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Monday 12 February 2007
Before we left Rochester this morning we paid a visit to
the "Oppy Museum" which is located in the railway station.
Paying
the $3 entry fee we spent some time wandering around reading much of the
information on the cycling and political career of Sir Hubert Opperman who
at 90 years of age gave up riding his beloved Malvern Star bicycle around
the streets of Melbourne as promised to his wife.
Oppy onated the bicycle to the museum after taking one last ride in Rochester. Oppy then took up riding an exercise bike at home and actually died while riding it on the 18th April 1996 at age 91, the exercise bike is also on display and has a note expressing the fact that Oppy literally pedalled his way into heaven.
Leaving Rochester we rode on and ended up in Stanhope for our lunch break. Stanhope is the home town to Sir John McEwan who became Prime Minister of Australia in 1967-8 when the then Prime Minister Sir Harold Holt, disappeared whilst swimming.
The weather was getting a tad warm so after a nice lunch under the rotunda roof in the centre of town we rode the final 15 kilometres to Rushworth and to the home of Francis and Gary, Francis being a past school friend of Joanne's. Rushworth is a quaint town founded on gold and contains many nice buildings of yesteryear. The rest of the day was spent visiting with Francis and Gary.
Today's Stats
From: Rochester
To: Rushworth
Ride Time:
3
hrs 59 mins
Distance:
54.18
km's
Av Speed
13.5 km/h
Max Speed:
45
km/h
Max
Altitude:
218
m
Max Climb: 4 %
Av Climb: 1 %
Weather: Warm 35 deg C.
Tuesday 13 February 2007
Starting back on the road after a late night is never easy, neither is leaving good friends and a comfortable home, so after a late night last night we were a little jaded by the time we got going this morning. Before we left however, the local community newspaper man came around and got a story and some pictures. We rode off and Francis and Gary followed shortly thereafter to meet us at a particular turn off thus ensuring we went the right way.
A wonderfully quiet road with trees on both sides providing cool shade to ride through was our office today, open farming paddocks behind the trees evidence of the main industry around this area. We stopped for lunch in the shade of a big tree at the Cornella Church before riding up a hard hill that was easy according to the eye but hard on the legs.
Joining the main road we pressed on towards Heathcote, the sun getting warmer and for some reason we were getting slower - ah, the hills were coming into play now and will do so more and more as we approach Melbourne. Riding along the Mount Camel Road we passed more and more grape vines the green colour of which stood out in stark contrast to the very, very dry grassland around them.
Arriving in Heathcote we decided to investigate the local caravan park and were glad that we did because whilst we were taking a shower the sky began to get blacker and blacker and then whilst we were cooking our meal the heavens opened up and gave the place a good, and much needed sprinkling.
Today's Stats
From: Rushworth
To: Heathcote
Ride Time:
4 hrs 15 mins
Distance:
63.45
km's
Av Speed
14.9 km/h
Max Speed:
42.5
km/h
Max
Altitude:
323m
Max Climb: 7 %
Av Climb: 1 %
Weather: Hot 36 deg C.
Wednesday 14 February 2007
The lady in the caravan park at Heathcote warned us that
we would encounter some uphill today and she sure was
right.
A few monster climbs but generally it was uphill and down dale with more up
than down, the road from Mia Mia to Redesdale being the hardest. Descending
into Redesdale and the Campaspe River with its interesting bridge was fun
but the climb out was not and we stopped for more than one rest on the way.
Light hills and a generally undulating terrain saw us arrive at Langley where we enjoyed lunch before heading off to climb a long hill where near the top, the kids and a teacher from the local school all hung over the fence to urge us on. Hills conquered we arrived in Kyneton around the same time a large storm was brewing and ready to dump on us. The lady at the tourist information centre suggested that the rotunda at the Botanical Gardens might be a good place to shelter from the weather so we headed off in search of a roof. Fortunately for us the storm went around us during the couple of hours we spent there.
Deciding to move on we got slightly wet as the tail end shower went through and we arrived in the small town of Tylden where we asked the CFA fire crews returning from a fire if there was anywhere to camp around town. Unfortunately they replied in the negative and so with daylight diminishing we had some take away food for a meal and headed off in search of a campsite.
Just before the town of Trentham we took the road towards the Trentham Falls. Arriving after a few kilometres we noticed a "No Camping" sign so with the days light getting shorter and shorter we continued on towards the falls where we found a caravan camping for the night near the toilet block. Joanne noticed a track leading off so we took it and found a campsite right next to the gate to a farm. No camping sign or not we decided to camp there anyway. Later, as we were setting into bed for the night we heard a vehicle which then came down the track to where we were camped. The vehicle turned around and as it left I noticed it was the Police who obviously didn't mind us being there.
Today's Stats
From: Heathcote
To: Trentham Falls near Trentham
Ride Time:
6 hrs 14 mins
Distance:
75.60
km's
Av Speed
12.1 km/h
Max Speed:
59
km/h
Max
Altitude:
728
m
Max Climb: 11 %
Av Climb: 2 %
Weather: Hot 37 deg C.
Thursday 15 February 2007
The night passed all too quickly and we awoke to a cool morning and legs that were still aching. We packed up and got the legs going again, despite their complaining. A short ride into Trentham and then we were really into the hills. We didn't have too far to go today but there was a few bumps in the way so we climbed and we climbed and we climbed and then we started to descend, and descend we did, dropping down the range on a road that was very uneven and had more than it's fair share of turns which at speed meant some steering by braking on either the left or the right.
Screaming down the hill and at times wandering all over it thanks to the surface which would throw the trike from one side to the other, death grip and white knuckles on the handlebars was standard and small twitchy movements allowing recovery from certain disaster always at the right moment. Coming around a bend under brakes I looked ahead and saw the biggest uphill I have ever seen, a quick check in the mirror to see if Joanne was still behind and I then let the brakes go and the trike have its head. Flying down the hill tucked into the brace position, arms tucked into the side, head down and legs positioned equally on the pedals I spied a bridge at the bottom of the hill.
Approaching the bridge at 66 km/h I went over hoping that
there was no big bump on the joins or anything else that would throw me off
or cause steering to be a problem. Bridge successfully crossed and the
uphill bleeding my speed off
quicker
than how I achieved it I looked back to see if Joanne was still in hot
pursuit, appearing as she did a few seconds later. Only then did I realise
how exhilarating the ride had been. Struggling up the hill we stopped for a
break and coffee in the town of Blackwood. Next to where we had our coffee
we spied a drinking fountain which confused us, telling us to boil the water
before use (??)
Leaving Blackwood we again climbed and climbed and just for good measure we climbed some more, eventually levelling off and coming to a sign telling us of a steep descent and warning us of around about a roundabout at the bottom of the hill! We shot down the hill and slowed to a stop before the roundabout, disc brakes glowing as we did so.
A few more climbs and we were in Ballan where we found Joanne's sister at work, conducted an interview and photo session for the local paper and made our way to Janine and Ian's home where we will be for a few days giving our legs a rest.
Today's Stats
From: Trentham
To: Ballan
Ride Time:
3
hrs 9 mins
Distance:
42.19
km's
Av Speed
13.3 km/h
Max Speed:
69
km/h
Max
Altitude:
781
m
Max Climb: 11 %
Av Climb: 4 %
Weather: Hot 35 deg C.
Friday 16 February2007
In Ballan with family.
Saturday 17 February 2007
In Ballan with family.
Sunday 18 February 2007
In Ballan with family.
