Again, I have left the original post untouched.
We started the ride with a change in plans. Because many mining trucks from the New Hope Coal Mine at Acland use the road through Acland, we detoured around through plainview. I don’t think there was any appreciable change in distance made by this rerouting.
With the rain the night from the night before, the ground was very muddy in the morning, though there were still giant cracks in the ground. Ah the joys of the evil black soils. There was a spot in front of my tent where I always put my foot. No matter how hard I tried, my foot always ended up in this little mud hole. The food serving area was so muddy they were letting people in the exit so they could at least avoid the worst of it.
As I left I could not clip in my shoes. This was becuase the cleats were full of mud. I decided to ride down the road. After a short distance I found a suitable puddle of water on the road and washed my shoes by rubbing them on the road in the water. This got rid of the mud and I was able to proceed with my shoes clipped in. Being early in the morning, we were able to get out of Dalby with out meeting much traffic.
Heading out from Dalby we had the reverse of the day before riding in. There was a long gentle climb out of the city. There was a little traffic, but not much. One of the trucks was full of pigs, it was one of the strongest manure smells I have ever encountered, and I used to dig out my grandfather’s milk dairy. As usual there were many people passing me.
The first rest stop was at Irvingdale. There is a small church there in Bowenville Park. I did not realise that the people in the first stall tent were watching me, but had to restrain my self from laughing with hysterics. When I stood up from the trike, they, all in unison stood up straight. It was very funny. I purchased some morning tea and ate it with a few other riders in the shade of a tree. One man was very impressed that we even got a table cloth.
After Irvingdale the road continued in a generally westerly direction. After a short distance there was a bridge. maybe 10 people were stopped on the bridge taking photos. So I too stopped. The river was covered in some green plant. No water could be seen.
The road land was flat and the gentle up hill continued. The road was very uneven in spots. The trucks had caused the wheel ruts to sink up to 6 inches in relation to the original level on the single lane of bitumen. I found my self riding on the ridge in the middle. At one farm two dogs saw me. Clearly they thought the trike was worth checking out and they ran more than 20 meters to run along behind me. I did one of my rare backwards photos.
Just before the lunch break Hugh passed me. We rode along together for a while. I would meet up with him again at lunch in Brymaroo.
I must admit, I was beginning to tire of cheese and biscuits. Though I had moved on from pears to apples. The rolls were ok. But not great. The juice a welcome addition. We were at a sports ground that is a combination of rodeo and pony club.
Still we continued to the west. At one intersection the bike rider behind called out that there were vehicles on the cross road. Two motorcycles came from the left and turned left to go in front of us. It was a gang of motorcycle riders, and for the next hour or so, we were passed by an endless stream of motorcycles, tricycles and motorcycles with trailers. And just a few cars, including one with a great historic caravan.
We turned south towards plain view and the last rest stop of the day at Belah Park. I was impressed that the people running the stall, the Jondaryan state school had managed to move their food stalls at a days notice. Here I caught up with Hugh. I grabbed some food. And we headed off together. The woman in the had in the image had a rim that is a horse rider’s rim. I will have to find some horse riding shops to see if I can get a similar one. I had talked to her a few times and recognised her because of her unusual helmet.
Alas, after the rest stop I forgot to turn on the GPS as I was distracted by riding with Hugh. Luckily it was the only time on the trip I did this. I did remember just as we came into Oakey and turned it on there. Hugh is a much better rider than I and I struggled to keep up with him for the first few hills. We raced down the last decline before the flats into Oakey before he left me behind. While I was struggling to do 55 kmh to keep up, a pair on a tandem came rocketing past us and made us look like we were stationary. Their tyres making a wooshing noise on the road. I worked the last section to keep up a reasonable pace into Oakey, knowing that the next day was a rest day.
Once in Oakey we rode under a bridge I had previously driven under a few years earlier. I felt like I was in the lands I knew again. At the camp, I set up my tent. I finally discovered the clothes washing section of the camp and washed my riding clothes. I had purchased a new top the day before as well so I had more riding clothes now.
I also walked into town and bought the first pair of thongs I have had in a long time. I cannot remember the last time I had thongs, but they were good to wandering around the camp site. I also bought a steak sandwich and chocolate milk shake at a local takeaway. These are my staple when I travel as I believe that all country towns are brilliant at this type of food.
Day 4
Distance: 82.91 km
Ave: 18.21
Time; 4:33:10
Max: 54
there is a missing part in the GPS trace, becuase I forgot to turn the GPS on after the second rest stop.
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