Emmdale to Cobar

All funds raised during my ride across Australia went to either the Australian or New Zealand Heart Foundation depending on the donor’s wish.
It was a thrill to be named Best Individual Fund-raiser for 2011 by the Queensland Branch of the Australian Heart Foundation.
Special thanks to EVERYONE who supported my ride.

Day 27 - April 26th, 2011
Emmdale (NSW) to Cobar (NSW)
160.8 kms.

DAILY PREVIEW:-

Still along the Barrier Highway, heading for the next reasonably sized town of Cobar. BUT - I don't think I can make that distance in a day!!! There don't seem to be any other places mentionned on the map!!!!

Hopefully, by the time we get here I have gathered some more information from locals and "grey nomads" and we will find somewhere to stop the night between Wilcannia and Cobar. There appears to be a place almost like my surname - Noona - but it may only be a "homestead"- and then - it could be a deserted one. I certainly need more information for this part of the Barrier Highway - A32!!

Our change to plans by getting to Emmdale - made it possible to go Emmdale to Cobar for a well earned rest!!

Emmdale to Cobar

Distance travelled:- 160.75
Highest speed:- 50.60
Average speed:- 24.00
Hours on the bike - 6 hrs, 42 mins, 30 secs

That had been a great stay at Emmdale – only 3 “campers” but the place has been recently taken over by three girls who have already made great changes, and have many more plans for the future!! It was a real lifestyle change for them to buy the place 6 months ago, but to see the way they go about running it is amazing. They catered for a “party” that night which the “locals” came to – most travelling between 60 and 120 kms to attend!! Then they were up and serving hearty “truckies” breakfasts in the early hours of the morning!! To top it off, when Pat took the key back and chatted about my ride – the girl she spoke to had been born and raised in Scarborough, Queensland - small world!

I set out on a happy enough note and was feeling pretty good. The first 2 hours went well, and I covered just over 60 kms. It was pretty flat and no wind. Stopping for a break – everything changed – the wind started to blow – and it was an easterly. As well – the “climbing” started!

Again there was a lot of roadkill – a mixture of ‘roos, goats and foxes – victims of the night time traffic. Grazing roadside were lots of goats, and gosh their condition is remarkable. Such gleaming, shining coats, you’d think they had been groomed for a show rather than just wild goats. Amazing how robust and healthy they look.

Another “Jucy” siting – this time travelling in the same direction as us, and with my slow progress, it obviously overtook us and sped away on its journey after much light flicking, waving and tooting.

I made use of every stopping area to briefly rest and refuel, but today was one of those days with climbs pretty much to the end of the days ride. No matter what I ate or drank, my petrol tank was on empty. To rise up over one hill and see a small downhill followed by a bigger uphill just became more and more demoralising, and the number of kilometres to go seemed to lessen very slowly.

"Never, never, never, never, NEVER give up" was running through my head as I pedalled on. I think I have used the words “limping in” to camp before - but this was the worst limp I have had!! Too long on the bike, everything was hurting – thank goodness the caravan park was on the western side of town and my ride finished 3 kms shorter than I anticipated!!

I recalled a nice swimming pool complex in Cobar and I had been thinking this was where I would head for to soak the weary body – such dismay to find it closes at the end of March until October. A nice hot shower helped a lot, but wasn’t quite as remedial as I am sure a swim would have been!

Thank goodness I have the luxury of a couple of spare days so tomorrow can be a rest one!!! Turning the 465 trip from Broken Hill to Cobar from a 4 day ride to a 3 day ride was really a bit beyond my comfort zone!! They were 3 very long, tiring days.

Now on this stretch today, I was supposed to pass through “Noona” which I had spotted on a map – it looked like it was down a little side road a km or so – but despite speeding along at an average of only 24 kph, I saw nothing that looked remotely like a road off to the right, or any signs saying “Noona”. So all in all – I can only say my planning for this part of the journey was pretty poor!!!!

However – must look on the bright side – I am now in Cobar – a town with a population of 5000+, and the wealth of having gold, zinc, copper and lead mines.

I feel like I have broken the back of the journey now – from here on, each night will be spent in a small NSW or Qld town and be quite civilised. I will also have the chance to “split” the only remaining scheduled 160km day in 2, so that should make things a bit more comfortable. Right now, I don’t think I could face another 160 km day!!!!

Farewelling the Jacobsens and Cindy at Emmdale.

Farewelling the Jacksons and Jessie at Emmdale. Thanks for the fruit and vegetables guys!!!!

Wild goats about 5 kms outside of Cobar.

Being overtaken by another Jucy Grande!!

When the spirits are low, when the day appears dark, when work becomes monotonous, when hope hardly seems worth having, just mount a bicycle and go out for a spin down the road, without thought on anything but the ride you are taking. - Arthur Conan Doyle