Sale - Bairnsdale

Two easy short days put me in Bairnsdale with Warmshowers hosts Caroline and Sarah. On the first day I cycled the lonely stretch back from 90 mile beach to the main East Gippsland Highway and made my way to Sale. It was here that I was able to spend a few hours in the library charging my equipment, picking up a free book and catch up with the weekends UFC event. The weather was fantastic so I hung around in the park, made a lunch and fed the Peacocks. I only noticed one and while feeding it another snook up behind me to get itself a hand out. I noted a free camp spot around 20 kilometres along the highway so set off with enough time to cycle, prepare some food and set up the tent. Once I had set up the tent and got in it had just gone dark and the sound of the birds and cicadas had subsided but unfortunately the traffic on the highway hadn’t. This was the main Princes Highway that handles the bulk of the movement between towns. This included the road trains that are huge artic trucks that pull two trailers at a time. The noise was unreal especially at 2am while you are in a tent 30 yards away. My nights sleep wasn’t the best and I was up and packed at 6:30am the next morning. The ride into Bairnsdale was again along the highway but thankfully only 40 kilometres. The road works were a bit of a pain but at least they kept the traffic speed down to a safer level. My hosts were Caroline and Sarah. 2 ladies who’s host profile stated they were in a same sex relationship and that any guest had to be ok with that. They were able to meet at 6pm so I hung around in Bairnsdale Park, made some lunch and did a workout. They advised that they were attending a meeting in the park at 6pm for the Bairnsdale LGTB community and I would be welcome to meet them and their friends before heading to the house. I had no problem with that and enjoyed the conversation and pizzas. I definitely have to make a cauliflower, feta and pesto pizza when I return home. Back at the house I met Caroline’s daughter Maddie who taught me how to play handball. Not an xbox in sight but good straightforward fun. Even though a guest my competitive streak meant I had to try and win. After Maddie beat me it was time to chill and plan the next couple of days. Footnote: made it to Swifts Creek, I’m sitting in a park under shelter after a really hard ride through a really scary thunderstorm with 40mm’s of rain and lots of lightning. I camped by the river but packed up early as it started to rain. I’m sitting under a covered rotunda and there is a homeless guy here. I made him a coffee and he said he would sit out the way and chill as nobody likes a chatterbox. He hasn’t stopped talking for 40 minutes and none of it makes sense. He’s now having a more subdued conversation with himself.