Day 22 Dirranbandi to Hebel 68 km

I slept in this morning - 6:30 am. I resist the temptation of the bakery and eat muesli in my room. A mistake I find out later as the Dirranbandi Bakery is reputedly fabulous according to the folk at the bar in the Hebel pub. I do have a 2nd helping of muesli because the bag is almost finished anyway.

The main street is quiet as I exit town. All is calm until I turn left to go south. Immediately the wind is in my face. Not as strong as yesterday I think and happily pedal on.

Newly constructed water storage wall

A huge levee appears and runs along the road for several kilometres. I saw a similar one yesterday near St George. I decide to investigate and park my bike under a tree and scramble to the top of the levee. Behind the levee is a huge retaining basin, newly constructed it will hold a lot of water when full. It is empty currently but presumably will be filled by pumping water from the Balonne River at some future time. I wonder what farmers in the lower Darling would think of this. (Cubby Station - the controversial cotton farm is near Dirranbandi)

trees bending in the wind. I was going the other way.

Back at the bike I have to pick thorns from my tyres. The price for wandering off the bitumen. Fortunately I have seen them before they do any damage.

The wind picks up to yesterday's level. It will be a long slow ride to Hebel. I'm not complaining as I knew before I commenced the ride that there would be headwinds. I am out here doing my thing.

The scrub here is as dry as anywhere I have been, it reminds me of the dry flood plain at Overland Corner on the Murray.

As I am riding I hear something snap, I quickly look around and see nothing awry so I continue on. A further 2 km down the road I am passed by a 4 trailer road train. I watch the fourth trailer swing wildly ahead on me as the driver swings back to the left hand side of the ride. It is a good thing I am so easily visible I think and then realise I know what the snapping sound was. Yes my safety flag is gone.

Fortunately the mount for the flag is not broken, it appears the wind has gradually loosened the mount and the flag has come out. I turn around, with wind behind me I rocket bag to where the flag is lying on the road. I reattach it and wrap duct tape around the mount to make it more secure.

 I pass large areas that have been cleared of vegetation in preparation for what? Surely it is too dry for cropping. Dust flies off these fields as the wind howls through.
It is no coincidence that these areas without vegetation are also where I get hit most by the wind.

I potter along using the smaller gears rather than use a lot of energy fighting the wind. Despite the adverse conditions and the countryside I am happy to be out here.
Eventually l make it to Hebel.

Inside the pub - the red T-Shirt guy bought me a beer

There is not much here  - a General Store and a pub both being managed the same couple. Mervyn runs the pub and Kim the General Store. There is free camping behind the pub. After the previous few nights in no star pub rooms I will be back in my tent tonight.

I get a homemade pie and a Coke from the General Store and have chat with Kim. She tells me I can get free shower in the community hall. The pie is excellent, Mervyn tells me later that he helps Kim makes the pies and scones each morning.

The pub is a classic both outside and inside. It is basic with a small bar area decorated in classic country pub fashion. I have a Coopers Pale Ale chatting to other patrons who are also passing through. I have the usual discussions about where I am cycling too, why I am cycling and where the best bakeries have been.

I set up my tent at the back of the pub away from the camper vans. The wind is still blowing so I hammer the pegs into the rock hard ground.