CWC - Day 5: Dunedoo to Mendooran

Day 5: Dunedoo to Mendooran 59 kms

Had a not too bad espresso at the White Rose Cafe this morning before heading out on our short but hilly trip to the Wild West town of Mendooran. As we arrived early, we headed to the only cafe for an ice cream. We were heartened by the fact that there was a Streets sign on the door. Unfortunately the supplier had not arrived so no ice cream. Also no fruit, which is a bit of a bummer for our trip tomorrow. 

We took a recce ride down the main street and spied a grocery store, but it was closed down. Actually, most of the shops were deserted. Looks like it is the pub for dinner tonight. By the time we had ridden to the end of the street, our accommodation for the night was available. 

Currently I am enjoying the breeze on the wide verandah on the second floor of Anna's Mendooran B&B. It is about the only thing to enjoy. The bathroom is down the hall, with the toilet and shower in the one room, straight out of the 50s. The multiple cakes of old used soap on display were impressive. But I shouldn't complain. I have just discovered that we are paying $50 for both of us for the night. 

Anna sei Italiana (I knew that Duo Lingo would come in handy in the outback). Let's hope all the twelve rooms are not booked tonight, or that bathroom is going to be busy. Only two more days of riding on this trail.

Pics

Hugh Bowman, a Dunedoo local and jockey, is immortalised on a double silo with Winx, the record breaking sprinter and Chris Waller her trainer.

The daily dose of Australian pastoral land

It's not very high, maybe 70 - 80 cm and it looks like wheat. Brenda reckons it is wheat and it may well be, but I am not so sure.

A giant prehistoric dog was buried here with one leg sticking out of the ground. Now it is petrified and will forever be exposed to the light.

The famous white tailed goanna about 1.5 mts long, escaping the dangers of two decrepit cyclists. We have seen a few, one over 2m long, and they have all headed for the trees.

One of many gnarled eucalypts we saw today

And another

Mendooran Fire Brigade

The Royal Hotel where the publican has not yet taken up his spot behind the second door on the left. When we went in a half hour later he was well and truly ensconced and possibly settled in for the night. It looked like he had spent a few nights as the bar drinking away the profits, meagre as they probably are.

We stayed at Anna's Mendooran B and B. A night there will set you back the princely sum of $50(cash only). That is not a misprint. The lodgings were pretty basic with shared men's and women's bathroom down one end of the upstairs accomodation. It used to be the Mendooran Hotel, now a 12 room B and B. Anna can't do enough for you. We had a continental breakfast for $10 each, including 2 boiled eggs each. Anna's brother sells the plants and other semi hardware items out the front. Anna is from Roma. (Italy)

We can't escape technology, even in Mendooran.

Mendooran was the first town settled on the Castlereagh River

Unfortunately, you won't be getting any saddles or harnesses any time soon as, like many of the businesses in Mendooran, they have long closed down. I saw a sign for a block of prime real eatate near the centre of town for $52,000 which I thought was too expensive. To build your dream home, you're probably going to have to bring all your supplies in from Dubbo, although you may find a local who is cutting timber as a side line and get your timber that way. Alternatively, to buy an abondoned shop in town probably will not set you back all that much more.

Ride Notes

• Overall, a pretty fast day's cycling with around 18klms done on the highway
  • Fortunately it was relatively quiet and everyone gave us a reasonably wide berth
  • Three of the last five klms had virtually no verge so you were actually on the highway
• Up till the blacktop, the dirt road was pretty good except for the last 5 klms of "new" dirt road which was very bumpy
  • It must cost a lot more to use a grader
• No food or water stops along the way so start out well prepared
• They may sell some sandwiches at the bakery, but not much else is available for the next day's ride, so come prepared for at least two day's supplies from Dunedoo