DAY 113 - 31ST JULY 2013 - MOLONG TO GILGANDRA (VIA DUBBO)

Day 113 – 31st July 2013 – Molong to Gilgandra (via Dubbo)

Cycling Stats:  128 kms  (Molong to Wellington 65kms + Dubbo to Gilgandra 63 kms)

Cycling Average:  32 km per hour

Frost on the tent room this morning made it a bit crunchy to pack up. (When we unpacked it after arriving in Gilgandro the ice was still in it !! )

The plan was to meet in Wellington – ‘Lakes & Caves Country’ (65 kms from Molong). We needed to find a bike shop to repair the broken spoke on Walter’s rear wheel. Wellington is a bigger town than we expected so I approached a guy in a car to ask if maybe there was a bike shop here. Unfortunately there had been one but it had recently closed down. He gave us some good advice about how we should travel the next section as we are uncertain of the best route to take. When Walter arrived he was keen to get to Dubbo as soon as possible to get his wheel repaired so he jumped in the van for the 60km trip to Dubbo. There were 2 bike shops but neither had the correct spoke. Walter decided that we would push on and he was keen to cycle the next sector to Gilgandra. As I drove out of Dubbo there was a big sign showing the number of kms to about a half a dozen towns and for the first time I saw ‘Brisbane’ at the bottom of the sign:  865 kms to Brisbane.  I must admit that I felt very excited when I suddenly saw this bit of information.

Gilgandra is the ‘Town of Windmills and Home of The Co-ees’.  I went into one of the shops, an antique shop and had a chat with the owner Harold mainly to ask him about the location of the caravan parks. I told him about our cycling trip around Australia and how we were fundraising for Alzheimer’s Australia. He told me his mum had suffered from Alzheimer’s and how hard it had been on him & his family. He immediately handed me a $50 note. I am continually amazed at how many people’s lives have been affected by Alzheimer’s Disease.

We arrived at the caravan park and the owner donated the cost of our powered site to our fundraising bucket. I spent some time on the computer trying to locate a bike shop and finally found a bike shop in Inverell – so I rang them and yes they had the right spoke and could repair it when we arrive there in a few days.

Walter’s knee was still a bit sore but he told me it did improve as the day went on which is great.

We also had the pleasure of meeting Stan, the man and his very charming and elegant wife Patricia both 84 years young. They were on their way home to Melbourne and had just driven to Alice Springs to meet one of their sons who lived in Darwin but didn’t want them to drive all the way there so they met him and his new partner in Alice Springs. Stan & Patricia have a grandson who they call Sir Walter and were so very interested and kept expressing their admiration about Walter’s cycling and our fundraising. They both handed me very generous donations. Later Walter went to the campfire and had a chat with some more travelers and the total added to the bucket for today was a very impressive amount in the vicinity of $170 – it was very very pleasing to receive so much support.

Impressive sculptures for the Information Centre 

DAY 112 - 30TH JULY 2013 - COWRA TO MOLONG

Day 112 – 30^th July 2013 – Cowra to Molong

Cycling Stats:  100 kms

Cycling Average:  27 km per hour

Walter said his knee is feeling much better this morning. I packed up and just before I left the lovely friendly lady who we had chatted with yesterday evening popped over with a $30 donation for our fundraising campaign for Alzheimer’s Australia Dementia Research Foundation – she apologized to me saying that this was all she had in cash at the moment. I thanked her and told her it was a very generous donation.

We had had lots of rain over night but Walter was confident the weather was clearing and he was keen to go. A few kilometres outside Cowra and I saw a ute with a man in it and a big sign which read 'sheep on road for next 5 kms'. I drove a little further and there was indeed a huge number of sheep taking up the whole road. They were being herded by a farmer who was on a small motorbike and a smart cattle dog was working hard. I stopped when I reached the huge flock and wondered how I would get through. There was a car also stopped on the other side of the road and I watched one sheep run straight into it and it seemed to bounce off and fall but sprung straight back up and began to run erratically to rejoin the others. I was a bit hesitant, wondering what the protocol was and the farmer stopped and said ‘just drive straight through them‘which seemed a bit scary because I didn’t want to run over any sheep but I did continue to drive through the flock ever so very tentatively though.

We had agreed to meet at Canowindra and its sign read –‘Carbonne Country – Home of the Gourmet Basket’ hmmm sounds rather good to me !!

We stopped for coffee there and Walter’s knee seemed to be OK. I was to stop 30kms past Canowindra and he flew past me with the biggest of smiles so all was fine and he seemed to be enjoying the cycle today. Another 30kms further and I arrived at Molong which was to be our lunch stop. He phoned me that his knee was really sore – we had lunch & discussed the options which were - to stop cycling & drive on to Dubbo today & use the time to get the wheel with the broken spoke repaired, or, to stay here and rest. I was all for staying here and resting. Molong “Place of Many Rocks’ (although I haven’t seen any yet and I do think, and so does Walter, that it should be called place of many hills) is a lovely old historic town established in 1822 and just by where we sat to eat the ham, cheese & salad rolls I had prepared for lunch there was a very interesting old Cobb & Co Coach building which was dated circa 1875 according to the weathered sign out front.

So here we are in a lovely Council run Camping Ground at Molong within cooee of the town with washing machines & dryer in the laundry both available for use at no charge.  I have never encountered this before. The going rate for washing & drying a load of washing is generally between $6 and $10. The sun is shinning and we are apparently, according to Walter, on the same line on the map as Newcastle and the sudden change in weather is remarkable. It is still winter weather but no more icy icy winds that seem to blow straight through you. We have decided upon a plan for tomorrow and this afternoon we have time to catch up & get some things done.

This is it - sheep up ahead - not sure what to do

Good there is a sheep farmer & a dog - all under control

All over the road - how to get through ...

Green landscape - stormy skies - quite beautiful actually

I loved the colours as I stopped here to wait for Walter

The Cobb & Co Coach Station in Molong Circa 1875

DAY 111 - 29TH JULY 2013 - CANBERRA TO COWRA

Day 111 – 29^th July 2013 – Canberra – Cowra

Cycling Stats:  180 kms

Cycling Average:  27 km per hour

This morning we said goodbye to Dianna – we very much enjoyed catching up with Di and staying with her.

Today we decided to meet at Yass (59 kms from Canberra). The map we had looked at, had the distance as 39 kms so just a bit of a difference there.

As you arrive at this town there is a sign – ‘Welcome to Yass’ District of Wool, Wine & Waterways’ and this sums up the landscape views we passed through today. A great road name - ‘Dog Trap Road’ I spied made we wonder at its origin.  We had coffee and scones at a delightful little coffee shop in the main street of Yass and then on to Borrowa with its welcoming sign ‘Welcome to Borrowa’ ‘Superb Parrot, Superb Country’. There certainly are lots of catchy signs in this part of New South Wales and we crossed the border back into New South Wales from ACT this morning.

Walter tells me that there was a headwind and heaps of hills. When people from the southern states say that are going 'up' north to Queensland that’s literally quite true as a lot of the journey since we have started to head due north is very hilly.Walter also broke a spoke on the rear wheel. Luckily I wasn’t too far away so that he was able to change the wheel & use the spare wheel that that we have with us. This will need to be repaired but not every town has a bike shop so this will have to be factored into our route and at this stage we believe that Dubbo would be the best option.

We arrived in Cowra around 3.30pm and Cowra has its own welcoming sign as well – ‘Welcome to Cowra – Centre of World Friendship’ – a great thing to aspire to I believe.

Unfortunately Walter is having a bit of knee pain maybe due to the continual hill climbs and hopefully, after a good night’s rest, it will be better by the morning.

An old shearing shed I saw on the way

With every down hill there is an up hill

Enjoying this down hill and heading towards another 30 km point reached

Some stormy skies and stark landscape

That is a superb parrot in Borrowa

Also in Borrowa - we both loved this war memorial

DAYS 109 & 110 - 27TH & 28TH JULY 2013 - CANBERRA - REST DAYS

Days 109 & 110 – 27 & 28^th July 2013 – Canberra – rest days

We were happy to have a few days off to catch up with family and friends. Saturday morning, a lazy morning then a drive into Canberra city centre for a walk and a bit of a look see. Walter needed to find a small round mirror to replace the one he has on his helmet as moisture had got in and it was badly tarnished.

We found a chemist and found one which would fit and then bought some super glue. All sorted. Coffee and cake in the sun at The Coffee Club and then a walk through the mall. There was an ice skating rink set up and lots of people enjoying skating. For children who were a bit uncertain there were push along penguins to hold onto. There was a full blue sky and sunny but it was chilly but nice to amble around at a leisurely pace.

Later back to Dianna’s to relax & chat & for Walter to study the maps for the coming days.

Sunday and we decided to go on a tour of The Australian Institute of Sport which we found very interesting and informative.. We learnt that the AIS was established back in 1981 after Australia’s rather disappointing performance at the Montreal Olympics where even New Zealand outperformed Australia in the medal tally. Malcolm Fraser the prime minister of the time initiated the policy for setting up the AIS. We spent 30 minutes in the interactive room where there are many displays set up where you can experience different sports. Walter tried the luge and also picked out his new bike “The Superbike’ haha but it has no brakes so maybe unsuitable for hills….. I re-lived the days in my youth when I played basketball. Lots of fun.

Then we had a tour of the facilities which are world class, especially the swimming facilities. Shaun, our guide is a 21year old athlete – a speed walker and he told us he conducts around 40 of these tours a week to help fund himself and his sporting career. Funding has been dramatically cut to the national program and the AIS and has been re-directed to each state’s sporting body so there is a lot of uncertainty within the AIS as to its future and importance as the national sporting body for elite athletes.

Then we drove over to Kingston to met up with Len, a friend of ours who we always make a point of catching up with when we visit Canberra. He is a vibrant octogenarian and has lots of energy and a great sense of humour. We went to the Stella Artois Hotel in Kingston as Walter was really keen to eat a meal of their mussels – It was great to catch up with Len.

Then back for a restful Sunday afternoon at Dianna’s as tomorrow its back on the road. Thank you Dianna - we really enjoyed our weekend with you (just a shame you had the flu and we wish you a speedy recovery !!!)

Peri (Persian for fairy) Dianna's cat - she's a real character !!

Dianna - my niece at Victoria River in N T whilst travelling with us (she has the flu now so this was at a better time) 

On the Luge simulator at AIS - in the screen is the view of the downhill - Walter said it was very fast !!!

Walter was interested in The Super Bike - but it doesn't have brakes so probably not a realistic option

Yes - I'm joining the team !!!

An action shot 

The well equipped AIS gym

State of the art swimming facilities at AIS

Driving towards Parliament House over the Commonwealth Bridge 

Mussel heaven for the men

DAY 108 - 26TH JULY 2013 - NIMMITABEL TO CANBERRA

Day 108 – 26th July 2013 – Nimmitabel to Canberra

Cycling Stats:  70 kms

Cycling Average:  unknown as computer failure

Walter left at 8.15am. It was bitterly cold – Canberra had minus 4 that morning and Nimmitabel is a lot higher and we estimate maybe it was as cold as minus 7 or 8 as the ground was thickly covered with frost and all the dams and ponds are frozen over. It was a bare brown landscape – undulating and largely treeless. A sign indicated that we were 1,110 metres above sea level and travelling across the Great Dividing Range.  37 kms from Nimmitabel to Cooma where we would meet for a coffee break – I hadn’t prepared our usual thermos as we thought it would be too cold to stop by the roadside.

At Cooma I parked the van on the road heading to Canberra and went for a walk into town – to the Information Centre to get a few detailed maps for Canberra. Walter arrived and we headed back to where the van was parked – opposite Maccas so in there for coffee & muffins.

Walter was concerned about the continual noise coming from his bike so asked me to stay close. So I stopped once after around 18 km and although he was concerned he wanted to continue. Then another 15 kms or so I stopped again to wait. I waited, it seemed to me, for quite a while. I was parked and there was a herd of cows and they continued to stare at me and were also very interested in the passing traffic – riveted on it actually. One cow was in a field all by itself and headed up to the fence quite close to where I was parked, full of curiousity and there was lots of calling and mooing to each other and maybe to me.  Walter arrived and gave me a thumbs down – he couldn’t continue as the problem with his bike was getting worse.

I rang Samuel, our son to find out where we could find a Specialized bike shop in Canberra. Walter was forced to jump in the campervan which he wasn’t happy about for the 80 kms to Canberra and we went straight to the bike shop in Lonsdale Street Bradden (an inner city suburb).

Looking at the options – to wait until Wednesday and new cranks had to be ordered and shipped from Melbourne or go with what was in stock in the shop. The work could be done that very afternoon so Walter, being a man of action, wanted to have the repairs done as soon as possible so decided to go with Scram crank set and the bottom bracket had to be replaced too.

We headed to my niece’s house where we had arranged to stay for the weekend. Dianna had been on the road with us from Katherine to Broome and we were very much looking forward to catching up with her again as last time we had seen her was in Broome. The bike shop rang and the chain & cluster needed to be replaced as well. Walter had thought that this might be the case as he had done over 11,000 kms and parts just start to wear out with this amount of kms and constant cycling and especially the last weeks where such huge amounts of climbing had possibly put more stress on the bike’s components. So now everything being replaced means virtually a new bike !! Good as we still have around 1200 kms and it has to be right as not every town has a good bike shop. Thanks to The Cyclery bike shop for jumping in and getting the work done that very day.

Lovely to see Dianna and unfortunately she is suffering from a bad flu so I offered to cook and we agreed that she should not be worried about entertaining us or playing host. Walter was keen for spaghetti and so we did some shopping when we went out to collect the bike. Walter also got the Garmin (bike computer) re-set so now he can once again get all the stats for each day’s ride.

Lovely to be able to stay in a house again and spend some time with Di.

Cold very frosty morning at Nimmitabel

Cold riding today and lots of traffic

Some huge climbs

Curious friendly cows

This one wanted to check out the campervan

Walter's bike - all brand new components for the last 1200 kms of the ride

DAY 107 - 25TH JULY 2013 - CANN RIVER TO NIMMITABEL

Day 107 – 25th July 2013 – Cann River to Nimmitabel

Cycling Stats:  140 kms

Cycling Average:  estimate around 23 kms per hour – unknown as computer failure

Walter left at 8am – I had a bit of a restless night – I wanted to post the last 2 days of our blog but couldn’t because the Mac couldn’t connect to the internet. I rang Telstra late as I was concerned and was on the phone for over an hour – problem not solved…. Oh well – go to sleep and forget about it !!

I left around 8.40am and immediately pulled into the bakery next door to buy bread and headed up Ooops…. The Princes Highway for almost 60 km. I thought my god Walter has cycled fast today but then I thought – there is no way he could have got this far. So I stopped and had a quick look at the map & realized I had made a bad mistake and had continued on the Princes Highway and should have gone back and taken the Monaro Highway towards Cooma. So big panic – I had to drive back to Cann River and then buy fuel and then head onto The Monaro Highway and put my foot down to catch Walter as he had been cycling for almost 3 hours by this time. Damm !! I was so angry with myself. I caught him at around his 71 km mark and he looked like it had been a hard morning’s ride.

Today’s ride for Walter was another challenging one and he told me definitely one of the hardest.  With lots of climbing (long steep climbs and extremely cold as a lot of the ride was throughed forest areas so no sun) and yes I agreed today, more uphills than downhills. Walter was alos concerned about his bike – there were lots of grinding noises and one pedal seemed to be loose into the crank and with all the climbing it was getting worse as the day went on. We crossed the border into New South Wales this morning (I had done it twice !!!) and are now heading north and it seems uphill (we had joked about heading back up to Queensland and it being uphill all the way !!) and now for this section of the journey at least, this is actually true !! Today we went from around 200 metres above sea level to 1100 so that is pretty significant.

Our last planned stop was the turn-off to Cooma and when Walter arrived he asked me if we needed any cheese. I looked at him and he pointed to the sign to Bega. Good joke Walter – Bega is of course very famous for its cheese !!!! (Whilst I was waiting for him I thought I would see if the Mac was feeling better today - and yes great it must have re-set itself - who knows but internet connection had returned - thank goodness)

I arrived in Nimmitabel (a tiny town and enquired at the bakery about accommodation). There were 2 hotels / B & Bs in town and both were closed and for sale and the lady in the bakery asked me if I wanted to buy one….. There was however a motel just a little way out of the little town and I headed there. The owner was from The Sunshine Coast in Queensland. He said all the rooms were booked for truckies but… he knew one of the truckies wouldn’t be coming in that night so yes we could have it. That was lucky. I enquired about a laundry and he offered to wash & dry Walter’s cycling gear – very kind. We could also have dinner there – steak, schnitzel or barramundi & chips & salad & soup. Sounded good to us and it was.

One of the downhills

bare cold landscape

And ride slowly !!!

Do we need any cheese ...

DAY 106 - 24TH JULY 2013 - PAYNESVILLE TO CANN RIVER

Day 106 – 24^th July 2013 – Paynesville to Cann River

Cycling Stats:  160 kms

Cycling Average:  kms per hour – unknown computer failure

We left Paynesville a little later – John & Heather gave us a lovely breakfast and heaps of leftovers and some fresh black bream fillets for our dinner tonight.

We said goodbye and they gave us some oranges and some lemons and a generous donation and we left relaxed and refreshed after a lovely stay with them – they were so very generous in heart & spirit.

We headed off in the campervan together as Walter had already done this section of the road and we were late in leaving and today was still to be a day with quite a few kilometers to be cycled.

Interesting too – this is the last day of heading due east as tomorrow we start heading north (uphill all the way to Brisbane !!). Today was once again a heavily overcast sky and cold. Walter started his ride at Johnsonville which is around 10kms or so outside Barnsville. John warned us that today’s route will be very hilly especially in the section from Orbost to Cann River which will be the last 70 kms or so of the ride.

Only around 30 kms or so and I arrive at the very famous Lakes Entrance (the map says it has the ‘largest fishing fleet in Australia’). Coming over the steep hill before you drive down into the township and the view is pretty amazing.

Just after the Orbost turnoff we stopped for lunch and then Walter wanted to meet at Cabbage Tree Creek – when I arrived there was a colourful general store / café / post office / everything and which when I looked at the opening hours said Wednesday (which is today) ‘Closed – unless we feel like opening’ – well they didn’t feel like opening as it was closed. There were a lot of boxes and antique / historic things on the verandah and a box of citrus with a sign saying ‘help yourself’ so I took a couple of grapefruit.

We drove through lots of forested areas – national parks today ‘The Snowy River National Park and Lind National Park ‘amongst them. The road, as John had warned us, was quite a dangerous one as in some areas there were no shoulders (extra room on the side of the road) at all and it was very hilly.

As mentioned the ride was hilly today – our conversation went something like this ‘lots of big down hills today Walter’ (me - trying to be positive) and then he, ‘lots of up hills’ then I ‘ I think more big down hills than up hills’ and then him ‘Bloody tough ride today Deanne’ and him

‘I hate down hills because it always means you have another uphill’.

The riding terrain is really changing as we are entering a mountainous area – The Snowy Mountain area which is so cold at this time of the year and for the Samford riding group it is like doing the Etons Crossing Road hill over and over and over….. so pretty tough going !!

I found a motel -Cann River Valley Motel and the lovely manager when I asked if they had a laundry offered to wash & dry Walter’s cycling gear for us. Very kind.

Thank you so much John & Heather - hope we can meet up again some day

Lots of forested areas & lots of down hills....

With every down hill there is another up hill....

Lakes Entrance

Outside Orbost - the old bridge as we travel on the new one

Cabbage Tree Creek General Store - there is a Dutch flag there Walter told me

DAY 105 - 23RD JULY 2013 - MAFFRA TO PAYNESVILLE

Day 105 – 23rd July 2013  - Maffra to Paynesville

Cycling Stats:  97 kms

Cycling Average:  33 kms per hour

At Mornington we had met up with Mark & Amy and Amy had told us that her parents lived in a lovely coastal town called Paynesville and that she would contact them and email us their details and we could visit as we will be passing close by.

So we rang them this morning and yes a hearty invitation and so Walter headed off in the direction of Barnsville first where we had arranged to meet as he wanted to find a bike shop to get his computer looked at.

Strangely we both took the road to Sale instead of the sign to Princes Highway as we thought maybe it would be the main road to Melbourne and so – silly us - we both added another 20kms or so to our journey. Oh well - Walter was happy to see me stop on the A1 after the first 50 kms for our coffee break as he told me he was concerned that I might head all the way to Barnsville as we had discussed in the morning and that would have been an 80 km sector. Walter was also pleased that I stopped as he had ridden the first 30 kms or so in the rain so good to have a nice hot coffee.

Earlier we went through a little place called Stratford Upon The Avon River. It was very quaint and this is where we would have come straight to had we gone direct to The Princes Highway.

Barnsville (the commercial capital of the Gippsland, the sign says as you drive in) is quite a big town – actually I believe it is a city !!) I asked at the petrol station and yes there was a bike shop so I parked in the main street and Walter saw the van (hard to miss with our signage for Alzheimer’s Australia on it) and I told him where the bike shop was. I headed to the Information Centre to check on the directions to Paynesville and the lady there gave me some more detailed maps of this part of Victoria which will come in handy.

No luck at the bike shop as they didn’t sell Garmin computers so couldn’t help Walter with his concerns about the kilometer readings. Another 18 kms to Paynesville and its a pretty drive as the road runs along side of the Mitchell River.

The sky is still heavily overcast and looks like more storms and rain is brewing. It was easy to find John & Heather’s home and we received a lovely welcome into their home. Walter was pleased with a nice hot shower. John had made some delicious pumpkin soup & home made bread – lovely in this cold climate. Heather had only just had surgery on her knee last Thursday but was keen to be up & busy and loves to cook so a little hard for her to take the back seat for a few days whilst she recovers. I should mention that John's parents are Dutch and came from Alkmaar which is where Walter grew up

I mentioned a walk and John said yes we could walk to the township and then take the short cable ferry crossing to Raymond Island – a habitat for koalas and numerous species of birdlife. We spotted 3 koalas in the spotted gums which John told me was their favorite tree of residence. There were some lovely homes over there and as I walked past one my eye caught the rather stark clear reflection of the trunk of a hug gum in the huge front glass panel. I stopped to photograph it and I heard a voice from next door.

Yes I am putting in some new windows. I walked over to the man and explained how this reflection from the house next door had caught my eye and then he started to tell me about the renovations he was busy with on his circa 1880’s cottage. This is his weekender and he had a farm in Yarragon. David then asked about what we were doing and he was amazed and supportive and told us a funny story about how he had cycled many years ago in Melbourne when there weren’t too many cyclists on the road. He said he would stop at traffic lights and the conversation between the cyclists was always the question – and when do you get your licence back….

He gave us a generous donation for our fundraising for Alzheimer’s Research and we continued the pleasant walk along the foreshore.

John later cooked up some lovely black bream that he had caught – delicious and Heather, whilst we were on our walk, had made some ‘orgasmic little orange syrup cakes’ She told us that all her tennis club friends call them that as everyone oooed & aaahhed so much the first time she brought them along.  I can understand why because they were very very yummy !!!

Off to bed and a very lovely comfortable bed it was too – a great night’s sleep..

Thank you for your warmth and generosity John & Heather – we hope very much to meet up with you again one day.

Jetties & restaurants - Paynesville is a very scenic coastal town

 This is John - Walter, John & I are just about to take the ferry (in the background) across to Raymond Island - the wind is blowing fairly briskly !!

This is the cute little information booth before you board the ferry - it is not a wine bar !!

Very high up in the tree & very very sleepy on Raymond Island

SNOW - no just kidding !!  with the stormy weather lots of foam being washed up

This one was very cute.....

Stark reflection of the gum trunk in a very beachy holiday house !

I walked a bit further as we missed the first ferry back and I spied these in the reeds

DAY 104 - 22ND JULY 2013 - MORNINGTON TO MAFFRA

Day 104 – 22nd July 2013  - Mornington to Maffra

Cycling Stats: 165 kms

Cycling Average: 33.6 kms per hour

We discussed in detail and both took notes about our planned route today. We were to avoid the M1 and take the service road which ran beside the main highway. OK – easier said than done. The first part we accomplished well and we arrived in Koo Wee Rup (‘home of asparagus’) where we had arranged to meet. It was so cold – a bitterly cold wind and Walter is suffering from a very stiff sore neck. I headed off to find some heat rub for him and when he arrived he was keen to go to the local coffee shop which was the bakery and it was warm and cozy and there we had a fantastic French vanilla slice and great coffee. The thermos coffee would do us at lunch time.

Then on to Warragul where I stopped to wait for Walter – he had said something about a turnoff just after The Princes Highway and it was all very ambiguous so I just stopped and waited for him and he was keen for a sandwich.

Then the fun started – after Warragul - don’t go on the M1 but take the back road to Yarragon – so very badly signposted and just guessing really all the way – I was so relieved after taking many turns where I wasn’t sure where I was, to arrive at Yarragon. There I went to the Information Centre to ask about the service road to Traralgon and was given instructions – I was worried as I still hadn’t sighted Walter so I crossed the railway line over the M1 and headed out onto the service road called Waterloo Road which runs next to the M1.

I was so relieved to get a call from Walter saying that he had not been able to find the back road so had taken the M1 all the way and he was about 30 kms ahead. I took the next turnoff to the M1 and passed him & stopped at a little off road section. It was good to connect again and he said he was keen to head to Traralgon. So I went ahead – there was a rather large town with no camping ground and I met a lovely lady Loretta who advised a stay at Maffra. Only this was a huge distance away and I stopped at Rosedale to wait for Walter and he was totally spent so we wanted to find a place to camp. I enquired at one of the local shops and was told Willowbank was close and had hot showers and so yes we would stay there. We got there and there were only a few demountable toilets. Walter needed a hot shower and we need to do the laundry.

Walter tells me that it was a very cold and a windy ride – this takes a lot of energy and after 3pm the temperature drops significantly.

So the only option, as it was getting late and Walter was very cold, was for him to jump in the van and drive with me to Maffra.  There is snow on the mountains in the distance and it is cold but we have found a camping spot for the night and the washing is in the dryer. It will be a pub meal as it has been a long day and the pub will be warm.

We need to plan the rides to be shorter as the days are so cold so they can only be 160 kms maximum as after 3pm it is just too cold.

Hedges - great wind protection in Victoria

No wonder it is cold - snow on the mountains in the distance (on the way of Maffra)

Winter trees - on the way to Maffra

Another view of the road to Maffra

Yes only around 2,000 kms to go (its been a long journey !!!)