Betten On Bike: DAY 104 - 22ND JULY 2013

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.