Day 4 Dubbo to Albury

Today was meant to be the day that we would all start together. But with the events of yesterday Warren and Kerry were starting well back with a 400 k handicap and still had no bike. But more of that later. The Hoppers keen to make the most of the day were ready to go early wanting to put some time at Parkes telescope. Battaglenes were a bit slower still recovering from their big day from Toowoomba. Lets get the Hopper drama for today over now. As we pulled out of the fuel stop I did not have a clear view. I went to leave and had seconded thoughts and stopped for another look. Kate was behind me and she was on her way. Saw I stopped and thought she had missed something stopped but as she put her foot down it slipped in the loose gravel. With a full tank the bike over balanced and again in slow motion it came down breaking the right-hand mirror off.

The telescope was great. The last time we had been there the visitors centre was closed. The great bit was they moved the dish while we were watching. Logan rings while we are there. "Do you have a shifter?" Was this going to be today's drama. We prayed. Logan and Robyn had a bit of a breakdown in communication explain where we were and we thought that Battaglenes had gone past us. But as we pulled out they rolled up. There was grease leaking out of the LH wheel bearing and was a little loose. The shifter was the right size so we lifted it up and Kate tightened it and it was all good. It was not hot so we agreed that it was over filled and ok.
We traveled all day with the Battaglenes although not together.. We had lunch at the Foster RSL because they had been advertising on bill boards on the way in that they had free wifi. Something we desired as our data plans started to get used up. Warren and Kerry were catching us. They were in Coonabarabran. We meet up with the Battaglenes again at West Wylong. They arrived before us and had their lunch there. We left together. We went ahead following a speed limited ??? semi all the way to Temora where we fueled up. Battaglenes when past. Warren and Kerry were in Parkes. We caught Battaglenes again before Wagga Wagga. Plan was to stop there but we followed the signs to Albury and basically bypassed the place. What we did find was a great bakery in Uranquinty. This was the first time we had been caught out with daylight saving. We were just settling in went they shut the doors for the day. Warren and Kerry were in West Wylong.

We rang Jeff -Kerry's Dad - he wanted to ride out to Culcairn about 50 k and ride with us into Albury. He guided us to our accommodation The Albury Motor Inn which was great. We went to Jeff and Ailsa's for tea about 7.30. Warren and Kerry were there before us. The complete Tassie team was together at last. Jeff and Ailsa provided us with pies, peas and mashed potato. The perfect meal after what was our hottest day yet. (38 in Wagga)