It had not yet been revealed as I cycled out of Boundary Bend, intent on being in Robinvale at 10:45 (a distance of 42km) for a radio interview, but today I was going to cover the most blacktop of any day of the outing.

In fact at 133km, there were three-day stretches where I didn’t roll over this much ground.

As in the past, ‘Vic Roads’ didn’t spring any surprises on me this morning.

The Victorian roads continued to be shoulderless but at least the surface here was in good condition and there were no tough hills.

On each side of the road, arid farmland passed by and from time to time birds called encouragement from the top of trees. At least I think it was encouragement?

Four hours later, with radio interview and lunch behind me, I crossed over the Murray into New South Wales to pick up the Sturt Highway.

Turning south off the bridge, I was quickly shown a roadside sign proudly announcing that there were only 477 kilometres to Adelaide.

With this discovery, it was really beginning to feel as though I was making progress.

Spurred on by this latest information, I launched the bike into the last 88km of the day, really wanting to be in Mildura by nightfall.

It wasn’t that I didn’t like bush camping, or that I was scared of the dark, but I knew that there was wild camping to be had the following night and I was getting lazy.

I didn’t want to set up camp. I also found that the New South Wales department of roads knows how to make roads for cyclists!

The Sturt Highway has:

  • Good surfaces
  • Wide shoulders
  • Gentle inclines
  • Long declines
  • Good rest stops with toilets and sheltered eating areas.

Heck, they even arranged a steady tailwind to edge me on my way.

Their oversight was in not lowering the temperature that in the sun, was straddling 45° Celsius (113° Fahrenheit) for much of the day. I was slowly baking.

How do you like your cyclist? Medium or well done?

Also, even though there are water tanks at the larger rest stops, they are marked as not suitable for drinking which may catch out the unprepared.

I suspect it is due to all the bird deposits on the roof catchment polluting the runoff.

For this section you will need plenty of water, I used over 6 litres, but then in this heat, I perspire like a waterfall!

This was cycling bliss and with the occasional stops to rest, water and apply sunblock, I made it into Mildura before 6pm.

However, the last 25km had been tough. I was tired, the hills became more of a challenge and many of the motorists were of the inconsiderate breed.

I quickly booked into the first motel I had found on the main street, showered and by 7:30 was up at the Working Man’s Club having a wonderful schnitzel and beer.
About now, if you have been reading these tomes from the start (shame on you if you haven’t but you could start here), then you will have spotted a regular theme here that centres on pub meals and a beer.

This was a great day’s ride and apart from a little sunburn through a layer of sunblock, I did not have any incidents.

I was really getting used to this life!