Lightening Ridge to Hebel

Peter Harper has arrived with food – glorious home cooked food! – with wine – delicious red and lovely whites - he also comes with tyres – with tubes – with patches - with the stories that only Peter can tell – with a swag and with his bike – he will ride with Tom tomorrow to Hebel – he has had a long five and half hours from Glen Innis to Lightening Ridge.

A gentle – mild night – we have now really escaped the reach of even the most flexible and elastic of the tentacles of that southern autumn weather – Peter and Tom head off for the 70k’s to Hebal.

"Look Peter - I told you these Cat's-Heads were nasty things - look - look - look at this!" - says Tom

I now understand why caravan parks are keen to have amenities that are constrained by key - this backpacker decided to camp over night in the visitors car park at the caravan park - Of course they would not have considered it appropriate to use the park's facilities - or would they?

The now well behaved van goes on a further tour of the metropolis of Lightening Ridge – of course I exaggerate – in reality, it is just a town in between tiny and small but relative to the Lightening Ridge of 40 years ago it is indeed a metropolis – The ghost of miners past jump out and scream at me – “how could they have done this to me!”  – “I came here to get away from all this – to hide from the world” – “now I have to be careful that one of my ex-neighbours does not emerge from his mobile apartment building and recognise me!”

I head out on the Collaenabrie Road - The ghost of miners past jumps out at me again – “look they have turned my swimming hole into a tourist trap – even the Serbs have built themselves a church” –  Never thought I would see that” – says he – he slinks back from whence he came.

Further along the Ghost of Kevin Rudd jumps out; “Look at what I have done for the town” says he – “Ok Kevin” says I – “What have you done for the town?” – “look – look” says he – “Look at that example of my nation building endeavours” - “Kevin – that is an Aquatic Centre complete with heated indoor pool!” – “yes – magnificent isn’t it” says Kevin – “that may be so Kevin but Lightening Ridge already had a heated swimming pool just down the road” says I – “Yes I know but this project was shovel ready you know!”

“Do you ever get the feeling that someone is listening in on your private conversations with a ghost of prime ministers past?” –  I feel a little uneasy as Kevin talks to me – I feel someone is tapping me on the shoulder – as soon as Kevin’s ghost slips away into the ether the shoulder tapper shows her face – “Yes – Yes – Kevin’s Aquatic Centre would struggle to meet the needs test but on the other hand my efforts for Lightening Ridge are much more appropriate “ – “Oh it is you Julia” says I – “Just look at my indigenous people’s facilities” – says she. I am forced to agree with her!

Oh dear – the time has slipped away – I will have to hurry if I am to meet them for morning tea – out of Lightening Ridge – turn right to Hebel – on to the Castlereagh Highway

The road – straight – relatively smooth – the sun pleasant – the wind just a little into the face – the far verges occupied by woodlands – sometimes wattle – sometimes iron bark – sometimes casuarina – the termites build their edifices among the woodlands.

I am intrigued – what does this sign actually mean – doesn’t it mean it is really a private road on private land and therefore truly private – if so why no gate? – or does it really mean – “listen hear – the council don’t contribute to the maintenance of this road and we haven’t bothered to fence it so it is ours and we don’t want anyone else using it!

The van rushes along in pursuit of the riders – 30k – 40k – 45K – where in the hell are they – they must be flying – 50K – there they are! – just 20k out of Hebel – "Where have you been" they ask - we expected you 5k's back - "you have been flying" says I - "5k's every 12 minutes" says Peter - "Take it easy Tom" says I - "It is easy!" says Tom - "Peter is doing all the work!" - They look relaxed - they look content! 

Look around the lunch site   - Major Mitchell – that man has been everywhere.

On-wards – the Jim Harper Bridge – Peter must have a photo.

Approach the Queensland border - two states down and only one to go - well actually that is not strictly true - far north Queensland could not be considered to be truly a part of Queensland so perhaps Tom has to traverse two more states.

Into the Balonne Shire – overhearing the locals chat at the Hebel pub leads one to the conclusion that the name was not accidental but rather a statement about the nature of conversation when locals gather in community.

Past another tribute to Major Mitchell 

Confess to be pleased that the road to Dirranbandi is open -strange sign given that it is the Castlereagh Highway – arrive in Hebel at the Goodooga Turnoff.

The “Artie-Farties” have conveyed the Dow’s message that the scones and cream at the Hebel General Store cannot be missed – Tom obligies!.

We settle into the sparse but strangely adequate caravan park - the Garmin is downloaded - Strava is uploaded - an easy day! - a rest day tomorrow!

The following is the link to the Strava data for the today's ride

https://www.strava.com/activities/972785565/shareable_images/map_based?hl=en-US&v=1494047134