A 9.20am start from Mt Hope on Saturday saw me arrive at the Hillston Motel at 3.15pm. The 90km ride included crossing the Indian Pacific railway line some 30kms south of Mt Hope. 
A little later I encountered Mrs Chris Sobey from Wagga. Chris, a demure 70+ year old lady was sitting on a low camper chair reading about tenmetres back from the road, just past the Cobar- Carrathool Shire boundary. When I stopped my trike to find out who it was Chris got up from her chair. As my relatively silent trike came to a stop we were both just as surprised by each other’s presence and we shook hands.
Chris was on her ex-postie motor bike, apparently riding at 60kms per hour on her way to Bourke to join friends on a bush walking trip, when the motor bike broke down. Being totally self-contained Chris camped the night and was waiting for her friends who were due to pass this way on the Saturday morning to catch a lift with them on to Bourke. She intended to come back for the bike later.
On most previous occasions when I travelled on this part of the Kidman Way, I had to stop at Ron Clarke’s Kidman Way statue some 35kms from Hillston. Hence I made the same stop on the Trike.
This sculpture was erected to commemorate provision of $20.7 Million to complete the bitumen sealing of the Kidman Way. The plaque was: Officially Unveiled by Hon. John Anderson MP Minister for Transport & Regional Service [on] 22nd May 1999 at the behest of Cr Athol Roberts Chairman of the Kidman Way Promotional Committee and Mayor of Carrathool Shire Council.
The purpose of my Saturday 28 May arrival in Hillston was to attend the 21st celebrations of the Hillston Community Centre that evening. At this excellent function I managed to catch up with some of my former Committee of management members including Alison and Paula (not Pauline) and Lois as well as Cr Cashmere and ex-Councillors Strong a Williams and their respective wives and Jenny from the Shire Council. There were probably around 200 other Hillston residents in on the celebrations.
The Hillston Community Centre appears to be one of the success stories for this ‘Can Do’ town of 1400 people.
My stay at the Hillston Motel was very comfortable, even though I managed to lock my key in the room and had to make a very late request to have someone open my room door.