I’d been warned by the permanent campers last night that I would freeze overnight in my bivy. Fortunately, they underestimated the warmth the Outdoor Research bivy combined with a good sleeping bag and thermal liner provide. I was toasty and warm all night. So much so that I slept in until almost 6am. Not a…
I am woken well before dawn by the sound of feet moseying around my bivy. They sound heavy on the rocks that surround my little patch of grass under a pine tree. It’s not what I would expect to hear at 4:30am so I am a little confused at first. It’s too dark to see…
The fog is sitting heavily in the Barraba area again, just as it was ten days ago when I was last here. I only have 65km to ride to Bingara so I have time to sit out the fog. Besides, it was too cold to get out of my sleeping bag this morning so I…
There are two routes from Gunnedah to Barraba: the Oxley Highway route that I took on my way down and the gravel road that ends at the Lions Park where I camped just outside Barraba. The latter route is 25km (15 miles) shorter than the former but, rather than going around the mountains, it crosses…
My second time watching the sunrise from the Lions Park in Premer is as good as the first time I saw it last week. What’s not to like about watching the thin sliver of red become a band of orange and then a gleaming blue sky as the big red ball of fire rises from…
For some reason I didn’t sleep well last night at Black Stump. The place felt strange to me. There was nothing visible to give me that sense. I just felt like it wasn’t a settled place and that we weren’t meant to be camping there. Weird because it’s a favourite stop for many grey nomads…
It may have rained and blown a gale most of the night but I found my stay at the Cassilis Rest Area particularly restful. I can’t put my finger on what it was about the night but perhaps it was just the pure pleasure of hobo camping for a night. That’s sometimes how I feel…
I start this post by acknowledging the Wiradjuri People as the Traditional Owners of the lands through which I’ve been cycling the past few days. And I recognise their sovereignty over their lands. I pay my respects to the Wiradjuri elders past, present and future, and thank them for allowing us newcomers to this land…
Despite being able to sleep in, I wake before the sun as is becoming my habit on this tour. It’s drizzling but the tree I am under protects me from the worst of the weather. I get up and head to the camp kitchen to do a spot of work before the dawn. Once the…
I feel rested after my comfortable night inside the camp kitchen. It’s been dry and warm. I’m packed and ready to ride just as daylight overtakes darkness so I head out onto the road. The long gentle downhill I enjoyed late yesterday afternoon continues for the first few kilometers of today’s ride and it boosts…
Looking For 42 