Category: New Day Rising

New Day Rising – Days 3-4

New Day Rising – Days 3-4

E Sharp

25-26 February 2025

Jaimathang Country

Snowy Logging Road to Omeo Hwy camp

There is always hope when you go to sleep when it’s windy that you might wake up to a dry tent in the morning. I went to bed with this hope last night.

But you know, there’s that saying, ‘he who lives on hope, dies fasting’.

My hopes are dashed this early morning. I have slept straight through and never heard that wind die off or the silent accumulation of dew and condensation. The tent is completely wet inside and out.

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New Day Rising – Day 2

New Day Rising – Day 2

E Sharp

24 February 2025

Jaimathang Country

Willis Creek Bridge to 1150 metres Snowy Logging Road

The only sound is my tyres crunching over gravel on a moderate uphill. The birds are quiet, the wind is still. The day has creaked open with nary a creak, bird cry or branch swaying in the wind.

We are riding up the Willis Creek tributary, climbing high above the creek on the side of the valley wall. It’s all uphill for the first eight kms, on a pretty moderate grade. It’s steep enough in places for my chain to creak and click as it strains against the weight and grade. Yes, the only noise to start the day is my bike and my breathing.

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New Day Rising – Day 1

New Day Rising – Day 1

E Sharp

23 February 2025

Jaimathang Country

Lightning Creek Campground to Willis Creek Bridge – 9 kms

There are clouds hanging over the trip. Literal and figurative.

Wisps of moisture hang down in fingers of fog from clouds that cloak the surrounding hills. A steady rain falls as we pull into the campground.

I know there is a covered rotunda in the day use picnic area of this campground, and this will allow me to get all my gear together in a dry space. However, some arses have yanked the barriers out of the ground that prevent vehicles from accessing the grassy picnic area. They are camping next to the rotunda which they’ve taken over as part of their campsite.

Nigel parks far away from the rotunda and says, “I think it’s full.”

I reply, “That’s the day use area. They’re not allowed to camp there. They are just going to have to share.”

Nigel’s eyebrows raise, but he does not protest. He helps me pull out my panniers, fork bags and bike and then follows me as I quickly stride toward the rotunda through the rain. It really sucks to get rained on at 0 kms on Day 1 of a ride. I may be pretty shy, but I am absolutely not afraid of anyone, not even five bogans and their gargantuan dog that is barking at us.

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