Home to Renmark
Now the time stamps on the camera photos are wrong as I forgot to set the time before I left, however the time stamp on my phone pics are correct.
Surprisingly, I was out the garage on time and up to get fuel and my start docket before 7am.
The fog, potholes, wildlife & black ice has been pretty bad on the Murray Valley Highway lately, so I made the decision earlier in the week to go out through Walwa, Jingelic to Holbrook and then meet the freeway, which turned out to be the right choice. Fog was still pretty bad and the going was slow but safe.
20kms out of Holbrook and its all sunshine and lollipops and stayed this way for the rest of the day.
Take the Yarrawonga exit and head out to Corowa for fuel and an unscheduled fuel stop and a coffee for me. Back out and through to Deniliquin for the next fuel stop. Nothing exciting to report, just fresh air and lots of road trains in both directions. The Canola fields are starting to show their colour and are all over the place.
Up the Cobbs Hway and take the Pretty Pine turn off. There are lots of road works on the Moulamein/Kyalite Rd, dodging one hole or gravel to miss another. Came across one set of lights that had a physical timer on them…first time I’ve seen this on a road work site.
The skies are as blue as with wispy clouds all over the place. The telegraph soldiers still line this road and I gave then a tiny salute as I rode past them.
A combination of cross and head winds along this stretch was unrelenting and there wasn’t many vehicles on this road and thankfully for that as the dodging of road repairs & bad surfaces was insane. Compared to home it’s warming up and by the time I get to Balranald for lunch, it’s time to peel off some layers and a balmy 26 degrees.
Coming into Euston and since the last time I was through here there are so many changes – housing estates and new factory/warehousing amazing have popped up everywhere.
It’s an absolutely beautiful today the skies have been like this for nearly the entire time. Oh boy, I’ve missed this, riding around the country smelling and seeing all that is out there to offer.
Into Mildura, checked out where my motel is for the return trip and out the other side in no time. However, head winds meet me now. I’ve been cruising nicely with the cruise control but now doing calculations and decide to make an adjustment to ensure I reach Renmark on the one tank.
The sun is starting the lower now and at that awkward position as I spy the “Welcome to South Australia” sign, naturally have to stop. Naturally all the cars and trucks I’ve overtaken now pass me on the side of the road…LOL.
In Yamba check point for the mandatory inspection, the guy is very nice and laughed when I told him all I had was hot chocolate and porridge in an esky in my top box. The surprised look on his face when he witnessed the truth of my cargo was priceless….LOL.
Into Remark, fueled up, checked in and off for Chinese down the road for dinner.
A big day for me and Dudley, total of 894.5 kays for the day – a bit more than I’d planned but all things considered (lack of ride fitness) , I feel pretty good. Qualified ride for SCDR 800 completed.
