DAY 34 - MILDURA VIC

MILDURA VIC

DAY 34

ROBINVALE - MILDURA

101.32 km

Total Time – 09.50 – 16.50 (7h)

Time on Bike – 5h 16m 40s

Max. Speed – 42 km/h

Av. Speed – 19.2 km/h


A late start today – no particular reason other than I felt like staying in the bed awhile longer.

Just as well really, as it was coming down rain at 7 am and by 9.30 everything was dry, including the tent.

Good conditions for riding then, with a good cloud cover and cool temperatures, once again.

The light tended on gloomy all day – the sun making only a short appearance around midday.

So after a feed up in nearby Euston, it was away towards Mildura along the Sturt Highway for the first time since Wagga Wagga, nearly 3 weeks ago.

Back into New South Wales also for the entirety of today’s ride – this will be the final time in NSW on this trip, until I arrive once again in Sydney.

The drudgery of the Sturt Highway and its occupants continued for the most part of 70 kilometres before the orchards and vineyards of Mildura began lining either side of the roadway about 20 kilometres out.

I have passed many a fair share of orchards and vineyards on this trip, but would contend that nowhere has quite as many as Mildura.

It is after all, an area well known for its fertile agriculture – citrus fruits in particular - local mandarins have become my standard after dinner fare for the past week or more.

It’s a shame I have had to set up camp about 5 kilometres out of town – simply because there is no camping in Mildura itself.

There are half-a-dozen or so hostels in town, so it was a decision to take on a sterile hostel environment for a few days and keep everything within walking distance, or instead, head bush and bike the extra distance into town for daily needs.

After some brief debate, I have chosen the latter – the paydirt is some beautiful bushland camping in the area I have chosen, right on the Murray River and well away from any roads, arterial or otherwise.

I met up with Helena and Geoff about 10 minutes after arrival and not only did they cook me dinner, but have offered some space on their floor when I get to Adelaide.

They travel around on a 1960’s BSA 650, complete with fully enclosed sidecar and gas cooker – purchased by them in London in 1971 for £115.

Not content to just trundle around Europe, they rode it all the way back to Adelaide, including a stint in Iraq, which was actually still a beautiful place in 1971.

Impressive stuff.

The old girl is still on the road, currently on a return trip from Adelaide to Griffith.

And not only do I now have a game plan for Adelaide, but have also been tipped off on some preferable routes to get there.

With only 400 km to go, the alternatives will likely add a couple of days and a few more miles to the trip, but who’s counting?

Let’s just go ahead and have some fun and I’ll still get to where I’m going in good time.