Post by: StinkyPete on May 06, 2016, 09:22:18 AM
My plan was to ride from home to Balranald in NSW and back again. There's a good bakery at Balranald, so that was all the excuse I needed. My ride would take me through the Mallee and through three states. I left home at 0600hrs, and rode east into the dawn glow with a sliver of moon above the horizon. There were several photo opportunities along the way including the Big Mallee Stump at Ouyen which I had never seen before, despite passing through Ouyen many times. The bridge at Toolebuc is always a highlight of this ride. I arrived at Balranald right on lunch time, and sampled the coffee and food and had the following conversation with a bloke walking down the street.
“Nice bike”
“Thanks”
“Where have you come from?”
“Adelaide”
Where are you heading?”
“Back to Adelaide”
“What brought you to Balranald???”
“The pies and coffee are great, and it's a nice day for a ride”
He walked off chatting with his mate and shaking his head. Clearly he didn't get it, but I know that everyone on this forum would understand.
For the return trip, traffic was light and the afternoon was a glorious 25 degrees with a clear sky. As I crossed the border back into SA, it was obvious that the Western Sydney Wanderers fans had been through a few days before, as the “Welcome to SA” sign was plastered with their bits and bobs. Tailem Bend was my last rest stop where I had a cuppa and a snack before riding the last leg home, arriving in time for tea. A great day out .
Here's link to my ride route. https://goo.gl/maps/hQPcnJio8JJ2
Note that I've also published this ride on the FarRiders Forum.
Post by: STroppy on May 06, 2016, 11:26:02 AM
Post by: Gadget on May 06, 2016, 05:53:35 PM
Sent from my GT-N5110 using Tapatalk
Post by: ppopeye on May 06, 2016, 07:30:41 PM
. I missed going to Balranald last year. You picked a great day for it. Well doneSent from my iPad
Post by: StinkyPete on May 06, 2016, 07:44:53 PM
If I had known you were doing that ride, I might have met you there
I was only there for 15-20 minutes, so it might not have been worth the trip for you.
Post by: ppopeye on May 06, 2016, 09:02:25 PM
Sent from my iPad
Post by: ppopeye on May 06, 2016, 09:34:34 PM
Sent from my iPad
Post by: tj189 on May 06, 2016, 09:56:16 PM
Post by: Biggles on May 06, 2016, 10:29:17 PM
I'm reading Peter Egans' second book at present, and living as he does in the north of USA, they too have to get out and use every last good day they can in the "Fall" as they call Autumn. After that, they huddle in their heated sheds and pull their bikes to bits and put them together again. Maybe more than once in a particularly long Winter.
Not an issue here in Brisbane. We're expecting our Winter Day sometime in July- maybe. Or maybe we'll miss out again this year.
Then it's Springtime.
Next time you'll be more comfortable going west in the morning and returning home in the afternoon with the sun in your mirrors rather than your face.
Post by: StinkyPete on May 08, 2016, 08:40:06 AM
A great way to spend a fine day.
Next time you'll be more comfortable going west in the morning and returning home in the afternoon with the sun in your mirrors rather than your face.
I was aware that sunrise and sunset straight in front of me would be a pest, but some strips of insulation tape across the top of the visor provides a good sunshade if I just tilt my head down a little as required. It's only an issue for 30 minutes or so after sunup and before sundown as the sun is moving through 30 degrees per hour.