2019 - Dubbo and Beyond: Day 32

Temp: 10-17 degC

Ride: 10km

It felt a lot colder than the alleged 10 degC on the phone app; when we checked the outside thermometer it said 8 degC, so not much colder however, there was a very fresh breeze which made it feel colder.

We had a heart starting coffee then headed off to Shear Outback - The Australian Shearers Hall of Fame for breakfast. When we arrived, we discovered the cafe was closed however, the lady that sold us the tickets for the shearing demo made us a coffee. We also ordered a carrot cake and it was massive. Not the healthiest breakfast but it did keep us going until lunch time which we also had at the Shearers Mess Cafe.

Our tickets allowed us entry into the Shearers Hall of Fame and the shearing demo. There were not too many names we recognised; the artefacts, facts, stats and history of shearing in Australia were interesting though. The shearing demo was very good as the shearer was a man of long experience in the business and talked us through the shearing process including the people who pick up the different bits (belly wool (normally full of burs and other nasty bits), wool with fertiliser on it, etc) of wool that comes off the sheep and what they do with it. After shearing the sheep he demonstrated the 'throwing of the wool' onto the grading table. He also showed us different types of wool, eg. from a lamb's first hair cut, from a meat sheep, from a merino sheep, and from a cross breed. Wool from a meat sheep and some cross breeds is made into carpets. The bits they pull off from the wool on the grading table go into making Ugg boots, etc. There are also wool runners now made from the lamb's wool (no sweating and no smell!)

It was then time for lunch and Greg had lambs fry with onion gravy on toast and Wendy wanted a bacon and egg roll but they had no bacon; REALLY??! So she had a meat pie.

We then rode past the Bishop's Lodge Historic House and Heritage Rose Garden but didn't go in. Was difficult to photograph due to strategically planted trees.

Before heading back to the van, we rode the Bidgee Riverside Trail which was really special with the enormous Red River Gums with their amazing colours. Hay has really put some effort into making tourism a viable industry.

We used our portable solar panel in earnest today as the tree we parked next to put out some serious shade over the panel on the roof. At least we know it works.

We are both really enjoying the free camping caper and will probably do a lot more now that we are relatively self-sufficient. With an extra water tank to be placed in the back of the truck, we will be able to go 'bush' for at least five days, providing there is some sun during the day.

We don't really want to leave Hay tomorrow as this free camp is really spacious however, there is nothing more to do here and we have arranged to meet Mark and Sue in Cobar tomorrow.

We set the smoke alarm off twice tonight whilst cooking our lamb and pork chops!