David's Journal Entry

The ride today was very pleasant and my legs are finally starting to come good. Despite still being slower than Mike my knees no longer burn the way they did and the lactic acid in my quads is softening more quickly each day. An early start ensured a chilly morning, but the mantra "Be bold, start cold" has long been a pillar of cycle touring! In any event, our pre-dawn rising rewarded us with a stunning sunrise, preceded by a very visible Venus in the shifting sky.   

After a good day riding through increasingly sunburned country, we arrived in Mataranka.  It's a curious little place and as we wandered away from our camp at sunset it became ever more apparent that the beating heart of the town was back where we had already pitched our tents. By the time we realised our error and skirted the edge of a park full of energetic, fire-wielding, drunk youngsters on our way back it was already clear that we would be unlikely to find a place to eat.  

With only one option for food and no spare tables to be found, we chanced our luck and asked a friendly-looking couple if we could share their table. As serendipity took over we found ourselves in the company of Mark and Skye, an erudite and hilarious pair from Lismore. After many stories later, ranging from cattle farming to environmental catastrophes, and the inevitable conversations about our respective travel arrangements, we strolled back to our tents with full bellies and full hearts, and a couple of books to add to a reading list*

Today I was reminded that it is okay to ask others, sometimes even strangers, for things you need.

*Randolph Stow's 'To the Islands' and 'Tourmaline', and Kenneth Cooke's 'Waking Fright'