Day 70 - What more can a cyclist ask for?

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Secret wild camp spot to Stanthorpe 25km

After the best night's sleep either of us has had in the tent, we wake with the sun and to the sounds of many unfamiliar birds and the bop bopping of kangaroos as they go around the tent.  Since it's Easter Monday, we have a bit of a lie in and wait for the sun to hit the tent and take the chill from the air before crawling out of the sleeping bags.  

The secret wild camp

We carried enough water to indulge in two cups of coffee with breakfast, which incidentally gives the tent enough time to dry in the sun.  The condensation on the inner tent walls on these cool nights with high humidity is really impressive, and annoying.  Poor Kerstin, being taller she can't get out of the tent without a little dew shower.

It's just a short day today, we didn't really want to share the roads with everyone returning home after the long weekend.  Of course that doesn't mean it's flat, but we certainly did the worst of it yesterday.  We really are the only ones out on these back roads, except for two young foxes that are adorably confused by us, in a destructive, introduced feral animal kind of way.

Curious sheep

We head into Stanthorpe with plans to take two days and dedicate ourselves to the wineries tomorrow.  The Woolworths is open, and we restock our very light food bag.  Not much was left in there except the emergency dehydrated meal, some milk powder and a bag of dried kale.  Thankfully the whiskey stock level is still high.

We should have known, with a name like 'Top of the Town Tourist Park' that of course our destination is at the top of yet another hill.  Our site is anything but flat and I am glad we only have a tiny tent to squish onto the flatest bit.  The showers however make up for it.  The Golden Globe of caravan park showers, big, clean, plenty of hot water and a proper shower head.  No little flow restricted dribble here!

We read in the town brochure that Stanthorpe is the coldest town in Queensland, with regular frosts in winter, and even, on the odd occasion, snow!  No wonder they can grow wine here.  

Kerstin and I will brave one more hill for dinner at the RSL, I'm sure the wine list will be adequate and the Schnitzel excellent, and they advertise the coldest beer in town.  What more can a cyclist ask for?
Location: Stanthorpe QLD 4380, Australia

Comments

  1. FrancieApril 19, 2022 at 8:06 AM

    Hello ladies I have read your last four days posts aloud to Joe to show him how interesting your blog is and the "ups and downs" - mentally, spiritually and physically - that the journey induces. Fascinated by the comment of where are the women are after your encounter with the Vet. Perhaps a woman would have listened, imparted some of her story but mostly tried to "feed" her psyche from your varied experiences and positivity to strengthen herself. A generalisation but on having more time these days, I am having longer conversations with three of my widowed neighbours.
    Each of these women have struggled with the Covid induced loneliness, and the two recently-widowed women are a bit scared of the future. But I am fascinated that they don't dwell on this. Dear Helga's [German] favourite phrase is "Dat's wot it is." Eddie passed suddenly late November.
    He wouldn't see a doctor for his heart, and wouldn't get vaccinated, despite his daughter being a Home Carer. I have been helping Helgal pack up all Eddie's hoarding and she can't wait to move to Howlong to be with her daughter. She has wanted to move for the past decade.
    Carmel [Italian] has been widowed 17 years and is a devout Catholic. Her Faith and her grandkids get her through. Every now and then "Fricking hell Frances" comes from her and it is really funny. She told me her big, strong, concreter husband should still be here but he "folded up and sat in a chair" after his heart attack and "he just waited to die"
    Joy has been alone for only three years and has always sworn like a trouper - all the family does. But her loneliness is excruciating. She and John met in Grade 3 and were side-by-side every day. She had the dearest of Ocka grandsons who seems to have 'tuned in' to her and he comes over lots. He has really helped her get through. He wouldn't let her be alone during Lockdown, staying over 1 or 2 nights weekly.
    Not one of these women dwell on themselves too much, only in anger and sadness a bit. Joy is struggling to look outward but now that Lockdown is done with, she is slightly improving.
    Happy wine tasting.

    ReplyDelete

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