Barham to Wood Wood – 67 miles & 156m climbed

I was sorry to leave Barham, it was idyllic beside the Murray River. However, it does give me the opportunity to briefly talk about the wildlife, not the cuddly chaps we all want to see but those hateful ones with six or eight legs.

At the site at dusk and dawn I got bitten to death. I did apply some spray on my legs but I still got bitten on my elbows and hands. This had me searching out my medical container in the tent to rub on some after bite cream. This is a constant campsite hazard but even if you’re not bitten by mosquitos other insects get everywhere! When I emptied my washing from the tub at the launderette in Deniliquin a large dead cockroach beast suddenly appeared. Needless to say it was very clean and if it had got soggy the spin programme removed all moisture. In Barham, at a bakery, I reached into the zip up part of my wallet where I keep change. Out came several coins and a small spider. As I was in a food shop I quickly swept it off the counter and went into my best Morris dancer impersonation as I attempted to follow and stamp on it.

However if those occurrences are intermittent then on the road any time I stop to, say, find my sunglasses, grab a Haribo, switch off a podcast etc I will immediately have flies on my face. The blighters are often in my eye socket or on my cheek walking toward my eye socket. You get used to it but it’s not fun. Also don’t get me started on ants…

So after a coffee and my daily bacon and egg sandwich I trundled along. The start is always at a reasonable temperature and you’re fresh. However eventually the sun starts to beat down, the headwind always appears and to add to all this then the locals had been talking about how hot this day would be. They were not wrong. This was at Swan Hill. Look at the temperature on my computer:

I drink, drink and drink all the time. Earlier blogs images show all the water I carry. I also have some electrolyte tablets I add. When I get to my destination I keep drinking until my urine changes from the colour of Scotch whiskey to weak tea. It’s vital. However your appetite falls off a cliff and I do carry stuff that I do fancy even if it’s energy bars or sweets.

My biggest hope on the road is that I can often find shade and a seat/bench. These are few and far between. However, to climb off the bike and sit on another type of seat in the shade is a real delight.

Today I had some serious miles to complete. Late in the afternoon the campsite at Wood Wood came into view. The site mainly accommodated fruit pickers/ machine operators who worked shifts. The Murray River has an immense amount of fruit cultivation.

I checked in at the Office and bought some baked beans to have with some bread. Very kindly, as it was the end of the day, I was given a free steak pie! The camp fee was only A$21. The owner was an Aussie but married to an Englishman. She told me about visits by her in-laws from England. Apparently the father and step mother were sweeties but the mother and step father were pains!

However, what an evening it was: still 40°C and the site had no air conditioned rooms to escape to. I mooched about absolutely fried. I drank two litres of water and pop just rehydrating from the ride. It was miserable and oppressive. As nightfall began I crept into my tent and lay there and perspired. I even popped out of the tent to remove most of the fly sheet.

However soon the wind picked up dashing the loose fly sheet everywhere. I got out to secure it again. Sleep was a fitful affair but by early morning the temperature had fallen and I even found myself inside my sleeping bag.