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Day 7 Yarragon to Mirboo North
Our route today was only 60km, but mainly uphill as we weaved our way to Mirboo North. I left Yarragon just before 7 and arrived in Mirboo North a bit before 11, so it was a very slow 60kms, but the scenery was just amazing. I think I said 'wow' out loud three different times while riding along. Amazing views of the valley and green rolling hills as far as you could see. Andrea saw the ocean at one point, but I didn't! So there were a few big hills that I struggled on today, even though they were very gradual, I was disappointed a little that I didn't nail them! But, I still made it - just very slowly in granny gear for some of it. I didn't walk any! Some people did. Had a good day in Mirboo North with Monica and Andrea, and a very yummy pasta with meatballs for dinner, plus a few beers! I also got the brochure for next year's ride! Very excited but there are 3 huge hills we'll need to train for, dad! Tomorrow is 108kms - the longest day. Fairly flat into San Remo - the long way, of course. Should be a nice ride if the headwind leaves us alone!
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Day 6: Traralgon to Yarragon
After a beautiful rest day spent with my family and a yummy lunch in Traralgon with my bestie, I headed back to camp for the night with my new self-inflating pillow (quite a success). At camp I watched the talent show with new friends who have been looking after me, then we wandered to Victory Park for some pretty spectacular fireworks! Thanks Traralgon for such a great show! Monica, Andrea and I set off at about 6.30 this morning to try and beat the forecasted 36 degree heat! The ride from Traralgon through Tyers and Yallourn North was very foggy with misty rain. It was hard to believe the weather forecast. By 8am it had mostly cleared and the beautiful blue skies and light breeze joined us. After a quick coffee stop in Yallourn North, we set off - Andrea speeding ahead and I rolled with Monica until I couldn't resist the rolling hills and set off on my own. I really like riding on hills. Weird! We had lunch at blue rock dam and before I knew it I was in Yarragon at 10.50am. Camp doesn't open til 12, so I parked under a tree on the Main Street for a while. Lovely! I rode back into town with Andrea and Mon in the afternoon to try and find some air con. We went to the pub and checked out the very cool art gallery/shop with lovely things. Yarragon put on a very warm welcome with signs and a make shift beer garden on the closed-off Main Street. They also put on a market where I bought some delicious nut bars, hehe. The best part of today was a surprise visit from kade! He arrived from the USA this morning and drove straight to Yarragon! He called me while I was in a shop and said 'I'm right next to you!' How sweet! So we hung out in the shade for a while until he had to drive home. What a husband! Tonight was meat mush and salad for tea, which was ok but not great. I was not very hungry anyway as I ate chips at the pub! I will definitely need to focus on my diet when I get home! A representative from Mirboo North gave us a rundown of what they have planned for us tomorrow, and it's a very short but hilly ride there with only one rest stop! I'm quite excited but getting a bit sad that its nearly all over! I hope the rain holds off for us in the morning. The Yarragon forecast is 33 and overcast, but the Melbourne forecast is 27, rain and storms- so we'll see! Raincoat and sunscreen will be in my basket! See you tomorrow!
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Day 4: Rosedale to Traralgon (the long way)
Today was a big day that many of us were anxious about; a big 800m climb (my anxiety), a 10km stretch of unsealed road (road bikers anxiety) and 33km of down hill bliss (chickens' anxiety). Despite terrible weather, I think this was my favourite day! It's exactly how I imagined the Great Vic to be! It was really hard work to get up that hill, and even harder work to get through the muddy, slippery and freezing cold Grand Ridge Road, lunch was miserably wet and there were leeches leeching in Tarra Bulga... but the 33km downhill run made it all worth it for me! Above: the spectacularly scenic Grand Ridge Road.... Unless it's in the clouds, then it's just a muddy road. I've heard there were quite a few people taken to hospital with hypothermia today... I can see why - it was so cold and so wet up that mountain (I'm not sure if its actually a mountain, but it felt like one) and the quick descent in cold wind wouldn't have helped anyone's numb fingers and toes. I hope everyone is ok! I'm so lucky to have family in Traralgon who have taken me in, because I'm not sure if I would be enjoying the camp site in the rain! Yuck! But I do miss it already; such great people! Tomorrow is rest day, the weather should be fining up, and it will be hot again by the time we go on Thursday. So far, this has been such a great experience, I feel so lucky to be doing it and I recommend you join me next year! (We'll do some hill training first though! Gah!)
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Day 3: Briagalong to Rosedale
I started the ride at about 7.20 - a comparatively late start because I braved the breakfast line. I don't like the breakfast line. The weather was amazing once again! Quite cool in the morning, I started the ride in long sleeves but was warm enough by the lunch break. It was relatively flat to the first stop, with undulating hills around Glenmaggie and Heyfield. We had a lunch break in a beautiful spot on Lake Glenmaggie; a yummy chicken sandwich. I did impress some of the Lycra Brigade with my riding skills on Day 3, often overtaking them - one man said 'that was beautiful' as I chased down and passed a Lycra clad lady on her shmancy road bike. Then I met a guy from New York who was tired and 'drifted' behind me for a bit, then we joined a 'peloton' for a bit! Haha. So we rode together for the rest of the day, which was lovely, and fast! About 32km/hour! I learnt a lot about group cycling today. Maybe I should buy a road bike... A pink one! The afternoon in Rosedale was hot. My tent-neighbours and I went into town and had some beers - actually I've had some beers every day of the ride so far... I should try to stop that habit! Sunburn report: none yet! But some nasty tan lines! Lessons learned: beer is much, much more effective after a hard ride.
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Day 2: Bruthen to Briagalong
Another spectacular day! I woke up at 5.30, got dressed, packed my bags, rolled my ‘self inflating mat’, brushed my teeth with a water bottle (festival style) and by 6.20 the queue for breakfast was about 2000 deep. That’s a long, boring friggen queue! So I skipped breakfast and hit the road at 6.45.
HILLS! Lordy there were hills - but another relatively flat day in comparison to what’s coming apparently. Uh oh! With each pedal I think to myself ‘you’re not fit enough for this, what are you doing??’ But I always get to the top and forget all about it. The great thing about the hills today was the reward of downhill after each uphill… undulating terrain, you might say.
Lunch was a delicious chicken wrap in nowheresville, with snacks of course. Then there was 25kms of flat, smooth, shady road. Gorgeous! After the rest stop, the hills began again, although there was only one real killer. I stopped at the bottom of it … “To apply sunscreen” … Also to contemplate whether it was worth it. Haha. It was.
I made it to camp at about 12.20, it was stinking hot! Luckily my luggage was unpacked and my tent was set up so I got to the the showers early. I’m so impressed with the organization of this event. We leave one town in the morning and by the time we reach the next camp, there are showers, toilets, stalls, luggage, tents, and food all waiting for the 5000 of us by midday.
The toilet and shower crew are doing an amazing job - all clean and in working order. Today I even got a warm shower with pressure! I am genuinely impressed.
Briagalong is such a sweet town! I hope each town puts on such a welcome. I love the community groups - primary school cake stall, lions club raffle, some old lady group selling knitted items even though its 40 degrees. I bought a spider (drink kind) from boys raising money for East Timor. Cute. I also got a book from the second hand book store - it was so busy! This must be Briag’s most lucrative day.
Sunburn report: a little on my back, from the post-shower walk to my tent.
Things I wish I brought: a pillow (duh)
Things I wish I didn’t: my iPad.
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Day 1 - Lakes Entrance to Bruthen
Day 1 was a nice little introduction to what is coming! 48km with some hills, but none too big. And actually getting out of lakes entrance was quite easy; those hills look bigger from a car. It's been a hot, hot day! It feels about 30 degrees. But I was finished riding at around 11am so missed a lot of the heat. I'm told there is a mixer at one of the two campsite bars tonight for people doing the ride on their own - so I will go along to that! I don't think there's a lot of benefit of doing this ride with other people, because nobody really rides in groups, or even pairs - especially at a hill! My favourite part of today was unloading a luggage truck. I know that's a bit weird, but it was very relaxing and we had some great group dynamics happening. Bruthen is putting on a great day for us - live music in Main Street and a cute market. There's a lot of people swimming in the river to cool down! Sunburn report: none yet Things I wish I brought: Insect repellant Lessons learned: Just wash your clothes in the shower.
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1 week to go
There is one week to go until the Great Victorian Bike Ride! I'm getting pretty excited but also a little nervous - have I trained enough?
Yesterday they released the Ride Guide which details each day; this is why I'm getting excited. Even though I'm very familiar with all of the towns that we'll be stopping at, being a Gippsland native, I can't wait to see the roads and the views from a bike instead of a car window.
I've almost got all the gear I need, but lacking a few last minute items, such as a drink bottle holder because the one I bought from Kmart fell apart whilst riding a few weeks ago (awesome). Also another spare tube. And some YouTube help on how to change a tube, should I get a puncture. Oh man, I hope I don't get a puncture!
I've never really been a 'camper', so the week might provide me some challenges beyond fitness. What's going to happen to my hair? What are the consequences if I don't wear make up for 9 days? Can I remember how to roll up a sleeping bag? I bought a 'self inflating sleeping mat' yesterday, but it doesn't seem very comfortable. Maybe I should get a proper airbed.
Fun times ahead!
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