Day  8:                                   Shepparton to Finley (m)

Distance:                             103.77km            

Av speed:                            12.5km/h (explained below!)

Total Elevation:                 292m

Calories:                               3315 (per person)

Weather:                             Pouring rain (9*c) before late change

What a difference a rest day makes!! The 7 days of sun we’d previously enjoyed were gone and replaced with pouring rain!

We got up early to repack our bags with all the goods brought up by Bruiser and Verge and were alarmed at what we saw. Despite ditching many of the warm clothes we’d planned to use during the crossing of the Great Dividing Range, our new found additions meant we had less room than before!! A Yak trailer isn’t the most streamlined thing at the best of times... its even worse when you have two extra bags bungie corded on the top!!

A HUGE thanks also goes to Faye and John for opening their home to us while we were in Shepparton and keeping us dry and warm!

After a free breakfast courtesy of Ronald... we were off! The rain bucketed down on us but we were making good time for the first 30kms... and managing to avoid the trucks and trailers which were whizzing past us. Buses were the worst and a big white coach decided to ride Chris into the grass, resulting in a royal salute for the bus driver.

At the 30km mark, it all went wrong. Front puncture on Jon’s bike. In the pouring rain. 8*C. Not the best way to spend a Saturday morning. It got heavier the longer we stood by the side of the road.

Back on the road we picked up the pace as we headed to Katamatite and the allure of food and warmth. Cruising along at 26kmh (a mean feat when your towing a 32kg+ yak trailer) we could almost smell the bakery when..... puncture. Front puncture on Jon’s bike. In the pouring rain. Not getting any warmer.

After 3 hours we finally made it the 45km to Katamatite and set up shop next to a wood fire in the local bakery. If they’re reading this... apologies for the wet muddy mess we left on your floor... we hope you understand! After an hour’s rest to soothe the body and more so the mind... we were off.

Not 6km later.... puncture. Front puncture on Jon’s bike. In the showery rain. This time there was a CSI like analysis performed on the tyre for any residuary thorns or spikes. On the bright side, by the time we’d finished the rain was gone and the speed was high.

We allowed ourselves a little celebration when we passed over the Murray River at Tocumwal and entered into New South Wales. Unfortunately, Australian authorities haven’t assisted cycling tourists take stupid photos and have failed to paint a line on the actual border, so there was no time for ‘half and half’ photos and a boring road sign sufficed for the requisite photo.

The final 21km to Finley took less than hour, before the slow drying of our clothes commenced. We had an enjoyable bevvie (coke) at the local pub, as we were enthralled (read scared) with the locals’ stories about our coming days. The sat phone and epirb might be making the trip in our jersey pockets from here!

169km to Griffith tomorrow, the longest day so far and a good tester for the 200km+ days ahead.