After the previous night’s speeches and activities I certainly have the feeling of this big ride fast coming to its inevitable conclusion. Riding from Lyndoch to Mount Gambier there was a sense of familiarity to the roads and not because I have ridden them before. No it is that feeling of civilisation I have spoken of in other posts, the area could be just another bit of tarmac I have done before. No road trains, no sweeping red vistas, no massive eagles refusing to take flight from their road-kill as I ride past. I didn’t even have any great inclination to get the camera out either, but this was more due to what the road didn’t have to offer. After the past 13,000kms+ I guess I am just spoilt for scenery and seem to be running out of things to talk about.
I must admit I was impressed with the Big Lobster at Kingston in South Australia. If you look closely you can see my Road Star parked beneath its lobster legs – I think I may have gotten some disapproving looks from the restaurant for that. Stopping here for lunch I found some of the other riders along with Allan McGuirk. A local journo happened to be having lunch also and interviewed Allan for a piece in the local rag. Makes me wonder how many local news pieces we have generated on this ride. A quick Google search doesn’t garner a lot as far as “newspaper” articles are concerned, but I did find an article from the Barossa Herald. I’ll have to look for more at some stage and link to them from this site.
The only other thing of note for me on this day was Robe. I saw the turnoff to Robe (which apparently isn’t famous for Robes) and after a little bit of exploring I found the Robe Obelisk. Built in the 1850s it was used as a navigation marker for ships entering Guichen Bay and also storing rocket propelled lifesaving equipment. Yes, rocket propelled. Originally white, the Obelisk was later painted the colours you see in this picture as it could be seen some 20kms out to sea and became a reference point for passing ships.
Into Mount Gambier in the afternoon I was keen to go and check out the Blue Lake which formed in the crater of a long extinct volcano. Unfortunately the rain that had been a little on and off through the day was getting ready to settle in. Quite frankly I was still feeling the pain of the horror day from Ceduna to Port Augusta so took a raincheck (boom-boom) and promised myself to check it out as I leave town tomorrow. Another car park party ensued before the bar opened with everyone continuing to share contact information and plans for a reunion like it’s our last night together. This has become a bit of a theme in the last couple of days and while it can be a bit of a downer hinting at the finish, it does remind us all of the good friends we have made over the last five weeks.
