The map

Torquay! Last night! & Tim's here!

Well! It feels like all the hard work's done now. Cold morning, some misty rain - the pack up was ok though. We rode to Deans Marsh, a rest stop there, then up to Mount Sabine. Last time I drove that road, sister Ruth was with me, on the way to a working bee at Wye River (so disappointed the route didn't go through there). We kept thinking about the hill & riding up it.. in fact it wasn't too bad! Misty rain. At the top we stopped & put jackets on, then the descent into Lorne - not much pedalling at all, and the brakes got a really good workout. We got cold. Rikky was ahead & I couldn't keep up with her! I had visions of going over the side. The whole descent was an exercise in concentration. The road was closed between Deans Marsh & Lorne, which was great. But some got traffic infringements for crossing the double lines. 

It was amazing in Lorne for lunch. Everyone arrived, and the road to Fairhaven was open to us, and closed to everyone else going our direction, from 11:30. We got there at 10:30, so it was a good rest. The sun came out - it was lovely. People and bikes everywhere!

 

A long queue for coffee, but worth it! 

Queue for toilet rather long as well

Lunch!

And the queue to get back on the road after lunch.

It was just lovely riding along the stretch after lunch. Sunny, and beautiful water.  Rikky felt a bit sick again, but still eating ok and she managed really well. 

Rest stop at Airey's Inlet - lighthouse just visible 

And at the end - Tim to meet us! How good! We set up the tent for the last time, as Rikky still wanted to stay in it. I was happy to have a civilised shower on the motel. Exploring up the street, there are people everywhere with GVBR lanyards. 

The people you meet

Walking to the showers, I met a guy I know quite well from the yacht club In Inverloch. His wife works as a palliative care nurse. He's been in the ride since the start if the week! I hadn't seen him till today! I find that amazing. 

We continue to have interesting chats over meals, or in queues, with all sorts of people, and meet some people several times, lime Rhonda who was riding with us the 2nd day & so encouraging. 

I unwittingly jumped the phone charging queue tonight - felt bad, but got chatting to the man behind me. He's riding a tandem with a blind guy from Darwin - he'd not met him till they got to Mount Gambier. He said there are 3 blind people on the ride. 

Ok, bedtime. We have to be gone from the campsite by 8:30 (shouldn't be too hard, but I'll have to get my tent partner up in good time, that's 5:30..), and in Lorne by 11 for lunch. 

Our hardest day

Hardest day so far - 80km, starting with the uphill reverse of yesterday's steep descent. That was ok, but Rikky felt a bit queasy, although she are ok. I don't think we ate enough at the first rest stop. 

It was COLD & raining a bit. Fortunately not raining at lunch time, but we didn't stop long & didn't get coffee - queue too long. It was good to get to lunch - that bit was hard, cold. 

Before lunch, we rode Turton's Track, which was closed to other traffic. It's beautiful! No photos - sorry Andy! - it was just too cold to stop, and I wasn't sure how to capture it anyway. Amazing tall gums, tree ferns and a lovely middle storey with moss hanging off the branches. There was a lot of downhill, but again the road was wet, so we were on the brakes a lot. 

After lunch it hardly rained - the road went up and down, and by the end if it I was warned up  and even the feet were warm. It's windy (was mostly in our favour) which is good for getting yesterday's wet things dry. 

We had a coffee when we got here, before finding stuff & setting up - was good to sit for a bit.

Today is our wedding anniversary - missing Tim, and looking forward to meeting him in Torquay tomorrow. So this is my last night in the tent! Rikky thinks she'll stay in it tomorrow night, to complete the experience "properly" - fair enough. 

Constant stream of riders coming up the last of the morning's hill - it was very hard work.

Dreaded Lavers Hill!

Today only 80km but everyone was talking about Lavers Hill it's the highest point in the Otways. Lots of talk about take it slow, hey the gradient's not too bad, just keep going, it'll be cold when you stop, etc. 

It was a cool morning but we soon got hot riding. Had to stop and look at the Apostles of course.

It was a misty day- felt like we were riding in a cloud, probably because we were!  We left at 7:45, very early for us. Breakfast is 6-8am, and the route opens at 7am, & you have to be going by 9am.

Coming up Lavers Hill wasn't as bad as we expected! There were downhill bits to recover. I stopped to take my rain jacket off - Rikky didn't want to stop but her chain came off during a gear change. It started to rain for the last bit, but I didn't stop to put the jacket on, just sorted clothes when we got to the lunch spot at the top. It was really misty there, and still raining. 

Lunch tent

Coffee queue in the distance - that was a long wait, but so worth it. Rikky brought me my lunch while I waited. 

We finished our coffee in the toilet queue.  Hey it was too wet to sit down on the grass anyway. 

Our next rest stopwas at Ferguson - this shed-cafe seemed to be all that was there. 

After this, it was almost a downhill to Gellibrand. Scary downhill, as the road was very wet. We were on the brakes most of it. Would have gone a lot faster on a dry road, but it was good to get here safely. 

It was still raining when we arrived, and the luggage from truck 7 was in 4 lines under lengths of plastic, piled 3-4 deep. We found the 2 bags easily, but it took ages to find the packs. It stooped raining and we got the tent up, and headed for the showers - very welcome. (That was after sharing a chocolate bar)

And time for a rest

And a coffee...

Timing

Not quite sure what's going on with the time zone thing - I've had a look at the blog I've just posted, an it says I wrote it on Tuesday. I'm pretty sure today's Wednesday! Any feedback on that? The phone tells me the right time & place! Settings on this blogger app don't seem to help..

Anyway I don't think I posted yesterday's map, so here it is:

Sleep, nerves and things

We're sleeping ok, & in fact Rikky is napping as I write. It's rest day! So what better to do than rest! Several people have gone off for "recovery rides".  We didn't think that sounded like such a good idea. 

I'm finding I wake a lot with either left-sided median nerve (carpal tunnel) symptoms, or ulnar. So I'll take the risk of snoring & try sleeping on my back, which will require the use of 2 earplugs to screen out generator noise & toilet doors banging.

I also get median nerve symptoms in my right hand while cycling. Physio had suggested it might be tight forearm muscle pressure while leaning too hard on the handlebars. I think others also have this - I notice people riding along & one arm is dangling & shaking. Prevention is better of course - ok, get the posture right: shoulders relaxed, soft elbows, lower ribs in, lift the front of upper chest, head back as if trying to move back from a spider that's coming down in front if my face - then, hold that position firm, and pedal! Round & round - not emphasising any part of it. This is all after some VMO (inside quads) and buttock activation exercises, within 20 mins of starting for the day - I've been having a go at that after loading luggage onto the bus. 

The medical/ first aid support is good - and has been called for. The police got us to stop while an ambulance got into position. He told us a girl was riding along, looking down, then looked up & list control of the bike, went over the handlebars onto her head. He thought she was ok. We've seen others with grazes being patched up. So we're glad to rest at each designated rest stop, and take our time, and eat & drink lots.

Getting back to rest day. I tagged along with Tim's cousin Andrew & Susan his wife, & their riding partner Sally. Coffee first: Sally had gone early & was in the queue.  Then we did the 4km walk round the western side of the cliffs. We met Kay, someone I met on beach mission years ago. We had such a good catchup. And she knows Andrew & Susan too! Then a swim - the water was freezing, but we stood round for a while with arms crossed like footballers, or up to the neck, hoping it'd do our muscles good. Someone said the water's 16 degrees! and warmer than it was! I met Rikky after lunch (she had been washing clothes) & was reading her book in the shade. We had coffee & shared a brownie. 

Since getting back to camp I've washed some clothes too - that happens at the dishwashing place: bowls & water provided. The man in the tent next to us stretched a line between our tents, a pole in the middle, & even left us a few pegs. It's a hot day & things are drying very quickly.  We have an elastic line which we've put up inside the tent, but it's no use for dripping things. 

We made it!

Today was the longest day - 107km. It was great to arrive - the last bit was very hard going. Someone had a bike jersey saying "GVBR - Are we there yet?" That's what it felt like! And a nasty little hill to get  into the campsite. 

Not enough energy to walk to the beach for a swim, but the shower was very welcome.

Tomorrow's a rest day, which is very welcome too: perhaps a swim & definitely some clothes washing, and explore the town. Lunch up the street - it's not provided tomorrow. 

The ride was long - but some beautiful spots.

Lunch at Allansford - it was a great spot.

We thought these were apostles, but they're part of the Bay of Islands

And London Bridge. So many photo spots - good to stop & rest.

So many flowering grass trees- lovely

Tonight the route for next year's GVBR was announced: Albury to Lilydale, via Bright, Mansfield, Marysville. I'm tempted! Rikky's not sure she says. We'll see.

Day 4: Tower Hill, Warrnambool

It was a great catch up with Phil & Lynne last night, & a great meal! Thanks !

We're taking it a bit slowly today, as we both have sore knees - nothing desperate, but it's good not to push it too hard. First rest stop at Tower Hill

Long toilet queue, but at least it was shaded. After that there was NO ONE lining up for coffee & I was very tempted but Rikky said we have to wait till lunch time. It's a good incentive. 

2nd rest stop is Warrnambool, at Lake Pertobe. We rode past the hospital & I saw the hospital flats where we lived for 2 years!

Day 3: 95km!

Portland to Port Fairy

A long way - we just kept going. 

Quite an achievement!

You'll have to believe me: we saw a koala with baby in a tree. So many cyclists going past, all they could do was sit there

We also saw a pair of Gang-gang cockatoos - I thought they were black cockies but they were too small, & then I saw the male's red head. I also saw 2 pelicans flying overhead, one near the start, & one the finish. In addition, a huge flock of corellas whirling about & making a lot of noise. 

It was hard going today, a long haul into a head wind - but a lot warmer & sunny. 

Fill up water at a rest stop:

We were a bit late packing up today, and our closest truck was full, then the next one! But the third had heaps of room. 

Tim's cousin Andy U'Ren & his wife Susan passed us on a tandem, with 2 friends. 

When we got here, we met our riding partner from yesterday - she's camping very near us & recognised our bikes! That's amazing, in a crowd of 5000! It's a huge campsite, very spread out. Our luggage truck is a long way from the central area. It's a lovely camping spot. 

We're going out for tea with the Carters, special friends from Warrnambool. Will be great to see them. 

Extra bits

It's interesting meeting people on the ride. Like a man over breakfast whose job is setting up machines in factories. He said how important it is to set aside time every day at work to achieve the important things you need to achieve, ie, not be always doing what other people want you to do. Worth a thought! Leads me to think about how we (I mean, I) need to take control of our diaries & schedules, and make good decisions about use of time. 

We met a couple at dinner who we're going to ride to the start of this ride from Adelaide! (they didn't, because of the weather).

We bumped into my bus buddy, which was good fun!

And at lunchtime , to an ex-nurse from Leongatha.

People generally seem friendly and ready to chat. "How did you go today?" "Where are you from?" Many have never heard of Leongatha - but know of Wilson's Prom. 

Dinner conversation

Phone charging - $2 for a token at the main office, then hand in the token. & the phone, get a number to get the phone back. It's worked well so far!

That's just a small section ....

Day 2: Nelson to Portland

Today was quite a bit better for riding - no rain at least, still very windy. We did get hot enough to take rain jackets off. We rode with a girl for a while - she rode behind us, and then ahead, ie we were a small bunch! She said we were riding well, so that was encouraging. 

74km today, felt like a good achievement. 

See the sea in the background. It's fun riding through beautiful country.

So many people! 

Coffee queue at lunch time - worth it!

Campsite at Portland - same view in any direction, and more across the road - schools camp are over there & we had to walk to get our luggage from there. 

Time to tackle the queue for the showers. 

We've started!

So far so good! Yesterday we negotiated getting the bikes onto a cattle truck (number 8, but that didn't matter, they were there long before we went to look for them), the luggage into the underneath of bus 39, and we took the last 2 seats of bus 45. I sat next to a sponsored cyclist (female) and we had such an interesting chat! She's a museum curator at the VRC. Not into horse racing, but started cycle racing aged 40! She went to NCYC in 1987.. "Do you know Mark Lawrencce?" Turns out her kids went to primary school with Ethan & Tobias! And she would chat to Ruth at the school gate. 

We had a break at Colac & lunch at Port Fairy. It was good to arrive in Mount Gambier, find our stuff and a place to pitch our tent, get in line for registration kit - the all-important lanyard with card, the key to all meals. And queue for event cycle jerseys - then go & find the bikes. 

A grey day - cold & raining on & off. We thought we'd go into town for tea, but there were good choices in sale - we had couscous & Moroccan lamb, & shared a sticky date. We went into a tent to find a dry place to eat - & right there were a couple I know from the yacht club in Inverloch! It was great to see them. 

It felt like it rained most of the night - not so good packing the tent up wet. That was after breakfast of fruit salad then bacon & egg sandwich - the local scouts. (Formal event meals started at lunchtime today).

It was exciting starting the ride!

We went into town to the camping shop - Rikky's sleeping mat blew up with an aneurysm! We bought a few other things too. Rikky thought we'd be the last on the route, but there we're bikes everywhere in town. We had a coffee & set off. 

It was great to see the Blue Lake

Quite a lot of rain en route, & it was very windy. 

Here we are in Nelson, set up & we've had showers. The number of tents is amazing. 

Looks like mostly downhill, but there was plenty of uphill!

Nearly ready!

What a day - physio, fasting blood test, collect breakfast and head off for coffee with the girls, ward round, Woorayl lodge, lunch, home visits, shopping and packing! 

Shortly: a work dinner to farewell one of the docs, and we'll head to Werribee to stay with Mum & Dad, prior to getting to Geelong to catch the bus to Mount Gambier.

The physio told me about this story in The Age today, about a man who's done EVERY great Vic bike ride since it started! This is the 30th year.

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/harry-sheldon-ready-for-his-30th-great-victorian-bike-ride-20131120-2xvtw.html

#climateaction

We went to a climate change rally this morning! The big one in the Treasury Gardens. It was inspiring to be there with 25,000 others, most dressed in orange, red & yellow. It was great to be part of such a fired up crowd. Some of Rikky's friends found us! We were also messaging some of our friends, but couldn't make the connection.

The speakers were inspiring and to the point. The only disappointment, I thought, was an academic scientist who is also a Christian  - he took the chance to preach the gospel in a traditional, divisive way, which seemed so out of place. I would have loved to hear a more inclusive and open approach, affirming God as Creator, and the need to care for creation, how important beautiful places are for our soul or spirituality. He said some of those things, which was good. I hope it wasn't all negated by the preachy stuff. 

I suppose cycling is relevant in the climate change issue - using the bike when possible should keep the air a bit cleaner!

We're more determined to get solar power & water happening at home.