I woke this morning at 5:36 to the sound of birds tweeting and the bloke in the tent behind my cabin snoring…LOL
It was a hard morning for me. I’d packed up and was ready to go and wham, the flood gates of emotions took hold. The memory of my best friend on the 1 year to the day that she lost her fight with the Black Dog bit hard. So I was delayed a little….so what.
Off to get fuel and opposite the servo is this beautiful church. I’m not religious but spared a moment, to park out the front of it and said a small prayer. I love you Darani and I know you are travelling with me today.
Tamworth Church
Down to the Bicentennial Park for the Lions breakky meet point and wait and wait. Now being as shy as I am, I’ve managed to meet some new friends and we will travel together today…awesome. We get away ahead of the bunch so we can have morning tea in Coonabarabran.
Phil, Kim, me, Shauna & Peter
Shauna & Peter headed back home today so I am riding with Phil & Kim.
In Coona, Kim spotted this lovely park so that’s where we had morning tea. Chatting away about life and the Black Dog Ride and again I am overwhelmed when I explain why this ride in particluar today is so important to me. I’d never met Kim until yesterday but she came round and gave me the biggest hug and let me grieve – thank you.
view from the park in Coonabarabran
On the road again, just can’t wait to…….sorry a bit side tracked. Ah yeah that’s right we’re heading to Gilgandra for lunch by the wonderful Lions Club. The weather gods have turned on a beautiful day, suns out, NO wind (phew) and the breeze is fresh….noice.
What a cruisey day and the scenery is georgeous. Canola fields & wattle trees are the flavour of the day. Wide open spaces, livestock, road trains (must’ve been more than 20 in 150 kays), cotton fields and locals waving at us as we pass through various towns.
Right on 4:00 we roll into Nyngan and are welcomed “to the great outback”
Phil & Kim are camping so they head to get the best pick of sites and I head for my cabin. Now I had a bit of trouble parking the bike on argh gravel….so went and asked for some help. Instead was asked by Simon Bouda to park my bike in place on the grass ready for the news broadcast we was doing. So keep watching CH9 you might see Angel.
Showered and time to socialise now. Quick cuppa with more new friends Noel, Audrey, Colleen & …..oh damn I’ve forgotten her hubbies name, then off to the BBQ for dinner.
Now during the day the “fun police” have been out fining people for various things. And yep, you guessed it, I’ve been fined. Bet ya can’t guess what for though….thinking, thinking….oh ok I’ll tell you…….I was fined $2 for being too organised LOL. I just don’t know what they’re going on about, can you imagine that.
Dinner done, more pics taken of & with new friends and something Dad asked me to get……an autogragh from Angry Anderson. Speeches from the ride co-ordinator and the Mayor of Nyngan along with a generous donation from the town and I’m ready to settle in for the night.
Nyngan digs
So here I am in bed, with the memory of a loved one for who I am dedicating this ride to.
Todays map
Karl I wish you were here.
