Monaro Highway > Victoria border (70km, 5h)

Looks like the rain is coming back for today. Plus, the wind might not be on my favor anymore. Well, I’ve chose this road now I will ride on it ar any price. It’s bloody cold as well as the wind comes from the south (Antarctica). I’d love being able to ride 90km like yesterday so I could reach the coast in a bit more than 3 days but it’s a tough challenge. As well as I said to Wendy that I will do my best to join her and Peter for Easter. Wow! I don’t think I will be one time… I will try!

Map.

So let’s start the day by the beginning. As I get rid of my alarm twice, the sun make himself useful and put its bright rays in my tent. I’ve got no choice now. I need to wake up. I’m wondering what’s the weather today…

Arg! This looks cloudy! and Dark! and full of rainwater! Better hurry up before I get a free cold shower…

After 20km and a fast pace I can discover Bombala. I will buy a bit of food and need to find toilets which would be easy.

This is the Bombala River :-)

The Olympia?! Yes, the Olympia in Paris was sick of having million of people visiting per year so they moved here :-) Ah, yes, it’s much peaceful here, isn’t it?

Bombala town business center. I expect to get am internet connection here put no, this is not working. I must wait until I reach the coast.

This is where the fun part starts. I’ve got a strong bloody head wind. It’s bloody cold and I’m not going forward as I like to. Come on! Stop blowing please!

When I see the pictures, this trip looks quite straight forward but it’s not! This is Delegate, the second and last town I will pass until the coast. I’ve got 130km more. Arf! I’m cold and tired.

Delegate’s post office. Is it working?

An Australian style house.

The main street. Looks like there is some activities at the other end. Let’s see.

I found this nice cafe…

…and got a warm big chocolate. That is good!

I’m writing my blog now because I won’t have the courage tonight. It’s so cold outside. A fish n’ chips is what I need! Aie Aie Aie… I’ve cracked my budget for the day I think…

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It’s now 5pm and after a long break I’m ready again to face the earth. In the cafe, I met a woman who told me a little Story about her Grand-mother, Hilda Rix Nicholas.
She lived in Paris for a while and she had a Studio where she was painted. She met her first husband during the first world war but the man died 3 weeks after they were married. Hilda was devastated… Then she came back to Australia, Sydney where she kept painting and made event around the country. Years later, she moved around this area (South of NSW) and met her second Husband. Many of her paint were (and maybe still) famous in Australia and even recently, after the Death of an Australian artist, some of Hilda’s paint were sold in auction for a high price.
The woman I’m talking with now is living now in Delegate and she is taking care of her grand-mother studio. She is really proud of it I guess. Before she left she told me: “Remember, you talked with the grand daughter of Hilda Rix Nicholas”. I don’t even know the name of this woman… If you want to learn more about the artist it’s here!

This little house is cute :-)

Delegate is one of the “one street town” where all the facilities are on the main road. I did not visit around but it looks like it. Everything is like 50 years old and it looks still good.

A very old style “Road Service” truck. I think it’s the same in the movie “Cars” (Yes, I know my reference is very high level haha).

Before living this nice litle town, I must stop to the public toilets to get some water and I will be ready. Yesterday the cheep were waiting for the train. I think they are going to wait a looong time because this one is not gonna move ;-)

Let’s hit the road again! and a gravel one…

This is not that windy fortunately but it’s getting cold again as the sun left me alone with the road. I’m going to stop soon.

Whouhou! That is a real checkpoint this one! And it looks like I can camp around. I’m in Victoria for the first time! And Orbost is 114km away, ouch! I won’t get there tomorrow I think.

Hmmm, what about the informations… Well, not very useful I might say…

First Victoria’s sunset :-)

I’ve done only 70km today but I’m glad to be here, in Victoria. The weather has been fantastic so far even if I had few days with head wind today. No rain a part when I’ve started which is great! I’m going to have a good night! See ya!