Day 62: 20 December 2014, Saturday.
Today I intended to get to Mildura, only a measly fifty-five kilometres away to the east along the Sturt Highway. I said goodbye to Bob and Jean the fabulous couple I met the previous day and then it was time to ride. It was a light wind to accompany me which was neither here nor there in the hindrance/helpful department so I made good time across the generally flat terrain.
It seemed hardly any effort at all before I had achieved my days destination, Mildura, so I went to the information centre and sussed out what in the way of accommodation for a poor cyclist were available. It come to pass that Mildura is an oppressively expensive place to pitch a tent, think over thirty dollars for a patch of dirt and a shower! Fifteen kilometres out of town though there was a ‘Caravan Park’ that the very nice lady at the information centre said would be the cheapest though she did not have a price available.
So I departed Mildura after a brief visit to a supermarket…
Okay, I Had A Rest As Well…
I crossed the Murray River and was in the state of New South Wales though there were no signs to indicate the arrival to this state. I passed through the villages of Buronga and Gol Gol and then arrived to the ‘Caravan Park’ I was informed about. I went to the reception an enquired as to the price, twenty-five dollars for a powered site, I do not need power but the ‘Caravan Park’ did not have un-powered sites so no discount available. I felt this was too expensive and I really need to conserve my money so I got back on my Surly and hit the road.
Then it all went wrong.
First I noticed the front of my bike felt odd, the front tyre was going flat! Damn!!! I pulled over and repaired the tube as I have not had a flat front tyre so the tube was still in good condition, and found a small sharp stone stuck in the tread. It would have attached itself with the road tar I had noticed stuck to my tyre in Mildura and slowly worked it’s way through the tyre. I was back on the road after half an hour and then after ten kilometres I felt the bike was not handling right. I checked the front tyre… it was getting soft again! And the rear was going flat too!!!!!
It was unbelievable. I repaired both the leaks which left me with only one patch left as well as a new tube. As you can imagine I had had enough for one day, ever since I crossed the bridge to New South Wales it had all gone wrong. But I had to keep on going…
Luck was with me and soon I came across the Gol Gol National Park which had a sign letting me know there were camping areas in there. I went through the park gates and soon was bogged down in sand. The National Park was a sandpit! I had to push my road tyre laden bike and I truly appreciated how heavy the damn thing is! It was only a short way to the camping area which had zero facilities but at least I could pitch my tent under a tree.
The Trail Into Bottle Bend, The Name Of The Camping Area… Notice The Deep Rut My Wheels Have Left…
It was not a nice place to be, there were too many flies. I cooked my food and even though my tent was in the sun still (I always pitch the tent to benefit from morning shade) I clambered into my portable sauna and hid from the flies and sweated it out until it darkened and finally cooled down enough to allow me to sleep…
82.88km 4:01T 20.6A 38.7M Total = 3891
vincentsbikeride 