Day 55: Friday– GRASSY HEADS TO BELLINGEN

Distance: 61 km
Time: 4hours
Distance so far: 2108 km
Weather: Hot.
Terrain: Hilly



Awoke at 6,30am and went for a bathe on the deserted beach, in the breakers. High tide. Cold, but invigorating. Nobody else around. Unspoilt beauty, preserved in a national park now. Reminds me of my ancestor’s work, Philip Le Breton, a Whig councillor who, as Chairman of the Metropolitan Board of Works in the 1850s led the campaign to save Hampstead Heath for the nation.

Back to eastern Australia - Our tent packed away, and paniers packed, we left at 9am. 10km later, decided to make for Macksville for breakfast. Around the next garden a nursery with local bananas, local papaya and pineapples. Bliss. Their goat enjoyed the banana skin and peel we had left over.

Another 10km to Macksville, and to ShortOrder café. Recipient of numerous Sydney Morning Herald prizes, they gave us our meal with a 40% discount in support of Bike the Earth. Thank you!

A visit to the chemist to get antibiotics for Chris’ resurgent tooth aches, and then on the road to Uranga and Bellingen. A hot day. Definitely sub-tropical. Tall gum trees benefitting from the coastal rains.

I am slow with the trailer. Why rush? When I am thinking I am even slower. But when I have to get up the steepest hill, I do, without getting off. A groan.. and I make sure my legs turbo sets in.

Roland low. Maybe cos I am slow. Maybe cos right now I am paying for the whole expedition. We need more money to come in from sponsors and donors. He and I must send out the letter to all BTC facilitators here to ask for money.