Texas to Ashford

It was a beautiful clear blue sky day (which eventually turned into a very cloudy day!) and we set off full of beans that we were going to be crossing the border and going into NSW.

The border is at the Dumaresq River and it is quite flowing and this is the river that goes to Goondiwindi and it peaked 8m yesterday at Goondiwindi and as we went over the bridge today we could see that the river was us quite high over the past week - this is a popular place for free camping but they have no toilets but there were still a few self contained caravans there.
So we knew today was going to be a tough day with a headwind and basically a constant gentle climb to Ashford. Once over the border Neil kept saying that the area was so much like Barwon Downs at this time of the year - I think it is more like Barwon Downs during October - as since we are higher than Victoria the Spring and all its' glory, colour and warmth are here right now and everything is in full bloom where as in Victoria Spring is generally a month later and the warmth, colour and Spring glory isn't until October.
One thing we have seen quite alot of is Tobacco kilns

Apparently around Texas it use to be a popular growing area and although they don't grow it now the kilns are still in the paddocks.
Once we turned off at Bonshaw for Ashford the road becomes even more smaller and quieter (not than the Bruxner highway was busy!). It is up and down a bit and then you are on a type of tableland and then you can feel that you are still climbing but it doesn't look like a hill in front of you!

This area is very beautiful especially when it was a clear day but it was still nice even when it clouded over.
Despite the climbing gradually the legs felt good today and after Bonshaw we broke the ride into 3 sections and had a snack at each stop.

I didn't realise Neil had taken that photo!
Pushing onto Ashford the legs were still okay despite a very strong headwind that at times was very gusty. What was hurting was between my shoulder blades - since the wind was strong and blowing me all over the place I had to constantly fight to keep the bike under control and after 70km of trying to keep the front steering from going off the road and into the middle of the road the shoulders became very tired and weary!!!

Relieved to get to Ashford we found Ben at the local store eating his lunch - he stopped at Bonshaw weir the night before (probably to fish as he has fishing gear with him) and so we chatted and he was continuing on for another 23km to Bukkulla tonight. We found the caravan park and it is a council one - big and has quite a few people here that are travelling together so we picked a spot and have a powered site (since it is only $13 for power and $10 for unpowered) so I can do the blog on a word document and cut and paste it tomorrow when we get to Inverell as I cannot get Optus reception here but you can get Telstra but we have no credit with them at the moment and it is not worth getting it for just a few places along the way.
The caravan park is nice and has a very good library in the laundry and a free washing machine so we did some washing late this afternoon and since the wind is still strong and blowing we are hoping it will dry in 3 hours before sunset!
Tomorrow is another hilly day to Inverell - Ashford is at 450m above sealevel and I think Inverell is about 700m above sealevel so more climbing but I think it will be alot like today - gradual. We hope to get away early again like this morning (we got away at 7.30am) as while the water is boiling Neil packed his bob trailer which saved alot of time and let me get brekky ready so we will try that again tomorrow morning