tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56797286477455406312024-03-20T13:51:44.065-07:00BagelonabikeA blog about cycling...especially long distanceUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger135125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5679728647745540631.post-8827680118847394392023-09-12T13:04:00.009-07:002023-09-12T13:36:16.624-07:00Uluru Day 1 - Disaster<p><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I was all set to go this morning and timed the departure to be just after the local peak traffic period with school runs etc. </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Saying goodbye to my awesome wife Carla and our cats is never easy, especially when she only just got back from a trip herself.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Off I went down the back local roads, the bike felt good and everything was running as <i>smooth as silk</i>, but there was a bit of a headwind right from the start. I always get terrible anxiety leading up to the start of a big challenge like this, but it quickly disapears as soon as I actually get going, so it was nice to be on he move finally after so much planning an preperation.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Getting out from a big city on a bike always has its challenges, and Melbourne is no exception even when one lives on the fringes. </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;">But after a couple of hours I was out in the fields west of Melbourne and heading gradually uphill and into that wind. It could be a mental thing but the pannier bags felt like sails resistant to forward movement, so it was a bit of work. Probably, I just need to get used to the heavier bike...</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-3_YZIxwrcA1TC_uyldkeSthievey_KmcAeDxXPHoT7E20APNJWdbe1S_OhQRr7eDi6xbSJOYqP_7yIRmv8ycdefj3H-ML6jgX71beHnWrtUpRfCwbt9eZVkD-EfBF-vwJyjWoZIv-GhHIWytt9aW1NB7oBnR-wC2OE2v9CaMmSW7rq1JjVyYUGSkbgpf/s4000/20230912_102944.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-3_YZIxwrcA1TC_uyldkeSthievey_KmcAeDxXPHoT7E20APNJWdbe1S_OhQRr7eDi6xbSJOYqP_7yIRmv8ycdefj3H-ML6jgX71beHnWrtUpRfCwbt9eZVkD-EfBF-vwJyjWoZIv-GhHIWytt9aW1NB7oBnR-wC2OE2v9CaMmSW7rq1JjVyYUGSkbgpf/s320/20230912_102944.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;">But on the back roads I only saw a few cars and only briefly crossed a main road before the incline increased as I ascended the Brisbane Ranges (nothing to do with Brisbane in QLD).</span></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis0fIcdIWX856kODguOsJKbKaDJRLgwkTYXfG-Fj5ZjAndcXUBUZEBiy2l5kFN8t97whRetgIav_Le8wm34D_M2OOlMhxQWdFJPijoRfhCwiJfFvQit1vJ-qU37fuffG665BLluwK-ysaQEuVtDL9ZzHOwbCR0SJChBADZKYHnIjiYus9IWUZbll0FkXDK/s4000/20230912_114418.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis0fIcdIWX856kODguOsJKbKaDJRLgwkTYXfG-Fj5ZjAndcXUBUZEBiy2l5kFN8t97whRetgIav_Le8wm34D_M2OOlMhxQWdFJPijoRfhCwiJfFvQit1vJ-qU37fuffG665BLluwK-ysaQEuVtDL9ZzHOwbCR0SJChBADZKYHnIjiYus9IWUZbll0FkXDK/s320/20230912_114418.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><p></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">About 50 km in my old ankle injury started getting sore and I stopped at a bus shelter to check it out. And it was not good. After that stop, </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I couldn't put my body weight on it. The shoe felt all tight so I switched to thinner socks and removed the brace I was using. Hmm better but still not good.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Due a lunch break, I could either keep going but the only town on my route with a shop for water, was still 25km away and up hill. Or, I could detour off rote and go 4km downhill where there was a general store. I had no water left, so kind of had to take this option.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">But getting back on Beatrice I had trouble even clipping in to the pedals…this is <i>really</i> not good.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">With the darkest possible thoughts in my mind I got to the general store, got a coffee and some water and tried to think things through clearly. I msg'd my wife with an update. First thoughts were I would try and keep going, get to Ballarat and sleep on any decision. I could get a train back to Melbourne in the morning if it is still no good...Ballarat was the lats place on the trip with an easy way of getting backt o Melbourne.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">So I tried to get back on Beatrice, clipped in in great pain and tried a few pedal turns going just KM down the road. Nope...t</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;">here is just no way I should be riding solo anywhere remote like this…so with great shock realised I just have to abort this trip while I still can safely.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">It's difficult to write any more about this so I will leave it here for now, and am awaiting a rescue from my wife, followed by a Dr visit tonight.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">--</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b>The Next Day</b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I aggrevated a chronic sprain from last year. Although I have ridden some 7000km since that injury, perhaps it never fully healed and I had felt some warning signs leading up to this trip. It must be the heavy workload of a touring bike that is the difference. I'm told no cycling at all for 3 weeks, and back to physio followed by a potential visit back to the surgeon.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I am so gutted, so much prepation went into this, but it was the right call to pull out. Now I've got to decide what to do with this time off work, or to go back. </span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5679728647745540631.post-55916655302038652292023-09-09T16:45:00.008-07:002023-09-09T16:58:02.095-07:00A Journey To the Centre<p><i>I begin today by acknowledging the Traditional Custodians of the land on which I will be passing through on this adventure, and pay my respects to their Elders past and present. </i></p><p>Uluru is an incredibly sacred site for First Nations people, whose presence in the area can be dated back a staggering 60,000 years. Over this time many people both lived here, and travelled to the area for ceremonies. There are more than 500 indigenous nations across Australia, and in the Uluru region the Anangu people call this home. Uluru and its neighbour Kata Tjuta aren’t just rocks, they are living, breathing, cultural landscapes that are incredibly sacred. Known as being the resting place for the past ancient spirits of the region.</p><p>Since living in Australia I have dreamt of visiting this place, and what better way to do it than an epic journey by bicycle? So, I will soon set off on an ambitious challenge to try and ride from my house in Melbourne, to Uluru. As usual, I plan to do this solo and unsupported, but I will be taking some safety precautions, of course.</p><p>I plan to do this trip as much "off grid" <i>as possible</i>. By that I mean, I will avoid plugging into any power. I'm not sure how achievable this will be, but I will carry a single portable solar panel and I also generate a small amount of power from a Hub Dynamo on the front wheel. </p><p><b>Intended Route</b></p><p>My plan is to ride an inland route. I have ridden the Great Ocean road coastline before from Adelaide back to Mebourne, so this time heading in the opposite drirect I intend to head into the interior:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>I'll head to Ballarat, over the big hill at Halls Gap through the Grampians, veer north to Horsham, then just west of the Little Desert National Park before crossing the border into South Australia.</li><li>Once across the border it's North, over the Murray River towards Peterborough and into the Flinders Ranges. I'll then join a few bits of the <a href="https://www.southaustraliantrails.com/trails/mawson-trail/">Mawson Trail</a> but only briefly, before the last settlement of Maree and the challenging <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oodnadatta_Track">Oonadatta track</a> which will be the hardest part of the trip.</li><li>All going well I then join the Stuart Highway for just a few days before turning West to Yulara, and Uluru at the finish. I'll fly home from there if I can. (The logistics are complicated, I may have to fly back from Alice Springs).</li></ul><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiwLHpWAeSXfZl_aLkflTwZmSovB8giyu6FI51s-QUjsEjaDqEY2vwTGEEh_VCBoDKq_3U6HCfawIno5dvzbWaDT8iCbwgkT_ydYaj0VH_U9zQdlqBo_47bb3_mbH5dv_p0ywBEPrqpCrght0aN9uU7WnMRcFdJo04jvUXCyVFaElhbz48Dg9qJRFeiH0oB" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="988" data-original-width="1913" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiwLHpWAeSXfZl_aLkflTwZmSovB8giyu6FI51s-QUjsEjaDqEY2vwTGEEh_VCBoDKq_3U6HCfawIno5dvzbWaDT8iCbwgkT_ydYaj0VH_U9zQdlqBo_47bb3_mbH5dv_p0ywBEPrqpCrght0aN9uU7WnMRcFdJo04jvUXCyVFaElhbz48Dg9qJRFeiH0oB" width="320" /></a></div><br />The total distance will be at least 2600km with a significant part of this being off road, especially on the 620Km long Oonadatta Track.<p></p><p><b>The Bike</b></p><p>I will need to be totally self sufficient, and that means that I will need to carry enough water, food and camping gear to get between supply points, and so that means quite a heavy load. Therefor, I decided against doing this "Bikepacking" style, although it is possible I'm too risk averse to do that in hot outback conditions. </p><p>The good news is, I have Beatrice:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_nfB3B-HvvTSbRqrAwLlaUiz_44t_0FBXYX6GekHC3Eh2ClaJJcXGDJVFAJ7c0nNKc8owPOhWGX1AaIko2xCE9qqUBTaVG5Vopu39m9IlBpsjxxj8WW3LHZL3uQYjKGHbUzj8FL-zMALN0caxDvMJT3GQrwIztCfKtAh77cq_Bg7qrllfZWOZE7inBdV1/s4000/20230910_070710.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_nfB3B-HvvTSbRqrAwLlaUiz_44t_0FBXYX6GekHC3Eh2ClaJJcXGDJVFAJ7c0nNKc8owPOhWGX1AaIko2xCE9qqUBTaVG5Vopu39m9IlBpsjxxj8WW3LHZL3uQYjKGHbUzj8FL-zMALN0caxDvMJT3GQrwIztCfKtAh77cq_Bg7qrllfZWOZE7inBdV1/s320/20230910_070710.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beatrice</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>This bike served me beautifully well cycling acorss the Nullarbor plane. She is an absolute beast, can take a lot of punishment, can carry a heavy load and is a wonderful ride, if a bit slow. She is also very low maintenance. The photo above was from a test ride today "fully loaded" to check my packing. This includes a 10 litre waterbag strapped onto the back.</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhprh6o7AvotF03P2fuTxc2yASTLT33Uxg4GDPdpQar2zVUa7kKvfGCh4W2x0iki3Z0jgNIDUFto9gjQI6Vhqi8IWxIA8lwfuSt1CamEIGWoLuJg9Q_ZhkmpD3HFSlmdbeOUvnQ0Th9uLeDKRRfS0ReYXZNDr_uWiFBNyjHAc5bosnf3BRSBQ-9NuZuPa79/s4032/dji_fly_20230910_065742_9_1694299877939_photo.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhprh6o7AvotF03P2fuTxc2yASTLT33Uxg4GDPdpQar2zVUa7kKvfGCh4W2x0iki3Z0jgNIDUFto9gjQI6Vhqi8IWxIA8lwfuSt1CamEIGWoLuJg9Q_ZhkmpD3HFSlmdbeOUvnQ0Th9uLeDKRRfS0ReYXZNDr_uWiFBNyjHAc5bosnf3BRSBQ-9NuZuPa79/s320/dji_fly_20230910_065742_9_1694299877939_photo.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bagelnotonabike</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><br /></p><p><b>What Are My Chances?</b></p><p>Its a long way and I'm not young anymore, but I have ridden many multi day tours before and know what I'm in for. Once I get used to the weight of the bike, the body should adjust OK. I have a few health niggles with dodgy knees and an ankle that did not 100% recover from a cycling prang last year. Hopefully those hold up...but both are manageable.</p><p>I did not do any specific training for this, but, this year I have cycled over 7000km already so have had plenty of time turning the pedals.</p><p>But the main thing here is the unknowns like weather and motorists. The Oonadatta track is unpassable if it rains, so I don't want to get caught out on that. Its also late in the season for this ride and it could get hot. It can also get very windy out there, and a will be a mental battle with its remote nature.</p><p>If things go <i>severely</i> wrong, I have a spot tracker with SOS functionality as an absolute last resort.</p><p>But on the whole I'm confident I've got a good chance. I cant wait to see the outback, and to do so in a way that connects me back to nature, and respects the area by minimising my impact. And I'm also very much looking forward to the isolation, and to totally get away from work life.</p><p>I will update the blog as I go, if possible, so thanks for tuning in!</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5679728647745540631.post-73552654828059556662023-03-26T18:42:00.005-07:002023-03-27T00:12:05.293-07:00Bagels Alpine Crossing - Day 3<p>It was a much warmer night and I didn't even need my sleeping bag till the early morning hours. Best of all there was no dew either, and I got moving just after 6am. The pack up went a lot faster as a result and I was on the move an hour later having returned my key for the campground at the general store and had a chat with a curious grey nomad who came over to investigate the weirdo with the world's smallest tent [especially when compared with the sprawling motor home + gazebo set ups, not that I'm jealous].</p><p>I had 2 options today, dictated by the train timetable from Bairnsdale back to Melbourne: Option 1 was to go hell for leather and try cover the 100km by lunchtime. The benefit of this is a 5pm arrival in Melbourne and getting home for a proper meal without having to ride the last bit in the dark. Option 2 was a more leisurely paced ride to make a 4pm train and get to Melbourne at night. I think you can probably guess which option I took...</p><p>The road was really quiet and my legs ok on the flat bits but still a bit pumped with lactic acid from all the climbing yesterday, so I was in Donkey mode again for any climbs. Although there was lots of downhill from here there was still 900m up so I was only 50/50 confident of making option 1.</p><p>After the hamlet of Ensay the road drops into a tight gorge next to the river, and is totally spectacular riding. I only took 1 photo here which I will probably regret later, but did film sections with my little handlebar mounted gopro.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs1Rb4qGwgWAR0fZ5y8_ql8zc44JqnL54O9lMdMc8dmoOmEiRTHuBA7fKDZuIYUcmmtNkhS2Ek5LuGTMoVqxer5trLDIYVCKmCaMdS5bwHEK1ThBKewNOBaQ4-M-v8vCHjin6wvFPSk6uj5vah4EMAWAaVKJ8CydDTJxwT9OEirma2LnBJaE_eMRqbeA/s1923/20230325_081734.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="866" data-original-width="1923" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs1Rb4qGwgWAR0fZ5y8_ql8zc44JqnL54O9lMdMc8dmoOmEiRTHuBA7fKDZuIYUcmmtNkhS2Ek5LuGTMoVqxer5trLDIYVCKmCaMdS5bwHEK1ThBKewNOBaQ4-M-v8vCHjin6wvFPSk6uj5vah4EMAWAaVKJ8CydDTJxwT9OEirma2LnBJaE_eMRqbeA/s320/20230325_081734.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Tambo river</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Mostly I focused on keeping moving, there were no supplies the whole way till Bruthen, but one could probably stealth camp on this section if you were stocked up with provisions.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYAMb_aTlM-WMyJYTagDcvOGhLL6wjx_tnQXA6BGkbYxOs-IcVzGbDz_xhssqundJvgXpFvMqe7oR5S_NGAJ016GKuPD0LtCxuStUzYaxkilC81sOqCRPowxo-oOL6MrqrQ36BhE7KlynwRwkaGlMpmLX6pGA8oA2aOdkeS1u1q3Nj569Hptyxsiftmg/s1702/tambo.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1035" data-original-width="1702" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYAMb_aTlM-WMyJYTagDcvOGhLL6wjx_tnQXA6BGkbYxOs-IcVzGbDz_xhssqundJvgXpFvMqe7oR5S_NGAJ016GKuPD0LtCxuStUzYaxkilC81sOqCRPowxo-oOL6MrqrQ36BhE7KlynwRwkaGlMpmLX6pGA8oA2aOdkeS1u1q3Nj569Hptyxsiftmg/s320/tambo.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lower quality still from GoPro - not much space in the Tambo gorge</td></tr></tbody></table><p>At Bruthen I had my only short break, necking 3 drinks from the servo, and another musli bar. From here you can either get a rail trail which is, 32 km to Bairnsdale on unsealed paths, or stay on the b500 which was 25km. I had actually ridden this section of the bike path before on my Melbourne to Sydney ride many years ago.</p><p>I took the slightly faster B500, and it was not a good option I might add. It's hairy, very not ok for cyclists even with a small shoulder. There are 2 reasonable hill climbs as well. But at least 25km is not far at all and soon I hit outer Bairnsdale, in time for the train even with a quick cafe stop included which turned out to be lucky as there is no food on the train. </p><p>Back in Melbourne I ended up riding home fromt he station , adding another 30km to the total.</p><p>So that wraps up Bagels Alpine Crossing, 2 days riding in the end, but 3 days elapsed with the train trips. Mt Hotham fully lived up to all expectations, beautiful, tough, rewarding..even as a day rider. Carrying a heavy load it's a notch harder, but the scenary coming down the valley on the southern side is well worth doing a whole crossing and nice camping.</p><p>Another option might be to travel light and sleep inside but you would have to book ahead for this most of the year round I suspect.</p><p>Thank you Mt Hotham for seriously testing my limits and letting me pass through safely!</p><p><b>Day 3 Stats:</b></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Distance: 95.03 + 32.07 = 127.01</li><li>Elevation gain: 923m</li><li>Calories: 5308</li></ul><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /></div><div><b>Trip Total: 396.7km</b></div><p></p>
<iframe frameborder="0" height="500" src="https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/embed/10769766873" title="Swifts Creek Cycling" width="465"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5679728647745540631.post-30616592687600742162023-03-25T18:15:00.019-07:002023-03-27T17:57:41.588-07:00Bagels Alpine Crossing - Day 2<p>I had a long rest last night with some crazy dreams. It was cold, but I was pretty snug in the end, just not keen to get out the cozy tent during the night for the bathroom haha. Anyway, I got up with the daylight which was a bit late really. There had been a very heavy dew and the tent was pretty soaked. There was no chance of the sun hitting this valley so I just had to pack it wet, and unfortunately very heavy. It took ages faffing about getting all the bike bags sorted, but eventually I was fed from my provisions and turning the pedals at 8:30am. There is no warm up from here, you go straight into a steep climb.</p><p>Mentally this is tough when your lungs are heaving after 1km and you know the climb is 30km! I just hung on to the fact that the average gradient for the whole thing is 4.6% so it had to get better eventually, Right? There is a <a href="https://theclimbingcyclist.com/climbs/alpine-national-park/mt-hotham/">fantastic guide written here</a> by the climbing cyclist for this route, highly recommended if you are planning to have a go.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMykIFd1siYOCRQEkRmNfM9RcJN6oNTm1IR2CSSKe-wpBNG7SvdAhMfWBE-eWdVluzNdepQ8vQDa3R59M2db95nfNt69zKzLem_cX6nHzDuPA5DugOpfuQyJGCZo7lQQBZMF8ZMLrPfa1LxfaHJ2kOHyIsZxr1g0yM6pamxAn9hGcbB-Q5UlWVcPpyrA/s2315/20230324_093552.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1043" data-original-width="2315" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMykIFd1siYOCRQEkRmNfM9RcJN6oNTm1IR2CSSKe-wpBNG7SvdAhMfWBE-eWdVluzNdepQ8vQDa3R59M2db95nfNt69zKzLem_cX6nHzDuPA5DugOpfuQyJGCZo7lQQBZMF8ZMLrPfa1LxfaHJ2kOHyIsZxr1g0yM6pamxAn9hGcbB-Q5UlWVcPpyrA/s320/20230324_093552.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>The first section of the climb is all in the trees and was very beautiful, but it's not long at all before you get some breaks in the tree line as you get higher which revealed awesome views across the valley. I took this all in, that is, during the gaps where my lungs weren't exploding from the effort.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjspKLt1zoGbSAR--CThQ21DqixB3P5BokrrGzfGC1Ruve6jQ2qyHBPd6tK3VDkhmDhhdZLBOA17_EaTmERgfvlRrBjxOz1Rf2-dD4IfDlRcapWsSR0dUHdrd-9ok5Fl3eZwLfgYFVpfw-AisabfCZiyOdc-SixQ1bU1tmhsXG5m49dnFkJu1J8P8Q8pg/s2007/20230324_093556.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="904" data-original-width="2007" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjspKLt1zoGbSAR--CThQ21DqixB3P5BokrrGzfGC1Ruve6jQ2qyHBPd6tK3VDkhmDhhdZLBOA17_EaTmERgfvlRrBjxOz1Rf2-dD4IfDlRcapWsSR0dUHdrd-9ok5Fl3eZwLfgYFVpfw-AisabfCZiyOdc-SixQ1bU1tmhsXG5m49dnFkJu1J8P8Q8pg/s320/20230324_093556.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBugYl-lmcpZNuCdE954KE5JI3PVYMU1WnbPQ2L3UR66HqhCwZkqsRCVSAQzej1CXmhoHLZf8ggcbcb8wmxAH4pNVfBfpRqqSyrebNSYnFVF5_1iV77kQ6JJDrAWvkXj7UzPr9H8CNMw7SBERwF0P_VZdz0HlDYdXEmkmPJ0v6xcdkVd1s2HCSnzN-Pg/s1668/20230324_093559.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="751" data-original-width="1668" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBugYl-lmcpZNuCdE954KE5JI3PVYMU1WnbPQ2L3UR66HqhCwZkqsRCVSAQzej1CXmhoHLZf8ggcbcb8wmxAH4pNVfBfpRqqSyrebNSYnFVF5_1iV77kQ6JJDrAWvkXj7UzPr9H8CNMw7SBERwF0P_VZdz0HlDYdXEmkmPJ0v6xcdkVd1s2HCSnzN-Pg/s320/20230324_093559.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>About 8km in I heard some chatter behind me and 3 cyclist in tight formation closed in behind me. The 3 women were in amazing shape and zoomed past with a friendly hello, they asked where I was going carrying so much stuff.<p></p><p>Onwards and upward I chugged, there was indeed some relief from steepness especially between 10-15 km in and I was surprised to go past 3 the 'superwoman' who were stopped at what looked like a support vehicle. This dance would be repeated a few more times as it turned out! (I call them superwomen out of respect for the ripping pace they were achieving up hill when on the move).</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUJIR56V02YrgjROlBd1sVzJLLSTj6HI8SXbuR2JTgwmjpMrefCHCfQ_DRcZlM-ycTLJiWX0MjR7fL01DRBwmaI9_K_SKlgMnOa90qc15OsBH-Q_J4UuLxFAKtyBFGzrmstFy6pf7MYNerPxPbo5eEvOaqulR8UszhiJJYzO09OzWOMQziN6oUAEfQOg/s1795/20230324_100312.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="808" data-original-width="1795" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUJIR56V02YrgjROlBd1sVzJLLSTj6HI8SXbuR2JTgwmjpMrefCHCfQ_DRcZlM-ycTLJiWX0MjR7fL01DRBwmaI9_K_SKlgMnOa90qc15OsBH-Q_J4UuLxFAKtyBFGzrmstFy6pf7MYNerPxPbo5eEvOaqulR8UszhiJJYzO09OzWOMQziN6oUAEfQOg/s320/20230324_100312.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Miners referred to the Valley this way as its so cold and damp lower down</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><br /></p><p>After 20km of climbing my legs were pumped with lactic acid but I started to believe I could make it...then I hit "CRB Hill". It's always ominous when cyclists have especially named a section of the climb, and this bit is a 10% incline that lasts for 1.1km.</p><p>It was brutally hard given the climbing already done beforehand, and I had to pull over twice to get my breathing under control. A few thoughts of "give up" began to emerge. But I did keep going, and just at the top of the this section I caught up with the superwoman whom gave a massive cheer of encouragement as I passed them...no way would I turn back now.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7iQzeRwgIqu42cC6pgbEdNTaai2_NBEAe1lQljsfAqTfgLqL9m73LsPJr6ZipYWUnoiNaa6zJOhz7Owi6GbBHvmtnpZN01jl-RZTha8C_U1S9pRJUpGJUqzhKh-PGEprGl9PiWnvcjyTxuSXtSr-a-GJwkMCOEM1Vd8Pb8l0aah6OIwUcv1PxWB8TdQ/s2497/20230324_103813.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="2497" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7iQzeRwgIqu42cC6pgbEdNTaai2_NBEAe1lQljsfAqTfgLqL9m73LsPJr6ZipYWUnoiNaa6zJOhz7Owi6GbBHvmtnpZN01jl-RZTha8C_U1S9pRJUpGJUqzhKh-PGEprGl9PiWnvcjyTxuSXtSr-a-GJwkMCOEM1Vd8Pb8l0aah6OIwUcv1PxWB8TdQ/s320/20230324_103813.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>At this point the views are off the charts, looking all the way back down the valley, the hills blueish in colour. Snow poles marking the route for winter drivers. It is all super exposed and I was really glad it was not windy, although it was getting chilly.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjckJUUvXzj51iDFZD2rOBuj1YRs9P75YI8ijf4TUEYdunrwLLqlzepj2cfVyvZzYhq01cIkjbLB86aCSpvop1NU6l9DWaMeKf4rZqn_fwC5_rgPmqDKt8TNb9RPylNwdOCVtXaANlFOuRWpvqmsUdLr8UMT8TMtcbmjAauLmOxi4XFiu4FVdjvrWK9Hw/s2014/20230324_102031.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="907" data-original-width="2014" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjckJUUvXzj51iDFZD2rOBuj1YRs9P75YI8ijf4TUEYdunrwLLqlzepj2cfVyvZzYhq01cIkjbLB86aCSpvop1NU6l9DWaMeKf4rZqn_fwC5_rgPmqDKt8TNb9RPylNwdOCVtXaANlFOuRWpvqmsUdLr8UMT8TMtcbmjAauLmOxi4XFiu4FVdjvrWK9Hw/s320/20230324_102031.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbyakWLO9DR7KuPpyeEoR9nHLXhxWr8F7V5sZB_lZ5b-qOiiSsr6I5QvVlUWlkHdlFBiFkzLUcJ-og0vtbaEPFuw5ffDg8oGgq-hRBs8oNy6q2rovBBBeQ3iw16DDmJdQjwZyPouwnN9UEIYK-5eB0xXV9WrrdDFq-oWeqS3hjxX0DZ76VzBiJKhmxEQ/s2279/20230324_104756.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1026" data-original-width="2279" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbyakWLO9DR7KuPpyeEoR9nHLXhxWr8F7V5sZB_lZ5b-qOiiSsr6I5QvVlUWlkHdlFBiFkzLUcJ-og0vtbaEPFuw5ffDg8oGgq-hRBs8oNy6q2rovBBBeQ3iw16DDmJdQjwZyPouwnN9UEIYK-5eB0xXV9WrrdDFq-oWeqS3hjxX0DZ76VzBiJKhmxEQ/s320/20230324_104756.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>For the final few kms things get steep again, and I saw 2 riders tearing back down the hill to Harrietville, obviously successful. They both yelled out words of encouragement also, love the vibe up here! Soon I saw "The Cross"..and suddenly I was at the top! 1845m.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz75kkre-3ZmfrByRMOBCguBA4ToMBgxqbkjku7d_Pn5hRtnuTGw09B2tBTpo5vekcqi3d9JtAXMQIIF8q8W1Gc6FINAdDTVK4GnDS_y4f4NHHw1JlUjVUEREAQNSq5agK9FtROCNUZol9UMpUrcfR51N1i6QAfqbzaTJwftwxuWuBkDgQwW1-qMIoRw/s1702/Final%20Stretch.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1033" data-original-width="1702" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz75kkre-3ZmfrByRMOBCguBA4ToMBgxqbkjku7d_Pn5hRtnuTGw09B2tBTpo5vekcqi3d9JtAXMQIIF8q8W1Gc6FINAdDTVK4GnDS_y4f4NHHw1JlUjVUEREAQNSq5agK9FtROCNUZol9UMpUrcfR51N1i6QAfqbzaTJwftwxuWuBkDgQwW1-qMIoRw/s320/Final%20Stretch.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lower quality still from GoPro - the final stretch</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzWbYeX7v1NBKOqlxocZPbO0JLfFjUSgSmClnmKUpqk2y6ZSD0HeNP2YzGDVzkPQtgtS9ZV-q0x9BN9M6KZvHrcVMGns5kFLpC3torrrsa8qqqZ5eQmTdFt1UEkAkYs0MdkEkuX0tVZqHDNbSDKYYqo9mLJBG43l7uydwGAXFP99QaXFIJM45jh7rMtQ/s1883/20230324_111827.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="848" data-original-width="1883" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzWbYeX7v1NBKOqlxocZPbO0JLfFjUSgSmClnmKUpqk2y6ZSD0HeNP2YzGDVzkPQtgtS9ZV-q0x9BN9M6KZvHrcVMGns5kFLpC3torrrsa8qqqZ5eQmTdFt1UEkAkYs0MdkEkuX0tVZqHDNbSDKYYqo9mLJBG43l7uydwGAXFP99QaXFIJM45jh7rMtQ/s320/20230324_111827.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>The ski village of Hotham Heights is just a few kms down the other side so I kept going hoping there might be a place to rest. There is just 1 cafe open it turns out...bliss! I had a long break and several coffees there.</p><p>A group of 4 grey nomads sitting next to me had questions galore, they were a nice bunch although the questions a bit repetitive. After a while the 'superwoman' and their film crew turned up. They had to walk into the cafe a 2nd time for the cameras. Weirdly the grey nomads totally ignored them, I was trying to comprehend why given the curious grilling I had. I can't be certain but suspect the reason is that I'm a man :/</p><p>I wish I'd asked what they were filming for now, it was probably spectacular and a lot better than my gopro footage. They were asking how heavy my gear was, but I had no clue. Anyway, after a good rest I was getting cold sitting still so I jumped back on Casper towards Omeo. The road is a bit uppy downy and every little uppy bit I was riding as slow as an old Donkey. But what scenery! Awesome Highland bush gradually turning into farms.</p><p>Omeo eventually revealed itself nestled tightly in the valley floor. It seemed like a nice little town full of cafes and probably all year round tourism. I had a snack and a cold drink debating where to stay tonight. I really want to get the tent setup while there was still some light, and more showers are forecast. Swifts Creek looked not too far and there is campsite there so I pushed on.</p><p>In the end a lucky decision, it was mostly downhill and the camp ground sits next to a beautiful little stream. You pay for your camp spot at the only shop in town, the general store [Later I would discover this is in fact only place you can get provisions before Bruthen.]. </p><p>Once that was sorted I got my tent up, got it nice and dry and did some maintenance on myself. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_W003wG3d-ECuCfKODWDzQA2MTdi4ipy8Qa5pkfv-YTD9u8I8hzPc8qGcMce2NSHgUEnQVmTwE9wUXitVn-LkwK4YPNjtIYyL3Dg395Ov2_NYRkyudZoVd874eGb-7SapnumYre49XbqHsBX9mvL3VGhugz46jY7kDfFHERm9mfnB_ekj15Rj85haSw/s1586/20230324_185504.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="714" data-original-width="1586" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_W003wG3d-ECuCfKODWDzQA2MTdi4ipy8Qa5pkfv-YTD9u8I8hzPc8qGcMce2NSHgUEnQVmTwE9wUXitVn-LkwK4YPNjtIYyL3Dg395Ov2_NYRkyudZoVd874eGb-7SapnumYre49XbqHsBX9mvL3VGhugz46jY7kDfFHERm9mfnB_ekj15Rj85haSw/s320/20230324_185504.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beatiful campsite at Swifts Creek</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p>Currently I am writing this from the village pub waiting for a large pizza. I burned at least 5500 calories burnt today, probably more as the device doesn't account for the extra weight on the bike. I reckon I have earned it. The only entertainment are the locals: One guy is a proper true-blue Aussie cowboy, complete with sleeveless top, cowboy hat, and potty mouth. I tried to follow what the group he was with were talking about, but could only pick out the swear words.</p><p>It's about 100km left to Bairnsdale, with 2 pretty big climbs involved. Hopefully the legs and lungs recover after this medicinal pizza!</p><p><b>Day 2 Stats:</b></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Distance: 113.26</li><li>Elevation gain: 2055m</li><li>Calories: 548</li></ul><br /><p></p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="500" src="https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/embed/10769766829" title="Harrietville Cycling" width="465"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">...<a href="http://bagelonabike.blogspot.com/2023/03/bagels-alpine-crossing-day-3.html">read on for Day 3</a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5679728647745540631.post-68193503504594354662023-03-25T17:42:00.004-07:002023-03-27T17:56:38.845-07:00Bagels Alpine Crossing - Day 1<p>I was experiencing the very 'first world problem' off having too much annual leave at work, so I thought I would have a crack at a ride that's been on my bucket list a long time, and one of the ultimate road cycling routes to do in Australia...the Alpine Crossing!</p><p>There has been a road of some kind over the Victorian Alps for a long time now, but it only became sealed in the late 90s, and currently it is the highest sealed road in Australia. But long before Europeans arrival, the Victorian Alps were a meeting place for First Nations people who would travel huge distances in difficult terrain to meet on high points for trade and ceremonies. Evidence of this goes back as far as a staggering 21,000 years ago, at a rock shelter near Birrigai in the area.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizJzk0-COnu8m0A0dQy9IWfrGLv3TJdTf8kw_goHZw1StlV4ee-yIYQObpyyeASQeqa2z4G616oznmVBQyJsOOb7AM7yMdp9F1uejxKUg53teZPsb79vtw4jlSyaovW-au0vvanWonu5z0BnuoA8emIqcPYZ2-uK4lYICbpekpTWpp4X12QJdcMytsrg/s2328/20230323_154304.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1048" data-original-width="2328" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizJzk0-COnu8m0A0dQy9IWfrGLv3TJdTf8kw_goHZw1StlV4ee-yIYQObpyyeASQeqa2z4G616oznmVBQyJsOOb7AM7yMdp9F1uejxKUg53teZPsb79vtw4jlSyaovW-au0vvanWonu5z0BnuoA8emIqcPYZ2-uK4lYICbpekpTWpp4X12QJdcMytsrg/s320/20230323_154304.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>I really want to do this bikepacking style so I am carrying a tent, cooking and sleeping gear, some food, and enough warm kit to handle mountain weather. My plan is to get the train to Wangaratta and spend 3 days getting to Bairnsdale where I can return to Melbourne on another train.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj80eaU4PvqG3DW68DcTgGRoZp2uYTJVOwuBprprS1_00RJ387yicRc93T7IQV1mwA2cOtJaEvsmH1Y7_1Iw7qlqNiGHXDyYA_UtXiBB6m-7eAaDm2GMAFX1EZb2eMPZARDKUtN7I_bu-nELcMh3pb96-b9LIPm4LFdZxjvekjknCFY1xt9B_8xSh-UuA/s1813/20230323_130209.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="817" data-original-width="1813" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj80eaU4PvqG3DW68DcTgGRoZp2uYTJVOwuBprprS1_00RJ387yicRc93T7IQV1mwA2cOtJaEvsmH1Y7_1Iw7qlqNiGHXDyYA_UtXiBB6m-7eAaDm2GMAFX1EZb2eMPZARDKUtN7I_bu-nELcMh3pb96-b9LIPm4LFdZxjvekjknCFY1xt9B_8xSh-UuA/s320/20230323_130209.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A very clean Casper at the start of this ride</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>Day one started super early with an 04:45 alarm and I was out the door 20 mins later peddling into the city. I really like the idea of riding out the house without using a car, and anyway my wife needed ours for work, so I rode the 30 something km into southern cross station and boarded the vline train to Wangaratta. There were half a dozen other cyclists kitted out the same as me and probably doing a similar route so it was nice to know there might be other nutters on the route for some occasional company.</p><p>All the bike spots on the train were quickly full and you can't book bicyckes, so advice to others planning this is to pick a quiet day, or get there early. The train ride was nice, passing through a bit of back country Victoria I hadn't seen before. For entertainment I was watching a big thunderstorm roll through the state on rain radar, but it never was directly overhead (yet, as it turned out).</p><p>When I got off I realised I'd left a small bag on the train. There were no valuables in there but it had some food and my phone charger. I'm not really on a tight schedule so decided to wait 3 hours for the train to come back as a staff member kindly contacted the train for me and they'd located it. I would arrive late at my camp tonight but that is no issue beyond the inconvenience.</p><p>A kind lady heard me talking to staff to locate the bag and approached me offering money! I did not need it of course but blown away by the gesture.</p><p>In the meantime, what to do but have more coffee while I wait! There was a nice place accross the street from Wangaratta Station, the sun was out and the coffee delicious. </p><p>I randomly got talking to a nice couple on their way to Sydney. The fella had cycled up Mt Hotham and had useful tips about the route and suggested a couple of nice places to stop, as well as a camping spot. Had I not left my bag on the train I would never have had these interesting interactions with locals, so I considered my stupidity to be a good win in the end.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgBWINaLRqwbu50iIFYH0mbJeD6boH_QK2XZ1sDVdriTdXR5jYDOVyTYS_Z4wtVhID34KPfbRD73AHHGygffad8xksWWOWpmZi95mMePUR1hFZ9FqeEsennJxofg8FtRXqmBmVFlXX0Vy-XZ5mDRZ7uhMHhJVLw8mV8x5G3VkzkCFj7zxbXV7fRMFSE8A" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="749" data-original-width="1119" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgBWINaLRqwbu50iIFYH0mbJeD6boH_QK2XZ1sDVdriTdXR5jYDOVyTYS_Z4wtVhID34KPfbRD73AHHGygffad8xksWWOWpmZi95mMePUR1hFZ9FqeEsennJxofg8FtRXqmBmVFlXX0Vy-XZ5mDRZ7uhMHhJVLw8mV8x5G3VkzkCFj7zxbXV7fRMFSE8A" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p>I did finally get going, with the missing bag, and initially took the road before switching to the rail trail after about 20km. The sky got darker rapidly and it looked like there was no way to dodge it. Sure enough giant fat drops of rain started coming down and there was fork lighting not far away. It's quite intimidating when on a little bike with nowhere to shelter.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_-hVgcf1YJbnuAjEDfmAqjJB57y93JrtdAqAIFzzismmPspUQi6Ejq9w66oTp1wTegTPTdPzI3xgof1g1zizC5E1cSV-0NeXGMjCpcV1HLPvA7Om2MpKnhaSxU2C9AHHu9GaXb6AeQ7h0BQsYr2tD3w7WZvZk8hqZ3gdK5w4LVYj1WB-J1FInyW5Agg/s1805/20230323_152057.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="813" data-original-width="1805" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_-hVgcf1YJbnuAjEDfmAqjJB57y93JrtdAqAIFzzismmPspUQi6Ejq9w66oTp1wTegTPTdPzI3xgof1g1zizC5E1cSV-0NeXGMjCpcV1HLPvA7Om2MpKnhaSxU2C9AHHu9GaXb6AeQ7h0BQsYr2tD3w7WZvZk8hqZ3gdK5w4LVYj1WB-J1FInyW5Agg/s320/20230323_152057.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Rail Trail</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO9fDKzVxm9Mmn3RUwqhxr0tX3TTRrNjabx4q8eBgjkrK3wwkOF60aNUTBZCKMZIcllSwOrCD3euItjdcJsHU2QAo0YEAtmtaVQBXPboE8FBk8dwcXpypkPhbGPF3NY_x0wvzIIrxmHEDnxTtHus-c2Ji9jvoJaPh-e84ezSkj50yVnMsv4ppMUg4jGg/s2316/20230323_152558.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1043" data-original-width="2316" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO9fDKzVxm9Mmn3RUwqhxr0tX3TTRrNjabx4q8eBgjkrK3wwkOF60aNUTBZCKMZIcllSwOrCD3euItjdcJsHU2QAo0YEAtmtaVQBXPboE8FBk8dwcXpypkPhbGPF3NY_x0wvzIIrxmHEDnxTtHus-c2Ji9jvoJaPh-e84ezSkj50yVnMsv4ppMUg4jGg/s320/20230323_152558.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>I got a proper soaking but it did pass quickly enough at least, the sun dried me off but the path was pretty messy as was I. It's s a great route, I can see why some folks would spend days doing what took me hours, and stop at the many food and wine options.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtHAEGZ2WLtTak724mQvADASEyjVhr8f1jV00I2t8-CbzmXB2CakU8NNpqN7AEgeVPtiPkqyitjaBY8F_BCGL-Cp7p4FyCb2uICah80PJSQh0CVbX47kFCRLcraI5O-xj6P-JoFnqq1zONEDInyGDJwa3TwW9grUHvZyxXqVJg_n8cjjb1fOb9R1mjUw/s2094/20230323_152602.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="943" data-original-width="2094" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtHAEGZ2WLtTak724mQvADASEyjVhr8f1jV00I2t8-CbzmXB2CakU8NNpqN7AEgeVPtiPkqyitjaBY8F_BCGL-Cp7p4FyCb2uICah80PJSQh0CVbX47kFCRLcraI5O-xj6P-JoFnqq1zONEDInyGDJwa3TwW9grUHvZyxXqVJg_n8cjjb1fOb9R1mjUw/s320/20230323_152602.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /></p>The path between Bright and Harrietville was especially lush but indirect, and I finally rolled into the camp ground at 7pm so a really long day in the end with that early start, and 155km cycled (including getting to the train station).<div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEigmRDDj3fR59ktX8EoXtAEKwqNnx4n7WIMmjbq0KbPdbvsrve3EnAK3bfIAgsonJ4CYdGfT3xACyW6xwX1eDnDcwsfMzEfWV-uEwt61NdfoNBeSOFPrY36P7TGVvh6ISPbnLUJzy2W_or-7caFpLpysI1H_j616alB7n2HfjW0b5yMzjtEVNYd1TW8_A" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1031" data-original-width="1683" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEigmRDDj3fR59ktX8EoXtAEKwqNnx4n7WIMmjbq0KbPdbvsrve3EnAK3bfIAgsonJ4CYdGfT3xACyW6xwX1eDnDcwsfMzEfWV-uEwt61NdfoNBeSOFPrY36P7TGVvh6ISPbnLUJzy2W_or-7caFpLpysI1H_j616alB7n2HfjW0b5yMzjtEVNYd1TW8_A" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Approaching Harrietville</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><p></p><p>After getting the tent up and a feast of freeze dried pasta cooked, I had a chat to some other campers by their fire before crashing for an early night.</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHE0xWyH8c7I7HVYRPYbtYX5pbT3ZwqCPLPqS3m4ZJpQOMuj1tB9x1N6METfsFribkzmFF26wOSXDFlb8VrPGoxaqaGVMoTSDLYIThkxSJ7yozcyHqWHFYi_YdQuWuL6reANffnlqn5jeoT2CXy-hRYN94QNGZoo7M4SzDvJ0RQuSvm3HuTwR2p5LfFQ/s2300/20230323_193614.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1036" data-original-width="2300" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHE0xWyH8c7I7HVYRPYbtYX5pbT3ZwqCPLPqS3m4ZJpQOMuj1tB9x1N6METfsFribkzmFF26wOSXDFlb8VrPGoxaqaGVMoTSDLYIThkxSJ7yozcyHqWHFYi_YdQuWuL6reANffnlqn5jeoT2CXy-hRYN94QNGZoo7M4SzDvJ0RQuSvm3HuTwR2p5LfFQ/s320/20230323_193614.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Campsite and dinner cooking</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>Tomorrow, it's the crux of the trip with a 30km ascent of Hotham, where the real fun begins.</p><p><b>Day 1 Stats:</b></p><p></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Distance:120.79 + 34.88 = 155.67km</li><li>Elevation Gain : 526m</li><li>Calories: 5994</li><li>Here is the GPX (note I doubled back briefly)<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></li></ul><p></p></div>
<iframe frameborder="0" height="500" src="https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/embed/10769766793" title="Wangaratta Cycling" width="465"></iframe><div><br /></div><div>...<a href="http://bagelonabike.blogspot.com/2023/03/bagels-alpine-crossing-day-2.html">read on for Day 2</a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5679728647745540631.post-67161357826830420912022-03-31T23:39:00.004-07:002022-04-01T03:10:38.433-07:00The Highlander - a 6 Day Cycle of Tasmania - Summary<p>I am back at home now from an amazing ride in stunning Tasmani, the route of which I called "<i>The Highlander</i>" for reasons which should be obvious! I am sharing a summary this latest adventure for anyone else planning something similar. </p><p>I did film parts of this ride and will edit a video shortly....</p><p>First of all, this was the overall route:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6DVDUjSE8EEE-spFzbKLpBDHiTJc3uMR59nyWT2e_gIRGeIO-SwSXCTHt-bSalVXanriUhxDQSXbztFzNviJFQlF8_x9-mszS7Mse_heRzMyDx8SKtHIdZBIpmQQ83CAN5_IJRtMGYingfiUUvd44YKu7EGwXCy70FzE3K6rTBKhsKLVop7RUUTmoOg/s1548/highlander.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="1548" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6DVDUjSE8EEE-spFzbKLpBDHiTJc3uMR59nyWT2e_gIRGeIO-SwSXCTHt-bSalVXanriUhxDQSXbztFzNviJFQlF8_x9-mszS7Mse_heRzMyDx8SKtHIdZBIpmQQ83CAN5_IJRtMGYingfiUUvd44YKu7EGwXCy70FzE3K6rTBKhsKLVop7RUUTmoOg/s320/highlander.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>I did this with 5 days riding, totally self supported carrying all my own food, water, and camping gear etc. I also had 1 rest day sight seeing in Strahan. Although my daily distances were lower than some of my other tours, the hills made this quite challenging. Here are the stats, and you can look at the route in more detail on each journal page below:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://bagelonabike.blogspot.com/2022/03/the-highlander-day-1-cradle-mountain.html">Day 1: Devonport - West of Cradle Mtn</a></li><ul><li>Distance: 87.75km</li><li>Ascent: 1939m</li><li>Calories Burned: 3448</li></ul><li><a href="https://bagelonabike.blogspot.com/2022/03/the-highlander-day-2-riding-to-strahan.html">Day 2: West of Cradle Mtn - Strahan</a></li><ul><li>Distance: 125.27km</li><li>Ascent: 1323m</li><li>Calories Burned: 4164</li></ul><li><a href="https://bagelonabike.blogspot.com/2022/03/the-highlander-day-3-sightseeing-in.html">Day 3 : Rest</a></li><li><a href="https://bagelonabike.blogspot.com/2022/03/the-highlander-day-4-lake-st-clair.html">Day 4: Strahan - Lake St Clair</a></li><ul><li>Distanc: 134.15km</li><li>Ascent: 2034m</li><li>Calories Burned: 4766</li></ul><li><a href="https://bagelonabike.blogspot.com/2022/03/the-highlander-day-5-miena.html">Day 5: Lake St Clair - Meina</a></li><ul><li>Distance: 62.33</li><li>Ascent: 812m</li><li>Calories Burned: 2055</li></ul><li><a href="https://bagelonabike.blogspot.com/2022/03/the-highlander-day-6-back-to-devonport.html">Day 6: Meina - Devonport</a></li><ul><li>Distance: 122.29</li><li>Ascent: 782m</li><li>Calories Burned: 3818</li></ul></ul><h3 style="text-align: left;">The Grand total (Including riding from home to the ferry)</h3><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Distance: 602.79</li><li>Ascent: 7017m</li></ul></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>The Bike</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4hvJJfRm0tf6TNCgpxIXdHKS-CQTEXh2P9DouIYKxrVN9zRaLLxLIxcoeOrgwRLUim92I9LjKmd9wXikWxKKqQZRtKUaMQJRrZvNQKbZoVfgu0gjw6eaQNU8c9Yyavdh0aROdMyvjdMqclwoZ59B6M9CTAHZwEkeVdNYCR_EUNvk6RHjTtWclMFNfew/s4032/20220329_111747.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1816" data-original-width="4032" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4hvJJfRm0tf6TNCgpxIXdHKS-CQTEXh2P9DouIYKxrVN9zRaLLxLIxcoeOrgwRLUim92I9LjKmd9wXikWxKKqQZRtKUaMQJRrZvNQKbZoVfgu0gjw6eaQNU8c9Yyavdh0aROdMyvjdMqclwoZ59B6M9CTAHZwEkeVdNYCR_EUNvk6RHjTtWclMFNfew/s320/20220329_111747.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>I travelled as light as possible, but this set up includes tent, sleeping back, cooking gear, tools, up to 5 litres water (with a small camelback not pictured) tools, down jacket, food, power supply for devices. I may share the full gear list later.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Some useful links:</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="http://www.cyclepeter.com/cycling-tasmania/">http://www.cyclepeter.com/cycling-tasmania/</a></li><li><a href="http://www.pedals44.com/tasmania.html">http://www.pedals44.com/tasmania.html</a></li><li><a href="https://www.willyweather.com.au/">https://www.willyweather.com.au/</a></li><li><a href="https://bagelonabike.blogspot.com/2020/01/on-some-adventures-you-fail.html">Information about taking bike on the Ferry</a></li><li><a href="https://ridewithgps.com/">Awesome route planning</a></li></ul></div><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5679728647745540631.post-2283843508436572462022-03-31T22:33:00.006-07:002022-03-31T23:05:14.853-07:00The Highlander - Day 6 - Back to Devonport<p>It was luxury sleeping inside last night. The food and accommodation here were very good, a bit of a treat. Although there is no breakfast at the hotel, there was a little shop nearby that did toasted sandwiches so I could get something basic. Outside it was proper cold...just above zero and with a biting southerly wind. I was not in a massive hurry to leave and had a hair brained theory that any ice on the road might melt once the sun had been on it. (Lots of things wrong with this theory, but in particular: there not much sun and so it was a total crap).</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvVy5Qc2SaxDKwqCrXiX26S9nX6IAEhApblL9ZAMk_uleS6_cWoEJx4sTvwEaYX0TaqnSAPWCp9vC0kjIXfDMarAhy5gmz3IRGxLhJ0OwQIrMa1g-5FY9B-m9EwpFMQ6TW1-lh36ph3kEe5ajOJKn9G8IAJ4nNgrpvz3YKDZS7Q6h-6o6Goe_8-DKN4g/s4032/20220331_094653.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvVy5Qc2SaxDKwqCrXiX26S9nX6IAEhApblL9ZAMk_uleS6_cWoEJx4sTvwEaYX0TaqnSAPWCp9vC0kjIXfDMarAhy5gmz3IRGxLhJ0OwQIrMa1g-5FY9B-m9EwpFMQ6TW1-lh36ph3kEe5ajOJKn9G8IAJ4nNgrpvz3YKDZS7Q6h-6o6Goe_8-DKN4g/s320/20220331_094653.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Anyway, I got going about 9am, riding along the Highland Highway next to Great Lake. No cars passed me for ages and I had a slight tailwind that became more than slight later on. I was wearing a good outer windbreak layer but I had no thermals, so just committed to keeping moving and using mainly pedal power to stay warm. A mechanical would have really sucked...but no such issues with <b>Casper The Magnificent</b> (my bike). At the head of the lake there was a short sharp climb with a few steep switchbacks but I was actually kinda grateful as the climbing effort kept me warm! <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyzck9Jdm0jfxWq21UO-StyIBMdE27tPV0b19mSz_5FXECeZ_0tcJ59BT3rYn_zGenwtuFVq_n9hdY3p66qg_PV7AoxCv1dcAcRo4Bt2xEojEXmP3JssCGx7YwhuU2I3492A9Qn6_iIzybwJGP80OgdaxSpSpmC5CCSFfN3a2ZUgKWQb7VlCc662CHsA/s4032/20220331_100819.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyzck9Jdm0jfxWq21UO-StyIBMdE27tPV0b19mSz_5FXECeZ_0tcJ59BT3rYn_zGenwtuFVq_n9hdY3p66qg_PV7AoxCv1dcAcRo4Bt2xEojEXmP3JssCGx7YwhuU2I3492A9Qn6_iIzybwJGP80OgdaxSpSpmC5CCSFfN3a2ZUgKWQb7VlCc662CHsA/s320/20220331_100819.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Once on the top it was all alpine scenery with the wild Pine Lake reminding me much of tarns in the South Island of NZ. Soon I passed the highpoint of the highway at 1250m, and a finger wrenching, ice blast descent began. What goes up, must come down.. and oh my down did we go! A long screaming descent hugging the left hand side of the valley, I lost count of the switchbacks, most at 25km/h... and my fingers burning from holding the break levers in the cold. No question of an ear to ear grain on my face however...that descent was INSANE 😀. This descent was the culmination of all of that effort on day 3 climbing from Strahan.<p></p><p>At the bottom there was a very small steep uphill and my legs just totally failed to work...it was very weird...I had to stop and rub them. Perhaps it was cold...I am not sure. </p><p>The cute town of Deloraine eventually emerges at the bottom here, 67km in one hit from Miena, but I was still cold to the core when I stopped, sitting in a patch of sunshine nursing a hot coffee. The town was much warmer than up on the plateau, probably 18 degrees or so, heaven! The town has a very pretty river meandering through the town, with an immaculate garden on each bank...total contender for '<i>Village of the year</i>' methinks. (<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0425112/">Hot Fuzz</a> reference)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYvfw_AG_4SOEcpTRItwHwSKqkiMYT1Ygms3CSS8oGLmw-E3fdLgU2OSwUgHhmxTu95hFWFtodKOl1uKYbGx4dYrz6Rsb6lXJxDRT_t6kS2XLoLnmHkLfvLSw2OiO9FhJrYudONDpUWvLakEDJybv7LBZKKQw1Y9SAuzx4JmVPbr2cUgyjYuwuDKJxLw/s695/village.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="695" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYvfw_AG_4SOEcpTRItwHwSKqkiMYT1Ygms3CSS8oGLmw-E3fdLgU2OSwUgHhmxTu95hFWFtodKOl1uKYbGx4dYrz6Rsb6lXJxDRT_t6kS2XLoLnmHkLfvLSw2OiO9FhJrYudONDpUWvLakEDJybv7LBZKKQw1Y9SAuzx4JmVPbr2cUgyjYuwuDKJxLw/s320/village.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>In fact somewhere on the way down I recall tearing past a sign referring to the area as 'The meandering valley' which is probably apt if one is not descending on a bike at silly speeds.</p><p>After a nice break in said town, I opted for 6km on the highway 1, followed by Railton Road. The highway saved a lot of faff with a very indirect route otherwise. Highways are never great but it was over fast and most of the time the shoulder was just wide enough to feel OK.</p><p>Railton Road passed through quite agricultural areas, very few cars but the odd big truck annoyingly. There is still a bit of up and down here. At Railton, after making turbo speed progress, I lay on the lawn and soaked up more sun, thinking about the trip.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3RBTt1QXcZ3tpdTAFCmpKSDT6JNRXsAgNRwh5epjFx6J_IXZMq-HKEljFNxvbNH6sFWqDOjQ6bZbu7CBEnlyHuxArDiY9k2vk4FzaoChDLh1MTJ4Oi6zdEW7xkEuKxdjutchQoPxhC1ZzV0W7_LoN1P5z8yXDMTgmYwyhhtWCCZ_2xTkyjZ_zLhU4YQ/s4032/20220331_130410.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3RBTt1QXcZ3tpdTAFCmpKSDT6JNRXsAgNRwh5epjFx6J_IXZMq-HKEljFNxvbNH6sFWqDOjQ6bZbu7CBEnlyHuxArDiY9k2vk4FzaoChDLh1MTJ4Oi6zdEW7xkEuKxdjutchQoPxhC1ZzV0W7_LoN1P5z8yXDMTgmYwyhhtWCCZ_2xTkyjZ_zLhU4YQ/s320/20220331_130410.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Devonport is close from here, just 24 km. There is a Tassie trail option on the edge of the town and it was probably the best option. I had scant info on it with my GPX file being a bit of a guess at this route. I opted to stay on Railton Rd...bad choice, it was very busy, lots of trucks...why do they use this B road?? But the shoulder was OK for most of it.<p></p><p>At Latrobe I had heard there was a <a href="https://hillstreetgrocer.com/">good cheese shop</a> so I called in there...one thing really lacking from this fast paced itinerary was some samples of Tassies finest produce. This was a pimped up IGA and was off the charts good, I could have purchased the whole shop. I left with a few treats to enjoy with my wife when I get home.</p><p>Leaving town there is a good bike path along the river for the final few kms into Devonport...what a day...what a trip!! As has been the case on every multi day ride I have done, the first few days are physically uncomfortable, then after day 3 or so, the body adjusts to the regular punishment and in fact even starts to thrive. Because us humans are designed to keep moving. Thank you Tassie for being such a stunning, wild, and friendly place to cycle.</p><p>I have a summary post to follow with some technical details for others planning a similar route.</p><p><b>Day 6 Summary:</b></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Distance: </b>122.29km</li><li><b>Meters Gained: </b>782m</li></ul><div><br /></div><p></p>
<iframe frameborder="0" height="500" src="https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/embed/8559947367" title="Miena Cycling" width="465"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5679728647745540631.post-13074891626784450182022-03-31T22:08:00.007-07:002022-03-31T22:57:20.900-07:00The Highlander - Day 5 - Miena<p>It got really cold last night but with a down jacket on and in my sleeping bag I was ok. My sleeping bag is rated to 10 degrees for 'comfort' and it was under 3 overnight. I also had a silk liner which adds a few degrees for little weight. I crashed by 8 and didn't get up till 7 so that's a decent night's rest 😛</p><p>It was a chilly start packing up though, my movements carefully watched by a friendly wallaby. I had a good chat with him/her. As you do when travelling solo. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjaUvTdrO3ZOgFRKXCcO0GJEPFytGS0c26-m6xL-YCIpj14WlW6WG-AEtHlHiCjOfeKX0E5uikrWnz7PePIpLXUtt5tngOi8D3Fg4RciPJo94XNZH_jx7O2ewugrIGsLsV_6EWFVuBOKCDykrlIROchM-axX_-HzcQtmxPzyC3c_yp-fQBob_mC_ptpQ/s4032/20220330_080117.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjaUvTdrO3ZOgFRKXCcO0GJEPFytGS0c26-m6xL-YCIpj14WlW6WG-AEtHlHiCjOfeKX0E5uikrWnz7PePIpLXUtt5tngOi8D3Fg4RciPJo94XNZH_jx7O2ewugrIGsLsV_6EWFVuBOKCDykrlIROchM-axX_-HzcQtmxPzyC3c_yp-fQBob_mC_ptpQ/s320/20220330_080117.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Deciding to give the lodge a miss (it looked great but more for couples or the retired!) and rode 5km to the Hungry Wombat Cafe up the road...this was great! Best coffee of the trip so far, a yummy breakfast roll and a good pie. ( Yes, pie for breakfast, don't judge me!!).</p><p>After procrastinating there for quite some time and catching up with my wife online, I finally moved on with the outside temperature now reaching the stratospheric heights of 8 degrees. Some misty, sleety showers were around, but the glimpses of the semi alpine plateau were still sensational. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc-fKtUfAbQQQeaHSxAZ7TDXgLe6Mc2vr5eYdVnPgDw7rtOJ-QhVzM7ZoG6ZkDOxLyAO4oVYAtOxhqrxVtqIz41zdsLEDaGu1fpgUf8-n9rZUpKgrlUSBIhOhQ3hbH74qZTQIWc9qW2Iy7nCyZbZVyfX1ib7sUST5BT8pZO7sz_jJakDRglAiTqutAwQ/s4032/20220330_110931.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc-fKtUfAbQQQeaHSxAZ7TDXgLe6Mc2vr5eYdVnPgDw7rtOJ-QhVzM7ZoG6ZkDOxLyAO4oVYAtOxhqrxVtqIz41zdsLEDaGu1fpgUf8-n9rZUpKgrlUSBIhOhQ3hbH74qZTQIWc9qW2Iy7nCyZbZVyfX1ib7sUST5BT8pZO7sz_jJakDRglAiTqutAwQ/s320/20220330_110931.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>There was a bit of nasty traffic on the A road though and for the first time on this trip I felt in danger when a big truck was roaring up behind me. I caught it in time in my rear view mirror as there was a smaller truck coming the other way...no room to overtake for either vehicle...thankfull for thick tyres I pulled in to the gravel shoulder to try and get out of the way of both trucks, but in the end that wasn't needed as the truck behind me saw the danger and breaked rather than overtake. I must say I will never intentionally tour without a rear view mirror. They are a more valuable piece of safety equipment than a helmet IMO as I have ranted on here before about this.</p><p></p><p>Soon it was time to depart the main road, I turned off down Marlborough Rd and pulled in to the tiny store at Bronte Park for another coffee. It's a very basic shop with fishing gear, a few soft drinks and a few basic takeaways. As I sat out the front nursing my coffee and trying to stay warm, an elderly-ish pair of old ladies joined me with their gorgeous 2 dogs. One was a huge Rotweiler and incredibly friendly and gentle. Apparently both are rescue dogs. I ended up chatting to these warm strangers for a good half hour whilst patting their dogs.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6s4PsFiXrdS7AVqusXAkjln6vNtf4IVIWiO_LtWAcQIOTduIc-p_RdLoKkVUOvdV5O44f-lapxPOU6jnqUZ9a_viY-yZrxCL1klS5EJBSDoxtsru3ccS1voal_AygfSOKpt7NcXXJN0zac_Th-vnDIIt_sd2ECm_qRAWMZ8u9KZtfeTKXjaEV7UoNEw/s4032/20220330_121342.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6s4PsFiXrdS7AVqusXAkjln6vNtf4IVIWiO_LtWAcQIOTduIc-p_RdLoKkVUOvdV5O44f-lapxPOU6jnqUZ9a_viY-yZrxCL1klS5EJBSDoxtsru3ccS1voal_AygfSOKpt7NcXXJN0zac_Th-vnDIIt_sd2ECm_qRAWMZ8u9KZtfeTKXjaEV7UoNEw/s320/20220330_121342.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Climbing north from Bronte Park</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifvjBvGxosiQBoDRmNl6oOy33Kgv8Wsu3wHYP7tuquq2JX3tUi7bJzbQTPreEz74h3V9cCrFiHI00Hy7_M86FNF0VjLtGrYqIfXSNlEi6LCjNyVdGitOLVF0l475bKx5qvEe6IWVBSsCQu9jQ4D1v8E0RwuHdw3lxhiqej6FokSAY2GcmOPocu_qmfCQ/s4032/20220330_124559.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifvjBvGxosiQBoDRmNl6oOy33Kgv8Wsu3wHYP7tuquq2JX3tUi7bJzbQTPreEz74h3V9cCrFiHI00Hy7_M86FNF0VjLtGrYqIfXSNlEi6LCjNyVdGitOLVF0l475bKx5qvEe6IWVBSsCQu9jQ4D1v8E0RwuHdw3lxhiqej6FokSAY2GcmOPocu_qmfCQ/s320/20220330_124559.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Part of the Tasmania Trail</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p>Eventually I got going again, and the B road here quickly turns to metal, and starts climbing fairly steadily. This section of the ride is part of the Tasmania Trail, it's quite a long climb, a bit more than expected and in places a very bumpy ride. [Disclaimer:<i> I am a very average gravel rider at best!</i>]. There was more great scenery, changing, from bush with big tall gum trees to some very dry looking stunted alpine trees and then opening up to a windswept plateau with alpine grasses with small lakes at the top. The road is pretty shoddy in this last part and I came off at low speed trying to climb a steep section where some newly laid gravel was too thick for my tires to grab...and I am riding a gravel bike! It could also be true that I suck on gravel.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKsFC1avoZcU3GanJ70tOLFysh72ivUHLEggEj0uJ3iywR4t5fwKSc2sbMy3CM6HXU5tBWpRT9MP-wqIQdm9esB4s00tzn5CoEtgykF9Yn5pAqbMaGgqgjUyANUCUTyegufES67i7lZmtN-_9r4JIQLWfwIHrr9F-oUnzLF4MhPiTPeC7Dwf1A1FoUMA/s4032/20220330_132934.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKsFC1avoZcU3GanJ70tOLFysh72ivUHLEggEj0uJ3iywR4t5fwKSc2sbMy3CM6HXU5tBWpRT9MP-wqIQdm9esB4s00tzn5CoEtgykF9Yn5pAqbMaGgqgjUyANUCUTyegufES67i7lZmtN-_9r4JIQLWfwIHrr9F-oUnzLF4MhPiTPeC7Dwf1A1FoUMA/s320/20220330_132934.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exposed alpine plateau near Meina<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv_8mxRFI-hkQgP0mfwaFFzSsZJhJLlGJTXxnHd0oUpoRGADUknzcPhR9S4WVIMUcH_V7E01LXnekPpeV9ehw1TBe6E8KW8SCcYZh87lDHLq322Or2lsAdhvSmSFSHmrTLHhdv3pB8gI8ZE-qOZaXNSotDHKYWL69KOy5qzK9dCDuNXPZ42zkP3jENWQ/s4032/20220330_132926.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv_8mxRFI-hkQgP0mfwaFFzSsZJhJLlGJTXxnHd0oUpoRGADUknzcPhR9S4WVIMUcH_V7E01LXnekPpeV9ehw1TBe6E8KW8SCcYZh87lDHLq322Or2lsAdhvSmSFSHmrTLHhdv3pB8gI8ZE-qOZaXNSotDHKYWL69KOy5qzK9dCDuNXPZ42zkP3jENWQ/s320/20220330_132926.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div>Some road workers saw this effort and quipped '<i>Don't worry mate you are only 4km from the pub</i>'.. oh yes, music to my ears. Maybe after their efforts the road will improve too.<p></p><p>More sleet/rain in this last bit and I do believe the temp dropped further, so when Meina emerged I was cold and happy to stop. Originally I had planned to either keeping going east a bit and then vere north and camp at a designated site by the lakes, or, turn onto Highland Lake road and camp stealth style after knocking off a bit more distance. But the weather forecast has it dropping below zero here tonight, and I'm just not kitted out for that. So took I the soft option of a hotel here, and I am writing this next to an open fire. I have been eating dinners from my supplies most nights but will enjoy some fresh food tonight.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXN5UQaET5fdcDnHYMXwdpqH5bXQYnFbPR3mIOms52hAT8nUmfPa5eqcQ80DN4OMi3mxcbL7hJ0k97YZN8gRnOcihpUhLKEez-Q-kmU82VdCQT3X4Wv_p9tEa38FOgKe2cPrgJDLe11f2nklePaM8J6CO11mrvV4mGm2fd-TTvJIqA5pDIBwVN8Y3tRg/s4032/20220330_184850.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXN5UQaET5fdcDnHYMXwdpqH5bXQYnFbPR3mIOms52hAT8nUmfPa5eqcQ80DN4OMi3mxcbL7hJ0k97YZN8gRnOcihpUhLKEez-Q-kmU82VdCQT3X4Wv_p9tEa38FOgKe2cPrgJDLe11f2nklePaM8J6CO11mrvV4mGm2fd-TTvJIqA5pDIBwVN8Y3tRg/s320/20220330_184850.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hearty Country Hotel Food</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Tomorrow I need to cover the 125ish km to Devonport for my evening ferry. Looks like about 700m up and 1500m down as I leave the plateau. The cold will be the challenge, I won't leave too early to give the roads a chance to de ice, and will also take it pretty slow on the downhills.</p><p>It will be the last day! And this seems almost a shame...I am just starting to get used to riding back to back each day...such is the nature of these things. But I am looking forward to getting back to my awesome wife and our cats. 🐈</p>
<iframe frameborder="0" height="500" src="https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/embed/8559947104" title="Lake St Clair Cycling" width="465"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5679728647745540631.post-66973363220968661622022-03-31T21:37:00.005-07:002022-03-31T22:48:29.231-07:00The Highlander - Day 4 - Lake St Clair<p>After a great day's sightseeing it was time to get going again, but not because I had run out of sights to see! My itinerary is quite tight.</p><p>So I was ready to go as soon as the sun was up, keen to get the section to Queenstown done before much traffic was on the road. As predicted by my host at Stahan, it was indeed hilly and winding, but only a few cars and 2 coaches went past me. Nearer Queenstown however, the mist got a bit thick and at that point it was probably too dangerous to cycle as there was almost no visibility. I was close to the town then and mostly downhill so just kept going. Down in the town the mist was all clear.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSK-71V_GCpbISQW49Y8stn4xWmhgeq5xT7OCvPz5PfQ2tK6VNKHwiMaP4C9g6QqfCtyomHDiWgDnAc4yFP19IB683eJ-uIs7hiGLeBIe3r-WKW-NBjXPiQE4ZFhgs32mPqOK2Jne-xR-vloKHz0qsrgY6cQszfRnJrQAFVuSXxVO0mWdtZpGB6udICQ/s4032/20220329_082552.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1816" data-original-width="4032" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSK-71V_GCpbISQW49Y8stn4xWmhgeq5xT7OCvPz5PfQ2tK6VNKHwiMaP4C9g6QqfCtyomHDiWgDnAc4yFP19IB683eJ-uIs7hiGLeBIe3r-WKW-NBjXPiQE4ZFhgs32mPqOK2Jne-xR-vloKHz0qsrgY6cQszfRnJrQAFVuSXxVO0mWdtZpGB6udICQ/s320/20220329_082552.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Between Strahan and Queenstown</td></tr></tbody></table><p>I stopped for second breakfast and I was also very cold, so I decided not to leave until the fog was off the hills. In the end that did not take long at all. After breaki, I had a short look around town, mostly mining stuff on display. This was also the time to make sure my supplies were all good, as there is nothing east of here till Derwent Bridge. I topped up with as much water as I could carry, then started the big climb out of town. </p><p>It was fun! Lots of switchbacks but a few not so steep places to recover. On pulling into the view point an old lady took my photo and realising she'd been caught taking my picture, called out '<i>you are crazy you know</i>?'. I wish I had had called back '<i>I'm not crazy, I'm a fire engine</i>' but I didn't think of it at the time.😂</p><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi58MGWZymYkTfYq6pbpzcbOM1vdYWZBj-nXmSklOWdbU4iRTQElPlhrvuGYIPAwHpwmSljB82jufP66-jBM4gAoqZmtTW4Lh3EydFLHPda9qLhf6Cp9NKp7MACyzkL1A6PCxahXvB-2OK5tLPytFgr2of5dxVMuiziImLD_elowL5KMAWeJGnt_b2Wlw/s4032/20220329_111059.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1816" data-original-width="4032" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi58MGWZymYkTfYq6pbpzcbOM1vdYWZBj-nXmSklOWdbU4iRTQElPlhrvuGYIPAwHpwmSljB82jufP66-jBM4gAoqZmtTW4Lh3EydFLHPda9qLhf6Cp9NKp7MACyzkL1A6PCxahXvB-2OK5tLPytFgr2of5dxVMuiziImLD_elowL5KMAWeJGnt_b2Wlw/s320/20220329_111059.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heaven</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicEYGCmhU2cwlPBD_tAsRl5w5hCXFVFS7_r6tJ7dC_ktPFX5eL4q659EDmCB-uVFZY8BCWKTh5sKzx3FaRUKXGcNbeTUtdWQJcGjEakrXqgOCSe7c6FxTZQxRU9xXVn5tRTAtiOt8Kieph8QdVYB3tNGlxWFx7eROm9SWfy1ZtU9TNPdH54yYfoXYEHg/s4032/20220329_111747.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1816" data-original-width="4032" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicEYGCmhU2cwlPBD_tAsRl5w5hCXFVFS7_r6tJ7dC_ktPFX5eL4q659EDmCB-uVFZY8BCWKTh5sKzx3FaRUKXGcNbeTUtdWQJcGjEakrXqgOCSe7c6FxTZQxRU9xXVn5tRTAtiOt8Kieph8QdVYB3tNGlxWFx7eROm9SWfy1ZtU9TNPdH54yYfoXYEHg/s320/20220329_111747.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Casper...ain't she pretty?</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p>After the descent down this hill things levelled out a little for a short while at least, and looking back to the mountains there was a breathtaking view:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq94FzFNdpYyW87AuURluB2_xX5wsfPLYdi-D--6lMQy9Lu8MVlBXTZzJmi65xRScpizEg0VTSDOFzvbgc-rQRV-ov_aEWUwa8nF40UKGYISCh2DxrZOft9MiakeIHt7Bf-D-Ka74npwksiEZ7NE-XcFd5oseVWDgcjg_4Ge1KMtFNwF-M8Xqwss9v6Q/s4032/20220329_115144.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1816" data-original-width="4032" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq94FzFNdpYyW87AuURluB2_xX5wsfPLYdi-D--6lMQy9Lu8MVlBXTZzJmi65xRScpizEg0VTSDOFzvbgc-rQRV-ov_aEWUwa8nF40UKGYISCh2DxrZOft9MiakeIHt7Bf-D-Ka74npwksiEZ7NE-XcFd5oseVWDgcjg_4Ge1KMtFNwF-M8Xqwss9v6Q/s320/20220329_115144.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, more stunning Tassie!</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Soon I was back in the trees and climbing again, I called in for a rest at Nelson Falls. Seemingly a good spot to 'feel the serenity' which was a <i>tiny</i> bit tainted by a large group of 3 wheel motor bikers. They were perfectly friendly of course. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkIJ2cweJWAngX_UJ6ATt_G_N3wB2eCBvVchN3ZWRzsZBbVTgKwZx597kGByENIxQAit9QIAZTLyaDxphIeZuu-h7zgtA8ZYBOc-TLKcAaZ79ugv6pRpwB_w2VNO5VFhGnM3hdXldJYuRGVrkVPlOWF-61MdtmIWf5TAdNawIWW-gEpS1nmk_K5YMoMA/s4032/20220329_122624.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1816" data-original-width="4032" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkIJ2cweJWAngX_UJ6ATt_G_N3wB2eCBvVchN3ZWRzsZBbVTgKwZx597kGByENIxQAit9QIAZTLyaDxphIeZuu-h7zgtA8ZYBOc-TLKcAaZ79ugv6pRpwB_w2VNO5VFhGnM3hdXldJYuRGVrkVPlOWF-61MdtmIWf5TAdNawIWW-gEpS1nmk_K5YMoMA/s320/20220329_122624.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>It's a short 10 min walk up a beautiful fern laden path to the Falls...well worth a stop. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwZFVG8ZP4RNy4m-FI6Hz0Hp4jJr-8gmxUQjs1oXBj3FfN5GvJp8-7sEF8guIE84kxmLRMcfwZotXRZ-ZH-Iw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">After a little snack I got rolling again, hills-a-plenty from here, the big one being about 30km from Derwent Bridge that takes you up and over the great divide. For anyone reading this planning their own trip, don't go from Strahan to Derwent in one hop unless you're a bit of a masochist...you are talking 2000m plus of climbing and it's also 130km ish.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRqTvFJg62CSbwaUuktABsCg0MCIfCT1iRL-8tcnlDvgESEtnWdY8CQx88PC0mh0GlhXon_U7EHA3ETW5rb9zeOLbkq_XS5876WHXuKdV_NIQmKVw87QxlRzhACNQ1cHxYRprW-jel_wC5zlZ6ay11IcRDjk9uLEErNwnGxtm9eINXW_mRHqeWAes0gw/s9248/20220329_153817.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6936" data-original-width="9248" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRqTvFJg62CSbwaUuktABsCg0MCIfCT1iRL-8tcnlDvgESEtnWdY8CQx88PC0mh0GlhXon_U7EHA3ETW5rb9zeOLbkq_XS5876WHXuKdV_NIQmKVw87QxlRzhACNQ1cHxYRprW-jel_wC5zlZ6ay11IcRDjk9uLEErNwnGxtm9eINXW_mRHqeWAes0gw/s320/20220329_153817.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Great Divide</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>The divide was awesome, shades of greens and browns with the late day sun soaking a few small but pointy nearby peaks. I was heaving for breath and had consumed at least 4 litres of water since Queenstown. I didn't have much left either, meaning I now had to get to Derwent Bridge.</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhckcTsi0Mxp4RreAKF-Sml5yFGc5IYfzTXuFiq4BWGofn9SKiBYVQKs0KPPT4PssQbDYFTz_Zr6sS9VHYLvdgTvoN-MTRxWcIsUaUZAN-dD_wGLxL8lnolAVAlCZes0vFGa51ff9lkWLCV_LtWSeS2FsLLgfTEv6ZCfR1MWuscXynLDTCBZInaZfu4DA/s9248/20220329_153840.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6936" data-original-width="9248" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhckcTsi0Mxp4RreAKF-Sml5yFGc5IYfzTXuFiq4BWGofn9SKiBYVQKs0KPPT4PssQbDYFTz_Zr6sS9VHYLvdgTvoN-MTRxWcIsUaUZAN-dD_wGLxL8lnolAVAlCZes0vFGa51ff9lkWLCV_LtWSeS2FsLLgfTEv6ZCfR1MWuscXynLDTCBZInaZfu4DA/s320/20220329_153840.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Map</td></tr></tbody></table><p>The good news was that Derwent Bridge was only 20km from here so I kept going and there were a few nice downhill bits to help me along. On hitting Derwent I turned left and did another 5km to Lake St Clair after seeing there was a national park campsite here. There is, but it's kinda hidden. Take the track behind the visitor centre and its 10 mins from there. Unfortunately there was a "no bicycles" sign at the start, but I had little choice being right on the end of my energy. I wheeled the bike up the path feeling okay because I had pre paid a park pass for camping. [On reflection, perhaps the sign applies to the Overland trail]</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8XYHgNklLwxo3fkIRWn8T_IsjDlMqt1sMCuJmHbhK-ZlhEscHxtNKMK55y9NQBuFgeV5UMqkAiR_3Y-U-CZkfMwLzAW0vybCRZt_Jz2cnriqTsJhAJaAlnk8iOGdLBNuCr_r5Uih8FuB1P2n6FVYBoucUT7qsOZPg-PuVwhWHd_oqW8dZYcHwo3uUAA/s4032/20220329_171913.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8XYHgNklLwxo3fkIRWn8T_IsjDlMqt1sMCuJmHbhK-ZlhEscHxtNKMK55y9NQBuFgeV5UMqkAiR_3Y-U-CZkfMwLzAW0vybCRZt_Jz2cnriqTsJhAJaAlnk8iOGdLBNuCr_r5Uih8FuB1P2n6FVYBoucUT7qsOZPg-PuVwhWHd_oqW8dZYcHwo3uUAA/s320/20220329_171913.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>It's a beautiful spot, but there are no facilities at all and no water save for the lake..I boiled some for my dinner and had a little left for breakfast.</p><p>There is rain forecast for early morning and snow to 1200m. I mentioned earlier that I am not really decked out for such cold weather, so I booked a place indoors only a short 60-70km away for my penultimate night tomorrow.</p><p>Wow what a day.. an <i>epic</i> ride, I think my PB meters climbed, and some spectacular scenery. Tassie sure is special.. and I suspect I will be asleep by 8pm after today...</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Day 4 Summary:</b></p><div><ul><li><b>Distance: </b>134.15</li><li><b>Meters Gained: </b>2034m, a new PB again! 😅</li></ul></div>
<iframe frameborder="0" height="500" src="https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/embed/8559946973" title="Strahan Cycling" width="465"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5679728647745540631.post-34674764585410786452022-03-31T21:05:00.001-07:002022-03-31T21:05:13.468-07:00The Highlander - Day 3 - Sightseeing in Strahan<p>I had been looking forward to this part of the trip ever since failing to make it just before the pandemic hit. I had booked a cruise up the Gordon River, and really looking forward to seeing this very remote bushland up close. Years ago, one of the captains about Melbourne's punt commuter ferry for cyclists would tell me sea shantys (OK, maybe they were just <i>stories</i>, but he really was a genuine salty old sea dog and therefor a shanty is appropriate ) about him sailing his boat across Bass Strait, down the west coast of Tassie and into this wild harbour. I used to love these chats, and it was partly his stories that inspired me to ride down here.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtP5y7tQFjnyt84Dfds0hopxk35hx3hcR2b-uFSfFcbSpIEZVR-dfrRdUp3P8AfyS5RtC7yBF7rt8A1-qe0pO8j5xNqN5eQiCdqKzBdMVyUCOy7ri4g_SkzdVflQUAxe863pxqsKWL9168uc8mcV5qPfNhleE-VwmWEE7bn59qMnkFLuhZHEMCZltRkg/s4032/20220328_093212.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtP5y7tQFjnyt84Dfds0hopxk35hx3hcR2b-uFSfFcbSpIEZVR-dfrRdUp3P8AfyS5RtC7yBF7rt8A1-qe0pO8j5xNqN5eQiCdqKzBdMVyUCOy7ri4g_SkzdVflQUAxe863pxqsKWL9168uc8mcV5qPfNhleE-VwmWEE7bn59qMnkFLuhZHEMCZltRkg/s320/20220328_093212.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hells Gate on the left here, a very narrow channel</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>We started off with a visit to Hells Gate, so named by convicts getting shipped to the penal colony further up the harbour. It looked mighty treacherous as the harbour is huge, 5 times the size of Sydney harbour, and the tide has to funnel through a narrow channel with rocks on one side and sandbanks on the other. Coming through in a sailboat in the early 1800s would take some serious skill.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWb4PGh7M6kxAih-pXThAhc4wek4IcLenUQIv6AMAgGH2Ho1fZoqtgIBllSIOtCY0s5A0vt6yaEVuAyhgZJAtWCykXFMlZ9bduJSNltTeQsYW9c_V419gkZt8B7q7VEGkc3j0T4ktQfvfe9_P4powdKOCX6VhpPJ2RzeZYunLcS2KQTW8bo0BTs7aM_g/s1051/map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="761" data-original-width="1051" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWb4PGh7M6kxAih-pXThAhc4wek4IcLenUQIv6AMAgGH2Ho1fZoqtgIBllSIOtCY0s5A0vt6yaEVuAyhgZJAtWCykXFMlZ9bduJSNltTeQsYW9c_V419gkZt8B7q7VEGkc3j0T4ktQfvfe9_P4powdKOCX6VhpPJ2RzeZYunLcS2KQTW8bo0BTs7aM_g/s320/map.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>No such ssues in our jet powered tourist palace, which then goes way down the harbour to Sarah Island, the site of Australia's oldest penal colony, and by any standards especially rough as only the worst were sent here. It seemed so close to shore, but papparently not so easy to swim with iron shackles on. If one survived the swim, the terrain to any kind of civilisation would be nearly impossible to pass. No first nation people lived here, but did pass through for its resources. There were many escapes though and some were even never caught...but for most escape ended with 100 lashes at best, or death.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5L4AEVXoyt1kJFvuhU7rEUztdNdLspz1kTw7eI56sNfhtejXgF6zBrbBrUJyTSp_IW2enuhTujdMfJeLEmiZKPzRIfKFV-ZVYXmEkHVUVPAGNI82RQn8aqlNpVvZ17ZIxMJN0-9yRqit1wYaM6PTtQtb2mgAc_gimZt-bolMvnxfTGCRrSwIUFCK1cA/s4032/20220328_102159.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5L4AEVXoyt1kJFvuhU7rEUztdNdLspz1kTw7eI56sNfhtejXgF6zBrbBrUJyTSp_IW2enuhTujdMfJeLEmiZKPzRIfKFV-ZVYXmEkHVUVPAGNI82RQn8aqlNpVvZ17ZIxMJN0-9yRqit1wYaM6PTtQtb2mgAc_gimZt-bolMvnxfTGCRrSwIUFCK1cA/s320/20220328_102159.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sarah Island - former Penal colony</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAFcmmIL9SLqYrhWZeLOfi05UsOdRZxuU3CAEuXac35riI5HkLBWcOIwTImDZvHycPyXKEiJ8BQ903DGteNk0oqUNRAzBPHTG-YjmiPRvtZO3ilppz28HqZ9gBkajQ1QfB_uCKn9Fe68TdZD5NYAhgqJ7seWKx3hF1_q-oyzsYOQ11rDZtyHElk3cx1w/s4032/20220328_103636.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAFcmmIL9SLqYrhWZeLOfi05UsOdRZxuU3CAEuXac35riI5HkLBWcOIwTImDZvHycPyXKEiJ8BQ903DGteNk0oqUNRAzBPHTG-YjmiPRvtZO3ilppz28HqZ9gBkajQ1QfB_uCKn9Fe68TdZD5NYAhgqJ7seWKx3hF1_q-oyzsYOQ11rDZtyHElk3cx1w/s320/20220328_103636.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sarah Island - Ruins</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtJYrdPURouqdqeJVs_WYZ_2dG5x3sZfI_8xz2_8fstyhRLOR4Zjk72cAI20UCc4nkI6jYmAyAqM88fjpivBi-GzKz99-T15iuVPVbUi5kNQbGpCJ4zSfsPpFhCzNRrS577xhNhOCrA0b9AlmxAVCKMJtSayYfaOkjQGnx5AAaA5vnu4IYoemuhTqPnQ/s4032/20220328_114549.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtJYrdPURouqdqeJVs_WYZ_2dG5x3sZfI_8xz2_8fstyhRLOR4Zjk72cAI20UCc4nkI6jYmAyAqM88fjpivBi-GzKz99-T15iuVPVbUi5kNQbGpCJ4zSfsPpFhCzNRrS577xhNhOCrA0b9AlmxAVCKMJtSayYfaOkjQGnx5AAaA5vnu4IYoemuhTqPnQ/s320/20220328_114549.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The shoreline - so close! So stunning</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Walking around the island, now thickly Forrested and save for a few brick ruins showing few scars from its former life, it is hard to imagine putting a penal colony somewhere so remote.</p><p>Equally interesting was the piece on cultural history on the boat. A bit of a shame it's just a recording, given the local people were here so much earlier than the penal colony. The area was abundant with natural life and I especially enjoyed hearing more about the more complex seasons that the first people used to sustain the environment here. But 90% of the tour was about logging, penal colonies and white men, with 10% left for the other 30,000 years of human history here, its seemed more than a little unbalanced to me.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglBTucyJNkLdMVvxnG9iqTacsx3rB761f5GdNklWJrzAoecmwsi-Gl6MggUcxfSwkukvQZjosnF6N2JK7-GpRmqtq_cXszZHOxaDppuNsclgnPp5pDMwsyGQEGC5yODzjQceD_lnKZTNa_vCBQBcW6CJF_Dd1wNkwAwiO4L4VTuxE0PpyV4zP1P_yGrQ/s9248/20220328_121930.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6936" data-original-width="9248" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglBTucyJNkLdMVvxnG9iqTacsx3rB761f5GdNklWJrzAoecmwsi-Gl6MggUcxfSwkukvQZjosnF6N2JK7-GpRmqtq_cXszZHOxaDppuNsclgnPp5pDMwsyGQEGC5yODzjQceD_lnKZTNa_vCBQBcW6CJF_Dd1wNkwAwiO4L4VTuxE0PpyV4zP1P_yGrQ/s320/20220328_121930.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Wild Gordon River</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh2EFezrew4nxhU_QYfHjwXA0cfUR8Pwsw9jLHyjg3FccRwUB9XmizqtDWkL6eXaIu_7Mvv6oMBADLuupdK6cNPd8SwPMMuEENubvVZtIKr3DRch7hCdjos-wyVbRpPgL-ppQ7t6mBuxQ85f4vNBdeFhSiYXdg7N4gumtlyxZMUxjBO4aVmg7Z__OE0g/s9248/20220328_131132.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6936" data-original-width="9248" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh2EFezrew4nxhU_QYfHjwXA0cfUR8Pwsw9jLHyjg3FccRwUB9XmizqtDWkL6eXaIu_7Mvv6oMBADLuupdK6cNPd8SwPMMuEENubvVZtIKr3DRch7hCdjos-wyVbRpPgL-ppQ7t6mBuxQ85f4vNBdeFhSiYXdg7N4gumtlyxZMUxjBO4aVmg7Z__OE0g/s320/20220328_131132.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heritage Landing Walk</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2S-lZymAfX_d8uiGrfXyVURs5SEMR-P4R92Z5dpwE6xtHTD6_1rA95qqslzgQw0MHXATpN0WahBhWXnIr_JiSsLw3v_4AdQOeA0dzKducAbaDt-S307OriKCjWdmFblePxC_9u8NllvW_Rk599BV9sqAEzNtsAM-Ad1TLkrawf539FFBxekVKAOvfQw/s4032/20220328_123731.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2S-lZymAfX_d8uiGrfXyVURs5SEMR-P4R92Z5dpwE6xtHTD6_1rA95qqslzgQw0MHXATpN0WahBhWXnIr_JiSsLw3v_4AdQOeA0dzKducAbaDt-S307OriKCjWdmFblePxC_9u8NllvW_Rk599BV9sqAEzNtsAM-Ad1TLkrawf539FFBxekVKAOvfQw/s320/20220328_123731.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">True Wilderness</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Putting those thoughts aside, my goodness this area is breathtaking. The forest huges the river, and some of the <a href="https://www.conifers.org/po/Lagarostrobos.php">Huon Pine's</a> here are more than 1000 years old...simply incredible. </p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoeC_YC9o85CGJXGqpMcftyJPlrhzvXYrPQe5rUyB4zewFg2ro2JABnJRJKShwfGOTuvnV271brXqDJr3U58zDzcmm1B3mrDNzQUKcHGYiOAQySLd3G2g0mpyJ3wEYQqKKzsejbGJSLOAMnViP6NDJF9PdIebhL9IxFfNhsR4KUwoa1VvQsYK_aBE7KQ/s9248/20220328_124716.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="9248" data-original-width="6936" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoeC_YC9o85CGJXGqpMcftyJPlrhzvXYrPQe5rUyB4zewFg2ro2JABnJRJKShwfGOTuvnV271brXqDJr3U58zDzcmm1B3mrDNzQUKcHGYiOAQySLd3G2g0mpyJ3wEYQqKKzsejbGJSLOAMnViP6NDJF9PdIebhL9IxFfNhsR4KUwoa1VvQsYK_aBE7KQ/s320/20220328_124716.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ancient Trees </td></tr></tbody></table></p><p>As for tomorrow, I am expecting it to be the hardest day of the trip. When I checked in to my accommodation yesterday the kind owner tried to talk me out of riding the next stage altogether. It is always hard to know what to do with advice like this, local knowledge is gold but when it's not from a cyclist's perspective you may be getting the views of someone who thinks "push bikes are only for the pavement" despite only the best intentions. People tend to either woefully underestimate bikes, or, think of their capabilities as the same as what they experience in a car... "<i>It's 15 mins away and totally flat</i>" for example.</p><p>However, I will respect the advice to a degree, and be prepared do a shorter day...it's a heck of a lot of climbing anyway!!</p><p>The other issue is that it's due to get much colder with a bit of snow forecast down to 1200 soon, and I haven't really got the gear for sleeping or riding that cold. So, I'll go as far as I can tomorrow, with a chance of being off the highest bits before the cold arrives. Let's see how that goes!</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5679728647745540631.post-39003275672695270842022-03-31T20:15:00.004-07:002022-03-31T20:29:49.853-07:00The Highlander - Day 2 - Riding to Strahan<p>It got quite cold in the night but I got my down jacket on at 2am and slept well after that. It was overcast but not too cold once the sun came up. It took me a while to pack and I had a light breakfast before rolling down the rest of yesterday's epic big hill at 8am.The road was really quiet and occasionally the sun poked through gaps in the clouds. There was some more really stunning scenery around here, its lush, green and wild.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUvxFo5KBwMv6CAnihJDDrYM6LkLgGskwxr4Wo4htjD_GxUUhnaIFKEBWkJB6pHeZyeROguIMgRoI4xtK5bHlx5a-kY_qEPZ5JsvomNab9VW9gLUkDcWt058UPI8H7GnGCmCRgnKI5jYI4J9jAPMuGFC_-JQ7fxER4H0nXbFoOlTDR4XdPImarj20Ykg/s4032/20220327_090915.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUvxFo5KBwMv6CAnihJDDrYM6LkLgGskwxr4Wo4htjD_GxUUhnaIFKEBWkJB6pHeZyeROguIMgRoI4xtK5bHlx5a-kY_qEPZ5JsvomNab9VW9gLUkDcWt058UPI8H7GnGCmCRgnKI5jYI4J9jAPMuGFC_-JQ7fxER4H0nXbFoOlTDR4XdPImarj20Ykg/s320/20220327_090915.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Highlands</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I made good time to get to Tullah for a coffee break. The lakes around the town were just stunning...mirror flat this morning and reflecting autumn colours from the trees. It felt like Scotland from some walking I did there with friends years ago.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEg3Riyyck_1zRePsobAL-IrIfihW--DxuMfDQWATZxcO1jxiNj19eLOURoajeFWoNvMoORP-dasISfw6896qDEupoP308RwDLNmUkAud1_OeZAjMp1SO6r_ApTP3KNUiCgH7dHxDwFaqT2gy3wz4zMVXp_alDBvuLNH15nlYbVQogzi1s1UpyDFGR2A/s4032/20220327_092739.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEg3Riyyck_1zRePsobAL-IrIfihW--DxuMfDQWATZxcO1jxiNj19eLOURoajeFWoNvMoORP-dasISfw6896qDEupoP308RwDLNmUkAud1_OeZAjMp1SO6r_ApTP3KNUiCgH7dHxDwFaqT2gy3wz4zMVXp_alDBvuLNH15nlYbVQogzi1s1UpyDFGR2A/s320/20220327_092739.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lake Rosebery near Tullah</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>After Tullah there is another major hill before the mining town of Rosebury. The mine seems such a shame in such beautiful forest, and I found the town a bit depressing, maybe from that or the takeaway shop. I was also a bit flat from the last hill too and wondering how realistic Strahan was as a target. I'd stopped at a public toilet next to a playground where a family were settled in and a little girl was having a serious tantrum about something. Of course I have no idea what it was about, I only caught her closing statement: </div><div><br /></div><div><blockquote>OK THATS IT I AM NEVER, EVER LEAVING THIS PLAYGROUND!</blockquote></div><div><br /></div><div>I guess we all feel like that from time to time. 😆 But leave I did, the coffee was bad and there were lots more wasps. Many more ups and downs followed, passing another big mine and plenty more forest. But, once I got to Zeehan and had a banana, Strahan suddenly looked pretty doable for 43km more and only a few small hill climbs away...plus it was only 2pm...onward! </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh13d4X5jbZvJ45KeRsrt-po7kwclWKiqI5nWhFtK4m2cSeYQS1o6_oRq8ruDNgIk6yUvj0Ogep5cGlWAvYl8IlDdirgLlNHzkwk3ZEo3dI08nUXKbXVGMp8YlYQiX4MIZ9jmhG-aZYUnPSfFBBSqNhAmujOn2m6g7j3HEwmCuZiNrK1Nvj0YYAhNvESg/s4032/20220327_140224.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh13d4X5jbZvJ45KeRsrt-po7kwclWKiqI5nWhFtK4m2cSeYQS1o6_oRq8ruDNgIk6yUvj0Ogep5cGlWAvYl8IlDdirgLlNHzkwk3ZEo3dI08nUXKbXVGMp8YlYQiX4MIZ9jmhG-aZYUnPSfFBBSqNhAmujOn2m6g7j3HEwmCuZiNrK1Nvj0YYAhNvESg/s320/20220327_140224.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The trees really changed here too, and after cresting a small hill I whopped for joy with a glimpse of the west coast and the wild ocean beyond. Looking west out to sea from here, if one was to travel on the same latitude, the next landmass you would hit would not even be South Africa, but South America. </div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA3SPkyCkE5p0E6I-SmRjsnkPb0AR-PsoD2IWeRlYCDEpPThz2tBgzLrb7d5Utkq0MvX78OVRe2Ws8xyd5G-orLNVj4VK-h3VNkKOLl6iDgK5N37IByU9dumFpW3vTg2Qsv0vTVHcN_DaRs68guIYv1yDRGqa32subGWIb0-j352W-1Z5BmADU79Deig/s1507/42%20south.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="1507" height="121" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA3SPkyCkE5p0E6I-SmRjsnkPb0AR-PsoD2IWeRlYCDEpPThz2tBgzLrb7d5Utkq0MvX78OVRe2Ws8xyd5G-orLNVj4VK-h3VNkKOLl6iDgK5N37IByU9dumFpW3vTg2Qsv0vTVHcN_DaRs68guIYv1yDRGqa32subGWIb0-j352W-1Z5BmADU79Deig/s320/42%20south.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If one were to swim West from Tassie...</td></tr></tbody></table><p>For Geography nerds, its about the same latitide as Punakaiki in New Zealand, going East. (And rather a lot closer relatively speaking). </p><p>After a specular final hour riding, seeing very few cars and constantly changing terrain, eventually I rolled into Stahan.. make sure you book something if you want to sleep inside here. Also a lot of business are still struggling with short staff from the lack of seasonal workers, and covid shut downs. Getting a meal out is also not easy at the moment...it feels like how Melbourne was around January.</p><p>4800 calories burned today, a solid effort. Everything is a bit sore but I have some sightseeing on the Gordon River to look forward too tomorrow and a chance to rest the legs.</p></div><b>Day 2 Summary:</b><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Distance: </b>125.27</li><li><b>Meters Gained: </b>1323m</li></ul></div>
<iframe frameborder="0" height="500" src="https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/embed/8559946681" title="Middlesex Cycling" width="465"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5679728647745540631.post-26097694596180983822022-03-31T19:48:00.004-07:002022-03-31T20:25:39.476-07:00The Highlander - Day 1 - Cradle Mountain Area<p>I slept badly on the ferry, I just could not get comfortable...the floor would have been better than a recliner chair I think. Thankfully, it was over before too long and I had a big breakfast then got changed back into my cycling gear. Soon we docked at Devonport and I was rolling off the ferry towards the hills.<a href="I slept badly on the ferry, I just could not get comfortable...the floor would have been better than a recliner chair I think. Anyway it was over before too long and I had a big breakfast then got back into cycling gear. Soon we docked and I was rolling off the ferry towards the hills. From my last fateful visit I remember the first climb being one of the steepest and it smashed me this time too. There probably is a better way to leave Devonport, don't follow my route!! The roads were very quiet though and every vehicle that passed me seemed to be an early 90s era Ute with a flat bed on the back, painted white. Yes, that specific. The road had no shoulder but most drivers were good with their overtaking decisions. Soon I hit the notorious Gentle Annie hill described in my last visit. I did not find it too bad this time, but there were plenty more to come. I stopped for a coffee at the only services between Devonport and Cradle Mt and had a decent rest and a top up of water. The hills just after this village were very intense, 14% in places and quite a slog up to Cradle. Finally the road levelled out a bit (relatively speaking) and the highlands scenary rather suddenly opened up like pealing back the top of a can of peache. It's really pretty up here with stunted sub alpine trees, mosses and thick spongy grasses that you just want to lay down in. All so very green everywhere you look. At cradle I stopped for a coffee and sandwich at the visitor centre and made use of the only place I have had mobile reception since dp to let my wife know all is well. I couldn't see where you could get free water here, tried the bathrooms but there were warning signs over the taps indicating it was not tested, and it looked suspiciously brown. So went to the tiny grocer at the camp sipte and paid a lot for bottled plastic..such an annoying shame. I needed enough for an overnight and probably at least a few hours the next day. Then moved on towards Strahan. There was another very substantial and steep hill about 10km down the road and I was having bad asthma and had to stop 3 times to calm down my breathing. I Took this as a sign it was time to stop and found a great spot...still wheezing like crazy, the worst asthma I have had since a teenager. My Garmin tells me this is my Pb for meteres gained (not for long as it turned out) and I can sure feel it a big rest is needed overnight. A delicious dinner of freeze dry Mediterranean lamb washed down with an electrolyte drink followed while I watched the sun go down in perfect stillness and serenity...no one around, the only sounds my horrible breathing.">From my last fateful visit</a> I remember the first climb being one of the steepest and it smashed me this time too. There probably is a better way to leave Devonport, don't follow my route!!</p><p>The roads were very quiet though and every vehicle that passed me seemed to be an early 90s era Ute with a flat bed on the back, painted white. Yes, that specific. The road had no shoulder but most drivers were good with their overtaking decisions.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifYyiMraQPFkzqumLCv6QV6wMohrQozpQUDOiaJhsayS32emWZ9OdZWzoAYQcvvpkSfRPtDA9MG_6lxZWEBj3P1NcNBvLYTMfeedrYhTZw5qApjrYOhrGXXajahk9VJnN-CSq82xARD4euxlDWUrJh3302VcAic017eVlhPkYwA0lClzra_058I4qLIg/s1840/Ute.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1035" data-original-width="1840" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifYyiMraQPFkzqumLCv6QV6wMohrQozpQUDOiaJhsayS32emWZ9OdZWzoAYQcvvpkSfRPtDA9MG_6lxZWEBj3P1NcNBvLYTMfeedrYhTZw5qApjrYOhrGXXajahk9VJnN-CSq82xARD4euxlDWUrJh3302VcAic017eVlhPkYwA0lClzra_058I4qLIg/s320/Ute.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Soon I hit the notorious Gentle Annie Hill <a href="https://bagelonabike.blogspot.com/2020/01/on-some-adventures-you-fail.html">described in my last visit</a>. Whilst far from gentle, I did not find it too bad this time, but there were plenty more to come! I stopped for a coffee at the only services (later correction: <i>The Cradle Forrest Inn</i> is also a possibility a bit further up the hill) between Devonport and Cradle Mt and had a decent rest and a top up of water. </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy_-PaVe-ACfg28YMHbcEtgSFk7TxdoH-e_kxqgSqWtb37Otd7aEbaP1uqCJSfS836AbAqH0-cCdAk8575aIyNXtQCqJCzNkqyBYCoLIG8VbHZ5rOcWljVyYcSK69OmUkDFc4SkdgcUaDHpN28Z36hgjqhOJp9NuZJO6n0n1IP0nNeLxvySxPQQLeryA/s4032/20220326_101052.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy_-PaVe-ACfg28YMHbcEtgSFk7TxdoH-e_kxqgSqWtb37Otd7aEbaP1uqCJSfS836AbAqH0-cCdAk8575aIyNXtQCqJCzNkqyBYCoLIG8VbHZ5rOcWljVyYcSK69OmUkDFc4SkdgcUaDHpN28Z36hgjqhOJp9NuZJO6n0n1IP0nNeLxvySxPQQLeryA/s320/20220326_101052.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Approaching the Highlands - Mt Roland</td></tr></tbody></table><br />The hills just after this village were very intense, a 14% incline in places and quite a slog up to Cradle. Finally the road levelled out a bit (relatively speaking) and the highlands scenary rather suddenly opened up like pealing back the top of a can of peaches. It's really pretty up here with stunted sub alpine trees, mosses and thick spongy grasses that you just want to lay down in. All so very green everywhere you look.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht7yyWrkNb53B6c9FAc5LqJkaQG67DFpkQvoy-GZawaeZAxEFJrt3Dq7ruhchowQgopm0NFPqrjGiRWFNeC2FHfk_L1oNUSfYPpfu9o8Ua7QC2lBZmLeTB7nBQNa01Vkeqz5KLlqNe3pk8nzlUfJJGpRC4U_sFOeYDcKbRqUBLEGsaRuu2Rb8gXkshIA/s4032/20220326_170834.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht7yyWrkNb53B6c9FAc5LqJkaQG67DFpkQvoy-GZawaeZAxEFJrt3Dq7ruhchowQgopm0NFPqrjGiRWFNeC2FHfk_L1oNUSfYPpfu9o8Ua7QC2lBZmLeTB7nBQNa01Vkeqz5KLlqNe3pk8nzlUfJJGpRC4U_sFOeYDcKbRqUBLEGsaRuu2Rb8gXkshIA/s320/20220326_170834.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>At Cradle Mountain I rode up to the visitor centre cafe and I stopped for a coffee and sandwich and made use of the only place I have had mobile reception since Devonport to let my wife know all is well. As was the case at a few places on this route they could only take cash at the time, some problem with their connection...take some cash in case.</p><p>I couldn't see where you could get free water here, I tried the bathrooms but there were warning signs over the taps indicating it was not tested, and it looked suspiciously brown. So instead I went to the tiny grocer at the camp site and paid a lot for bottled plastic..such an annoying shame. I needed enough for an overnight camp and probably at least a few hours the next day. Once all full, I moved on westward.</p><p>There was another very substantial and steep hill about 10km down the road and I was having bad asthma and had to stop 3 times to calm down my breathing. I took this as a sign it was time to stop and found a great spot to camp...still wheezing like crazy, the worst asthma I have had since a teenager.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihEbg_0CgomrrGFsDj-DoLSZD4Kmt81K9Gs1nIqp0b2lfwe7kBXhOjVvXWHHXpY5duQG_vdmBK06an1EAJv18j0B7znrOgV3EFs3x8fPFNMVj94VAaocRdJoy7hECUdYfAFLBiV4vvwS-QmL0cyBjdOpQypvAVhPPJzsW9sC77f1_u3ySk5PdjGQlCIQ/s4032/20220326_163734.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihEbg_0CgomrrGFsDj-DoLSZD4Kmt81K9Gs1nIqp0b2lfwe7kBXhOjVvXWHHXpY5duQG_vdmBK06an1EAJv18j0B7znrOgV3EFs3x8fPFNMVj94VAaocRdJoy7hECUdYfAFLBiV4vvwS-QmL0cyBjdOpQypvAVhPPJzsW9sC77f1_u3ySk5PdjGQlCIQ/s320/20220326_163734.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>My Garmin tells me this is my PB for meters gained [<i>later edit: not for long as it turned out</i>] and I can sure feel it. The old body is telling me that a big rest is needed overnight. A delicious dinner of freeze dry Mediterranean lamb washed down with an electrolyte drink followed while I watched the sun go down in perfect stillness and serenity...no one around, the only sounds my horrible breathing. But that was an amazing ride today!</p><p><b>Day 1 Summary:</b></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Distance:</b> 87.5km</li><li><b>Meters Gained: </b>1939m 😮</li></ul><p></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></p><br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="500" src="https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/embed/8559946504" title="Devonport Cycling" width="465"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5679728647745540631.post-81554985404362084402022-03-31T19:26:00.007-07:002022-03-31T21:20:36.181-07:00The Highlander - Day 0 - Departing Melbourne<p>It is always such a crazy scramble on the last few days of work just to get things lined up OK so I won't be worrying about it while away. But away I am! There is something really magical about riding out your front door without getting in a car...or even a plane.. and still feeling like you are off to see the world.</p><p>In this case, at least just for today, I am only riding to the Ferry terminal...but this feeling of adventure is there for sure.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8W5VN2BR02z2iAg3PPV0zPBmCXe1TPrZsUA9xQhv5PdbZ1enHNooCIpoqArsx5tj3tQmzRn8ydLCJ6-ny98H1ntohgp0ipGan-ZoXa_wVqL9qK2drXaEHRdvvVS5-bDRC5gckVsH_w4vjWPLhcT8bd3R4izgaQrioK6pzuG79QBQFS7A4GrYqgB4eEg/s4032/20220325_182315.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8W5VN2BR02z2iAg3PPV0zPBmCXe1TPrZsUA9xQhv5PdbZ1enHNooCIpoqArsx5tj3tQmzRn8ydLCJ6-ny98H1ntohgp0ipGan-ZoXa_wVqL9qK2drXaEHRdvvVS5-bDRC5gckVsH_w4vjWPLhcT8bd3R4izgaQrioK6pzuG79QBQFS7A4GrYqgB4eEg/s320/20220325_182315.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>It was a nice ride in, a little over 30kms and with a trip on the punt across the Yarra. The laden bike was getting a lot of attention from the cycle commuters on their way home from work, which is exactly how I normally use the punt myself. One passenger had just got back from a hiking trip in Tassie and was pretty concerned at my description of the route. As am I, becuase I have gone from the excited planning stage to the <b>omgwhatthehellareyoudoing</b> stage. I get this on every big ride and have learnt to recognise that the feeling is temporary. Once you get underway and get the first 100km done, the body takes over. The mild panic is there because with every adventure there are unknowns, and that is why it is an adventure in the first place!</p><p>Since my last big ride, the body is not so young now. I have an arthritic right knee that gets quite painful, and asthma has returned a bit...so I'll be managing these things whilst hopefully still having a really good crack at pushing myself.</p><p>I am on the spirit of Tasmania now which is an overnight sailing and docks in Devonport at the perfect time of 6.50am. After this, it will be a ride up the massive climb to Cradle Mt to get things started. Ouch. I have not done big hills for a few years so it will definitely be a challenge. Henceforth from this point on, I shall call this trip...The Highlander....Game on.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaLkQCAoGMDQ9vZRRyaQkeMrIQybUVBDc6R6gkHwK3LuGyMMHZQ-hmIi4Va-1wd5cbEsov6KIRsn3xY45kkH351pDCyTlUgavwgG506ZOXmYHTAplbx4TM1os9mrDpde6kX56YWrJEALEOjnb8pMhGxT9V7V4-LV3iipQVq44QKGZCJmmEWuiiWanghQ/s350/Connor_MacLeod%20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="246" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaLkQCAoGMDQ9vZRRyaQkeMrIQybUVBDc6R6gkHwK3LuGyMMHZQ-hmIi4Va-1wd5cbEsov6KIRsn3xY45kkH351pDCyTlUgavwgG506ZOXmYHTAplbx4TM1os9mrDpde6kX56YWrJEALEOjnb8pMhGxT9V7V4-LV3iipQVq44QKGZCJmmEWuiiWanghQ/s320/Connor_MacLeod%20.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p></p><p><b>Day 0 Summary:</b></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Distance:</b> 37km</li><li><b>Meters climbed:</b> 0</li></ul><p></p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5679728647745540631.post-61750316805196005512022-03-12T17:33:00.004-08:002022-03-13T07:51:12.159-07:00What happened next? Apart from Covid....<p> 2 full years have gone by since my last attempt at a decent cycling adventure. In that time, so much has happened, and so much has not happened! </p><p>Melbourne was not a great place to be in terms of restrictions during the peak of the pandemic, that was long and harsh here. The worst part for me was the "5km rule" where you were not allowed to be more than 5km from your house, and for no more than 2 hours of exercise. I did try and get creative, giving "suburbing" a go (Riding every single street in your suburb) which was very unexciting but about the only option. Mt fitness fell away as a result, until finally I got a lifeline indoor trainer to attach to a bike set up indoors...that helped me claw back fitness a bit.</p><p>I also contracted covid eventually myself, although I did not notice it much except for a return of childhood asthsma which only re-appears if I exercise very hard. Unfortunately that seems to happen more frequently now.</p><p>Anyway, the main reason for this post is that I finally have another trip planned! I am heading back to Tassie to take on a circuit of the highlands. Its the shoulder season there and I'll be crossing my fingers on the weather, but really looking forward to another adventure.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi4kYkdW1FUkMepkCnPopI-Fcn0E6m-QCheyp6kJ6rzYY5h93X9VQiajR2Fa5YHh1Aio-n7k8e_-XbYthXjZ43tJkyeU1dm_rnFDBKGbPq0DJO6r8foBzeN7Y06ma0aiGA7SLwij8Zia8wyi5bVZai4HejOkcKtz_3T33zfcln14eDG9sSSsmghHuKG0A=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi4kYkdW1FUkMepkCnPopI-Fcn0E6m-QCheyp6kJ6rzYY5h93X9VQiajR2Fa5YHh1Aio-n7k8e_-XbYthXjZ43tJkyeU1dm_rnFDBKGbPq0DJO6r8foBzeN7Y06ma0aiGA7SLwij8Zia8wyi5bVZai4HejOkcKtz_3T33zfcln14eDG9sSSsmghHuKG0A=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>This weekend, I had a practic run with an overnight ride to the nearest national park to home, with a pleasent nights camping. I did this bikepacking style, which was great...my only issue being not being able to carry enough water...there were no places to get it on this route. I'll re- think this set up for Tassie where there will also a be a few stetches where it is scarce, and I did not have much room spare for food...I may go with a more traditonal pannier touring set up I think.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi1khrjkuJwCr9gcRHXO0paAgTV5wgrGbe8pwkYk2o-7oIHDlOBV6pcJd4jXaMmmWIfBt6h70zPZxgCE8FkSLriau72jOoWkZNCXoD-5OqV9aOjUS5oYwfRyJBDUvbfC0RsbJzBMQOmOTvh5aZ8CxpRzO1dDmj0eT8T-kjFtP3JRCUINFcETUWe7qvOpg=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi1khrjkuJwCr9gcRHXO0paAgTV5wgrGbe8pwkYk2o-7oIHDlOBV6pcJd4jXaMmmWIfBt6h70zPZxgCE8FkSLriau72jOoWkZNCXoD-5OqV9aOjUS5oYwfRyJBDUvbfC0RsbJzBMQOmOTvh5aZ8CxpRzO1dDmj0eT8T-kjFtP3JRCUINFcETUWe7qvOpg=s320" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>It is great to be out and about again though, just magic....</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjkGwhJc4eYXY7IaAyArdx8jPQDZFm8wXnK-OpD__L_MrZzJXtIoHqt_C8J3BhMDl6NC22slOygOdfulqTm0BbwnyyFR7BCBL5UEyJ9itNWWauUzcngjGahfbQeBmS3d9iBKJJ0DrFmBgqp_e26qHeGagVAYOcbzOREpLGeHhYnvniC9Ka3T-a6DCYhmg=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjkGwhJc4eYXY7IaAyArdx8jPQDZFm8wXnK-OpD__L_MrZzJXtIoHqt_C8J3BhMDl6NC22slOygOdfulqTm0BbwnyyFR7BCBL5UEyJ9itNWWauUzcngjGahfbQeBmS3d9iBKJJ0DrFmBgqp_e26qHeGagVAYOcbzOREpLGeHhYnvniC9Ka3T-a6DCYhmg=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Next update: hopefully after Tassie!</p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5679728647745540631.post-3995541239444005032020-01-14T17:13:00.003-08:002022-03-31T23:35:27.718-07:00On some Adventures You Fail<div style="color: #212121; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
<b>Failure and Adventure</b></div>
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The two go hand in hand, I am certain. I say this because the whole idea of adventure is putting putting yourself out of your comfort zone.. you may train hard but the outcome is unknown...you may have done it before, but conditions must be perfect for success, or, something totally unpredictable crops up!<br />
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So anyway, for this adventure I had 5 days spare, so what better thing to do than my first short bike packing trip in arguably Australia's most stunningly beautiful state? The great thing about this route to Tasmania, is that I can ride out my front door and onto the ferry in just a few hours...with an overnight sailing you can be on the road early morning the next day. Once docked in Devonport it wasn't' long before I was riding out of town...there is a good bike path over the river then its quiet back roads but with not much of a shoulder. Within 10km I hit the first steep climb ominously called 'Gentle Annie' which was short and sharp...a theme that will permeate every day on this route. I later found out the hill got named from a local trying to get his horse down it...e.g "Woooah easy does it, gently Annie..."</div>
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I took a pit stop at the village of Wilmot. There is only a very basic store here, but they let you fill water bottles from a hose outside which is quality bore water. This is the last place you can get water before Cradle Mt, and its wise to get extra here as there are some very steep climbs from here. 14.4% at one point, according to my route planner. Get ready to work.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ride profile - Devonport to Cradle Mt</td></tr>
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Once up those you are on the plateau, and some of the best riding I've experienced anywhere. Open roads, beautiful lush forests and distant craggy peaks all abound...total heaven.</div>
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It was a short day today as I was not sure how I would cope with the climbing, 1700m up and I felt amazing despite some pain that comes with the territory. However I was about to discover this trip would fail...</div>
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Day 2 - Disaster</h2>
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There were not many options for early morning eating at Cradle Mountain so I munched on some muesli bars and drank as much water as I could in anticipation of a big day to Strahan. For this mini tour it was important to feel good still on day 2 after yesterdays 1700m climb, as I had much bigger days to come. Tassie at dawn... Just wow...and even more wow up on the alpine plateau. The air was dead still and a very familiar alpine mist amplified an unfortunately equally familiar haze of bush fire smoke... all the way from the mainland hundreds of km across Bass Strait. Nevertheless today was a mouth watering and thigh wrenching prospect for any keen cyclist, the road was dead quite this early ...and the land in the mood to strut its stuff.</div>
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About 10km west of Cradle I was feeling a vibration on the bike when pushing hard. Yesterday right at the end if the day I had felt it also and thought a spoke might have popped on the rear wheel but found nothing on inspection. This seemed to be getting worse. Hmm next town was a long way today, in fact only a village...I'd better stop and have a really good look.</div>
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Oh no. Game over. Trip over.</div>
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I had no mobile signal but Cradle Mt had amazing tourist facilities so I turned around and road back there standing only on the pedals and not using the seat in order to keep all weight off the crank and with my speed low, as a complete collapse of the frame looked likely.</div>
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Once eventually back at the centre it was time to eat humble pie and ask for help. I got directed to their transport expert Mel who works for <a href="https://mcdermotts.com.au/" target="_blank">McDermott's</a>. What an amazing women she had me sorted in no time, and way out of the bounds of expectation in her role. "We look after people at Cradle" she assured me, after validating I was genuine and not just under prepared, though still obviously an idiot.</div>
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She arranged a ride down the hill with one of her team members also going way out of his way to help for later that afternoon, so I had half a day to kill and did a great walk up to Marrions lookout, smokey but still stunning and got some great ideas for return trips with my wife.</div>
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The ride down to Devonport was entertaining thanks to great banter. In typical Tassie spirit he was both a driver, local farmer, and general mr fix anything guy. Far sooner than I'd wished for, and thanks to the immense generosity of others, I was back at the ferry...on my way home.</div>
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This time, I failed. I'm gutted because I wanted this challenge, hills and all, I was not riding in west Tassie in ignorance. But a snapped frame is just that. Tassie, <b>I will be back </b>(perhaps with a tougher bike..)</div>
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<b>A bit of info about the <a href="https://www.spiritoftasmania.com.au/" target="_blank">Spirit of Tasmania</a> Ferry for cyclists</b></div>
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The ferry connects Melbourne with Devonport, sailing overnight is a fantastic option for cyclists.</div>
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Bikes are an extra $20-$30 (depending on current fare offers) and when you book the option is available under 'vehicles'. You then choose how you want to sleep...</div>
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Its 45$ for a reclining chair or much more for a cabin. I took the recliner option and slept ok-ish. When you get to the terminal in Melbourne, join the slow moving car queue. The staff will then direct you on to a gangway on the side of the vessel. Take anything valuable off the bike, whilst access to the decks is not allowed during the sailing...a bike still could be a target for opportunists. You can get pretty good food on the boat, albeit overpriced.</div><div style="color: #212121; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="color: #212121; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>When boarding from Melbourne: </b>your bike is treated like a vehicle. E.g. join the vehicle queue and you are then directed to the passenger boarding entrance after security etc</div><div style="color: #212121; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>When boarding from Devonport: </b>your bike is treated like a passenger, join the passenger queue</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5679728647745540631.post-3379026626445945222019-11-05T22:37:00.002-08:002019-11-06T15:11:00.764-08:00Sydney to Brisbane - Trip Summary and InfoA quick reference guide here for anyone planning similar cycling adventures in Australia.<br />
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This was my 4th tour in this country, and just about the shortest as well as the most populated I've ridden through. So, it is the worst for traffic, but the easiest for distances between supply points and services.<br />
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As well as riding interstate for this tour, I had an additional goal of completing the <a href="https://greatcyclechallenge.com.au/Riders/DaegalBrain" target="_blank">Great Cycle Challenge Australia</a> for which I needed to ride 2000km in October in order to raise money for the Kids Cancer Charity. I ended up on 2080km in October which was on about day 4 of this tour.<br />
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<a href="https://greatcyclechallenge.com.au/Riders/DaegalBrain" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="246" data-original-width="336" height="234" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ryq0fi0gEvY/XcJrPqhJd0I/AAAAAAAAB1g/L19zrgRY4_0mygcGeA3EY7754S2LVkQBgCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/donate.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Gear</h3>
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I rode a Giant Contend, the same bike I commute with. I was not camping on this trip so really just carrying ample tools, food, water, rain jacket, sunblock,electronics and a few basic clothes. In November its already very warm in this area.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qryG_UY4IxM/XcJpLIllHaI/AAAAAAAAB1U/pvsIc1LBChU2qZVtOldWoKqJrU733HZ5gCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20191028_133802.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qryG_UY4IxM/XcJpLIllHaI/AAAAAAAAB1U/pvsIc1LBChU2qZVtOldWoKqJrU733HZ5gCNcBGAsYHQ/s400/20191028_133802.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Bianca' in Bikepacking mode</td></tr>
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<b>Key links:</b></h3>
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<a href="https://www.nswcoastcycle.com/">https://www.nswcoastcycle.com</a> - Trip planning</div>
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<a href="https://www.willyweather.com.au/">https://www.willyweather.com.au/</a> - Great Wind Forecasts</div>
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<a href="https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/fire-information/fires-near-me">https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/fire-information/fires-near-me</a> - Check this often!</div>
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<a href="http://www.bom.gov.au/australia/radar/">http://www.bom.gov.au/australia/radar/</a> Rain Radar Maps</div>
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<b>My Sydney to Brisbane Ride Summary:</b></h3>
The route I followed was similar to that on <a href="https://www.nswcoastcycle.com/">https://www.nswcoastcycle.com</a><br />
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Bondi to Lakes Entrance / <a href="https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/4225975625" target="_blank">Route Map</a> and <a href="https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/4225975709" target="_blank">also</a> / Distance: 97 km / 932 meters / <a href="http://bagelonabike.blogspot.com/2019/11/sydney-to-brisbane-day-2-lakes-entrance.html" target="_blank">Blog post</a></li>
<li>Lakes Entrance to Nelson Bay / <a href="https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/4225975788" target="_blank">Route Map</a> / Distance: 124 km / 648 meters / <a href="http://bagelonabike.blogspot.com/2019/11/sydney-to-brisbane-day-3-nelson-bay.html" target="_blank">Blog post</a></li>
<li>Nelson Bay to Forster / <a href="https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/4225975851" target="_blank">Route Map</a> / Distance: 112 km / 738 meters / <a href="http://bagelonabike.blogspot.com/2019/11/sydney-to-brisbane-day-4-forster.html" target="_blank">Blog post</a></li>
<li>Forster to Kempsey / <a href="https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/4225975922" target="_blank">Route Map</a> / Distance: 153 km / 852 meters / <a href="http://bagelonabike.blogspot.com/2019/11/sydney-to-brisbane-day-5-kempsey.html" target="_blank">Blog post</a></li>
<li>Kepsey to Coffs / <a href="https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/4225975922" target="_blank">Route Map</a> / Distance: 131 km / 842 meters / <a href="http://bagelonabike.blogspot.com/2019/11/sydney-to-brisbane-day-6-coffs-harbour.html" target="_blank">Blog post</a></li>
<li>Coffs to Yamba / <a href="https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/4225976056" target="_blank">Route Map</a> / Distance: 139 km / 681 meters / <a href="http://bagelonabike.blogspot.com/2019/11/sydney-to-brisbane-day-7-yamba.html" target="_blank">Blog post</a></li>
<li>Yamba to Ballina / <a href="https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/4225976115" target="_blank">Route Map</a> / Distance: 94 km / 251 meters / <a href="http://bagelonabike.blogspot.com/2019/11/sydney-to-brisbane-day-8-ballina.html" target="_blank">Blog post</a></li>
<li>Ballina to Gold Coast / <a href="https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/4225976207" target="_blank">Route Map</a> / Distance: 134 km / 722 meters / <a href="http://bagelonabike.blogspot.com/2019/11/sydney-to-brisbane-day-9-gold-coast.html" target="_blank">Blog post</a></li>
<li>Gold Coast to Brisbane / <a href="https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/4225976304" target="_blank">Route Map</a> /Distance: 106 km / 689 meters / <a href="http://bagelonabike.blogspot.com/2019/11/sydney-to-brisbane-day-10-brisbane.html" target="_blank">Blog post</a></li>
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Totals (includes cycling across southern Sydney, and GPS ran out of power twice)<br />
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<ul>
<li>Total Distance: <b>1097 km</b></li>
<li>Elevation Gain: <b>6516m</b></li>
<li>Ride Days: <b>9.5</b></li>
<li>Rest Days:<b> 1</b></li>
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<b>My Other Australian Tours:</b></h3>
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For other tours see:<br />
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<a href="http://bagelonabike.blogspot.com/2013/05/adelaide-to-melbourne-summary.html" target="_blank">Adelaide to Melbourne</a> Total Distance: <b>1,040 km</b>, Total Elevation Gain: <b>3792m</b><br />
<a href="http://bagelonabike.blogspot.com/2014/04/melbourne-to-sydney-tour-summary.html" target="_blank">Melbourne to Sydney </a> Total Distance: <b>1255 km</b>, Total Elevation Gain: <b>10289m</b><br />
<a href="http://bagelonabike.blogspot.com/2017/05/perth-to-adelaide-trip-summary.html" target="_blank">Perth to Adelaide</a> Total Distance: <b>3562 km</b>, Total Elevation Gain: <b>12371m</b><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5679728647745540631.post-33199017307791232562019-11-05T21:47:00.000-08:002019-11-06T13:21:55.563-08:00Sydney to Brisbane - Day 10 - Brisbane<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #201f1e;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">With a flight home now locked in, and freshly energised legs...it is time to finish this! I woke very wary of these gun ho thoughts. Entering or leaving a big city is always the most dangerous and least scenic part of a ride. In this case, it is one massive urban sprawl between Gold Coast and Brisbane. Experimenting with both Google and the Coastal trail route gave me a rough idea...but you cant plan for on the ground conditions...so frankly was not looking forward to this.</span></span></span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #201f1e; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe ui web" , "segoe ui" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">Initially out of the Gold Coast the route is OK as you can use waterways as a handrail without frequent navigation checks. But around the freeway it's so fiddly and again alternates between 'bike path ends' signs, footpaths and vaguely cycle friendly roads. Just north of Beenleigh the wind was going crazy with crazy violent shifts in direction that seemed to catch on Bianca's bags as if they were sails...the bike kept heaving sideways and this was unnerving tearing down Logan road at 60km/h!</span></span></span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe ui web (west european)" , "segoe ui" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">The positive to this was that these wild winds heralded a change and it was swinging to a southerly and a much appreciated tailwind! As you get closer to Brisbane the last 17ish km into the city is mostly fantastic...with a big wide path separated from traffic. It's not all connected yet but will be by 2020 according to signage.</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z24mrKm2OdU/XcJbhNZUB9I/AAAAAAAAB08/lC3y0rBNDIwEot2EslOsGaC91LkMtD8lgCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20191105_154639.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z24mrKm2OdU/XcJbhNZUB9I/AAAAAAAAB08/lC3y0rBNDIwEot2EslOsGaC91LkMtD8lgCNcBGAsYHQ/s400/20191105_154639.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe ui web (west european)" , "segoe ui" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">After getting through Fortitude valley, more roadworks, and loads of traffic I finally hit the home stretch on the airport approach.. adrenaline kicked in and the legs were pushing Bianca nice and fast...so feeling like king moron I hit record on my handle bar video cam...a few secs later... ptssssssssssshhhhhhh goes the front tire....and I came to a stop only about 1km from the terminal with my first puncture of the trip.</span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/GwEFKty8vuw/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GwEFKty8vuw?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #201f1e; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe ui web" , "segoe ui" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">Hahaha so the trip ended somewhat unglamourously with me walking the last km into the airport and getting 1 last magpie attack for good measure! Arriving at the airport I was totally drenched from effort and from riding in another hot day...my old knee injury pounding from a few 1000 km with not much rest. Strangely not a gram of elation until the plane home took off...then it hit, elation, but also a feeling of being really grateful for the support of many cool people, and fortunate to get to do the thing I love to do...ride my bike...</span></span></span><br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="500" src="https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/embed/4225976304" title="Sydney to Brisbane - Day 10 - Brisbane" width="465"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5679728647745540631.post-80360902883604117582019-11-05T21:31:00.002-08:002019-11-06T03:18:01.345-08:00Sydney to Brisbane - Day 9 - Gold Coast<span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe ui web (west european)" , "segoe ui" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">When cycling long distance in England...I remember a common occurrence being a quaint little village, steeped in history, always containing a very old church and a pub. In Australia, the common occurrence when going 'around the outside' is an epic, wild, and remote sandy beach. Between Ballina and Byron, there was a classic.</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zbKFAQORNDU/XcJYFtbr6pI/AAAAAAAAB0I/CVHrOTTyUpYWCUP2ILuUk9uF0K2RF6UsACNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_9691.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="223" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zbKFAQORNDU/XcJYFtbr6pI/AAAAAAAAB0I/CVHrOTTyUpYWCUP2ILuUk9uF0K2RF6UsACNcBGAsYHQ/s400/IMG_9691.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe ui web (west european)" , "segoe ui" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">The was some nice bushland between here and Byron, but the road is pretty tight (no room) and you need to stay alert. Once entering the town it doesn't take long to catch the vibe here...super chilled, hippy, surfing, creative people....I loved it immediately. There were some dark clouds offshore getting shunted inland on a punchy northerly, but still the main beach was kinda packed with people. It would have been fun to stay here longer but I felt if I stayed an hour that would easily turn into a week...and I still had a fair way to cycle.</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8crnlqBaIuY/XcJY3tdrBXI/AAAAAAAAB0U/oMxcc2ex0eMvM5oI7pNsIH07Yz9KkRxCACNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20191103_090409.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8crnlqBaIuY/XcJY3tdrBXI/AAAAAAAAB0U/oMxcc2ex0eMvM5oI7pNsIH07Yz9KkRxCACNcBGAsYHQ/s400/20191103_090409.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe ui web (west european)" , "segoe ui" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe ui web (west european)" , "segoe ui" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">There was a lot of traffic around town and it felt bad to leave, but great to be on quieter roads. After a hairy highway crossing I got onto Wooyung road which traversed beautiful sugar cane fields punching directly east away from the freeway and towards the wild coast. Once again, the coastal afternoon northerly was strutting its stuff and nothing was easy. Upon hitting the coast I turned off for a pit stop on yet another massive white sandy beach. At first I thought no one was around until I realised a couple were enjoying themselves and their privacy about 100m away....good on them it was an amazing spot for it.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KmeYd_4bJeI/XcJZQdmkyzI/AAAAAAAAB0c/7B17tcSfJ8cPjfkLxh4JUqXjUTFlcx8ZwCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20191103_110936.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KmeYd_4bJeI/XcJZQdmkyzI/AAAAAAAAB0c/7B17tcSfJ8cPjfkLxh4JUqXjUTFlcx8ZwCNcBGAsYHQ/s400/20191103_110936.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another massive beach...south of Pottsville</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe ui web (west european)" , "segoe ui" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">The town of Pottsville was not far ahead but it was a bit of a push into the wind and I was yet again drenched with the effort and dehydrated on arrival. Thankfully there are fantastic cafes here and friendly people abound.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe ui web (west european)" , "segoe ui" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">North of here it was hard to distinguish bike path from footpath...because well, they are one in the same. Navigation was fiddly and the riding slow. My fault entirely for failing totally to have a slow itinerary. I did get the bonus of an extra hour as the clocks went back crossing into Queensland, the 4th Aussie state border on my bike! From Coolingatta you can see the hulking skyscrapers of the Gold Coast across the bay to the north. They look out of place....like an alien invasion. I guess that because that is exactly what they are...and yet still pretty spectacular I suppose.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rD2w24bVMnY/XcJZ5wh42hI/AAAAAAAAB0o/aqbL4vXUHC8RqxU4hz25lFHsgs5WecvrgCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20191103_135009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rD2w24bVMnY/XcJZ5wh42hI/AAAAAAAAB0o/aqbL4vXUHC8RqxU4hz25lFHsgs5WecvrgCNcBGAsYHQ/s400/20191103_135009.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gold Coast on the far horizon</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe ui web (west european)" , "segoe ui" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">It was nice to see my goal for the day, not so nice to see it at least 20km direct line of sight. The bike paths in Queensland have some quirks. The craziest of which is just short of Gold Coast from the south, where there is a one way street for cars but with a bi-directional bike path squeezed on the right hand side. I couldn't have the gumption to actually use this path until I saw other cyclists going different directions up the one way street.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe ui web (west european)" , "segoe ui" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe ui web (west european)" , "segoe ui" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">The Gold Coast us a crazy place that makes its own laws...I suppose. All I knew is that I was smashed when I got here and needed a rest. The NSW Coastal Cycle path plan takes 4 days to cover what I did just did today, so, I took a day off and did very little beyond walking and eating.</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qyik6KnOesw/XcJaV_x8KaI/AAAAAAAAB0w/SeEzgrZdokkGuMchJFXSYZri3kcKwZ5YwCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_0260.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="223" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qyik6KnOesw/XcJaV_x8KaI/AAAAAAAAB0w/SeEzgrZdokkGuMchJFXSYZri3kcKwZ5YwCNcBGAsYHQ/s400/IMG_0260.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="500" src="https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/embed/4225976207" title="Sydney to Brisbane - Day 9 - Gold Coast" width="465"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5679728647745540631.post-71387613889243836082019-11-05T21:14:00.003-08:002019-11-06T03:07:03.526-08:00Sydney to Brisbane - Day 8 - Ballina<span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe ui web (west european)" , "segoe ui" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">A forced late start this morning as I was taking the first ferry to Iluka at 9.30am. In fact this may be the only option for cyclists at the moment as there were signs on the freeway forcing cyclists off it on the approach to Yamba.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe ui web (west european)" , "segoe ui" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">The heavens opened briefly in quite a heavy shower but it was over in 20 minutes. Hopefully the rain has eased stress on the local fire service. I had plenty of time for a good breakfast and enjoyed relaxing by the river waiting for the boat.</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--oewaDHopww/XcJVpuTiPSI/AAAAAAAABzU/xCrkSgoIK-cEAHso5CJ8fkJFUtlG_hQlQCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20191102_092007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--oewaDHopww/XcJVpuTiPSI/AAAAAAAABzU/xCrkSgoIK-cEAHso5CJ8fkJFUtlG_hQlQCNcBGAsYHQ/s400/20191102_092007.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe ui web (west european)" , "segoe ui" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe ui web (west european)" , "segoe ui" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">There was a boy in wheelchair who had cerebral palsy and was clearly super excited to go on the boat...the crew all knew him and he was treated like royalty..awesome work from his accompanying Dad.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe ui web (west european)" , "segoe ui" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">Its a gentle cruise as the fairly slow boat has a complex route around mangroves, sandbars and rock walls...and very pleasant way to pass the time as I watched a seagull skillfully surf the cushion of air in front of the bow..with not a care in the world. The website for the NSW coastal cycle warned about the road ahead today...and so when we docked at Iluka I was very reluctant indeed to get going.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe ui web (west european)" , "segoe ui" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">First up things were great, the rural road east is quite tight for space but is lovely riding through the bush. Apparently there are emu's here, but I wasn't lucky enough to spot one. Once hitting the highway...things rapidly turned to custard. Massive works are ongoing here on the upgrade. Both the northbound and southbound traffic was funneled into 2 narrow lanes with nothing separating them and an 80km speed limit. There was a patchy shoulder usually less than a foot wide and often with loose stones and debris. Total death trap I believe..but there is no detour around this. To makes things worse, the northerly kicked in here as well, and I don't like having low speeds in situations like this because you can be exposed in blind spots longer, such as on a crest.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe ui web (west european)" , "segoe ui" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">Occasional passing bays were the only relief...I just hoped the works were not this bad the whole way, but they were...all 30ish km to Woodburn.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe ui web (west european)" , "segoe ui" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">In the town I felt beaten from concentrating on watching my rear mirror. This kind of cycling is too risky for me...I don't think I would have done this tour knowing this information. Sitting outside a cafe utterly deflated and scared, 3 different groups of people came up to ask what I was doing. "<i>Don't you think this is dangerous?</i>" ummm...<b>Yes</b>. "<i>You could get killed?</i>" ...<b>yup</b>. One Dutch(?) guy actually offered to give me a lift. The interaction that really got to me though was a story a local told me about how she nearly killed a cyclist when she came barreling round a blind corner on a rural road that she knew 'like the back of my hand' at 110km/h. After screaming to a stop behind him apparently he wasn't very impressed and things got heated...she then said something about him being lucky she didn't set his dogs on him. I'm still not sure why she felt the the need to stop and tell this story to a stranger, but it wasn't out of kindness this time.</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CEOh6dR4DnQ/XcJWap2yRwI/AAAAAAAABz0/jNfsES7uVZYllA5sGGYPqrHpK_J9sLvAgCEwYBhgL/s1600/20191102_144331.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CEOh6dR4DnQ/XcJWap2yRwI/AAAAAAAABz0/jNfsES7uVZYllA5sGGYPqrHpK_J9sLvAgCEwYBhgL/s400/20191102_144331.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kpbBgumEGHM/XcJWarMhgnI/AAAAAAAABzw/cEaHO-TnpqwB6AdBOAqI0p6uBJRSGi4bwCEwYBhgL/s1600/20191102_145033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kpbBgumEGHM/XcJWarMhgnI/AAAAAAAABzw/cEaHO-TnpqwB6AdBOAqI0p6uBJRSGi4bwCEwYBhgL/s400/20191102_145033.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe ui web (west european)" , "segoe ui" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe ui web (west european)" , "segoe ui" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">North of Woodend the road is also pretty hairy, thankfully there is an option to get off the highway here along River Drive and then using another ferry to connect to Ballina. Its exposed to the wind...but safe, albeit a </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-size: 15px;"> touch wind/sun burnt. It was a massive relief to get to Ballina otherwise in one piece. I had a good chat to my wife and felt better afterwards, without going into too much detail on what had transpired today playing in traffic.</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h7lZZEPCh64/XcJWYa8sh-I/AAAAAAAABzs/inpI3B8fjBUkeFWMT1qsNEYpC6T-z_hbACEwYBhgL/s1600/20191102_145045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h7lZZEPCh64/XcJWYa8sh-I/AAAAAAAABzs/inpI3B8fjBUkeFWMT1qsNEYpC6T-z_hbACEwYBhgL/s400/20191102_145045.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe ui web (west european)" , "segoe ui" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">Ballina is effectively an island, and a wonderful spot even if the area has a more bogan feel too it. Tomorrow is a new day...there are some amazing bike paths to ride on, and hopefully no more highway roadworks!</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G2AZUXsuB34/XcJWebe2qjI/AAAAAAAABz4/WgYHVTi_a-ATJurBFEmtl5vn1kwlywLhgCEwYBhgL/s1600/20191102_185905.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G2AZUXsuB34/XcJWebe2qjI/AAAAAAAABz4/WgYHVTi_a-ATJurBFEmtl5vn1kwlywLhgCEwYBhgL/s400/20191102_185905.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe ui web (west european)" , "segoe ui" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span>
<iframe frameborder="0" height="500" src="https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/embed/4225976115" title="Sydney to Brisbane - Day 8 - Ballina" width="465"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5679728647745540631.post-5633509519396309862019-11-05T21:06:00.001-08:002019-11-06T02:58:57.961-08:00Sydney to Brisbane - Day 7 - Yamba<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe ui web (west european)" , "segoe ui" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">What a crazy day this turned out to be!! I had a much bigger feed than normal before getting started today (normally just a banana and a coffee) as it looked like there could be a bit of distance between services. Also I was turning the pedals at 6.20am to try and beat the heavy traffic at Coffs, it was crazy busy yesterday. There is a steep climb first up, with some very hairy sections of road with very little space. Maybe the downside of my early start was that most of the traffic seemed to be trucks.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe ui web (west european)" , "segoe ui" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">After cresting one of the hills I was zooming fairly quickly down the other side and heard the roar of both truck engines and braking...I have a small rear view mirror mounted which has saved my ass many times...and again it did here. 2 big rigs side by side were looming and there was very little shoulder. The truck closest to me couldn't manoeuvre as it had another truck right next to it, but it was trying to slow down. With no time to think at all there was a sharp left turn approaching and I pulled off some freakish breaking turn as the steel monster thundered past. It wasn't 'near death' or anything, there <i>could</i> have been enough room for them both to pass...but <b>rule #1</b> with riding long distance in Australia is to get the hell out the way when more than 1 truck is passing!</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe ui web (west european)" , "segoe ui" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">Incidentally, <b>Rule #2</b> is that a rear view mirror is your most important piece of safety equipment... more so than a helmet for long distance riding.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #201f1e; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe ui web" , "segoe ui" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">The road widened right up just a few km further on...and there was plenty of room for everyone! Up in the distance I could see a heavily laden touring bike powering up the hill...its always amazing to meet someone like minded...Ben was on day 70 of an epic from Perth, making my own ride seem like a jaunt to the shops and back. It was a good laughing & talking with him and swapping a few road stories...he was only a few days from home. </span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H9QPZ3je2B0/XcJR5oLbsJI/AAAAAAAAByk/6G4o_u2abDMkukRzcIzMR1CqSBRYCB84QCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20191101_072330.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H9QPZ3je2B0/XcJR5oLbsJI/AAAAAAAAByk/6G4o_u2abDMkukRzcIzMR1CqSBRYCB84QCNcBGAsYHQ/s400/20191101_072330.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bianca made a friend</td></tr>
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<br style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-size: 15px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-size: 15px;">After riding together for a a while we parted ways at a servo...he was doing some roadside first aid after standing on a tent peg this morning. Ahh the glamour of cycle touring....first aid at a Petrol Station.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #201f1e; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe ui web" , "segoe ui" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">Onward I went...grateful for topping up water as there really is nothing north of Woolgoolga. South of Grafton there are massive roadworks and all bicycles have to take the old highway. The tarmac is rough here but totally empty of cars. I bumped into this Wild Horse which had a young foal in the bush on the other side of the road. </span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-niufUezGZ4E/XcJShg7r8MI/AAAAAAAABys/XtfY8S5dsDImfEzCC5ikn_ppWsxx8vEqwCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20191101_085848.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-niufUezGZ4E/XcJShg7r8MI/AAAAAAAABys/XtfY8S5dsDImfEzCC5ikn_ppWsxx8vEqwCNcBGAsYHQ/s400/20191101_085848.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Horsey!</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe ui web (west european)" , "segoe ui" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">It took a while to get past these awesome </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe ui web (west european)" , "segoe ui" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">animals...the foal kept moving away from mum and towards the freeway whenever I moved. Also saw a large Roo here as well as the biggest snake I have ever seen....the thing was huge...it was roadkill...hate to see what happened to the vehicle that hit it.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe ui web (west european)" , "segoe ui" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe ui web (west european)" , "segoe ui" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">Anyway, t</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe ui web (west european)" , "segoe ui" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">he route to Yamba got a little fiddly here...but went down some cool back roads like these:</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--prLf1V8AzU/XcJS5iEWPaI/AAAAAAAABy0/EXVKVh0YIhQUD7QwCfTR5gayv4uDXVNwwCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20191101_095007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--prLf1V8AzU/XcJS5iEWPaI/AAAAAAAABy0/EXVKVh0YIhQUD7QwCfTR5gayv4uDXVNwwCNcBGAsYHQ/s400/20191101_095007.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
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<br style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe ui web (west european)" , "segoe ui" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">This also turned out to be Home of The Birds...I got swooped and helmet pecked no less than 4 times in one area by Magpies. Unfortunately I don't know how to whistle 'I mean you no harm' in bird language while the birdy mums protect their young.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe ui web (west european)" , "segoe ui" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">By the time I got back to the highway it had been 90ish km without a break and I was very hungry...like a beacon from the very heavens...near Tyndale, a bakery called 'Plantation Organic' appeared...and the food there is very yummy.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe ui web (west european)" , "segoe ui" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">I got chatting to a couple who were on a "running holiday' with their toddler. Super friendly people and they had a few quick stories about their own adventures.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe ui web (west european)" , "segoe ui" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">From here it was 30km into Yamba, and into an increasing NW headwind. The road here is not good for cyclists...take great care. But of course I always get there eventually.</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kSlAbfzdEuA/XcJT-nZF8TI/AAAAAAAABzE/CO_vPOEDtlIiA68YCdrJo3LyTryaIkD1wCEwYBhgL/s1600/20191101_145114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kSlAbfzdEuA/XcJT-nZF8TI/AAAAAAAABzE/CO_vPOEDtlIiA68YCdrJo3LyTryaIkD1wCEwYBhgL/s400/20191101_145114.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe ui web (west european)" , "segoe ui" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">Yamba is a wonderful town...stunning wild beaches and a sort of artisan natural feel to the shops and homes, it is surely a brilliant place to live in.</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PQwN-TqC2wI/XcJUr1r_KRI/AAAAAAAABzI/E01y4___Wn0smP2aI9KQrxjjzECZYbDIACNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20191101_144345.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PQwN-TqC2wI/XcJUr1r_KRI/AAAAAAAABzI/E01y4___Wn0smP2aI9KQrxjjzECZYbDIACNcBGAsYHQ/s400/20191101_144345.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="500" src="https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/embed/4225976056" title="Sydney to Brisbane - Day 7 - Yamba" width="465"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5679728647745540631.post-87680168896942653692019-11-05T20:35:00.001-08:002019-11-06T02:50:51.765-08:00Sydney to Brisbane - Day 6 - Coffs Harbour<span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe ui web (west european)" , "segoe ui" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">Kempsey wasn't the most glamorous town I have passed through. It was not possible to find anything for dinner that was not fast food, despite having a good walk around. The town had clearly fallen on harder times, with many boarded up businesses. Since most of the accommodation was booked up, I wondered what all the other visitors were eating, apparently many were fire crews and I'd imagine they'd want to eat well.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe ui web (west european)" , "segoe ui" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">Anyway I got cracking at 7am and had a good solid push all the way to Macksville, about 50km. It was on the freeway again, and still very smokey...but quick miles. At Macksville there was 1 excellent coffee shop and I enjoyed sitting in the sunshine at the front, with a delicious brew.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe ui web (west european)" , "segoe ui" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">After that it was a relatively short hop to Nambucca Heads, using a combination of rural roads and bike paths. The roads were narrow and hairy...so grateful to get off them. Nambucca Heads is stunning, rugged mangroves, perfect golden sand, and stormy winds. It is worth the short but steep climb to the various lookout's. Amazing how much smoke is around still...even here on the coast.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vJ-JgJJ5poo/XcJMVbVg-iI/AAAAAAAAByE/980tbR_b1EE_SlwnE_oFg8iftvCXOnOGwCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20191031_101217.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vJ-JgJJ5poo/XcJMVbVg-iI/AAAAAAAAByE/980tbR_b1EE_SlwnE_oFg8iftvCXOnOGwCNcBGAsYHQ/s400/20191031_101217.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nambucca Heads in Smoke Haze</td></tr>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lF10aTKsQl8/XcJMshGvUhI/AAAAAAAAByM/1bxv3j_Ym-8BzHWKnnQpUfUgvh1nbYGGQCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20191031_101958.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lF10aTKsQl8/XcJMshGvUhI/AAAAAAAAByM/1bxv3j_Ym-8BzHWKnnQpUfUgvh1nbYGGQCNcBGAsYHQ/s400/20191031_101958.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe ui web (west european)" , "segoe ui" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe ui web (west european)" , "segoe ui" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">From here I took Glinagey Way, a rural B road which hugs the freeway north. The shoulder is not great here and I personally believe the freeway is safer...but admittedly the scenery is much better here!</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe ui web (west european)" , "segoe ui" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">Once in Urunga, I was a bit ragged and looking for shortcuts that were not really there, to get to Coffs. The better option is the suggested looping <a href="https://www.nswcoastcycle.com/coffs-urunga/" target="_blank">41km on the coastal trail</a> but this road was closed because of fires. So I just had to push on. Even a fairly big town like Coff's had amazing beaches.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HQHxyBtiJsY/XcJN9xs4wdI/AAAAAAAAByY/WW4qN-bexC8HNITcrSylGAeRPb9Qf8HngCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20191031_141425.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HQHxyBtiJsY/XcJN9xs4wdI/AAAAAAAAByY/WW4qN-bexC8HNITcrSylGAeRPb9Qf8HngCNcBGAsYHQ/s400/20191031_141425.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coffs Harbour</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe ui web (west european)" , "segoe ui" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe ui web (west european)" , "segoe ui" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">Tonight I washed my cycle gear as I've started getting saddle sores...a good Indian Meal and a good sleep will hopefully encourage a strong day pushing pedals tomorrow.</span><br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="500" src="https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/embed/4225975981" title="Sydney to Brisbane - Day 6 - Coffs Harbour" width="465"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5679728647745540631.post-66927287155650523372019-11-05T19:00:00.000-08:002019-11-06T02:47:25.919-08:00Sydney to Brisbane - Day 5 - Kempsey<span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe ui web (west european)" , "segoe ui" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">Over a good meal last night and some online research it seemed the road north out of town had reopened and although a large fire was still burning close to the town, it was not threatening the route. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe ui web (west european)" , "segoe ui" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9tIR-_Ey7No/XcI2D3Ej5bI/AAAAAAAABxY/IH0HzN-VLiIRWG9G_hbnyF-CRCrdsnbbQCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20191029_184431.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9tIR-_Ey7No/XcI2D3Ej5bI/AAAAAAAABxY/IH0HzN-VLiIRWG9G_hbnyF-CRCrdsnbbQCNcBGAsYHQ/s400/20191029_184431.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sunset at Forster, unable to get through the smoke</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe ui web (west european)" , "segoe ui" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">I packed up Bianca and was on the road before 7 this morning.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe ui web (west european)" , "segoe ui" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">Originally I was planning to head into Port MacQuarie via rural roads recommended by the <a href="https://www.nswcoastcycle.com/" target="_blank">NSW Coastal Cycle trail</a>. Problems is, there were 2 other large fires out of control East and South of the city. Risk, and road closures forced my hand to take the highway option.</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n8Ovcnek9Jc/XcI2m_r6fiI/AAAAAAAABxo/4IOtrvhRgVEZMpxbHt8vyIZWxYDGW0NkgCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20191030_065341.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n8Ovcnek9Jc/XcI2m_r6fiI/AAAAAAAABxo/4IOtrvhRgVEZMpxbHt8vyIZWxYDGW0NkgCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/20191030_065341.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4T7b4rluau4/XcI2j5SF31I/AAAAAAAABxk/LNubrzwBOfg6SvxTyOqwfee7iSxSGSWUgCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20191030_065346.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4T7b4rluau4/XcI2j5SF31I/AAAAAAAABxk/LNubrzwBOfg6SvxTyOqwfee7iSxSGSWUgCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/20191030_065346.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe ui web (west european)" , "segoe ui" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">This also was not easy. Thick smoke blanketed the road and the ground was still smoldering just off the side of the road. My photos don't do it justice, I just wanted to get through as fast as possible...the main problem was breathing in the smoke, a NW headwind was blowing it all right at me. [and I later found out experienced as far south as Sydney].</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe ui web (west european)" , "segoe ui" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">Once on the highway, the smoke thinned a little before I got close to another cluster of fires near Port MacQuarie. At Johns River I took a break at a gorgeous cafe there. One staff member told me god was punishing us. The other busied herself with minor tasks, clearly a bit rattled. The nearest blaze was 16km away but the cafe remained open. I saw constant fire trucks and aircraft...folks with a tough job trying their best to protect other folks like the locals in the cafe.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bfspnOcf11M/XcI2_pD1KCI/AAAAAAAABx4/h0qvn91UDws95v9OJmiYgLOBLtLw2It-gCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20191101_162516.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1422" data-original-width="1600" height="355" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bfspnOcf11M/XcI2_pD1KCI/AAAAAAAABx4/h0qvn91UDws95v9OJmiYgLOBLtLw2It-gCNcBGAsYHQ/s400/20191101_162516.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not robbing the cafe....it was for the smoke</td></tr>
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<br style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #201f1e; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe ui web" , "segoe ui" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">Using a scarf over my face helped a little. I thought once I got past the turn off for the Port the NW headwind would push the smoke away and the turnoff was not far. There were no flames near the roads which remained open. So onward!</span></span></span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe ui web (west european)" , "segoe ui" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">This was good motivation to ride hard. I ended up at Kempsey with 151km done by 2pm...a good run! I fell asleep within minutes of sitting down at my accommodation.</span><br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="500" src="https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/embed/4225975922" title="Sydney to Brisbane - Day 5 - Kempsey" width="465"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5679728647745540631.post-19888715228318416802019-11-05T18:50:00.000-08:002019-11-06T14:46:14.968-08:00Sydney to Brisbane - Day 4 - Forster<span style="color: #201f1e;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px;">There was no 8.30am morning ferry running this morning over to the oddly named town of Tea Gardens on the other side of the water, so I had till 11am to relax and refuel. I took the opportunity to wash and dry my cycling shorts...no doubt my butt will be very grateful (salt build up will encourage saddle sores...no thanks!) The harbour area is really pretty here, although I noticed a lot of haze to the north...and could smell bushfires.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ToycLHQ4rac/XcIxxfNILdI/AAAAAAAABwo/rpkaGD8kGp0sipQiNGKDBPaP7eIxPrGDwCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20191029_105707.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ToycLHQ4rac/XcIxxfNILdI/AAAAAAAABwo/rpkaGD8kGp0sipQiNGKDBPaP7eIxPrGDwCNcBGAsYHQ/s400/20191029_105707.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #201f1e;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px;">Bianca was secured on the roof of the boat, and I was off. Its an hour crossing here and this is one you need to <a href="https://portstephensferryservice.com.au/timetable-fares/" target="_blank">plan ahead and book</a>.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9dCA6YCTE6E/XcIxf9OVvFI/AAAAAAAABwg/Ozcdj8jvm_YGBnlBNZw01Bqcp8f3eNZ9gCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20191029_111138.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9dCA6YCTE6E/XcIxf9OVvFI/AAAAAAAABwg/Ozcdj8jvm_YGBnlBNZw01Bqcp8f3eNZ9gCNcBGAsYHQ/s400/20191029_111138.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #201f1e;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px;">For me this meant I would not be cycling till after 12pm and there are afternoon headwinds forecast. So, a shorter day was on the cards...maybe I will be able to get going very early tomorrow. After disembarking at Tea Gardens (yeah that really is the name of the place) I had a little explore out on the Western Coast. The wind was really picking up here and Bianca got blown over while I was taking this shot North:</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QHr-xKmvzFs/XcIzOfZQpiI/AAAAAAAABw0/hkAQZMKM0601kr__qeZ8Kk4CMifACjh8QCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20191029_123751.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QHr-xKmvzFs/XcIzOfZQpiI/AAAAAAAABw0/hkAQZMKM0601kr__qeZ8Kk4CMifACjh8QCNcBGAsYHQ/s400/20191029_123751.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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But I managed to keep my pants on....</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eQe_Ce8Coqc/XcIzaKPjTjI/AAAAAAAABw4/-uigl9UqZDwR17GUonULjiYS3CrOjgADACNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20191029_123934.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eQe_Ce8Coqc/XcIzaKPjTjI/AAAAAAAABw4/-uigl9UqZDwR17GUonULjiYS3CrOjgADACNcBGAsYHQ/s400/20191029_123934.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This does not mean, what you think it means</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #201f1e;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px;">I road up to Bombah point on the beautiful and quiet sealed road, but into a strong northerly...as described here from some cam footage</span></span><br />
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<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/7za97uWZw8o/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7za97uWZw8o?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
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<span style="color: #201f1e;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px;">Here there are 2 options: Either 22km up a dirt track to seal rocks, or take the Bombah ferry ferry crossing followed by a much longer round route north, but probably on much better roads. All enquiries I had made previously indicated the dirt road to seal rocks was very rough, even for MTB's...so I took the Bombah ferry option.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v1YiIkSKV0A/XcIz_UtSMnI/AAAAAAAABxE/eUebNQPWFNsD2KlEIbkE64W_pMj1EDyYACNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20191029_134839.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v1YiIkSKV0A/XcIz_UtSMnI/AAAAAAAABxE/eUebNQPWFNsD2KlEIbkE64W_pMj1EDyYACNcBGAsYHQ/s400/20191029_134839.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bombah Crossing</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #201f1e;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px;">Its a very short winch ferry situated in beautiful mangroves. No timetable...operates on demand and a bike will cost you the grand sum of $2. On the other side I had not managed to learn much info about the road, and found it quickly became unsealed, with a few corrugations in places...but OK on thin tyres...and for about 5km before becoming sealed again.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #201f1e;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px;">At the village of Bulahdelah, I stopped, very thirsty at its lone shop to get more water. A friendly old chap took a great deal of interest in the bike, in fact I was unable to steer the conversation any other way...I guess life takes a different pace in Bulahdelah. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-size: 15px;">Resupply turned out to be wise. Turning onto Scenic highway 6 there was a significant climb and by the time I'd pounded to the top, I was utterly dripping and immediately wishing I'd taken another water bottle or two. This is a beautiful forest, however keep your wits riding, the shoulder is poor.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #201f1e;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px;">There is a very small village at a place called Bungwahl, with 1 shop and a huge relief to get another cold drink...I wasn't in a good state here! Took a gel to get through the final leg into Forster.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #201f1e;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px;">This section of the road was amazing, especially in the Booti Booti national park area.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2XIP96P0ILQ/XcI0hz-qyZI/AAAAAAAABxM/LwhpRa4PX-cwxyOBOZMEI_LRwtO5tdGCACNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20191029_171729.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2XIP96P0ILQ/XcI0hz-qyZI/AAAAAAAABxM/LwhpRa4PX-cwxyOBOZMEI_LRwtO5tdGCACNcBGAsYHQ/s400/20191029_171729.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #201f1e;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px;">Due to the very late start the sun was going down and I really had to push to get to Forster before dark. The air here was thick with smoke as well, from a very large bush fire still burning just north of town. I have learnt to always check the state fire alert websites in Australia, plus this one was all over the news...so the fire wasn't a surprise. The volume of smoke however, was a surprise. There was a chance I'd be in Forster a while till things settled down. Lets see what tomorrow brings.</span></span><br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="500" src="https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/embed/4225975851" title="Sydney to Brisbane - Day 4 - Forster" width="465"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5679728647745540631.post-4017043099886110522019-11-05T16:33:00.005-08:002019-11-06T02:36:27.629-08:00Sydney to Brisbane - Day 3 - Nelson Bay<span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe ui web (west european)" , "segoe ui" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">I got going just after 7am this morning after a light breakfast. It was a beautiful morning, clear sky's and no wind.. should be a cracker! On the other side of town after crossing the bridge over the harbor entrance, a good bike path follows the lake shore for a short while so I took that to warm up.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe ui web (west european)" , "segoe ui" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">The path didn't last long but the road at least had a bit of a shoulder. There was plenty of traffic. Bianca has been making some horrible creaking noises and there is a vibration coming from the crank, so I had scouted out a bike shop to get her checked out...a slight detour of a extra few kms. <a href="http://hadleycycles.com.au/" target="_blank">Hadly cycles</a> were amazing...the mechanic stopped what he had been doing and took a look her. It turned out just to be some bolts on the crank that were loose...the two I had not checked of course....duh...</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe ui web (west european)" , "segoe ui" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">With that all sorted I was back on my way and rejoined the route at a sensational railway incline bike path that connects up with the southern part of Newcastle. Whether in a hurry or not, take this route as it is both very beautiful but also quick if you are that way inclined.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SBjulOHGkCE/XcITMf6a7AI/AAAAAAAABwA/ojPpUU7H77k-xvGtyu2NgAwQVb_c2mIVwCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20191028_094251.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SBjulOHGkCE/XcITMf6a7AI/AAAAAAAABwA/ojPpUU7H77k-xvGtyu2NgAwQVb_c2mIVwCNcBGAsYHQ/s400/20191028_094251.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Fernleigh trail</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe ui web (west european)" , "segoe ui" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe ui web (west european)" , "segoe ui" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">I stopped midway here as I ran into another cyclist who'd had a breakdown. there were inner tubes and co2 canisters all over the place but all he needed was a pump and he was grateful for the assist. He warned me of bogan traffic in Newcastle.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe ui web (west european)" , "segoe ui" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D-DDUjjxNcw/XcIUENwArgI/AAAAAAAABwM/49TsmVrfgokqoAmJhrB6Civ4XvY95nvkACNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20191028_104332.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D-DDUjjxNcw/XcIUENwArgI/AAAAAAAABwM/49TsmVrfgokqoAmJhrB6Civ4XvY95nvkACNcBGAsYHQ/s400/20191028_104332.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Newcastle</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe ui web (west european)" , "segoe ui" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">Once in town I made the foolish decision to climb the hill over the harbour at Newcastle....shes a steep one!! But I was feeling strong today and enjoyed it. After that and a bite to eat I jumped on the short ferry trip across the harbour...this one seemed to run every 20mins or so, no planning required.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ycaNl2eHRws/XcIUfs3fYmI/AAAAAAAABwU/QIt3f4XeYCccat3QC5SJyBwDzXm1AegOQCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20191028_133802.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ycaNl2eHRws/XcIUfs3fYmI/AAAAAAAABwU/QIt3f4XeYCccat3QC5SJyBwDzXm1AegOQCNcBGAsYHQ/s400/20191028_133802.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bianca...isn't she pretty?</td></tr>
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<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe ui web (west european)" , "segoe ui" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">With roughly 40km to go, it was a mix of conditions on a busy road but an ok shoulder most of the time, just a lot of debris on it from the hot winds a few days prior. I took marsh road once closer to Nelson Bay, this is quiet and a good ride.(Note: no water here).</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe ui web (west european)" , "segoe ui" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">There are a couple of small but very steep hills just as you hit Nelson Bay. Great day! I felt really strong today and probably should have kept going had I checked the ferry situation more carefully.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe ui web (west european)" , "segoe ui" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span>
<iframe frameborder="0" height="500" src="https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/embed/4225975788" title="Central Coast Cycling" width="465"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5679728647745540631.post-36584418547373820222019-11-05T16:21:00.000-08:002019-11-06T02:30:02.252-08:00Sydney to Brisbane - Day 2 - Lakes Entrance<span style="color: #201f1e; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe ui web" , "segoe ui" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px;">Thankfully, I awoke early and feeling recovered from the effects of yesterdays hot weather, I got going as early as possible to cross the rest of the south side of the city. It was a Sunday morning and that surely helped! The other win, was the improvement in the weather as the brutal westerly had died off and cooler temps in the 20s prevailed...much better for cycling :)</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UVqzqQNEWOw/XcIOPUZZnyI/AAAAAAAABvM/Qe6klvaPDU48B65AwpgNL8awQKrt-FGWgCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20191027_083731.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UVqzqQNEWOw/XcIOPUZZnyI/AAAAAAAABvM/Qe6klvaPDU48B65AwpgNL8awQKrt-FGWgCNcBGAsYHQ/s400/20191027_083731.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Selfie</td></tr>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BqthQ41thJo/XcJwb43zEsI/AAAAAAAAB1s/tv5yWy-_MksUrd5SgBaojRVurapTAiYRQCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20191027_090421.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BqthQ41thJo/XcJwb43zEsI/AAAAAAAAB1s/tv5yWy-_MksUrd5SgBaojRVurapTAiYRQCNcBGAsYHQ/s400/20191027_090421.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #201f1e;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">I got to Circular Quay without any major dramas and enjoyed the cyclist friendly ferry ride across the harbor to Manly. I'd broken my pump trying to get 80psi in my tires overnight and didn't want to ride further North without a replacement. Manly beach was a great place to get caffeinated and wait for the bike shop to open at 10am....the beach was crazy busy with surf schools and beach volleyball.</span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dT5plOL0wlo/XcIP-tuSWzI/AAAAAAAABvY/dN-hP0T5d247330q9QiByXxKmHXrR2Y-wCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20191027_094606.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dT5plOL0wlo/XcIP-tuSWzI/AAAAAAAABvY/dN-hP0T5d247330q9QiByXxKmHXrR2Y-wCNcBGAsYHQ/s400/20191027_094606.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Manly Beach</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #201f1e;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="color: #201f1e; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe ui web" , "segoe ui" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #201f1e; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe ui web" , "segoe ui" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px;">I had a funny dream the night before that my tires were going constantly flat so it felt good to mitigate that risk...and soon after 10am I was on my way north with a couple of short steep climbs around the northern bays. It was a bit of a race actually I wanted to make the 12pm <a href="https://www.fantasea.com.au/palm-beach-ferries/timetable/" target="_blank">ferry to Ettagong</a>. There was another one 2 hours later, but I prefer to be done riding earlier in the day...so made a crack for it and made it with a few mins to spare. The roads are not great around here...not much of a shoulder and the traffic was....ample. Gorgeous wooded sandy bays abound though...</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rDbYoeSqFzY/XcIQZyrafKI/AAAAAAAABvg/xq93sYCSrPQoXAFcPk_7l6ld0brEWzJVgCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20191027_120053.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rDbYoeSqFzY/XcIQZyrafKI/AAAAAAAABvg/xq93sYCSrPQoXAFcPk_7l6ld0brEWzJVgCNcBGAsYHQ/s400/20191027_120053.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Palm Beach, from the Ferry</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #201f1e; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe ui web" , "segoe ui" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #201f1e; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe ui web" , "segoe ui" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #201f1e; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe ui web" , "segoe ui" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px;">It was a very nice boat trip however, and I then had time for this eggs bennie before leaving town. There was a good bike path initially of the town, great riding and loads of huge Pelicans in this area.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #201f1e; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe ui web" , "segoe ui" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H2bOlJdL4W8/XcIQ6nReToI/AAAAAAAABvs/Gw_CJgdJtb0qhs6QLC-Wb6bWT35NpC9vgCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20191027_125030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H2bOlJdL4W8/XcIQ6nReToI/AAAAAAAABvs/Gw_CJgdJtb0qhs6QLC-Wb6bWT35NpC9vgCNcBGAsYHQ/s400/20191027_125030.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2nd Breakfast, 11'sies or Lunch?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qIoeplLpff4/XcIRo9KAkqI/AAAAAAAABv0/z_p-lQriNLgAF0crbuAplEVvFZuGZa3qgCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20191027_133752.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qIoeplLpff4/XcIRo9KAkqI/AAAAAAAABv0/z_p-lQriNLgAF0crbuAplEVvFZuGZa3qgCNcBGAsYHQ/s400/20191027_133752.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pelicans</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #201f1e; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe ui web" , "segoe ui" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<span style="color: #201f1e; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe ui web" , "segoe ui" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px;">Its a fiddly route needing many map checks and it took me ages to get the 100km done. A special highlight was a random runner who stopped to ask about my cycle shirt which is branded with <a href="https://greatcyclechallenge.com.au/Riders/DaegalBrain" target="_blank">the challenge.</a> He was training for 21 half marathons in 21 days...sounded hard...</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #201f1e; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe ui web" , "segoe ui" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #201f1e; font-family: "segoe ui" , "segoe ui web" , "segoe ui" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px;">Bianca (the bike) is creaking a lot and I am now worried the bearings in the crank are going. I will try get her seen too tomorrow, though maybe lucky to get an on the spot service. Fingers crossed!</span></span><br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="500" src="https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/embed/4225975625" title="Sydney Cycling" width="465"></iframe>
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="500" src="https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/embed/4225975709" title="Central Coast Cycling" width="465"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0