Day  12:                                Mount Hope to Cobar (226m)

Distance:                             161.36km

Av speed:                            17.6kmh

Total Elevation:                   469m

Calories:                              5096 per person

Weather:                             Cold, cloudy and late rain (-1*C to 12*C)

If you’re ever on the lookout for a quintessential outback Aussie pub experience, then look no further than the Royal Hotel at Mount Hope. Mount Hope isn’t a town as such... its just the Royal Hotel. Our amazing hosts Mick and Ness even joked when we were filling out our census forms that the ABS might get the wrong idea and think the place was bigger than it was. After a tough few days riding, it was great to be able to chill out and relax and chew the fat. Don’t get me started on all the food we ate as well... carbo loading was taken to a new level!

Today we woke at 4.35am and Chris held a radio interview with SEN 1116AM back in Melbourne. It was quite surreal chatting to the boys back in the studio, as he was standing on a cold dark hill with only the stars to keep him company. A link to the interview will be put up in the media section of the website if you’d like to listen to it.

After farting around and gorging on weetbix and noodles, we said goodbye to Mount Hope at 6:30am. Jon soon enjoyed watching a kangaroo run beside them, whilst Chris took it upon himself to stand up for the farmers of Australia and point out what a pest the roos can be. Who knows if the novelty will ever wear off for the Pom!

At our first stop of the morning disaster struck. Pulling up next to each other, Jon’s front wheel slipped out, the handlebars on the two bikes locked and before he knew it the weight of his yak had Chris sprawled on the middle of the road like a piece of roadkill. Unfortunately, on the way down the pedal decided to firmly implant itself in Chris’ leg and he now has one cracking corkie.... stiff and sore and high on Voltaren, fingers are crossed its doesn’t impede the pedal stroke tomorrow. The bruise will be a ripper.

For the rest of the day we were able to make good time and avoid headwinds and rain (a novelty for us). We were kept company throughout the day by at least a hundred wild goats... later in the day we saw some of them herded up on trailers and on their way to the Middle East apparently!

Of course, a day on the road for us wouldn’t be complete without some rain and only 15km out from Cobar the heavens opened for a bit of a shower.  Cobar is a nice little mining town and the locals have been great  - the bakery is already expecting us for breakfast and thanks again to Margaret at the Toyworld for taking delivery of our all important spokes (and Verge for organising them)!

Tomorrow we’re off to Bourke, which will be another 160-170km. Fingers crossed we have reasonable weather again!