Keen to take the muddy Mawson trail from Quorn to Melrose today, an early start was in order. Annoyingly I stepped in spilt peppermint tea, so I spent a chunk of ‘getting ready’ time drying out the minty mank smell.

A beautiful Sunday morning. I have noticed throughout our time spent on the road, Sunday mornings are the BEST for traffic free joy!

On the main road to Melrose, we reached the turn off to the Mawson trail. We were enjoying the quiet main road’s views and sealed surface so much we decided to for go the wet lumpy clay of the Mawson trail.

The sky looked a little threatening in the morning and by the time we reached Wilmington (the town between Quorn and Melrose), the gusty winds and chilly rain set in.

Our soggy shoes wasted no time scuttling into the only deli in town. Our droopy rain soaked bike shorts plonked down onto the deli shop’s seats and they didn’t move for 2 hours.

Many deli foods later, we left the shop knowing that in 20km, we would be at Hue and Kyoko’s house (friends of ours). This meant dry clothes, warm bed and happy dry people, in dry clothes, smiling their happy dry smiles.

Arriving at Hue and Kyoko’s, Kyoko opened the door and greeted us with hugs, towels for showers, a toasty fireplace and the smell of AMAZING vegetable curry warming on the stove. Kes, their son then turned to me and said “sman, we bought icecream”.

This small sentence was enough to warm me instantly. We sleep well tonight!