I’m going to work today backwards so I don’t forget things……
After a long days ride I arrived in Lightning Ridge at around 4:30pm – totally exhausted, it was a hard days ride.
Made it – Lightning Ridge
The last 60 kays from Walgett to Lightning Ridge were the scariest kays I think I have ever done. I almost thought I was in a native fauna ZOO!!! Let’s start with the Emu. Now scouting the roads (which BTW aren’t the greatest) I spotted these poles (cos there are poles just there in the middle of nowhere) but then one of them there poles moved – YIKES!!!! Emu and lots of them scattered about for the next 20 kays…..nerves were high and spidee senses were going ballistic. Once I got past the emu the roos started. Talk about dead roo alley (and fresh too), the living ones were everywhere and camouflaging themselves very well as trees!! Big buggers too! But there were quite a few small ones. This reduced my speed some what as it was just way to risky. Now for the one and only Bore (thank goodness he was having a sleep without breathing). And now lets talk about sheep – stupid creatures. They decided to join forces with the skippy-roos and just played havoc with the last 40 kays.
I did manage to see Stanley the Lightning Ridge sculpture just out of town.
Stanley the Emu (made from VW Beetle parts)
Into my digs and set up camp, just as it turned dark. There was so much rain today, everywhere is wet but I managed to get a reasonable camp site for tonight.
Camp Kimmie
A late lunch was in Coonamble (an unscheduled stop) as I was getting tired. I was awake at 3:00am and couldn’t get back to sleep and it was catching up with me. A terrible toasted ham, cheese and tomato sandwich and a juice was lunch, grabbed some fuel and that was it.
Coonamble roadhouse
Angel has been using more fuel on this trip so far than I am used too….not sure why. Could be the extra truck load of weight she’s hauling, the head winds I struck and the mountains of rain that just wouldn’t let up til Dunedoo. So I rang Karl just to check and will be monitoring as I go.
Out the door this morning at 6:00am into the rain that hadn’t stopped all night ARGH!!! It bucketed and bucketed and just continued. So I changed plan and headed straight up the freeway to the Hunter Expressway and then started heading inland. I chose this route so I could do some roads that I haven’t travelled before. Sometimes I think just slabbing it might be best….something to think about!.
So that’s day 1, not a lot to report and even less pics cos of the rain.
Gallahs on poles near Gulargambone
Sunset just out of Lightning Ridge
