Day  9:                                   Finley to Griffith (124m)

Distance:                             171.44km            

Av speed:                            13.9kmh

Total Elevation:                 229m

Calories:                               4845 per person


 Weather: Pouring rain and strong northerly winds, changing to south westerly winds late afternoon before thunderstorms

Once again we were underway early, with favourable (but cold) conditions and we made it to our breakfast stop (Jerilderie) at 9.10am. It was there that things started going downhill!

A broken spoke nipple on Chris’ back wheel saw us delayed by over an hour and when we restarted the conditions had turned against us! It was raining strongly and a northerly headwind soon followed. For the next 4.5+ hours we battled into the headwind, often averaging only 15kmh. If this wasn’t hard enough, the road and the scenery went on and on and on without ever changing.... it was like purgatory! And there was plenty of time for dark and negative thoughts!

We finally reached Coleambally a little before 4pm (having identified another broken spoke 10km earlier) and had our moods brightened by the locals. The lovely lady at the BP made us some sangas and hot chocolates... as well as giving us an all important donation for the PCFA. Another great bloke we were talking to even offered to go home and find his old mountain bikes if we needed some spokes!!

As we pulled out of Coleambally the skies were dark and stormy , however to our surprise the wind had turned and it was now pushing behind us. The new speed of 23kmh was a welcome friend! Being chased by the rain was a beautiful sight, with the storm clouds and sleet being lit up by the setting sun. An eagle even hovered above to keep us company. We managed to ‘outrun’ the storm for 30km, however whilst stopping for another hot chocolate at Darlington Point the heavens opened... Chris feared for his life... and that was just standing under the creaking and groaning roof of the cafe!! Fortunately, by the time we’d finished drinking the worst of it had passed and we set off into the dark.

The last 2 hours of the ride were in pitch black darkness, but fortunately our Exposure Lights were able to illuminate the way and alert the passing roadtrains to our presence.  Whilst the rain continued, the thoughts of warm showers and food saw us hold strong and we finally pulled into Griffith at 745pm.

Not sure we can handle too many more days like this!