March 25 - to Taralga

Well what a day...  First of three tough days on the bike.  After two rest days the legs should have been ready to take on anything.  Note the word "should".  More on that later...

We started the day bright and early or should I say dark and early.  When we gathered at 7 it was still somewhat dark. We needed to get an early start as today was to be 139 kilometer day with 1,008 meters of climbing.  The tale at the tape was 145 kilometers with just over 1,100 meters of climbing.  Or in non metric terms...  a 90 mile ride with over 3,600 feet of climbing.  

It was a day to get through.  Just as we set out the rain started.  It rained for the first two hours of the ride.  The rain and the temperature made for a bit of a chilly ride.  The route for the day was on a major highway.  It was good Friday so the traffic was lighter but it still was a pretty busy major road.  It was different than the roads and trails we have ridden up to this point.  I would say it was the least enjoyable day.  But it was the only way to get up and over the Grest Dividing Range.  

To add to the enjoyment of the day, I got my first flat.  A huge staple punctured through the tire.  There were quite a few riders who experienced punctures today. Riding on the shoulder of a major highway exposes you to a good deal of debris.  😔

We are staying in the town of Tarangla.  It has a population of 350 people.  Being good Friday there was to be nothing open.  Simon and Janice worked with a local group who made us fish and chips for dinner as a fund raiser for the locals.  They are also getting up early tomorrow and making is bacon and egg sandwiches as part of the fund raising.   One of the ladies that is part of the effort told us the history of the area and town. She gave us the story of the aboriginal peoples and how they say the land came to be formed.  It was so interesting and enlightening.  I enjoyed it immensely.  It was the highlight of the day.

    Sunset over the campgrounds where we are staying.

    The fire hazard of electronics that need to be charges by riders... 😳