Day 6: Clare to Burra

Didy and Mick decided to meet us for lunch in Burra, so they took the panniers, and Ray rode pretty much weight free, although he insisted on taking two extra large water bottles, which weren't needed as the temperature didn't reach twenty.  It was a pretty easy ride except for the soft red soil in places. Thankfully it had not rained enough to to turn it into impassable mud, but it did slow us down.

The flies were starting to drive us crazy. We would lose them when we went fast downhill (I got up to 43 kph at one stage) but they caught up at the next hill. Our fly-netted hats were in the panniers. Having flies crawl over your face whilst madly gripping the brakes, and thus unable to swat them off, is not much fun.

However, the fun mobile was not far away, and we saw Didy and Mick waiting for us in the centre of Burra. We rode up to our accommodation, and M&D decided to stay the night as well. Our rooms overlooked the river and after agreeing to do a walk in the wind to the Burra open mining museum, we thought it would be a great idea to have sunset drinks down on the river bank. So did the ducks.

Discovering that the inn's restaurant would be shut, we set off on a search for 'The Black Sheep' which came recommended. We did find La Pecora Nera, but it took awhile to recognize the name. It was of no consequence, as it was shut. Finally, we found a pub, which provided delicious meals, complete with entertainment from the Ballarat Bikies at the next table, who were quite amused by our pedal bikes as opposed to their motor bikes.

The next day's ride could be 80 kms along the Mawson trail (it's only 32 kms on the highway) or about half that by diverging off the trail some distance along. I was hoping Ray would decide on the latter.

THese sheep were werll and truly fleeced on the outskirts of Clare.

Now there's a change, rectangular bales instead of cyclindrical ones. I know that the round shape had been been barley, but I am not sure whether or not this is the case with these beauties. It could just be the type of machine that bales them - this is probably the case.

WInd blown tussocks dominates this landscape - the dominant grass species around here.

The flies are dominating as we reach the top of the hill. Once we get up some speed the flies will go (probably on out backs).

Burra has a strong copper mining history.

The original school.

The somewhat deceptively broad creek. Only broad because it is dammed at the edge of town. It is probaly only about a kilometer long at the moment.