Double flats

Our original plan had been to cycle 23 kilometres for lunch at The Bend restaurant in Tocumwal.  Mid way through yesterday’s cycle I had cancelled the reservation as we decided to take it easy and spend less time on the bikes and explore the local area.  

As we followed the cycle track towards town, I veered to the side to pass a pedestrian walking in the middle of the path. This proved to be a mistake as my tyres were riddled with the dreaded thorns.  We pulled out those we could see, but within a few hundred metres my back tyre was flat. Simon found a convenient fence and changed the tube under my careful supervision.  

As Simon replaced the back tyre, we discovered that the front was now flat.  Simon changed the tube but when pumping it up, it rapidly deflated requiring another tube replacement.  This was our last good tube.  Whilst Simon undertook the repairs, I found an emporium in town selling bikes and accessories that was open until 12:30pm.  

We made it there with 30 minutes to spare, and fortunately they had tubes in stock, including some thick, thorn resistant tubes.  We had lunch in the nearby Grainstore café and took our time leaving town as we followed a more scenic route back to the cabin.  

Thompson’s beach was voted Australia’s 12th best beach in 2012 and now seemed to be a breeding ground for corellas. The trees were full of these native Australian parrots, regarded by some locals as a pest due to their destructive behaviour. This includes stripping trees bare, damaging turf and gardens and creating a lot of noise.  A tree stump sculpture of a Murray Cod was located near the river’s edge. 

The track took us under the old wooden bridge and along the river to Quinn’s Island. Formed by a bend in the Murray cut off by Scott’s creek, the Island had a loop track that made for pleasant cycling.  As we started along the track, a man walking his dog passed us, advising that we were now the only people on the island.  We detoured slightly to visit Cobrooga beach, named after a local scout group, before returning to the main track and making our way back to our accommodation.  

Simon put the thorn-resistant tubes on my bike, making for five tube changes in one day. Hopefully we won’t have any more punctures.

Just before 6pm we cycled back out of town, crossing the bridge into NSW to the Sporties Club in Barooga.  The security guard at the entrance suggested we park our bikes on the back veranda as it was not going to be in use, and Simon found a suitable pole to lock them to.

We were first onto the bus that took us across the golf course to the start of the Bullanginya Dreaming track, a 1.8km path that wound past the Bullanginya Lagoon, passing through 12 activations, each using light and sound to provide insights into the stories and traditions of the Bangerang People. 

Starting with a Welcome to Country, the path moved through People of the Tall Trees then Patterns of Nature, where images played on the ground. 

 At Flora and Fauna, a light show of local plants and animals played out on the trunk of a tree.  This was followed by the Cosmos where lights sparkled through the trees.  

The four-sided Waterways, on the edge of the lagoon, highlighted different animals.  

Chaos was an immersion of sound and light showing the impact of fire and drought, whilst Regeneration symbolised renewal and growth.  

Shields demonstrated how the Bangerang people used bark to create shields, canoes and housing.  My favourite was the Life of a Tree which was visually beautiful as well as illustrating all the changes that trees see during their long life. 

 By the River showcased the trees and the track finished with Reflection as a chance to reflect on the stories. It was a stunning immersion into local indigenous history and culture. 

It was only a short wait for the bus, but then a long wait for dinner back at the Sporties Club.  We relaxed with a drink and enjoyed the Rivereens, a local band from Corowa, playing well-known hits. Fortunately it was a mild night and the roads were quiet as we cycled the 6 kilometres back to our accommodation.  

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