Betten On Bike: DAY 16 - 6 MARCH 2015 - DERWENT BRIDGE TO HAMILTON

Day 16 – 6 March 2015 – Derwent Bridge to Hamilton

Cycling Stats: 103 kms

Average Speed: 27 kms per hour

After an extremely gusty windy night the guys prepared themselves for the icy cold rainy ride which they knew was how the ride would start today.

They began the ride at 8am hoping for a bit of warmer weather therefore a slight later start.

Steve was keen as he had had a rest day yesterday.

This was a less mountainous ride than yesterday with only 2 major climbs and with lots of descents. The temperature was 5 degrees when they left but after some big descents the temperatures rose to around 12 degrees fairly quickly. But on the top at the start it was extremely windy and gusty and with some rain Walter told me later.

Gill & I went to the dining room of the Derwent Hotel for the continental breakfast. Afterwards as I went to settle our hotel bill I remarked to the manager / owner, a jovial grey haired grey bearded gentleman that the continental breakfast provided brought back memories of breakfasts I have had in Paris in a small hotel by The Sorbonne. He laughed and said that’s where we got the idea from. Eggs, which you boil yourself with an egg timer provided, single serves of yoghurt and some fruit, toast and spreads, coffee and juices. He told me that years ago when he was there the Euro wasn’t very favourable and so he had boiled 6 eggs and placed 4 in his pockets to eat later in the day. I didn’t feel guilty at all because I had taken an apple for Walter.

After the boys arrived Walter said he was keen to take the drive to Strathgorden/ Lake Pedder. Yes why not but we were a bit taken aback that this trip was around 130km out and 130km back – a huge drive. Walter was keen however so put the foot down and 1hour 45 minutes later we arrived at Lake Pedder / Strathgorden Information Centre. The information provided was very interesting – the lives of the workers who constructed the Gordon Dam – so isolated but a very strong community spirit developed. The Gordon Dam is an engineering feat and is the biggest reservoir in the whole of Australia. The fine semi-circular design is different to the normal design of a dam – quite amazing for us to be able to descend the hundreds of steel mesh steps to the narrow high dam wall and walk over the top of it – the views were quite stunning. You could see that the water level was lower – the dead white stark trees were visible in the clear blue waters.

Then time to drive back, check in quickly and down to dinner as the manager said she would like us to order by 7pm. The Hamilton Inn where Walter & I were staying was a heritage building – built in 1826 by William Roadknight, a pardoned convict who became the town’s constable, mill owner and postmaster.

The friendly but slightly quirky manager cooked us a lovely dinner. Tomorrow is Walter & Steve's last ride - this will be into Hobart.