the trip.

Leaving Shepparton there was still fruit farms on either side for a few kilometres. Again after about 30 km I moved into another serious fruit area with Pink Lady apples....fields and fields of blossoms.

Grain (wheat) occupied a lot of space together with cattle and sheep. Machinery yards give an indication of the principle agricultural activity in the area. I saw the modern machines lined up and also came across museum farms with equipment from yesteryear...mostly all dealing with grain. As often before, large fields of glowing canola caught my eye especially during a sunny spell.

Irrigation seemed to be more mechanised today; some of the larger irrigation channels were above the level of the road.

I had my morning coffee in Katamatite,a small country town at 46 km. again I had the premises to myself. I tried to access the Historical Society Museum across the road but with no luck. Places haven’t opened up after the winter yet.

Ask approached Yarrawonga, I was in real serious wheat country. Mighty fields but with solitary trees standing supreme on the middle. On the edge of one such crop was a notice explaining why farmers were growing Lucerne.....a low growing legume that is a high protein feed for animals. But this notice spoke of the environmental benefits of the crop.

After 64 km I passed through the area of Burramine, an area with a long Irish heritage from the times of settlement. Irish names are preserved on the roads....Ryan, O’Dwyer, Lawless, Reilly etc. No village now except St Mary’s Church and a sports club. This sports club organises a prestigious 100m sprint competition each year in Yarrawonga with an international field and a considerable prize fund...referred to as the Burramine Gift.

At 1 pm I arrived in Yarrawonga (pop 6000) and checked into the Belmore Motel in the centre of town. It’s a recent town (unlike Bendigo) and is popular with tourists because of the lake, Lake Mulwala. 

A weir was constructed just below the town on the Murray river in order to form a reservoir and the ancient gum trees are still visible above water. All along the Murray are a series of dams and locks for the purpose of irrigation, urban water supply, hydro-electric generation, recreation and flood mitigation.

My first task was to get my hair cut; it had become somewhat straggly after almost two months on the road; less of a load to carry now as a result. 

In the Tourist Information office I got some guidance and headed off for Chinaman's Island, a wetland area adjacent to the town. There were some wildfowl there, but most are gone and haven’t returned yet though I did spot some purple swamphens, black swans and crested cockatoos. I also went below the mighty weir and there, cormorants and pelicans were patiently keeping watch by the fish run.

The proprietors of the motel were most helpful and accommodating and interested in my travels so far. The room is large, airy and well-appointed  with extra cooking facilities should I need them.

In my travels around town in the afternoon, I came across the Remembrance Park. I found it odd to be reminded not to forget and have a few guns pointed at me just in case!

For dinner this evening, I crossed the bridge over the lake just above the weir and dined at the Water Ski Club

A nice short easy day with an early finish. Let’s hope all remaining days are as good.

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