Here we go again!!!

Huntly to Lockwood South rest area = 32km

Cummulative total = 32km

It has been just over 4 years since we last went cycle touring and clearly after todays start we have forgotten how to tour!

Packing the bikes yesterday was easy and we thought we had everything but cycling the 32km today to Lockwood South we certainly forgot a few things - namely the garden trowel for bush camping toilet pits (lucky we aren't bush camping but always a good idea to bring just in case we don't make our destination!) we also forgot the tea towel ... so that is only just the everyday items ... after half a kilometer Neil remembered he forgot his phone so back he goes .... almost to Leannes place to drop the key off I forgot the cooler bag with the milk ... not that we needed the milk but after  10 days I think it would have stunk out the fridge so we rode back to where they are building lifestyle blocks and off loaded my trailer and I rode the 4km back to home to get the cooler bag - by the time I got back to Neil I had clocked up 12km and we were less than 5km from home!!! 

 So picked up the bike path at Epsom and rode to Weeroona and had a pitstop and then continued through to the city center and picked up the bike path along Hargreaves street and onto Kangaroo flat.
It takes a bit of getting use to the heavy load minus the 7kg dog at the back in the trailer and just for good measure in honour of Kouta I used a stern voice and growled 'sit down and stop moving'.
I suppose going along the bike path avoids lots of traffic but it is very stop start so there is a lot of wobbling going on until we get use to the heavy front steering and load at the back.  We do feel lighter as we don't have the huge pannier bags at the front anymore and only little ones.  All the food is now in the trailer so the steering is lighter than previous tours.

 So once at Cooinda park for a cuppa as it is near lunchtime and we are both reflecting on the extra kms that we have done and wondering if we are going to die before we reach our camp spot.
In hindsight we should have taken the highway all the way from Golden Square as the bike path to Kangaroo flat and on from there to Crusoes reservoir was really stop start, crossing busy roads and a very narrow bike path that made overtaking and passing very difficult ... one couldn't help but get the wobbles when passing someone on a narrow path!
That said we got to Crusoes road and passed the Reservoir and it is a nice gentle climb pass there and then we were on our way ... about 10km to go to the rest area.  The road was ok, cars overtook with ease and it is rolling a bit so we used the gears on the bike profusely and used the time to enjoy the gentle downhill roll before having to reclimb again.  The legs were weary but ok ... the test will be to see how we go tomorrow and the following days.
The rest area is nice, it is a narrow reserve just opposite where we came out from the Crusoe reservoir road.  There is plenty of space and although close to the roadd we are camped just far away that the noise is there but not intrusive.  We would imagine the noise will die down as the night approaches.  It is busy but it is free so we will put up with the noise!

 Sitting there having our cuppa and cheese and crackers and this magpie decides that it is not afraid of us and will gladly take whatever is in my hand out of it ...

it would come very close to us and not worry at all!

 So by mid afternoon we are sitting here with not a care in the world, smelling like sweat, I am missing the fact that I can't have a shower and will have to make do with a bird bath while Neil is enjoying the serenity!

 There are toilets here but we have to get on the bike to ride to them ... they are down by the footy ground.
So tomorrow is another 30km odd day to Tarnagalla - have been through there before and this time we will be staying there at the local footy ground ... gotta love that Wikicamps - it has opened up so many roads for us to cycle on!
Until then, happy cycling!