What a small world (and town)!

Date: 25-03-2010
Day 47: Maude, NSW
Distance cycled: 55km

Goodbye, Hay! Thanks for the nice day off!

Some days we feel the effects from riding more fervently than we do on other days. The distance we rode from Darlington Point to Hay is the longest so far. Taking the heat into consideration, it felt even further than it is. Hence, instead of attempting the 130km stretch from Hay to Balranald with little in between, we cycled to Maude. Maude is a small town, west of Hay, with a population of 60.

While seemingly near, it was still a respectable 3.5-hours ride. If not for the conditions like no wind, little traffic and relatively smooth pavement, it could easily have taken us much longer. Before we left Hay, we ensured that we are well-stocked with food (in our bags and tummies). After a good breakfast of a loaf of $2-cheese-and-vegemite pull-apart bread (yum!) and a chocolate muffin fresh from the bakery, we pedalled away.

We arrived around noon and decided that the rest of the hot afternoon will be better spent in an air-conditioned cabin than boiling in our tent. While we were shown our cabin, someone said, “Lukas, it is illegal to stalk in this country, you know?” Unbelievably, it was James whom we had a brief encounter with outside the Hay Library yesterday! Several hours of the afternoon were spent philosophising about life with James, who is a 69-years old writer and who has WALKED across the Nullarbor.

James reminded Sue of Robert Frost that she learnt in high school in literature class. Then, he recited the 4th stanza of ‘The Road Less Travelled’ which in his opinion, speaks a lot about life. We both agreed.

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference

-Robert Frost

Destinations: [NSW] North Sydney - Heathcote - Coledale - Wollongong - Robertson - Moss Vale - Goulburn - Queanbeyan - Yass - Gundagai - Wagga Wagga - Narrandera - Darlington Point - Hay - Maude