DAY 26

Up 06:30 to sunshine just like the forecasts predicted. It is a lot easier to stay in a tent when it’s not raining, at least mentally. The boys are all set a little after 8 and take their bikes to fill water near the camp kitchen. A lady comes out and asks the boys if they have eaten breakfast. Theo boys breakfast was one banana so Lasse looks over at Anders and probably thinks, “have we really eaten breakfast?”

“We’ve got pancakes inside and coffee!” the lady continues before the boys have answered the first question. “Yes, thank you” Lasse says and they walk towards the kitchen door. When they come they are greeted by a whole bunch of elderly people, with buckets of pancake batter and coffee. Jam, butter, maple syrup and whipped cream is also lined up. Lasse smiles from ear to ear.

They sit down and are treated like kings. The lady who is about to make Anders and Lasse coffee gasps for air when she hears that the boys want their coffee black, without sugar, cream and milk. “Strong men” she says before she returns to the kitchen counter. They eat two pancakes each and that is enough because it is quite sweet as a breakfast. The boys also only drinks that one cup of coffee. It will be interesting to see how the bodies react considering Anders and Lasse barely drinks coffee or tea.

A man that is closer to 70 than 60 takes his iPhone out of his pocket and asks Anders if he got the “wikicamps Australia app”. Anders have never heard of that app and Jeff gladly shows all the possibilities it has to offer. Jeff navigates almost as good as Anders does on his phone and Anders is impressed. Anders immediately downloads the app, although it costs 55 kroner, because this is the solution to the one thing the boys have been missing so far; a complete encyclopedia.

Anders and Lasse shows their gratitude and says goodbye to the elderly. 8:45the bikes rolls out of Benalla and today’s goal is Beechworth. An old historical city where it used to be Gold. A real western town Jeff told Anders before they left. Of the get going, at a good speed since it is mostly flat. It’s sun and perfect weather. After 56 k’s they take their first break, a banana and Snickers and 15 minutes of relaxing. It is only 24 k’s left but the asphalt is not the best so the bikes don’t roll as quick as they could have done and takes a bit more power.

With 16 k’s left the bicycle road they have been looking for crosses the highway. It’s called the old rail trail and is an old railway that have been turned into a bicycle road. For the last 16 k’s it goes mostly upwards and some would have called it climbing. Anders sets away and pretends that he is part of an tour. It feels like the top never comes.

No cyclist passes but they meet a few on their way down. A couple says “good afternoon” where Anders thinks “does this look like a situation where we should sit down and enjoy a cup of tea”. Anders don’t say those words out loud, but nods and then they are gone.

Longer up in the hill Anders meets a group of ladies. They only say hello but the smell of their perfumes follows Anders. A nice smell without guessing brand and edition. It’s a long time since he smelled something good, as he soon have stayed in a tent with another man for almost one month.

They find a caravan park nearby a lake and set up their tent right by a small river, Spring Creek. Lasse decides to take a bath although the water doesn’t even reach him to the knees. The water is ice cold.

The clock is only 3 but they listen to Dag Otto Lauritzens advice; hurry slowly. They lay with their feets high looking at the colors of the spring. Lasses body is Christmas red after yesterday’s tanning session with to little sunscreen and to much sun. Anders is a little burned on his back but it is a huge difference between regular ketchup and chili ketchup as Anders says.

Awesomestralia – a normal life is boring