{"id":20087,"date":"2015-10-18T05:10:12","date_gmt":"2015-10-17T18:40:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blokeonbike.com\/bloke1\/?p=20087"},"modified":"2024-07-16T08:11:33","modified_gmt":"2024-07-15T22:41:33","slug":"day-15-on-a-roll-now-and-looking-to-set-a-personal-best","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/day-15-on-a-roll-now-and-looking-to-set-a-personal-best\/","title":{"rendered":"Day 15: On a roll now and looking to set a personal best"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>In fact at 133km, there were three-day stretches where I didn\u2019t roll over this much ground.<\/p>\n<p>As in the past, &#8216;Vic Roads&#8217; didn\u2019t spring any surprises on me this morning.<\/p>\n<p>The Victorian roads continued to be shoulderless but at least the surface here was in good condition and there were no tough hills.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<style type=\"text\/css\">\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 {\n\t\t\t\tmargin: auto;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 .gallery-item {\n\t\t\t\tfloat: left;\n\t\t\t\tmargin-top: 10px;\n\t\t\t\ttext-align: center;\n\t\t\t\twidth: 25%;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 img {\n\t\t\t\tborder: 2px solid #cfcfcf;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 .gallery-caption {\n\t\t\t\tmargin-left: 0;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t\/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes\/media.php *\/\n\t\t<\/style>\n\t\t<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-20087 gallery-columns-4 gallery-size-fusion-400'><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a data-rel=\"iLightbox[postimages]\" data-title=\"Day 15 &#8211; 4\" data-caption=\"Leaving the River Murray at Boundary bend\" href='https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-4-scaled.jpeg'><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-4-400x225.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-fusion-400 size-fusion-400\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-20431\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-4-66x37.jpeg 66w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-4-177x100.jpeg 177w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-4-200x113.jpeg 200w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-4-300x169.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-4-320x180.jpeg 320w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-4-400x225.jpeg 400w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-4-460x259.jpeg 460w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-4-540x304.jpeg 540w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-4-600x338.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-4-669x376.jpeg 669w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-4-700x394.jpeg 700w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-4-768x432.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-4-800x450.jpeg 800w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-4-940x529.jpeg 940w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-4-1024x576.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-4-1200x675.jpeg 1200w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-4-1536x864.jpeg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-20431'>\n\t\t\t\tLeaving the River Murray at Boundary bend\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a data-rel=\"iLightbox[postimages]\" data-title=\"Day 15 &#8211; 6\" data-caption=\"An old imperial sytem sign marking 72 miles to Swan Hill\" href='https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-6-scaled.jpeg'><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-6-400x225.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-fusion-400 size-fusion-400\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-20433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-6-66x37.jpeg 66w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-6-177x100.jpeg 177w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-6-200x113.jpeg 200w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-6-300x169.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-6-320x180.jpeg 320w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-6-400x225.jpeg 400w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-6-460x259.jpeg 460w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-6-540x304.jpeg 540w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-6-600x338.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-6-669x376.jpeg 669w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-6-700x394.jpeg 700w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-6-768x432.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-6-800x450.jpeg 800w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-6-940x529.jpeg 940w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-6-1024x576.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-6-1200x675.jpeg 1200w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-6-1536x864.jpeg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-20433'>\n\t\t\t\tAn old imperial sytem sign marking 72 miles to Swan Hill\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a data-rel=\"iLightbox[postimages]\" data-title=\"Day 15 &#8211; 1 (1)\" data-caption=\"The first time that Adelaide has been shown an a destination sign\" href='https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-1-1-scaled.jpeg'><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-1-1-400x225.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-fusion-400 size-fusion-400\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-20427\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-1-1-177x100.jpeg 177w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-1-1-200x113.jpeg 200w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-1-1-300x169.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-1-1-400x225.jpeg 400w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-1-1-460x259.jpeg 460w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-1-1-540x304.jpeg 540w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-1-1-600x338.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-1-1-768x432.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-1-1-800x450.jpeg 800w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-1-1-940x529.jpeg 940w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-1-1-1024x576.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-1-1-1200x675.jpeg 1200w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-1-1-1320x743.jpeg 1320w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-1-1-1536x864.jpeg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-20427'>\n\t\t\t\tThe first time that Adelaide has been shown an a destination sign\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a data-rel=\"iLightbox[postimages]\" data-title=\"DCIM100GOPRO\" data-caption=\"The cycling conditions today were sublime\" href='https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-1-2-1-scaled.jpeg'><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-1-2-1-400x225.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-fusion-400 size-fusion-400\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-20439\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-1-2-1-66x37.jpeg 66w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-1-2-1-177x100.jpeg 177w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-1-2-1-200x113.jpeg 200w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-1-2-1-300x169.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-1-2-1-320x180.jpeg 320w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-1-2-1-400x225.jpeg 400w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-1-2-1-460x259.jpeg 460w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-1-2-1-540x304.jpeg 540w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-1-2-1-600x338.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-1-2-1-669x376.jpeg 669w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-1-2-1-700x394.jpeg 700w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-1-2-1-768x432.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-1-2-1-800x450.jpeg 800w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-1-2-1-940x529.jpeg 940w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-1-2-1-1024x576.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-1-2-1-1200x675.jpeg 1200w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-1-2-1-1536x864.jpeg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-20439'>\n\t\t\t\tThe cycling conditions today were sublime\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p>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?<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>Turning south off the bridge, I was quickly shown a roadside sign proudly announcing that there were only 477 kilometres to Adelaide.<\/p>\n<p>With this discovery, it was really beginning to feel as though I was making progress.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>It wasn\u2019t that I didn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n<p>I didn\u2019t want to set up camp. I also found that the New South Wales department of roads knows how to make roads for cyclists!<\/p>\n<p>The Sturt Highway has:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Good surfaces<\/li>\n<li>Wide shoulders<\/li>\n<li>Gentle inclines<\/li>\n<li>Long declines<\/li>\n<li>Good rest stops with toilets and sheltered eating areas.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Heck, they even arranged a steady tailwind to edge me on my way.<\/p>\n<p>Their oversight was in not lowering the temperature that in the sun, was straddling 45\u00b0 Celsius (113\u00b0 Fahrenheit) for much of the day. I was slowly baking.<\/p>\n<p>How do you like your cyclist? Medium or well done?<\/p>\n\n\t\t<style type=\"text\/css\">\n\t\t\t#gallery-2 {\n\t\t\t\tmargin: auto;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-2 .gallery-item {\n\t\t\t\tfloat: left;\n\t\t\t\tmargin-top: 10px;\n\t\t\t\ttext-align: center;\n\t\t\t\twidth: 25%;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-2 img {\n\t\t\t\tborder: 2px solid #cfcfcf;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-2 .gallery-caption {\n\t\t\t\tmargin-left: 0;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t\/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes\/media.php *\/\n\t\t<\/style>\n\t\t<div id='gallery-2' class='gallery galleryid-20087 gallery-columns-4 gallery-size-fusion-400'><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a data-rel=\"iLightbox[postimages]\" data-title=\"Day 15 &#8211; 9\" data-caption=\"Another glimpse of the mighty river\" href='https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-9-scaled.jpeg'><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-9-400x225.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-fusion-400 size-fusion-400\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-2-20436\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-9-66x37.jpeg 66w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-9-177x100.jpeg 177w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-9-200x113.jpeg 200w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-9-300x169.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-9-320x180.jpeg 320w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-9-400x225.jpeg 400w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-9-460x259.jpeg 460w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-9-540x304.jpeg 540w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-9-600x338.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-9-669x376.jpeg 669w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-9-700x394.jpeg 700w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-9-768x432.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-9-800x450.jpeg 800w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-9-940x529.jpeg 940w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-9-1024x576.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-9-1200x675.jpeg 1200w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-9-1536x864.jpeg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-2-20436'>\n\t\t\t\tAnother glimpse of the mighty river\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a data-rel=\"iLightbox[postimages]\" data-title=\"Day 15 &#8211; 7\" data-caption=\"Red gums in the water&#039;s edge\" href='https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-7-scaled.jpeg'><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-7-400x225.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-fusion-400 size-fusion-400\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-2-20434\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-7-66x37.jpeg 66w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-7-177x100.jpeg 177w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-7-200x113.jpeg 200w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-7-300x169.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-7-320x180.jpeg 320w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-7-400x225.jpeg 400w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-7-460x259.jpeg 460w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-7-540x304.jpeg 540w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-7-600x338.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-7-669x376.jpeg 669w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-7-700x394.jpeg 700w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-7-768x432.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-7-800x450.jpeg 800w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-7-940x529.jpeg 940w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-7-1024x576.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-7-1200x675.jpeg 1200w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-7-1536x864.jpeg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-2-20434'>\n\t\t\t\tRed gums in the water&#8217;s edge\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a data-rel=\"iLightbox[postimages]\" data-title=\"Day 15 &#8211; 2\" data-caption=\"Taking some welcome respote from the heat\" href='https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-2-scaled.jpeg'><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-2-400x225.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-fusion-400 size-fusion-400\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-2-20429\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-2-66x37.jpeg 66w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-2-177x100.jpeg 177w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-2-200x113.jpeg 200w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-2-300x169.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-2-320x180.jpeg 320w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-2-400x225.jpeg 400w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-2-460x259.jpeg 460w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-2-540x304.jpeg 540w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-2-600x338.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-2-669x376.jpeg 669w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-2-700x394.jpeg 700w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-2-768x432.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-2-800x450.jpeg 800w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-2-940x529.jpeg 940w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-2-1024x576.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-2-1200x675.jpeg 1200w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-2-1536x864.jpeg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-2-20429'>\n\t\t\t\tTaking some welcome respote from the heat\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a data-rel=\"iLightbox[postimages]\" data-title=\"Day 15 &#8211; 8\" data-caption=\"A Mildura sunset\" href='https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-8-scaled.jpeg'><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-8-400x225.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-fusion-400 size-fusion-400\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-2-20435\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-8-66x37.jpeg 66w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-8-177x100.jpeg 177w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-8-200x113.jpeg 200w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-8-300x169.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-8-320x180.jpeg 320w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-8-400x225.jpeg 400w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-8-460x259.jpeg 460w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-8-540x304.jpeg 540w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-8-600x338.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-8-669x376.jpeg 669w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-8-700x394.jpeg 700w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-8-768x432.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-8-800x450.jpeg 800w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-8-940x529.jpeg 940w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-8-1024x576.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-8-1200x675.jpeg 1200w, https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Day-15-8-1536x864.jpeg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-2-20435'>\n\t\t\t\tA Mildura sunset\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>I suspect it is due to all the bird deposits on the roof catchment polluting the runoff.<\/p>\n<p>For this section you will need plenty of water, I used over 6 litres, but then in this heat, I perspire like a waterfall!<\/p>\n<p>This was cycling bliss and with the occasional stops to rest, water and apply sunblock, I made it into Mildura before 6pm.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>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\u2019s Club having a wonderful schnitzel and beer.<br \/>\nAbout now, if you have been reading these tomes from the start (shame on you if you haven\u2019t but you could start here), then you will have spotted a regular theme here that centres on pub meals and a beer.<\/p>\n<p>This was a great day\u2019s ride and apart from a little sunburn through a layer of sunblock, I did not have any incidents.<\/p>\n<p>I was really getting used to this life!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":20427,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"iawp_total_views":3,"footnotes":""},"categories":[24,23],"tags":[419,402],"class_list":["post-20087","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-murray-mallee","category-riverina-murray","tag-2015-snowfields-to-sandhills","tag-cycling"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20087","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20087"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20087\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":29670,"href":"https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20087\/revisions\/29670"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/20427"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20087"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20087"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20087"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}