Renmark to Euston Week 2

24th Dec - Renmark - rest day
woke late - sorted washing, borrowed bike from klaus to ride into town, had Breaky at cafe overlooking the river. Cruised around, spent some time on net at Library, Had a call from SBS radio Sydney, it was a nice suprise to have Mum and my grandmother Taty also on the call to wish them a merry Xmas. Sat by the river a long while just thinkin of Brony and getting lost in so many thoughts. Had a visit from Kevin chatting about the secret and lots of interesting stuff and then had Nicoli come past and drop off something I had left behind at her place.
later had dinner at the Bistro and had an early night ready for the start of a new week of walking.

25th Dec - Renmark to Camp Beside Road (CBR) approx 42km
Early start - about to head of and Kevin turned up with a hot Xmas breakfast for me made by one of his daughters - THANK YOU it was great!! gave me the energy I needed to start the day.
hot day - met some interesting people on the road. it was so hot I was wishing for some shelter - I need a table and shelter, table and shelter, table and shelter - 20min later down the road as I was loosing it....table and shelter!!!!! LAW OF ATTRACTION at work. I lay down in the shade fell asleep and then woke to have some food. Still very hot at 2pm was wondering if I should wait longer before heading off, got going at 2.30. Good alone time, just me the birds, trees, Brony and the sun oh and the flies!!! stopping every hour for shade and water breaks to keep from exhausting my self, got to a point I couldn't go anyfurther, legs had it feet had it, I had just passed 40km so I started to look for a place to camp the night, couple more km and found a nice spot overlooking wheat fields with the sun setting behind - it was a beautiful place to spend XMas night - just me - nature - thoughts of Brony.

26th CBR - Lake Culluleraine 35km approx

Ive decided to try and make entries shorter if I can so I can catch up -
Awesome sunrise!!! hit the road early --- way too much heat 50+on handle bars..endured on nice people stopped with cold water.. lunch under a tree in a ditch on side of road - SHADE the main thing.
Made the lake - what a site water......dove in clothes and all - took of my shoes. Nice people on side of lake offered cold soft drinks sat a while and chatted. Stayed at camp ground - great group of locals suprised me with a plate of christams left overs scoffed them down with a beer stayed up till late with Adrian, Dicko, Barb, Macka - thanks for the hospitatlity.
The lake was beautiful sat and thought about Bron while looking at the view that she would have loved, its still so hard doing all this with out her!!!
The wind and rain came during the night- cheap tent = water enters !!! will have to fix that down the road.


27th Lake Culluleraine - Merbein South 40.9km

On the road later, walked all day few stops - aiming for small town before Mildura. Not many people on road, Chilean guy that heard SBS program stopped to say gday. pwered on through the arvo - Heat was 50+on the handle bars again. about 3.30 started wobbling a bit - time to find shade none around went on for a while then a tree. couldn't lie down so sat on plank of wood found earlier, must of been a while & been out of it because I didn't hear a lady pull up and ask if I was OK she gave a donation and offered to get me a cold drink from shop down the road 10min for her 2hours for me, she was back in a flash with cold water , coke and Barley sugars wow just what I needed to get the rest of the way - Thank you Kim you saved me. hours later finally made it to Merbein South everything closed and asked a man how far caravan park was another 5km it was getting dark and I was stuffed, Larry then offered me a drink and to pull up in his place. Great guy, styed up chating til late with him - feed, shower and bed for the night - Luxury!!

28th Merbein South - Mildura 22km
easy walk into town
went to Rays outdoor store for another pair of shoes - worn through a pair allready!!
Ladies there were great all running around after me looking for my size in different shoes, very genourously discounted the shoes for me and Vickie and Hannah donated a canteen and innersoles - thank you
found camp ground - feelin a little heat struck dove in river and then slep in tent the afternoon - still not well, had some food and more sleep. call from local paper and radio to meet in morning have to do banking and some food shopping -

29th Mildura - CBR 41km
Feelin better this morning
1st walk back 1.5km into town to meet up with newspaper and then radio, bank and shops.
finally under way by 10am, good walk. bought avos and oranges at roadside, rested in shade a few times had a good siesta at one, camp by roadside on fire track. sleeping by 8.45 dreaming with Brony almoust halousinating.

30th CBR - Euston
6.30start rough sleep mattress deflated slept on rock!!cold night. Another quiet day on the road, starting to lack motivation at times and struggling with the heat. Lots of self talk and long conversations with Brony - pushed on - started thinking about having pasta for dinner - made Euston early by 630pm greeted by gentleman and his grandson in front of their property after a quick chat Tony invited me in to refill my water bottles with his filtered water - tasted great, faboulous house, then he said stay for some pasta!!! your kiding I was wanting pasta for the last 3 hours on the road - wow great meal homemade red wine lovely family Thank you Tony Zappia.
Went to local campground - met another group of wonderful people - all from Portland, water skiers shared a beer and some stories,

31st Euston - CBR

Breaky with Des and wife from portland, sorry about the spilled coffee - thats a "brony"

Hit the road for another hard slog in the heat - battered by the wind a little pulled into a half empty lake for a rest and food. started again at 2. lots of breaks under shade. found a goodspot to camp the night - had a warm bourbon & coke that had been donated a few days ago to toast the newyear all my thoughts are with Brony and struggling to make sense of what Im doing with out her but here I am doing this crazy walk....., sleepin by 9.30. Who knows what the new year brings?????