Day 8 - A broken window and a pink elephant

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Wangaratta - Beechworth  52km  

The day started with an "oh no!". Coming from Louise this creates instant thoughts of concern, since the art of exaggeration is totally my department.  The reason for this unexpected development at 06:15 was the discovery that our tent 'window' is a little bit 'kaputt' - yesterday's heat was too much for the window sealant in the tent's vestibule. We Google tent repair over breakfast but don't lose too much thought over it given the promising weather forecast for the week ahead.

By 07:30 we roll out of Wangaratta and head for Beechworth, hoping to beat the heat. The entire ride is spent on the fabulous Murray to Mountains Rail Trail. Riding through the countryside doesn't get much better than this and we are pleased to see that we are not the only riders making good use of this well planned piece of cycling infrastructure. The good condition of the trail allows for riding two abreast and we get the first 21km to Everton done in no time.

Our cycling minds ride happy today. We chat about all sorts of things, menopause (especially brain fog), Muster Dogs (ABC TV show) and Louise's first ever visit to Beechworth (in Grade 4). Even the 16km climb to Beechworth seems short-lived and is lightened up by entertaining and fruitful breaks, such as Louise's eager foraging for black berries...


Quite a few people have told us promising things about visiting Beechworth, mentioning its quaint and charming feel and the many options to satisfy one's appetite. And when we ride in town, it truly feels like riding through a historic film set. And any town with an ice creamery gets my vote. We enjoy a picnic lunch in the Town Hall gardens, spontaneously deciding that we would pitch the tent at Beechworth Holiday Park for two nights. 

The 'pink elephant' was first mentioned at 3:15 when Louise revealed to me that there was a pool in the caravan park. This is after we set up camp and I was just about ready to head back into town to explore the ice cream shop. 

Kerstin: "What? A pool? Here? Wow! That's great! Where is it?"

Louise : "Yeap. Didn't you see it? It's where that pink elephant was, we rode past it on the way in!"

Kerstin: "A pool and a pink elephant! What a great campground"

Still puzzled and doubtful that I would actually get a dip in the cool wet, we head towards the bathrooms and indeed there is a pool... but I can be forgiven for not spotting the pink elephant...

It has been a fabulous day on and off the bikes and it's not over yet. Who knows what else will make us laugh today. Yesterday's blog entry has created some entertaining feedback: a dear friend offered to sell Louise her horse and deliver it personally! 

Great to have you all riding and laughing along!

But now off to town!  For the fuel of all cyclists, pizza and beer.




Location: Beechworth VIC 3747, Australia

Comments

  1. AnonymousFebruary 18, 2022 at 2:36 AM

    You're definitely talking my language! Cycling, pizza, beer and the fog brain of menopause (plus other attendant issues, argh!). That is an interesting looking elephant...I'm thinking unicorn myself.

    ReplyDelete

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