Lest we forget …

We backtrack from Robe to Reedy Creek, where an Australian flag on a fence gives us a starting point for the day (it was even embedded in our detailed driving directions to the starting point). The flag is a reminder that today is ANZAC day, and we honour those who have served and those who have fallen. Two of our hardy team attended the ANZAC day service in Robe before setting out today.

Pat’s at the wheel today; the rest of us set out on a fairly flat, straight, fast sealed road, making great time as we ride toward Lucindale, our first stopping point for the day.

I suspect the Ninnes party made slightly slower progress than us as they passed through the area. Our route today is the best approximation we can make of their journey.

We got on to Bakers Jackie Wites Mackingtosh …

(From research done by others before me, the verdict on these places is: there is a Bakers range just before Lucindale, Jackie Whites would refer to John (Jacky) White who in 1843 took out a lease over 135 square miles of country in this area. He was trampled to death by a mob of horses that had broken out of a yard in 1860. And Mackingtosh … there is a longish story that resolves to Mackingtosh being present day Naracoorte. That’s helpful, because that’s where we are going.)

From Lucindale we take a lesser road out past the Lucindale Country Club (it looks busy today) and soon we hit dirt. Not just any dirt – this is The Bronx, named so by Tim because it is rough and ready.

This morning we averaged speeds of over 20km/h, which is not bad on mountain bikes on roads. This afternoon as we navigate The Bronx, our averages speeds drop down to the low teens. There’s lots of shaking and bumping, and this 10km stretch of very rough gravel requires total concentration to stay upgright and moving forward.

Neil and I were originally planning on bringing our new touring bikes on this trip, but were dissuaded by the others in the group. Today’s section on The Bronx makes me thankful for fat tyres and suspension.

But it’s pretty. The road is, we believe, running along the path of the former Kingston SE to Naracoorte railway line, and, indeed, we do see a fair number of railway spikes on the ground. One may have been souvenired for a Friends member who is not on the trip but who has a collection of such spikes.

The Bronx eventually gives way to smoother gravel, then after some time that gives way to the sealed road that takes us all the way into Naracoorte.

Stats for today:

• Distance: 68.7km
• Climb: 226m
• Average speed: 17.9km/h
• Average temperature: 29C
• Moving time: 3:50:47
• See our ride on Strava

The beer picture

At the end of a day’s ride, our tradition is to enjoy a beer, and to photograph it for posterity. Today’s beer picture was taken at te Naracoorte caravan park. You may be noticing that the beer is the same each day and that’s because it is tagging along with us on the bus.

Along the way today:

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