Cycling Stats: 114kms
Cycling Average speed: 33 kms per hour
Walter left at 6.30am - I was to catch him at around the 40 kms mark. I decided to go into town and have a walk through the wide main streets of Hughenden. I parked the campervan at the newsagent and an elderly local looked at me and then at the van and said "I have dementia" I said "you look pretty good to me". He told me he had served in the 2nd World War and went to his car to retrieve an ancient notebook and he showed me a photo of himself in uniform and I asked "how old were you there ?" He replied 18. He told me that he had served in Korea as well and showed me another photo of himself in uniform. I told him my husband was cycling around Australia and he said quickly "what is he, 21 ?" and I said to him "Do I look like I'm married to a 21 year old?" He was a lovely old character with a twinkle in his eye and he said he had no living relatives and showed me a photo of his wife taken long ago and told me she had passed away 23 years ago. He was 89 and still driving a Suzuki Jeep. People have time to talk in the country areas.
The drive today made me straight away think of
"I love a sunburnt country - a land of sweeping plains" that about sums it up - sweeping dry grass plains as far as the eye can see with tall concrete power poles standing in long straight rows like soldiers on one side and flanked on the other with the ever present long straight railway line. Emus and every now & then the majestic single soaring wedge tail eagle. Some would call this lonely country I found it very peaceful and was awe struck by its vastness.
Walter enjoyed the days ride and had another very fast day in the saddle averaging 33 kms per hour. We try to switch things up a bit with nutrition and today I gave him banana on toast with honey. He went way too fast on that and I didn't catch him until around the 58 km mark.
We set up camp in the Lakeside Caravan Park under a shady tree and decided to have our first meal out since we started the trip - a counter lunch in The Federation Hotel - half rib steak, chips & salad - delicious !!
Walter wanted to visit The Kronosaurus Corner which has an amazing collection of dinosaur and marine reptile fossils. I opted for a leisurely walk down the main street.
This afternoon we plan to swim in Lake Fred Tritton as its an extremely hot afternoon here in Richmond.
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| Hughenden - The Grand Hotel |
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| Water mill monument - importance of artisan water to the west |
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| A land of sweeping plains (and long straight roads !!) |
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| Clever sign for The Kronosaurus Korner in Richmond |
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