Day 33 Narrandera to Jerilderie 107 km

foundation in park off the main street in Jerilderie

Someone was vacuuming in the pub at 5:00 am. Not long after other guests were packing up loudly and leaving via the back door. I lay in bed until 5:50 am before getting up. My legs felt stiff and I resolved that I would take it easy today even though it is 105 km to Jerilderie.

Outside it was already 16 degrees so no need of the jacket this morning. There was a cafe close by the pub and it provided coffee and breakfast.

A quick spin around town including chatting to a local who told me of his dispute with a local stock and station agent. Apparently the agent had sold land that he kept his farm machinery on while he was in hospital and he hadn't been able to remove the equipment. Now it is gone and he wants compensation.

Murrumbidgee River

Out of town across the Murrumbidgee river - I've seen where the  Murrumbidgee joins the Murray- this is a river to paddle the kayaks down!

Hurrah! Tailwind - blowing East North East. Sitting on 25 kph comfortably powering along. After 30 km I turn into Morundah looking for a cup of tea. Only a pub here so I set up in the park and make tea on my stove.

not one of the Shepparton cows

Sculptures in park at Morundah

While I am there a truck pulls up with agricultural machinery on the back. I chat with the driver - he and his offsider are spreading fertiliser on a local crop field. He has 2 days to complete the job but the wind is giving him problems.

Back on the road the wind continues to blow me along - I am fortunate to have this wind on this stretch, it is just one big open plain all day. It would have been a long day if the wind was going the other way. The forecast is for 2 more days of northerlies which should help get me close to home.

Lunch is at a lovely Rest Stop at Goonung. I set up in a picnic shelter, boil water for soup and eat my sandwiches. I read a book and relax for an hour. I only have 40 km more to do with this wind I can relax and enjoy a good break.

90 minutes later I rock into Jerilderie and stop and have a chat to a bloke (Lindsay) sitting outside the bakery. He is also a cyclist and has ridden the Munda Biddi Trail in WA. It is on my "to do" list. He is staying in the caravan park - it seems the best option for me too. I head there and get an unpowered site with power. It is actually a powered site but I was only charged for the unpowered rate. It is in a nice quiet corner.

Nice to get set up early as the tent was still a little damp from the rain at Forbes 3 days ago. I enjoyed sitting in the afternoon sunshine relaxing.

I'm 330 km from Melbourne via the most direct route - as that includes the Hume Freeway i will have to go another way.