A new personal record distance!

Date: 31-03-2010
Day 53: Renmark, SA
Distance cycled: 141km (+10km return from McD’s)

After 2 days off in Mildura, it was time to pedal off. We had a late starting with a good breakfast when Sue had what she called a Protein Bomb (soft-boiled egg, cheese and hummous on toast). We departed Mildura leaving behind more weight (some of which we posted) and also without Billy, the blue suitcase. Billy was a gift from Lukas’s mom and has been a loyal round-the-world travelling companion of his for more than 10 years until he decided that it was time to let Billy retire.

Just outside Mildura, we saw a guy cycling without a helmet and in his thongs (as in flip-flop) with some of his belongings strapped to the back of his bike heading the other way. A nod and “Good Morning” was exchanged as we past and moved on. Some distances later, we also went by an aboriginal gentleman on foot. “That must be tough”, we thought.

Our initial goal was to get to Lake Cullulleraine which is only about 40km west from Mildura. Due to excellent conditions, our progress was exceptional and we decided to push on to Renmark after a lunch break at Lake Cullulleraine.

Just before we reached the SA border, a couple towards Mildura pulled over and gave us tonnes of (seemingly giant) fruits which they did not want to bin when they enter the fruit-fly exclusion zone near Mildura. We were grateful and rode on for another several kms before we realised that without a receipt proving the purchase in SA, we would have to bin them too or get fined. So we ate some of the giant plum and pear.

It was late afternoon when we arrived at the quarantine station where all vehicles are checked for fruits coming from VIC or NSW. Fortunately, we were waved through and did not have to unpack all our stuff. We took a break at the service station just after the quarantine station for a refreshing iced coffee and banana milk.

We arrived in Renmark at dusk and were elevated to have achieved a new record in distance! 141km! The distance was extended when we had to start hunting for a not-fully-booked caravan park. The Easter holidays clearly started. We were both relieved to find one on second try just a couple of kms back.
As if our record distance was not enough, we clocked another 10km return to McD’s for a wholesome meal and Internet. It was a long day.

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