West Wyalong to Condobolin

Day 12

The sun is shining – the night has been acceptably cool – breaking free of the tenacles of the southern weather – not completely free yet but her hold on us is becoming increasingly tenuous.

A check of the bike – some inflation supplementation to the tyres to return them to designated pressures. Check the gear – check the pockets – put on the sunscreen - Tom heads off on a 105k run to Condobolin.

The van’s behaviour is impeccable – she is packed down without raising her hoofs in anger – she even yields to ensure the remaining dew on her outer skin does not fall on to the bed clothes as her head is lowered – before I lowered her head I checked the pin in refrigerator door – I checked it again and then I checked it again – I still don’t trust this miscreant!

Tom picks up the Ungarie Road just to the West of West Wyalong – the road is wide and smooth – the cars are sparse and courteous -  the winds are light – the temperatures cool but not by the standards of prior days. 

I pick him up about 30k into the day – I stop to photograph him – he rides past – “damm! – it is uphill all the way!”  says he.

I pass Tom and about 1 kilometre later the van and I are forced to swerve severely in order to avoid an echidna – I stop – I photograph it – I get the van moving again – then I realise – I have seen that echidna before - I am sure it is the same echidna that Tom photographed on the second day of his ride down in Victoria – judge for yourself.

Firstly Tom’s photo on the second day....

  and then my photo today.

Absolutely the same Echidna!

All this time I have been marvelling at Tom’s riding and the speeds he averages – I thought they were impressive – but I now realise that it is the echidna’s speed that I should be impressed with! – now I am not saying that the echidna is faster than Tom since that would be plainly ridiculous – Everyone knows that echidnas are not smart enough to stop for rest days so he would have continued to travel while Tom was resting in Albury – nevertheless Tom will need to be careful otherwise this fellow will beat him to the Cape! 

A little further up the road – I need to rub my eyes – Is that Tom on the road in front of me – no – it is another bike rider – this is Saturday morning so he is out for his Saturday morning ride – the first riders we have seen on the trip.

Tom turns right on the Gipps Way towards Condobolin – he has reached the end of the climbing – all downhill for 70 kilometres - the road smooth – the winds still light – the weather very pleasant.

I continue on to Ungarie – I am in search of the birth place of those doyens of the café scene – the ladies at Muriel’s on David Street – you see Ungarie is not just famous for its football genes.

Into the town.

Not a lot of obvious activity – it is early Saturday morning after all – search for Muriel Street – round and round – “you are on the wrong side of the tracks you fool!” – “you should have known that these fine ladies would not have come from the wrong side of the tracks” - cross the tracks – there is the church – there is Muriel Street – photograph the miscreant with the Muriel street sign and the local church in background.

Wander further along Muriel Street – how safe must this street be – one house has it bicycle racks on the nature strip – kid’s bikes stand supported by the racks without a lock in site!

Time to attend to my escort duties – return to the route – great road – smooth – acceptably wide – straight – good visibility – good weather.

I catch Tom about 50ks into his ride – search out a suitable lunch spot – over Humbug Creek – there is Ridley’s Rest Area – that will do.

Leave Tom with 50k to go to Condobolin – the road continues to be smooth and acceptably wide –  the wind light and temperatures very acceptable

Reach Condobolin.

The van is set up – how did the miscreant behave – not too bad actually – she gave one little kick but it did not hurt – somehow she had managed to loosen the grip of the door hanger bolt allowing to drop to the floor as the bed where slid into position – I am inclined to thing that it may have been an involuntary act on her behalf since the rest of the setup proceeded without further resistance – the frig door remain pinned - one could almost be forgiven for thinking that she has finally been broken it!

A nice caravan park on the banks of the Lachlan – the Condobolin Weir just behind the van.

Tom arrives – he had averaged 24.5kph for 104.9k – 4 hours 17 minute and 5 seconds moving time - 4 hours 41 minutes elapsed time - he snacks on pasta – does some washing – indulgences in a nanna nap. 

I wander into town for a look around and to replenish the store of bananas and bread. Saturday in Condobolin sees the town quiet – cars are parked into two distinct clusters – one around the supermarket – the other – a much larger cluster – around the pub – nice town.

 I walk into the pub to watch a horse race – eyes turn to me – the eyes say “who in the hell is this -  I don’t know him” – order a beer – watch the Eagle Farm race for Two Year Olds – leave delighted for connections of St. Patricks Day – two wins from two starts – I have a thrilled eldest daughter! – “I can’t talk to you now Dad – I have to pat the horse!”

Think of Graeme Moncreiff

Sit outside in lovely gentle sunshine while Tom naps  - enjoy – enjoy – I can feel the tentacles of the southern weather starting – just starting to loosen their grip on us! – This will never do - Tom’s store of pasta is running low – time to cook some more! – “on second thoughts – no – bugger it! – there is enough for another couple of days – sit and enjoy the sunshine”

Oh – that is nice – Tom’s bike and the miscreant have developed an attachment albeit one enforced by a bike lock but nevertheless they look very relaxed in each other’s company – perhaps the bike will have a good influence on her!