On the way home

How good to be picked up at the finish by the local bus! We're on the way back to Leongatha, having collected luggage from the pile from the truck, and found our bus, packed bikes back in the boxes, and a quick change into fresh clothes. 

We inched past other buses - then I realised I'd left my phone & dry pouch with cash & credit card in the toilet where I'd changed - what an awful realisation! The bus stopped, I ran back - met a guy who approached me - he had them in his hand!! He was on the way to the Bicycle  Network office. Seeing me running, he guessed what it was about. What a nice end to that drama. Actually it's a picture of the sense of "we're all in this together", almost family, that develops on the ride - people looking out for each other.

It rained all night, but stopped for the pack up & breakfast. It doesn't matter that everything's wet! We had light rain for the ride, only 33km today. It felt like hard work, wet and cold. There was a rest stop at a chocolaterie which was fun. Warm & very crowded inside! 

So, the GVBR's done for this year. Will have to keep riding to keep the fitness levels up. 

It was so good to meet people at meals and in queues - some interesting conversations. Very good too, to spend time with Sue, Mick & Deb. We're wondering about another cycling holiday together sometime.

Nearly finished!

Can't quite believe tonight's the last night. We had a great rest day in Mansfield. It was still very hot, so we spent a lot of time in the town, sitting in the shade. Resting!

We wondered how it would be getting back on the bike. It was ok! That was yesterday - to Alexandra. Our group of 5 rode on the rail trail the whole way; actually the police requested that everyone take the rail trail, which some weren't happy about. It's a great trail - a bit rough (not sealed) - narrow & thin tyres are prone to puncture. We saw lots of people stopped at the side, replacing tubes. I got a flat back tyre as well. Anyway, we were in time to join the stretching class (Tim didn't), after a swim, & to explore Alexandra before tea. 

This morning it poured down over breakfast & rained on through the morning- fortunately we had the tent all packed & all our gear was on the truck - we carried the dishes & the toothbrushes in the panniers. 

Plenty of hills today, but the highlight would have to be riding the Black Spur, closed to traffic - what a privilege! And the rain had stopped in time for the road to dry. It was great! That was after lunch at Marysville - still raining there & with our lunch organised at an oval, the community opened up a huge hall, a basketball stadium, putting down carpet squares so our cleats wouldn't damage the floor. It was so good. Great to see Marysville looking good, down the track from the bushfires. 

Now at Healesville for our last night - lots of thankyous and awards; there's a real buzz. 

Rain forecast again for tomorrow - but why worry? It's not raining now!

Black Spur

Couldn't keep stopping for photos! But we loved whole hillsides covered with treeferns, all with striking new growth , and a towering, lofty over-storey of gums. 

Tent city - and a school group having a photo shoot

Rest day

We've made it to Mansfield.  Tim & I are on the GVBR (that's the Great Victorian Bike Ride). The route is from Albury to Lilydale: the scenic route on secondary roads. We're traveling and camping with 3 others, all doctor friends from Nepal days or before: Mick & Debbie Langford, & Sue Smith. We're taking it at our own pace and the pedals go round & round! 

We've ridden 335km so far, through beautiful country. 

Highlights:

* the overnight stops so far: Yackandah, Bright, Moyhu - & now Mansfield. We'd never heard of Moyhu! 500 people live there. The town had organised a great street party with stalls & activities. 

 * weather! We've had hot cycling days mostly. Lots of rain in Bright. The tent stayed dry

* Tawonga Gap! We made it. A steep, challenging climb in the heat, jelly beans given out at the top, a steep descent - controlled by the police - so not too fast. 1.5cm hailstones started on the way down & then the rain.

* we're getting fitter & stronger! No major injuries, but aching muscles. We've joined a stretching class the last 2 days, which has been great. 

* we enjoyed the option of riding on part of the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail. It's an excellent trail, sealed & through lovely country. We'd love to come back & ride some more. 

* the food has been good, & we're into a lunchtime routine: Tim collects the lunch & I get the coffee. We have panniers on our bikes & carry our mugs. (Also useful for transporting snacks). We need to eat & drink a lot, to keep the energy levels up. The lunchtime coffee is a real highlight for me, not least because it's the same family business at each stop, same as least year. I never cease to be amazed at how they're so friendly, & interested in everyone's riding experiences. 

* the queues for everything (meals, toilet, showers, coffee) can be long- but people are very chatty. 

* the organisation of the event is amazing - the set up, coordination, logistics, the volunteers - it's a well-oiled machine, & very relaxed & friendly. 

* it was so much fun to go to a show last night - combination of music, magic tricks, a theme of local Mansfield lore - linking Simon Gerrans, Ned Kelly & the bicycle. So talented & funny!

However. Yesterday there was a tragedy. A cyclist was killed by a collision with another cyclist ("clipped" - knocked off balance by another's wheel making contact), falling & then run over by a passing truck. This has put a somber feeling over everything, and we feel for his family & friends. Life is so vulnerable and can change so dramatically, so quickly.

Today is our rest day. Clothes washing, explore Mansfield, not too much bike riding, a swim maybe; lunch out - it's not provided today. Hoping it doesn't rain too much. It rained overnight, after we were all tucked in for the night. 

Haven't taken many photos! Here we are at the Hume Weir, day 1

& at a rest stop - people & bikes everywhere, reasonably chaotic.