This morning was my first pack up in the rain which looked like it had set in for the day. I was glad I had my TarpTent with the bathtub style floor because a small pool had formed around it due to the low lying area where it was pitched, but everything was nice and dry inside. After waving goodbye to my new friends sitting cosily by the fire, I set off towards Mount Gambier along the Main Caroline Road which, after a few initial hills, was mostly flat, passing pine forests and grazing land. This was a great alternative to the Nelson Road with hardly a car in sight.
I passed a farm of Boer goats which are bred for their meat. I learned this from a passing motorist who stopped to educate me on the breed. Such helplful people everywhere!
Other than some vineyards it was mostly flat grazing land until one hill just outside Mount Gambier.
After reaching the beautiful Blue Lake I learned of a 100km bicycle race that was being run and some roads were closed to cars waiting for the winners to arrive. As I sailed down the long hill towards the finishing line with the road to myself, my trailer bobbing along behind me and my hair swept back in the wind the officials came running out to see who they thought was the race winner approaching and as I sailed passed them I called out `Have I won?' to which they replied 'Yes, and you get the $2000' (which I have yet to collect).
Quite apart from this fact, I was immediately impressed with Mt Gambier, named in 1800 after Lord Gambier, full of beautiful old dolomite and limestone buildings at every turn. At the Information Centre I learned about a hostel in the magnificent 1865 Mt Gambier Gaol so I opted for voluntary admission, and got my very own cell (not padded), right off the exercise yard with even a spare cell to store my bike and trailer. Then I headed off to do my laundry, got a fantastic sports massage from Daniel Millard who really knows his stuff, and a steak at the pub before turning in.
