Day 157

Date:- 18 August 2010
Distance:- 91.79 Km
Distance to Date:- 9347.50 Km
Start:- Overlander Roadhouse Caravan Park
Finish:- Nerrin Nerrin Rest Area
Comment:- Up at 6 am this morning, packed and over to the café for breakfast. Julie, the shop assistant filled my water bottles and I was set to go.

I was on the road by 7.45 am. Nice cool morning, little cloud cover. I have got to slow down a bit as I find I am pushing a little to get to my destinations. Slow down and enjoy the scenery. I started to sing to myself (I don’t think I am going mad):-
Oh what a beautiful Morning
Oh what a beautiful Day
I’ve got a wonderful feeling
Everything’s going my way.

I had mobile phone coverage up to 30 km out from the Overland Roadhouse. Road is more undulating than the last few days and a light south westerly wind is starting to come in, a head wind.

A sign on the road said “Overtaking Lane 5 Km Ahead”. Generally that means I may have a few hills to contend with shortly. A couple of the hills did need some special attention.

Arrived at the Billabong Roadhouse about 11.30 am, had a pie and chips and a drink then set off again about 12.39 pm.

Little patches of white everlastings every now and then also some pink ones as well as different wildflowers.

We have had 62 km or probably more of dead straight road. Finally a bend to the right from south east around to about due south.

About 80 km out from the Roadhouse a white van stopped in front of me. I get nervous when this happens. It was the gentleman who played the mandolin in the Lyndon Creek Rest Area. He offered me some water and a few pieces of fruit

Finally arrived at my destination of the Nerrin Nerrin Rest Area and quickly found the steel shelter, parked the bike and trailer and sat down to catch my breath. A couple of people, as usual, wandered over and enquired about my journey.

Decided to erect my tent under the roof secured by rope and straps. No sooner had I set up camp, we were hit with a shower of rain which lasted about 30 minutes. Paul the gentleman who offered me water a couple of days ago pulled up and set up camp near me. He makes a very nice cup of coffee. Latter on he offered me tea. Comprised of sweet potatoes, an onion and half his nice piece of steak. I cooked it up and we enjoyed a nice red wine with our tea.

We were then invited to join other travellers at their fire and Paul produced a couple of Crown Lagers. Went down very well, as did the next couple. About 10 pm it was decided we should retire for the night. It was quite a cold evening.