Narembeen to Kondinin 1995

Narembeen to Kondinin, day 3, Saturday 28 October 1995. I left Narembeen at 7:47. The morning was cool and the winds were light SE turning to S and SW. The land rose to some highish country between Narembeen and Kondinin, then fell gradually towards Kondinin.

Kondinin

I had drink breaks at 2936, 2950 and 2964. At one point a large kangaroo bounded across the road in front of me and kept going into the scrub. It would have been taller than I. My stomach ache was a lot less and the ride, which I had been worried about because it was the longest (though still short by the standards of previous years) for the trip so far, was quite steady and straightforward. I arrived in Kondinin at 11:06, 2976.

The roadhouse motel was very nice, the best value-for-money of the trip, with a ‘phone just a step away and the roadhouse shop and restaurant open 7 days a week till late. The whole thing was managed by capable, friendly people who clearly enjoyed their work.

The unit was spacious and well furnished, with openable, fly-screened windows at both ends, as well as the air-conditioner. There was colour TV and radio and a fridge.

I had a rest as usual, then showered and changed and walked round the town. It was just as well the roadhouse shop was there because in Kondinin the shops still shut with a bang at 12 noon on Saturday, so both the small Foodland co-ops were closed. There was in fact no-one about at all, except for two men having a desultory discussion in front of one of the closed Foodland stores.

The sun was hot and I started feeling depressed again. I returned to my unit and lay around listlessly with the radio tuned to the cricket match being played at the WACA in Perth, Pakistan vs WA. A couple of times I heard sounds from the sporting complex on the western side of the main road (I had tried the pool but it didn’t open till November 1) and finally a yell that sounded like an appeal, followed by a burst of clapping, convinced me that a cricket match was being played nearby.

I made my way across the road and down the track and came to a big oval with the goal-posts still in place and a game of country cricket in progress. I made my way round the ground to a place where I could sit comfortably in front of the pavilion, in the shade, and enjoy the scene and the game for a couple of hours until they drew stumps.

The setting was beautiful and peaceful and the game proceeded, with big hits, some wickets falling and some good and bad fielding. The scoreboard clicked steadily behind me. As I sat there I felt peace and healing creep into my soul. I had no more trouble with depression after that afternoon which I will remember, not because anything in particular was special, but because of the way things came together – the game, the pleasant family atmosphere, the setting, the weather, the peace.

Shortly before six the two batsmen still in walked off the field, but the rest of the players and umpires stayed on – someone had suggested giving the boys a go. Two boys walked on, equipped for batting, and a couple of boys took over the bowling. They played for a few overs, with much encouragement and advice from the adults.

I went back and had a mixed grill with vegetables for dinner. Before that, while it was still daylight, I oiled the bike and checked it. I was a bit concerned about the back tyre – the rubber was perishing, with numerous cracks on the tread and the tyres. But I knew that the tyre wasn’t very old, and the tread wasn’t worn to the fabric underneath. There was nothing to be done about it, anyway. I had never had a blowout while on a ‘ride’, even with tyres much more worn, so I didn’t worry any more about it. I had thought of putting on new tyres before the trip – it wouldn’t have taken long, but when I decided to send the bike a day early I just left the old ones in place.

Reading at Kondinin: 2976. Km for day: 54. Aggregate: 143. Speed to Kondinin: 16.2 kph. Km/day: 47.7.

Narembeen to Kondinin 1995

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