Sunday, March 31, 2013

Day 9 Molong to Dubbo 114.67 kms

Early wet start today. As soon as the sun rose the first rider left the campsite in the rain. They started off pretty much riding together except for Woody who had a bit of a sleep in and requested us not to wait for him at the morning tea stop because he was so late. I made him some plunger coffee as an Easter treat and to get him started.

The rain hung around for a couple of hours before it cleared away although it had threatened much of the day. The rain didn't dampen the day as it was once again a lovely ride. The route was changed again due to Alf's influence and it was enjoyed by all riders. All along the route were these sculptures of animals on bikes produced by the local community as a charity raiser. Jerry had the best day and could not stop laughing all day.




As it is Easter Sunday we had a huge bowl of Easter eggs for morning tea.
The traffic was not too bad today and we were supposed to be going downhill most of the day but there certainly seemed to be alot of steep hills if you ask me. Woody caught up with some of the riders by morning tea but then dropped off a little after all the chocolate. Most of the riders were taking their time photographing all the animals up till morning tea and then took off after then.

Rob & Peter got caught up photographing everything and following the alphabet of the animals. They came into camp around 6 pm. We were getting a little concerned but we had kept phone contact all day and they were having such a wonderful time.

Dinner was had at the local bowls club by most of the male riders and it was $20/head for all you can eat.

Saturday, March 30, 2013

Day 8 Cowra to Molong 103 kms

Cowra Camping
Collis Ivey Who?
Ah yes, I now remember Kathy too
We've held your booking, all is sweet
Two unpowered sites, you'll find it quite a treat
Hang on a sec, that can't be true
We've fifteen riders and their tents
two unpowered sites just makes no sense
That's far too few
For them and back up crew.
Fear not my friend, and do not fret
We'll sort this out in half a sec
I think I know of just the place
A quiet corner for your space
Close to the septic tower
Your crew will gather in a bower
We'll even add some midnight wake-up calls for free
As drunken locals stop to pee.
We know we would not give offence
We're sure you'll recommend us to your friends
And tell them, would you not
We have the State's best camping spot.

 By Theo

Another beautiful day for cycling. The scenery along this route has been perfect. We were driving past Woody yesterday morning and there was a line of large cows standing at the fence and they all turned their heads in unison watching him ride past. I wish I had the camera ready just at that time.

The morning started out cool again but soon warmed up to be perfect weather. Collis had warned the riders that it was going to be a bit up and down today, stressing that probably more up than down. Well even in the car I could tell that there were quite a few hills for them to climb and very few down parts. They climbed 1000 mts in total today. They were strung out down the road today. Most of them stopped at Canowindra for a coffee but Robbo stopped and had a half dozen pancakes with syrup so he was still sitting there when we arrived.

He was having trouble moving after his feed. We actually passed Alf before morning tea which is a real rareity on any ride.

Morning tea was Hot Cross Buns again and situated at 50 kms on the side of the road. John was the first to the spot and it was his choice today. Good spot! Alf was coming up the road but just kept riding so we had to send Anna after him to tell him about the surprise for lunchtime treat. Just before Molong Collis shouted them all a large Gelati at the Gelati International Manufacturers of Australia. Enjoyed by everyone. I ended up sharing 2 large ones with Collis as we had to wait quite awhile for the tail enders. Robbo came in with a broken spoke.
The caravan park at Molong has nice grassy area but a few facilities were missing. No camp kitchen but we were able to use the BBQ for those wanting to stay in camp. The manager was a nice guy who recommended the RSL for dinner and he even offered to drive them all the 3 blocks down there as they may be tired after their days riding. They weren't gone long so service was obviously quick even if the meals were just so-so.
Robbo went off to mass for Easter and the rest of us stayed around camp telling stories. Most of us were in bed by 8.30 pm.

Friday, March 29, 2013

Day 7 Cootamundra to Cowra 120 kms

We had an early start today after a wet night. The day dawned crisp and fresh with a beautiful blue sky. All riders were off on time with Peter coming up the rear today. Woody took off early and we hardly saw him all day.

The crew convoy stayed together for most of the day. Collis got a little disorientated when we arrived in Young for morning tea break and he couldn't work out which rotunda he had chosen for the break. It didn't really matter as 6 of the riders rode through Young and had their own morning tea at the local McDonalds. We ended up at the Young Historical Railway Station (because it had a toilet) and a table with chairs. The rest of the riders found us but when they went to the toilet we found it was locked (Good Friday). Anna & I went for a walk in the direction provided by Theo who thought he had spotted a toilet. We ended up in a residential area but fortunately when we asked one of the locals for directions they kindly let us use their own toilet. They had a very lovely renovated historical home and we had a lovely tour along with the relief.

On the way out of town Jan was breathalysed by a booze wagon and was found to be over (or so she said, I think she was wanting to be locked up). Collis tried to pull in for a breathalyser but they told him not to bother. They shoed him away.

Lunch break was at Koorawatha= a quiet little town with nothing open.



There was a cute little old lady who Fliss took a photo of as she was sitting all day out the front of the old bakery and told Fliss her life story.

 The toilets had heated seats due to the sun shining in on them.  Alf, Ben & Jerry didn't bother stopping for lunch instead they continued onto Cowra.

Cowra caravan Park mucked up our booking and we have been cramped into 2 camp sites. Everyone has been pretty good about it and set up their tents very close to each other tonight. We have grass sites and it is green and soft, plus we don't need keys or a code for the toilets.


Collis and I put on a BBQ tonight with fish, veggie burgers, chicken wings, rissoles and sausages. For the overseas riders we cooked a small piece of kangaroo steak for them. I made a green salad, potato salad and a coleslaw. All went down very well and very little was left over.

Looks like it will be a cold night tonight.

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Day 6 Wagga Wagga to Cootamundra 90 kms

We started off fairly early this morning as a few were actually washed out of their tents. Not really but it did get a bit wet overnight. The temperature had dropped slightly but it was still pretty steamy. We were all hoping that the rain would just pass over and we would have a dry run to Junee at least.

Woody was the last to leave and I have a feeling he may have stopped somewhere for breakfast as well because Anna & Michael didn't spot him out on the road at all before morning tea. We sent Michael & Anna on in the first wave to set up morning tea as we had to shop for some food for a meal we will be providing on Good Friday.

We decided to forgo the breakfast that was planned and provide dinner instead. As it will be Good Friday, we are unsure what, if anything, will be open tomorrow night for a meal. We have got some fish for those wanting to avoid meat then a BBQ for the rest of the riders. We managed to get a small amount of kangaroo for the overseas participants (I won't tell them it's road kill).
Morning tea break
Collis giving directions
Danny
Peter
We found Woody on the side of the road early in the day with a flat tyre, looking that it might end up an extra long day for him. The others arrived in time for morning tea with muesli bars and Jan's zucchini loaf on the menu. Anna and I did a walk around town looking for the best hot cross buns in Junee. Junee had a huge downpour as the riders arrived and I think they all got wet. Woody came in later and hadn't been rained on at all.
After morning tea the rain came across the fields in sheets and no-one was spared. They were starting to look a bit like drowned rats which got worse after they set up camp. The heavens opened just as we unpacked and set in with steady rain for another couple of hours. Woody & Peter were last in both pretty wet. Woody took a room.

The whole group went across to the RSL for dinner after the boys played a game of 500 with Fliss & Ben the winners. All worked out well and the group is melding nicely. Cowra tomorrow.

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Day 5 Rest Day at Wagga Wagga


Very nice rest day. The weather was hot and the wind was blowing the wrong way so everyone was happy to be staying in one place for a change. Wagga Wagga has become a big town with 2 distinct shopping areas- the elite area that has very few shops open and the more common area the has all the usual shops from Myers to Best & Less. There are 3 or 4 bike shops all in a row and not far from where we were situated.  Fliss took her bike down to The Kidman Bike shop who fixed her mirror problem for free so we advised all the other riders to patronize this shop and they got quite a bit of business from us and they provided excellent service in return. Georg took his bike in with one problem and they fixed lots of other minor problems for him without him even having to ask. We were very impressed with the service.


Solar powered cycle.

Robbo went to church at the Cathedral first thing in the morning and lit a candle for our safe journey. Collis and I went and checked it out in the afternoon and it is one of the oldest sandstone cathedrals in Australia. Peter, Chris, Fliss and Robbo all went for a ride around the lake and Annie and Ben went off on their bikes on their own. Lew went for a walk/run and the rest went sightseeing around town or just lazed around the campsite.

Quite a few (including myself) went swimming in the river again and then most of us cooked ourselves something for dinner at the camp kitchen or in our units for those lucky few that had one for the night.


A cold front has been threatening and hit around midnight. Some patchy light showers with one quite heavy downpour. A few tents did not stand up too well from the water but they have all lived to tell another tale.

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Day 4 Culcairn to Wagga Wagga 83.162 Kms


What a beautiful day for riding today. The weather was perfect with temperatures around 27 C and very light wind although it was in their faces still. Everyone was happy today enjoying the weather and the scenery. The distance was just right. I made sandwiches for morning tea with vegemite for the O/S riders, peanut butter & jelly for the americans and plain peanut butter & jam sandwiches for everyone else.

The scenery and route chosen was perfect for gently rolling hills, a touch of ruins and lots of animals, a few of us saw our first live emu and Dan spotted a kangaroo hopping down the road in front of him. The roo was going too fast and he wasn't able to catch up with it to get a decent photo of it. Poor Dan has resorted to photographing road kill to get pictures of our native animals to take home with him.

We arrived in camp around 12.30 and a few of us went straight down the beach for a swim in the Murrumbidgee River. It was a little chilly but we soon got used to it and was using it as a lap pool because the current was pretty strong. Fliss even found a water proof camera lying on the bottom of the river (we were going to see if Peter could fix it but changed our minds). A few have taken the cabin option tonight- Annie, Ben & Lew and Anna & Alf decided to upgrade to a powered site. It's a pleasant little caravan park with soft green grass to set up tents on. One thing that is really bugging us as a group is the fact that all caravan parks are locking their toilet blocks and when you need to go someone else usually has the keys. This is probably a necessary practice but as a group it doesn't really work all that well. One park had a keypad but they made the mistake of having a 6 number code and with our geriatric brain capacity we all had to write it down or ask each other the number before we could get in. Chris was getting a little desperate at one stage when she was putting in the right code but the door wouldn't open- she wasn't waiting for the little song to finish.


Lew is having a little problem with his back but is persevering with his riding with a little walking/running in between. Jan & Annie are religiously doing their stretches each day at the end of the ride. I haven't heard of any other injuries as yet.

Most of us went out to the happy hour and then stayed on for the $10.00 T Bone steak special at the local pub. Georg is attempting to eat steak every night while he is in Australia, so far so good and he has enjoyed 3 out of 4 steaks. Peter, Robbo & Fliss went to have Chinese for the healthier alternative.

When we came back to camp there was a large population of possums looking for food and were so tame that they came right up to us. Woody hopefully got some good photos of them. Good sleep was had by all without the trucks roaring past but we still had some trains but further away this time.

Sunday, March 24, 2013

Day 3 Chiltern to Culcairn 92 kms

Well the trains certainly didn't worry me last night. I had a lovely sleep but some of the riders mentioned the noise from the trains kept them awake at times. I heard nothing once I was asleep. Bliss.

We got away at about 8 am (the riders anyway), the crew left about an hour later. In the mornings the crew has to prepare the morning tea with filling 4 thermos with boiling water- Robbo helps with this job. If there is any food that needs preparing for morning tea, I do that in the morning. We fill the water tank on the car and water tanks on the side of the trailer. Next we load up the food boxes and eskis and then finally all the luggage. Fitting everything into the van and trailer is like a new jigsaw every morning. The size of the bags keep changing and trying to direct the helpers as to where the bags need to go is very frustrating at times.
Today has been a beautiful riding day. Very little wind and the temperature sitting around 27 C.  The scenery was lovely and a couple of them discovered a hidden lookout (that would be Peter, Fliss & Robbo). We crossed the Murray River today so that is goodbye to Victoria for this leg and we won't see it for at least another 4 months if all goes well. Everyone in camp by 3 pm and settled in for the afternoon. Riders are getting used to the routine of setting up camp pretty quickly. Everyone is having little nanny naps or catching up on emails and personal blogs.
No camp kitchen at this caravan park so it looks like dinner out tonight or a salad if that suits some of them. I just suggested to Collis we have a salad and he jumped at the idea (then it won't cost us anything for dinner as we already have all the ingredients).

Day 2 Euroa to Chiltern - 128 kms


Last night we had ducks quacking half the night, trucks off on the highway going to & from Sydney all night plus at 2 am a group of revellers coming home from one of the 3 weddings and 2 christenings that were happening in the town. 2 blokes, one dressed in a suit and another who was only partly dressed, no underwear on, were calling to each other on their mobiles looking for each other. They were standing on either side of the toilet block but were unable to co-ordinate locating each others whereabouts.  All, except the trucks, settled down around 3 am. Tonight we have ducks, trucks and now also freight trains. I wonder what sort of night it will be.
The day has been really nice. Not too cold heading out this morning and making it to morning tea at the Rose Garden in Benalla at a reasonable hour. Jan had made a lovely fruit slice which she provided for morning tea. Lunch was at Wangaratta and Lew provided watermelon for the group which was greatly appreciated as well.
Everyone stopped at Glenrowen to check out the Ned Kelly memorabilia. The weather was great although a slight headwind for most of the day after morning tea. Alf somehow missed the McDonalds at Wangaratta (where we had our lunch stop) so he kept going until he got to Chiltern before he ate. He's not sure how he missed it as it is pretty prominent. Anyway, he managed OK. Robbo took a wrong turn but managed to get back on the right track and we were all in at camp by 5.30 pm.

Life has been pretty good today.

The photography subject has been announced- the subject this ride is 'Town Life'.

Good night.

Saturday, March 23, 2013

Day 1 Melbourne to Euroa 125 kms


We are missing Jan and Annie and Alf
The first day is nearly over and so far it has gone pretty smoothly. The group seem to have bonded quite well with lots of swapping of riding partners throughout the day. Jan and Michael had trouble packing all their gear into their car, so they were late and missed the start at Craigieburn Station. Then they ended up at the wrong service centre so following a frantic phonecall from Jan, all worked out fine. Jan rode like the clappers and caught up to the tail enders (actually passed a couple of them).
Our support crew on this leg is Michael (Jan's partner) and Anna (Alf's partner). Michael has had a rude introduction today but has come up trumps. Let's hope he doesn't back out tomorrow as his support was very much appreciated. Anna is an old hand at this capper and nothing surprises her anymore.

We all had planned to meet at Southern Cross Station and then Collis would put them all on the train to Craigieburn Station, where we would meet them again and they would start riding.

The planned route was changed already today. The amount of traffic on the Hume Hwy this morning was unbelievable. I've travelled this road thousands of times and never seen so much traffic. Everyone must have known there was a group of brave cyclists riding their way around this wide brown land and wanted to give us a big send off.

Morning tea was at McDonalds Rest area and lunch at another service centre.

We got off the Hume at Seymour and had a leisurely ride along the old Hume until Avenel. It was very pleasant and a good suggestion from Rob & Alf. We arrived in Euroa in good time.


Most of the riders headed off down to the Euroa Hotel for dinner which was recommended to us by the caravan park manager. It is known locally as the middle pub and I did not hear one bad word about any of the meals.


Tomorrow we have a similar day as today doing approximately 130 kms heading to Chiltern. We did 125 kms today.
After a very early rise by everyone this morning, we are all in bed (maybe not all asleep) by 9 pm tonight. Very tired group of people. Good night.