It was still dark out when I decided enough was enough. The bed was just a tad short for my 6 foot 7 inch frame. It turns out I did pretty well as it was somewhere around 5 in the morning by this time.

With the 4 of us, well fed and I dare say well-watered last night, enough wood had been chopped and split to keep a power station going for a week. It is amazing how anyone else in the complex, or possibly the town was able to sleep with the snoring going on in just that small area.

Don’t get me wrong, I was certainly not innocent of this serious noise pollution.

Later in the morning, I learnt from the locals Collarenebri and surrounds managed to receive around 36 millimetres of rain overnight, making everything damp and soggy. Did not inspire a lot of dry day riding thoughts, I can tell you.

At least it wasn’t raining when I got up to go for a walk and see the town as day broke on the second day of our epic adventure. First screw up for the day. Forgot to take my glasses with me so couldn’t see much too clearly. Also forgot to take the room key which had the key to the locked security gate. We were informed in no uncertain terms on check in to make sure we didn’t leave the entry gate unlocked at any time. More about this “locked” security gate in a bit.

Gave up and went back to bed.

About an hour later, I decided take two was in order. This time I made sure I had all the necessities to escape our safe haven and see what Collarenebri had to offer. Down to the security gate. Oh, wait the “Locked” gate wasn’t locked at all. The padlock was just put through the chain on the gate and the actual locking part may have been overlooked by person or persons unknown.

Any who off for a wander around town and stretch the legs.

Great little town, Collarenebri. Shops with all the necessities, fuel station, couple of churches and a hospital. Unfortunately, though the majority of the main street shops, while still active during business hours are all boarded and screened up securely. Sadly, Collarenebri, as with a lot of country towns in outback Australia has a very serious issue with crime.

The most striking and noticeable, recently installed, tourist attraction was the large stationary camera system installed by State Government in answer to the increasing crime levels. It is important to mention the “stationary camera” is only stationary at present as it comes complete with all the necessary bits to make it a mobile trailer system. Bet the camera doesn’t remain long in town.

It is also important to note it only arrived in town AFTER a break and enter in the shop directly across the road from it’s now “Stationary” position.

Needless to say, the locals I chatted with in town that morning were very supportive of this very real prevention and detection system… NOT!

I would still recommend you stop and check out what the town has to offer to tourists. I did manage to get bogged down by the river, which apparently had only recent returned to flowing between the riverbanks. Fortunately, I was only bogged in my thongs and managed to extricate myself by crawling up the muddy slope to escape. Not a good look, I am sure.