A Rest Day in Warren

Tom arrived in Warren about 1:30pm yesterday afternoon – about 88ks into a head wind but without sufficient elevation to cause him distress or force him to contemplate whether or not this challenge that he has set himself is foolhardy – he arrived tired and pleased that he had a rest day in front of him.

Looking at the bike as it snuggled up to the former miscreant van, it seemed almost as it was feeling the effects of the relentless pressure on its pedals and the endless rotation of its wheels - it seemed to radiate a sense that it was anxious to have a day off and to enjoy some re-inflation of its shoes, a tightening of its drive tendons and something to lubricate its aching joints.

Tom on the other hand seemed more interested in ensuring that the washing facilities at the Riverside Caravan Park could appropriately have their capabilities brought to bear upon his stock of well used riding attire – the bike seemed to become immediately less stressed when Tom was overheard to say that he would have a good look at it tomorrow, tighten its chain and generally give it a little love and attention.

Even the chief cook and bottle washer was looking for a night off – off to the club for dinner – neat and tidy – staffed by people who would not find even the highest standards of cheerfulness and politeness that could be imposed upon them in any way a challenge – the meal? -  typical of the faire that would normally be expected from such an establishment – less typical was the reality that the steak was indeed tender and tasty – perhaps Warren is sufficiently remote for the club management not to be aware that it is indeed not normal for them to entertain the notion that a steak served in their establishment should be tender or to be tasty. 

It is 4:30am – the Toyota diesel parked beside our van is booted into life – our neighbour is clearly headed out to the cotton fields to fulfill his duties to the harvest – some of his fellow workers emerge from their mobile homes and follow him out of the park – a little later in the early morning other workers engaged in other industries and occupations emerge from their temporary caravan park accommodations to attend to employment duties – fluoro vests glow in the breaking light! – we drift back to sleep awaiting a more respectable hour!

We arise, later, much later than normal – it is a rest day after all – Tom is off even before breakfast to load his used attire into the park’s excellent washing facilities! – waits till they are ready to be hung on the line then he wanders off into the town – paper – cake – a drink – easy – slow – back the van – “not much in town” says he. A book is produced – some reading time in the sun.

I wander off to what appears to be one of the very few tourist attractions in town – “Window to the Wetlands” – a large outdoor poster display covering the geography, biology, climate and wildlife of the Macquarie Marshes and the Murray Darling Basin – it is set adjacent to a relocated church building which houses a coffee house cum café – the cafe was hosting both the touring art exhibition called the “Outback Archies” and some examples of the work of local indigenous artists.

The poster display is impressive and the café more than you would expect at such a display – as impressive as the display is it left me feeling a angry that the generous space in the church building is not used to house audio-visual presentations in support of the poster display – angry because it seems to me that only a minor additional capital expenditure could have seen the attraction go from something that is pleasant and interesting to something approaching a first class tourist destination.

The “Outback Archies” display? – good but not great – the work of the local indigenous artists? – again – good but not great – the latter looked technically excellent but lacked that something that makes a painting seem like it wants to have a discussion with you.

Back to the van – it is approaching lunchtime – I tell Tom about the “Window on the Wetlands” site and its café – he is off – his lunch awaits him!

As I wander back thought the park I am greeted by the resident lawn mowing attendant walking around in circles constrained by the stout rope attached to the neck.

I head into town for shopping and a tour of the town –  I think back to some of the comments made to us before we headed off - “What are you stopping in Warren for” – says one – “Be careful in Warren” says another – I rapidly reach the conclusion that they are confusing Warren with somewhere else! – neat and tidy – hardly a derelict house in the town – people polite – well dressed – lots of extremely presentable houses – even the less grand are well maintained – up one street – down another – turn – turn – the overwhelming impression is of a nice working class town – one suspects that the unemployment rate is low and that the town has a mutually supportive relationship with the agricultural industries that surround it.

I return – the bike seems to be in seventh heaven – its chain is taut and glistening – its tyres black and pleasantly firm – it is tucked up safely in the arms of its friend!

The chief cook and bottle washer’s time off expires as tea time approaches – we dine on a staple of meat and three vegetables – while we eat at 6:00pm, our neighbour arrives home from his day in the cotton fields – his mates also drift in – a long day for them all -they gather around the barbeque just outside the van – they talk of their day – of their experiences here – there – everywhere – who they have worked for – what they think of them – who treats them well and who is not so inclined – their meat cooks – the barbeque is turned off – they wander away – we now understand why we needed to spend so much time cleaning the barbeque before we were game to place our food upon it – clearly this is not an appropriate way to think about barbeques for these fellows seem to be thriving on their theory that if you get the barbeque plate hot enough then it is self-sterilising.

“Goodnight" says Tom - "it is 8:30" - "it has been a nice relaxing day" says he.