Day 2 - Bendigo to Wangaratta

I woke at 6 AM. With 210 km on the board from the previous day, the legs were a little sluggish just getting out of bed. I scoffed my breakfast of banana, apple, and donuts, pulled on my self-laundered kit and rolled out the door. The sun was breaking but the cloud cover was keeping a lid on the light. Yesterday’s unfriendly headwind had not gone and to the direction I was headed it was very gloomy and dark with sparks of lightning the only illumination. “Bloody great.”

I’d chosen a backcountry route for this day to Wangaratta, but at the turn off I looked down the skinny road and it was into the eye of the storm. I decided a slight deviation would be wise and headed for Elmore. As I enjoyed my second breakfast in Elmore’s bakery the heavens opened. I didn’t think much of it as I finished my second grilled cheese sandwich. Then the street became a river. I ordered another grilled cheese. The rain was not easing and sitting in Elmore Bakery was getting me no closer to Wang. I rolled out in the unfavorable weather.

After a flat tire, and 120 km of flat and uninteresting roads, I’d reach my lunch point in Shepparton. The morning cold winds, and heavy rain were now a belting hot sun and clear sky. On boring sections such as these I usually listen to the local radio. An hour long segment on bird watchers was on and to my amazement Phil Liggett, the voice of cycling, is an avid bird man.

Kenda