Cycle Across Australia!
Aussie Day #15, 11/15/98
Peterborough, VIC to Lavers Hill, VIC
Today's Milage: 75 km (45 mi)
Total Trip Mileage: 891 km (535 mi)
Weather: Sunny, tailwinds, 15 C.
After a drizzly night we woke slowly to start out on "tourist day."
Today we rode along the Great Ocean Road, stopping at all the sights. We saw the "Grotto," "London Bridge," "Loch Ard Gorge," and the "12 Apostles" alongside tourists arriving in rental caravans (campers) and motor coaches. The weather was gorgeous as were the geographical sites along this famous coastline.
In late afternoon the road broke inland and started us climbing into the dense forest of Otway National Park. The mighty trees stood bare with their bark shed for the winter, and the forest floor was blanketed in ferns, giving a "jungle" feel. What started as a hill ended up being a 6 km climb followed by a roller-coaster ride along the ridge line.
We rolled into Lavers Hill, once again exhausted, but were greeted by the "Nifty Fifty Bike Tour Club of South Australia." Couldn't pass them up, so we camped with them in the caravan park.
Cheers! Nick & Nick
Aussie Day #16, 11/16/98
Lavers Hill, VIC to Anglesea, VIC
Today's Milage: 128 km (77 mi)
Total Trip Mileage: 1019 km (612 mi)
Weather: Sunny, tailwinds, 20 C.
Up early again (6:30 am) after some more night showers. We had breakfast while sharing stories with the bike club. Then left for a gorgeous crisp morning descent off Lavers Hill toward Apollo Bay on the coast. The route took us through "make-believe" valleys of cattle and sheep farms where the land was unbelievably lush and green.
Apollo Bay was a bit of a "tourist town," but we enjoyed a late breakfast at a sidewalk cafe. The day then began, as we wound down the coast, each vista outdoing the next..all the while the wind at our backs! This stretch of road is a lot like the Pacific Coast Highway in California.
At the end of another full day of riding we found a backpacker's hostel in Anglesea. The owners recommended we go to the country club for dinner. It turned out that this was the famous "Kangaroo Golf Course," home of over 500 kangaroos! We were in awe as we walked down the fare way surrounded by kangaroos eating their dinner.
Cheers! Nick & Nick
Aussie Day #17, 11/17/98
Anglesea, VIC to Geelong, VIC
Today's Milage: 42 km (25 mi)
Total Trip Mileage: 1061 km (637 mi)
Weather: Rain, tailwinds, 15 C.
"I can't believe you guys are riding with ALL THAT STUFF," exclaimed Darren, the cycling native of Geelong as he led us into town and directly to Irish Murphy's Pub and Hostel.
"Have a good trip." And we parted ways with another friendly bloke.
After waking to sunny skies with clouds rolling in, we surfed the tailwinds right into Geelong, breaking the 1,000 km barrier (see photo). We landed at the hostel, downed a few Guinness and were soon aboard the "V-Line" express into downtown Melbourne (the previous capital of Australia from 1901-1927 and the now second largest city) for a "tourist afternoon" sans bikes.
Public transportation is great here, with a good lot commuting by rail or bus (photo of train station). Cycling is also big...many bikes dodging among the cars in traffic.
Soaked in a few tourist spots, including the famous nude "Cloehe" painting at the Y&R Pub. After an authentic Italian dinner and a bottle of Jameson's Run (circa 1995) we were ready for our hour train ride back to Geelong.
Cheers! Nick & Nick
Aussie Day #18, 11/18/98
Geelong, VIC to Dromana, VIC
Today's Milage: 65 km (39 mi)
Total Trip Mileage: 1126 km (676 mi)
Weather: Sun, Headwinds (15 knots), 15 C.
Do you know what is feels like to get SLAPPED in the face by a 20 knot wind? We do after today!
Awoke to a cold gray headwind pedalling to Queenscliff to catch the ferry across Port Phillip Bay, from Bellarine Peninsula to Mornington Peninsula (see photo). We enjoyed a nice 2 hour break from the wind while waiting for the next ferry to come. Once across we pounded out another 20 km along the bay coast before reaching the Dromana Caravan Park (camped under the ping-pong tables).
Chinese dinner over a bottle of Wynn's Shiraz 1995 from the Coonwarra Region, concluded the day!
Cheers! Nick & Nick
Aussie Day #19, 11/19/98
Dromana, VIC to Drouin, VIC
Today's Milage: 113 km (68 mi)
Total Trip Mileage: 1239 km (744 mi)
Weather: Sun, Headwinds (15 knots), 20 C.
Awoke under the ping-pong tables. The air was cool, the sky sunny, and the wind was once again in our faces.
Our first 20 km was through beautiful rolling hillsides covered with vineyards (see photo). We had hopes of catching the ferry across Western Port Bay, but those were shattered when we found it only runs on Wednesdays and Saturdays! We abandoned southern route for a more direct northern one along the Princes Highway.
Headwinds slapped us again as we made our way around the bay. Finally, at 5 pm we were forced into a premature happy hour of Victoria Bitters in the center of Longwarry, VIC. Met Don the "Austar" cable man and learned of the finer fishing spots along the coast past Sale, VIC.
Tackled the last 10 km and rolled into the Drouin Caravan Park for hot showers and sleep!
Cheers! Nick & Nick
Aussie Day #20, 11/20/98
Drouin, VIC to Sale, VIC
Today's Milage: 132 km (79 mi)
Total Trip Mileage: 1371 km (823 mi)
Weather: Sun, Headwinds (10 knots), 20 C.
Another beautiful spring morning...got us phyched to ride. We spent the morning trying to determine if we'd have that terrible headwind again. And we did. (Not as bad as yesterday, and it did wane off a bit in the afternoon.)
The good news is that we've both passed the break in period. We rode 68 miles into strong headwinds yesterday and rode 80 miles into headwinds today, feeling strong the whole way.
Today's riding was rather uneventful as we rode down a main highway. We chose this direct route in order to get to another National Park region sooner. In between blasts of wind from semi-trucks blazing past at 65 mph, the countryside was a mix of cattle farms and fields of hay with mountain ranges off to either side (keep in mind that a mountain in Australia isn't much more than 1,500 ft).
Our reward for the day was getting to draft behind a huge tractor for the last 5 km into town...hey-haw!
Cheers! Nick & Nick
Aussie Day #21, 11/21/98
Sale, VIC to Lakes Entrance, VIC
Today's Milage: 114 km (68 mi)
Total Trip Mileage: 1485 km (891 mi)
Weather: Cloudy, 15 C.
"You guys aren't from Cincinnati, are you?" "Yes," we answered. "I graduated from UC's Engineering School!" Didn't think we'd be meeting anyone from the States, much less Cincinnati, in a small southern Australia farming town (pop. approx. 300)! Funny the people you meet on these trips.
After waking to cloudy skies, strange Australian birds chirping overhead, and an infestation of mossies (Australian for mosquito) we broke our caravan park camp. Riding was calm and flat as we pulled into Stratford for our morning chocolate milk break and our encounter with the UC grad. Before arriving at the Bairnsdale McDonalds for lunch, we were able to watch the local skydiving school do a few dives.
Terrain after lunch changed into rolling hillsides, and threatening clouds began to roll in. We were rewarded with a final descent into Lakes Entrance, kind of a touristy town of 2,000 on the ocean (also home of the largest fishing fleet in AU).
Rented a caravan for $18US (which also includes a HOT shower) and settled into watch "T2" just as the storm hit.
Cheers! Nick & Nick
