Betten On Bike: 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.