The big ride -Day One Albany to Denmark

Finally on the ride! First day of the ride did not start until 9.00am, so I decided to go for an early morning pre ride to Middleton Beach and back - an 18km warm up. Great ride in the cool of the day, but even at 7.00am you could feel the heat in the sun.

A nice ride, with the last hour being very hot. Most of the ride was in open scrubby country with lots of cows including dairy and beef. Arrived at the campsite at Denmark, which was on the cricket ground and settled in. My friend Anne and I were going to go into town, but we chanced accross a bus going to Green's Pool - which I had heard was fantastic. We jumped aboard and headed off down the beach, only to find an icecream van in the carpark - heaven! One icecream later and down the steps to the beach - this place is magic.
A welcome swim in this great place. Anne had her bathers on inside out, and was compelled to change them by hiding behind one of the big rocks. A nice walk along the beach and then back up to the car park - the bus driver had told us the last bus went at 5.00, so we got up there at 4.50, only to be told by the icecream man that the bus had just taken off. The were about nine of us awaiting the bus. Time passed, an more time passed. We were getting worried that we might have to walk the 16kms back to town. We got picked up finally and transported back to town. We were going to hijack the icecream van, but the owner caught on to our ploy and said he would make sure the bus came back for us instead - would have made a good story though.

A few teething problems with queues, etc so getting dinner was quite a long process. Caught up with Cathy and Mandy who are some new friends and laughed and laughed an hour away. I was in bed by 10.00pm - tomorrow Walpole.