Long Tours – Page 2 – Ramble Out Yonder

Wide Open – Days 10-12 – The thumb twiddling

July 21, 2026July 21, 2026E Sharp

2-4 June 2026 – 16 kms – Swan Hill

Wamba Wamba and Wadi Wadi Country

So the question is: do you peel the band-aid off slowly or rip it off? Do you ease into a problem or jump straight in?

After I got to the motel on Monday, I noticed that there was a thorn stuck in the front tyre. There was no loss of tyre pressure. If I hadn’t seen the thorn, I wouldn’t know that there was going to be a puncture. The thorn was obviously stuck in the tube and plugging itself.

So, do I just ignore it and leave it there? Or do I pull the thorn out and fix the puncture while I have somewhere warm and dry to do it? Everyone knows the joys of roadside puncture repair.

So I pull the thorn out and the tyre goes quickly flat – accompanied by a great and dramatic hissing sound effect.

Wide Open – Day 9 – When rainbows aren’t welcome

July 21, 2026E Sharp

1 June 2026 – 75 kms – Moulamein to Swan Hill

Wamba Wamba and Wadi Wadi Country

I’m lit up like a Christmas tree, complete with reflective tape in various places that shines like tinsel. It’s a bit before 6am as we roll out of town. The radar this morning was not encouraging.

Wide Open – Day 8 – All the tourist things

July 20, 2026July 20, 2026E Sharp

31 May 2026 – 0 kms – Moulamein

Wamba Wamba Country

Just like yesterday, the day starts clear, the wind picks up and then the clouds roll in and bring afternoon showers. But that is no different to the forecast, so I’m up early to go see the sights before the precipitation arrives.

Wide Open – Day 7 – Back in time

July 20, 2026E Sharp

30 May 2026 – 65 kms – Wakool to Moulamein

Wamba Wamba Country

My watch alarm alerts me that it is ‘sparrow’s gurgle’ at 5am. I immediately start packing up. Let’s see how far we can get toward Moulamein before the wind picks up. 5am is more sparrow’s fart, or even first light, in summer. But at this time of year, it is still pitch black out there. Sunrise is close to 7.30am. Sparrow’s gurgle it is.

Wide Open – Day 6 – The general store

July 19, 2026July 19, 2026E Sharp

29 May 2026 – 84 kms – Mathoura to Wakool

Yorta Yorta/Bangerang, Wamba Wamba and Mutthi Mutthi Country

It is 3C outside the tent. I start the ritual process of easing my body into the cold. I pull down the neck buff that I wear over my nose and mouth to reduce condensation, I unzip the sleeping bag and then peel it back, trying to keep it from touching the wet tent sides. Then I slide down the sleeping bag liner to my waist, lift my butt, slide it to my knees and then pull the liner and bag from underneath me. Now exposed to the cold, I stuff the sleeping bag into its bag, roll the liner up and then lay back down to pull off my warm fleecy pants. Each act introduces the cold a bit at a time.