Monday 19 February 2007

Visiting in Ballan.

Tuesday 20 February 2007

As is always the case, it was hard leaving a nice warm, comfortable bed, especially as the temperature outside was rather cool. Leaving Janine & Ian's, we rode through the back of Ballan and onto the Geelong Road.

Riding soon warmed us up but before we had travelled 10 kilometres the weather changed and the fog was rolling in. Not having ridden in fog for a long, long time, and with little to no shoulder on the road, we were very much on the lookout for vehicles from behind, some of which came very close indeed.

We stopped at the Mt Wallace community hall and used their toilet block, topped up with some rain water from their tank and took a break while the fog lifted.

Leaving Mt Wallace we climbed a little and eventually came to some reservoir's where we again took a break. Climbing over part of the Brisbane Ranges we descended into the town of Anakie, scooting down the hill and it's challenging corners. Coming to the last corner and seeing a straight road ahead we both let gravity have it's way, Joanne hitting her highest downhill speed of 67 km/hin the process. Riding through the small town we located the public toilets at the sporting reserve, so after making ourselves feel better, we stopped under a large tree and enjoyed lunch over a nice mug of coffee.

Lunch over it was time to cover some distance to Geelong, riding through the relatively flat countryside we made good progress and eventually arrived on the outskirts of the city. Having mapped out a route through Geelong we decided to take a spot in the Batesford Caravan Park rather than fight traffic etc and then try and find a campsite. Despite having a good camp kitchen and an en-suite (they have no communal amenities) our decision turned out to be the most expensive campsite we have ever had - oh well.

Today's Stats

From: Ballan

To: Batesford (Geelong)

Ride Time:
3 hrs 54 mins

Distance:
66.48 km's

Av Speed
17 km/h

Max Speed:
65 km/h

Max Altitude:
515 m

Max Climb: 6 %

Av Climb: 2 %

Weather: Cold and foggy then warm 32 deg C.

Wednesday 21 February 2007

Today's ride was a mix of many different riding, most of which was enjoyable. We left Batesford and following a marked bicycle trail found our way to the Barwon river where we followed the shared path along the river bank, passing through some pleasant scenery and many other people out walking, jogging and cycling. The opposite bank was steep and high, huge mansions perched on top and some built so that they were hanging over the edge.

Before we knew it we had arrived at the point where we needed to leave the river trail so as to join up with the Bellarine Rail Trail, another old railway that no longer runs but which has been cleaned up and converted for cyclists, walkers and horse riders. The rail trail covers3.5 kilometres and runs all the way to Queenscliff. Unfortunately, in their endeavour to keep motorbikes and the like out,  those who constructed the trail made the barriers at the start of the trail, and some along the way at road crossings, just that little bit too narrow causing us to have to seek alternative entry points or to manhandle the trikes through the wooden barriers.

The first 14 kilometres seemed to be uphill and although the surface was even and covered with fine crushed rock, the going was rather hard. Parts of the trail through here are on a track that runs beside the track which, with trees growing in the middle of the rails, is still there, other parts follow the exact rail bed where the rails have been removed. Once out of the suburbs however, the trail and the scenery became rather more pleasant. Stopping at Drysdale for lunch we chatted with a lady who had ridden the trail before and who told us that barring one hill, it was all downhill from there.

Leaving Drysdale, the trail runs alongside the existing tourist railway that runs on weekends and public holidays and runs all the way to Queenscliff making it a very pleasant traffic free trip.

Arriving in Queenscliff we obtained some maps and other information and then decided to take the ferry across to the Mornington Peninsular. Crossing the bottom of Port Philip Bay on the ferry, we arrived in Sorrento, rode around 8 kilometres and decided to take a spot in one of the State Park campgrounds, where, we presume the ranger will no doubt come and collect some money from us at some stage.

Today's Stats

From: Batesford (Geelong)

To: Rye (Mornington Peninsular)

Ride Time:
5 hrs 00 mins

Distance:
61.04 km's

Av Speed
12.2 km/h

Max Speed:
46 km/h

Max Altitude:
99 m

Max Climb: 16 %

Av Climb: 2 %

Weather: Warm 32 deg C

Thursday 22 February 2007

Contrary to our thoughts, the ranger didn't come around to collect any fees and so our campsite became a free camp. Those who live on the peninsular and commute to work were up and on the road early, so we followed their lead, passing many children of all ages waiting for buses on our way.

As pleasant as the coastal riding was we eventually turned inland to head for Pearcedale where more relatives reside. The hills were giving us a good workout and the route we had chosen was obviously popular with the cyclists of the area because there were quite a few of them out and about.

The road and ride were fairly uneventful and before long we arrived in Tyabb where we secured a nice spot under the shade of a very large Cyprus tree. Lunch and a short rest were the order of the day before we continued on towards our stop for the night with Greg and Sue, one of Joanne's cousins.

Today's Stats

From: Rye (Mornington Peninsular)

To: Pearcedale

Ride Time:
3 hrs 32 mins

Distance:
53.62 km's

Av Speed
15 km/h

Max Speed:
50.5 km/h

Max Altitude:
118 m

Max Climb: 7 %

Av Climb: 2 %

Weather: Hot 35 deg C.

Friday 23 February 2007

Having been thoroughly spoilt by Greg, Sue and Aunty Iris we left Pearcedale and headed out into the mornings school traffic. The road was pretty busy but generally flat and with a warm day predicted again today, and with little to no breeze, today's ride would involve a fair amount of sweat.

Nothing much of note today as we rode through market garden areas, causing us to wonder how their businesses would cope with the severe water restrictions being imposed compliments of the longest drought in many a year, and also what would happen to the food stocks in the country.

Taking what was meant to be a more direct, less traffic route saw us turn off along a dirt road and following a very dry irrigation drain. The road however, was not as the map had shown, and it was not long before our instincts told us that something was not quite right, especially as we were riding back in the direction we had just come. Not wanting to traverse the dirt we had already covered we continued along and eventually found a road we recognised. Heading to where we wanted to go we passed through a new housing estate and after negotiating the huge volume of traffic on the highway, arrived at the end of the Australian leg of the trip.

Our next reports will be from North America, our plans at this stage being:

8 April 07 - Fly Melbourne Australia to Calgary Canada

13 April 07 - Fly Calgary Canada to San Jose Costa Rica (little holiday on a coffee plantation with Canadian friends Murray & Joyce)

30 April 07 - Fly San Jose Costa Rica to Calgary Canada to prepare for the Alaskan part of the trip.

3 June 07 - Fly Calgary Canada to Deadhorse Alaska

4 June07 - Commence riding south to Calgary.

Today's Stats

From: Pearcedale

To: Pakenham

Ride Time:
2 hrs 51 mins

Distance:
43.80 km's

Av Speed
15.2 km/h

Max Speed:
29 km/h

Max Altitude:
109 m

Max Climb: 5 %

Av Climb: 1 %

Weather: Hot 34 deg C

Previous Page    Next Page