This ain’t the YHA

April 26th, 2003 at 12:00am

What a day. After all the rain we had today I cannot explain how happy I am to be warm and dry in my room at the Yandaran Pub, even though it was quite a bit of effort to get here. They called for heavy rain today, but when I woke up this morning to some blue skies/some clouds, I thought I may get away with just a cloudy day. Well, I did for the first 2 hours, and it was a really nice ride on the backroads of Childers through the sugar cane fields and then 20 km on the Isis Highway, which was not nearly as busy as the Bruce Highway (Route 1) and even though it was hilly, it really wasn?t too bad. I then turned off the highway and had 9 km to get to Kolan South where I was planning to take a break. Then the rain hit, a torrential downpour! I got HAMMERED and had 3 massive hills to get to the town, which, by the way, was nothing more than a crossroads with a motel. But the porch of the motel was a heavenly site for me to get out of the downpour for a break.

At that point I had done 41 km and I really didn?t fancy cycling much more in the rain, especially because it was really windy and quite chilly as well, so I looked ahead on the maps and decided to go another 16 km to a campervan park. Rained the whole way there with waves of water from every passing car.

Got to the caravan park at 1:30pm and started to re-think the plan when I saw how basic the facilities were and I imagined spending the entire afternoon in my tiny one-person tent in the rain. Thankfully the couple who run the park were really nice and helpful and suggested that I continue on another 15 km to Avondale where the pub there allows you to set up a tent in the back for free. So I thought well, I?ll still be in the tent, but at least I?ll get further along.

Well it turned out to be 20 km but somehow it went quickly even though it was POURING the whole time. I looked like a drowned rat when I got to the pub, and asked the woman in desperation if they had any rooms. She said no, but called ahead to ANOTHER pub 10 km down the road and they said yes, they have a room for me for $15 AUS.

The thought of doing another 10 km in the downpour was not appealing, but the idea of getting inside for the night was all the motivation I needed. So that?s how I came to be at the Yandaran Pub. The people here have been really nice and I?m sure the locals would be friendly if I sat at the bar, but as a female on my own I think it?s better to stay in my room. I did get a good hard stare from everyone at the pub when I walked in completely soaked and asked for a room. (It’s Saturday night and the pub is full of locals.) Mind you we are in the MIDDLE of nowhere here – not a place where tourists go AT ALL! I cooked my dinner in the Pub?s kitchen before the dinner staff arrived – that was a first. By the way it?s 7:30pm now and STILL POURING and I am so happy to NOT be in my tent!

Distance: 85.61 km
Time: 4 hr 32 minutes
Avg Speed: 18.9 km/hr

Before the rains came

Entry Filed under: Australia,Cycling,Hervey Bay