DAY 25 - COLLEAMBALLY NSW

COLLEAMBALLY NSW

DAY 25


I'll probably miss Colleambally.

It has been an unusual and opportune union and I also know that I was meant to be here.

Pushbike John has been the source of some timely support and countless anecdotes about life on the road.

Thanks also to Val for having me here and looking out for my equipment during the sojourn in Melbourne.

And for such a small dot on the map, the locals in Coly should buy themselves a beer.

This place is in the middle of nowhere.

To travel 20 kilometres south of here and there is more outback than in the great Outback itself.

Some of the flattest and barren terrain on the planet is between here and Jerilderie – if it weren’t for the irrigation systems there would be nothing but nothing and a bit of saltbush.

I hope to post some photos in the coming days.

Back to the bike tomorrow and it is all set.

I stocked up on 10 fresh tubes and some other bits in Melbourne.

I have also installed some tyre guards by way of cutting up the used inner tubes and plastering them on the inside walls of all 5 tyres.

Also plastered in my brain is the mandate to NEVER EVER ride across anything other than a sealed road surface between here and Adelaide.

Caution must even be taken around grassed patches in rest areas and caravan parks.

Catheads and other dangerous spurs are absolutely everywhere.

Local knowledge has it that the long drought, followed by solid summer rains between November - February have been a fecund environment for the current plague.
The long hard Cathead spurs puncture tyres immediately on entry and then snap off as the wheel rotates, remaining embedded in the tyre and if not removed, will simply punch holes in fresh tubes as you replace them.

This is exactly why 9 of my 10 tubes were destroyed on Saturday.

Even, today I was still cutting spurs out of my tyres after repeated examination over the past 3 days.

There will likely be more problems, but at least I can go to sleep with good preparation.

The next trip to Melbourne will be my own choice. Mid-May seems like a good time.

I move on tomorrow with apprehension and just a hint of paranoia but will get to my next destination on time and intact.