Date written: 1 December 2020
Date posted: 5 December 2020
This post was written by hand in my diary on the road, and entered into the blog when I got home.
I had a bit of rain today, but nothing too heavy and after the past few days, it was actually quite refreshing. I woke in Cohuna, had my coffee and breakfast and packed down my camp quite quickly. I didn’t have phone reception so was keen to get into a better area for it so I could let my partner know I was OK, etc. I was also low on water so decided to venture away from the Murray to detour through Cohuna township.
I rode along the River Track for a while, happening across some bridgeworks at the Sleeper Track regulator, where the construction workers kindly let me carry my bike across. I saw some emus and kangaroos on the way to Cohuna, but otherwise it was a fairly uneventful but thoroughly enjoyable ride into town.
In Cohuna I stopped for coffee at the Old Farmery Coffee Shop, where the coffee was quite good. I filled up my water bottles, had a muffin and called Danielle. I also saw a lady I’d seen yesterday at the Barham Bakery.
From Cohuna I rode back along the Cohuna Island Road around Gunbower Creek, stopping for a few photos and enjoying the road itself — tree-lined and picturesque with very little traffic but a good surface, the road wound itself along wetlands and I saw a lot of birds and scenery.
I turned off at Tickells Road, near Taylor Lagoon to return to the River Track along the Murray. Gunbower National Park is very beautiful, the tracks are good and I knew this area a bit better as I’ve camped around here many times before. I stopped at a great camp spot I used to regularly use with friends at Broken River Bend.
I caught plenty of fish — 3 yellowbellies, a silver perch, a carp and a big Murray cod who was certainly in the size limit, about 60cm I’d estimate, and was destined to become my dinner until I got him in close, climbed into the water (as I have no net) and tried to land him, but alas! He snapped off and swam away to live another day.
The wind this afternoon has been very rough. My DAC tarp pole is bending like an old man, my tarps have ripped heaps of pegs out and after a while of this I decided to pack down my gear into my tent and fly, and retire for an early evening. It’s about 1930 and I’m ready for bed.
The stats
Distance ridden
Riding time
Elevation (climbed)
Average speed
Max speed
Temperature
Pedal strokes
On my travels today, I passed through such beautiful country and would like to acknowledge the traditional custodians of that land, the Yorta Yorta people, and pay my respects to their Elders, past and present. I’d like to thank them for looking after the country for more than 80,000 years.
