30 July 2012 - I left Sydney about 10 am to head back to Adelaide. Beautiful sunny day and the roads were kind and there was very little traffic. There isn't a lot to see on the Hume Highway - in fact it is quite boring.
I had my first pit stop at a place called Gunning - very mediocre sausage roll but a great cup of coffee.
Next stop was at Gundagai where I saw the Dog on the Tucker Box (American friends need to Google this) and bought a postcard for Bindi (Marion's dog in Sydney).
I started off again driving over the Hay plains - this is very very boring - the surface of the moon has more going for it. I began to think I might drive to Hay and stop for the night and that I should get in before dark. It actually got dark about 30 kms out from Hay and I was concentraing on the two semi trailers that were all lit up and coming towards me when I nearly ran into the BACK of a dark car pulling a dark trailer with NO LIGHTS on it at 55 kms in a 110 kph zone. FERCRYINOUTLOUD!!!! The car had its rear lights on but the trailer completely blocked them out. I overtook him and tried to wave him down but he didn't stop so I overtook him again and left him in the hands of the Gods. What a moron.
I got to Hay and pulled in to the motel - they wanted $109 for just me for one night - I mean this place is out in the bloody sticks. I said it was too much but if they dropped the price I would stay and use the restaurant as well but the woman said no. I pointed out that's why only 3 of their rooms were filled and that its better to have someone paying something than no one paying nothing. When we were in the USA if you got into the motels latish and they had empty rooms they would always deal. Anyway I said I wasn't going to pay that much and left.
I drove on to the next town which was Balranald - 125 km away. By now it was seriously dark - very cloudy so no moon. The road was good but there were semi trailers starting to come out of the woodwork - all coming towards me. With one I forgot to dip my lights but it was way off. He flicked his lights to remind me but when he got just in front of me he let loose with all his "brights" and literally blinded me....I was lucky I didn't go off the road. THEN...I got stuck behind another guy with a big trailer that blocked off all vision ahead so I couldn't see to get by him. He insisted on doing 90 to 100 on the 110 kph highway and whenever there was the vaguest chance I could get past him he straddled the white line to stop me. This went on all the way into Balranald. What is the matter with these people? It's no wonder the road toll is so bloody high grrrr.
I'm now booked into a great hotel room in Balranald - for $70 a night - much more reasonable and the good thing is I am only about 550 kms from Adelaide so will be home tomorrow.
22 Lots of road kill today - not surprising when you think the people I described above are on the road.lol
Total road kill #67 Mileage today # 885.4
