Days 14 & 15 Menindee to Broken Hill

Day 14 Menindee to Bush Camp 15 km from Broken Hill

One of the toughest days I have experienced on the bike. The head wind that has blown in my face for the previous 2 days continued and got stronger. 

I left the motel at 8:00 am and was on my way out of town toward Broken Hill 110 km away. The first hour I was able to maintain a good speed however after the wind picked up it became a slog. I managed 55 km by lunchtime.

Lunch beside the side of the road was interrupted a number of times by motorists asking if I was ok. I was sitting in my chair with a kettle on my stove so I was a little bemused at the attention. I am grateful that people feel they should check.

Burke and Wills came through this area behind the bike.

After lunch the wind strengthened again. At times I was only going 10 kph. I was proud of myself that I didn’t let it get me down and just kept pedalling. In the end I was 15 km from Broken Hill when I decided to find a bush camp having covered 100 km.

Bush camp 15 km from Broken Hill

New time zone

Although I was only 15 km from Broken Hill I didn’t have the energy to push up the Barrier Range into town. It suited me to have a night under the stars before having a rest day in Broken Hill.

Only drawback of my campsite was a lack of firewood. No trees around here. Not a big problem as I would be asleep very early.

Pasta for dinner followed by chocolate custard

Day 15 Broken Hill Rest Day

Although it was a spectacularly clear night it was not cold. The glory of the Milky Way on display before I retired to the tent for the night. It did not take me long to fall asleep.

Just before sunrise

The final 15 km into Broken Hill didn’t take long. Breakfast at The Silly Goat Cafe. I ate outside as the cafe was very noisy and I was concerned about the stench I was giving off.

Then I went looking for the caravan park. Unfortunately only powered sites surrounded by huge caravans so I opted for a cheap cabin.

I had a shower and put on the laundry. So nice to get out of sweaty cycling gear and into fresh clothing. 

John’s hair survived the wind whereas….

In the afternoon I went back to the Main Street to visit the Broken Hill Bookshop. My friend Andrew recommended a visit and chat with John Cooper the proprietor. When I went past earlier it the shop was packed so I kept going. John told me he had served 250 coffees that morning. He is reluctantly having to close his store to move closer to family.

Peter was excited to see my progress

I was just about to move on when a car horn tooted and Peter from Tamworth bounded out. I met Peter with his wife Liz at Apex Park in Mildura. He knew I was in the area because he has asked Phil the ex shearer if he had seen me on the road from Pooncarie. Phil had stopped for a chat and given me an Orange 2 days ago.

Next stop was the supermarket. Shopping is almost painful when you are hungry with all those calories are jumping out at you. Lots of food types that I wouldn’t normally be attracted to suddenly seemed appealing. It was very hard to focus on what I need for next few days.

I was so distracted by the food that I failed to purchase Methylated Spirits for my stove and had to make a second trip. I would be very grumpy if I left town and ran out of cooking fuel.

Tomorrow I will head east toward Wilcannia. I have decided to leave the Burke and Wills trail to avoid unsealed roads going north. Lisa has been very supportive and flexible about how I long have for this adventure but I feel I need to make up some progress towards Cairns.

This picture for Angie