Watch out for male kangaroos!

Date: 26-03-2010
Day 48: Balranald, NSW
Distance cycled: 95km

Recognizing how the high-UV from the afternoon sun is not only bad for our health, it also always made the last 10km to the next destination in the heat somewhat agonizing. We trialled a new strategy: leaving in the wee hours of the morning. We left Maude before 5:30am.

Traffic was close to none as we rode south towards the Sturt Highway where we continued west to Balranald. While we were equipped with enough lights on our bikes, it was a still little spooky not being able to see beyond the road in front of us. Perhaps that is why Sue was especially talkative that morning. ;) In spite of that, the stars viewed in complete darkness cannot be more magical and magnificent.

We made good distance when the morning sun finally shone on our backs. We also saw several road signs to watch out for male kangaroos. Only the males. ;p

We arrived around 12:30pm in Balranald. The Balranald Caravan Park located along the Murrumbidgee River was a very nice and well-maintained park. We checked out the town for lunch and the bakery saved the day! Our new strategy to leave early worked well as our early arrival gave us several hours more to check out the town and recuperate.

With more time left to savour the day, we took a dip in the caravan park’s pool with our chilled drinks at hand. Paul, Bob, Tom and Mick joined us under the sun shade at the pool area with their chilled beer at hand. ;) We both enjoyed a fun and laidback chat with these nice blokes who came from the neighbouring town of Swan Hill for the fishing competition this weekend held at the caravan park itself. (That explains all the trucks pulling into the park with their boats in tow!) Yes Bob, we will try to consider holding up our bikes and flinging it off a cliff when we successfully made it to Perth!

Hope you guys had some good catch of Murray cods and Yellowbellies!

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

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