Day 7. Monday 6 March 2023. Echuca - Rest Day.

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Nb2: Click on photos to enlarge.

Being a rest day, it was a chance to relax, rest the sore butts, oil the chains, wash and iron the knicks (after five days straight they were getting decidedly smelly) and perhaps visit the surrounding towns.  Some took the opportunity for a leisurely early morning coffee in town where Sketchy, the Victorian, needed covering up

in the brisk morning air.

The nearby town of Rochester was visited, mainly to view some of the silo art.  We didn't realise it was the birthplace of legendary cyclist Hubert Opperman (looking very modern in his white sunshades)

Before the silos we found a park full of murals painted by entrants in a local competition.

They were all very worthy and a few of them are shown with their stories:

 Rochester suffered badly in the recent floods. This is a sign we saw on many shops. 

According to locals, only 4 houses in the area escaped flooding inside.  This estate agency had water half-way up its walls, so the guy who was re-painting them told us.  He said his name was Giorgio.  We figured he came from Italy so we asked him if he knew Antonio.  He said “you meana de famous cyclista mountain goat” and we said ‘Yes” 

and showed him a picture of Antonio

and he said, “Si.  He’s a my how you say cuzzina.  I no like him now. I use a to ride with him but he never stop.  He VERY SELFISH RIDER.  I no be surprise if one day he win a how you say it awarda for SELFISH RIDER.”

Rochester had lots of lovely buildings,

the Shamrock Hotel

the old Post Office.

Then there was a laneway full of murals of:

 

We'd never heard of him but he was, apparently, Australia's answer to the great Sherlock Holmes.  But I don't think he would have been able to solve the mystery of how Ms Tradie managed to get herself locked up 

behind this supposedly impenetrable fence.

We continued our meandering and came across the local sports store.

When we asked why there were no Dockers' jerseys on display the owner explained they had been trying to get them for the last six months but there was such a huge Australia-wide demand for them he couldn't say when they'd arrive.  He had over 200 pre-orders, fully-paid up at double the normal price.  He then asked if we wanted an Eagles jumper as he had a coupla dozen he'd had for a few years and couldn't shift even at half the price.  Hmmm!

Eventually we found the silos and admired firstly the kingfisher,

then the sugar glider,

and finally the duck-billed platypus.

 

Back in Echuca, the Pink Ladies were on the march,

Ganners mistimed his crossing on the railway tracks and got plastered:

Chalkie, free from the constraints of wearing riding lnicks and a jersey every day was able to indulge his true self in his preferred mode of dress,

and we discovered if you wanted to purchase a vehicle in Echuca, you could have any colour

as long as it was white.

Bugger it!

After spending $5.00 buying 3 books at an Op Shop, we came across this

and realised we could have got three for nothing.

Mr Tightwad

We wonder if OneOfthem is now regretting her decision, in the line of duty and no doubt seemingly admirable at the time, to marry Chalkie in order to keep a close watch on him.  He promised her a shopping extravaganza at the local fashion hub

and after she had selected a very fetching top

which he bargained the saleslady down to a giveaway price of 50cents, she started looking round for a matching scarf to complement the outfit when he barked “what are you doing? You’ve already blown your monthly budget.”

The afternoon was turned over to fun and games.  First was Finska and the contestants showed their styles:  Sketchy,

then Ms Twinkletoes

and Twinkletoes, himself,

while SASMan just showed his butt (again).

Ms Twinkletoes proved too good for everyone else with a brilliant final throw which skittled the 12- pin and was proclaimed champion Finskarer.

Boules was next on the agenda and Pubserv managed to disastrously snatch defeat from the jaws of victory with an atrocious last throw.

 In the last round with scores tied at 17-all, with his partner's boule being in the winning position and only his boule to come, he managed to nudge his partner's (Kaybie's) boule out of contention and gift victory to the Twinkletoes.  Kaybie was like,  WTF!

Time, then for dinner and off to

recommended (and paid for, thank you very much) by our great compadre

All that was needed to round off dinner as we all crowded round the counter to order

was an icecream.

BREAKING NEWS

In the on-going battle for the prestigious ‘Helpful Driver’ Award, some riders have claimed they believe SASMan and Kaybie have an unfair advantage in that they are the only people with the requisite special licence required to pilot the SASMobile.  They will, therefore, by default, clock up more driving kms than anyone else.  As this issue was threatening to boil over, a meeting was convened with all participants.  After a robust discussion on a weighting system for SASMan and Kaybie, a vote was taken and an overwhelming majority (10-2) agreed on the handicap formula to be used that will now give all riders an equal chance of winning this trophy.  This will not be retrospective and will apply from tomorrow onwards.