Day 43. Tour 4 Legacy

If the rain was heavy yesterday, it turned it up a notch during the night, and it absolutely looked like it was waiting for me to "make my move" 😉 this morning..

...I've got places to go and people to see....

look out rain,  here i come. 

Well, not until 1st breakfast is taken care of...

 

I think the Jaffa is sneering at me.....😶

The 9% gradient 1st up! 🥵

It has to go down eventually 🚀

Several kilometres up the road and I'm in "Velomobile Territory" 

..rolling undulations...

conservation of momentum gets me sailing along at 55+kph for a good 5-6 kilometres 👍🏻👍🏻

You have to make the most of these situations...because soon enough it's back to granny gear and climbing again at 5-6 kph 🥵

Marulan...2nd breakfast stop 😉

I'm sure the Jaffa is watching me ...again 🤔 

It being left out in the rain while I stuff my face again 🙃 

More rain, more hills, more kilometres knocked over..

Someone has a sense of humour 🤣🤣

ooooh...the Golden Arches ✨️ 

A few more junk calories? Why not!   30km left to the day...plenty of time. 

Destination reached,  rain is clearing 👌 

Check over the Jaffa for tomorrow...we ride!

Day 42. Tour 4 Legacy

It is a nice feeling to know you've beaten the bad weather to your destination....

It's rained heavily for most of the night. 

This morning...I'm going to take the "Pepsi Challenge" and make an executive decision 

Let's race the rain to Goulburn. 

Off we go, a quick grocery shop and the race is on....🚀🌧

Lining up for the downhill blitz...and 

The

Rain

Won!

Oh boy!  Just as well I'm in a Velomobile. I love the weather protection...

The day would be really horrible if you were out on an upwrong bike. You'd be wet, and freezing 🥶 

My breath is blowing steam as I tackle the highway and hills. Apparently it's 7°C outside the Jaffa and a steamy 18°C inside it. 

100% humidity too 🥵

Nice 😎 

🥵🥵🥵.

...at least I'm warm..

and stewing in my own sweat 😓 

45km done and "who said 2nd breakfast? "

Ok. If I have to ... ☕️🥧🥪

Gunning....you're it!

I'm wet on the outside, might as well get wet on the inside... & a couple of pies 🥧 

The rain arrived with a vengeance for the rest of the ride 🌧🌧

I didn't beat the rain, but a warm Motel room and hot shower...the table is turned and I win anyway. 😉😎

Day 41..Tour 4 Legacy

And the dog sat on the Tuckerbox, 5 miles from Gundagai....

There was a light rain shower at about 3.30am this morning, with a forecast of very wet weather to come for the next few days 😳....today I just want to beat it to Yass. 

1st breakfast is at the cafe near the Dog on the Tuckerbox monument. About 7km north of Gundagai. 

Then it's off to go hill climbing for most of the day. I'll just tackle them one pedal stroke at a time. Just find a comfortable pace with relaxed breathing and settle in for the ride 

⅓ of the way up the first big climb and it's good to know that I'm pretty safe from getting pinged for breaking the speed limit 😉🤣

I did have a Highway Patrol car and Police motorcycle both go past me...which was a change from having them stop me to "chat about road safety" 😎

I guess drivists here can see me  🤷‍♂️🙄

Sometimes a comfort stop just involves letting sweaty feet get some relief 😌

One of the last big climbs of the day...

650m in 25°C heat, dragging the Jaffa still at 140kg doesn't get any easier 😒 

But! There's always a "down" side....😍

Looking back over my shoulder and the looming dark clouds are getting closer...I'd forgotten about the approaching rain 🌧 

Afternoon tea...🤷‍♂️

Always time for afternoon tea..

Impeccable timing....pulled into tonight's stopover and the heavens opened 

...Winner!

Day 40. Tour 4 Legacy

....I feel a gentle breeze as I crawl out to meet the world this morning, a sign there's not a lot of dew settled on the ground or tent... a dry pack up today..

A very comfortable night's sleep again. 

The freshness of the morning is something I never get sick of, the crispness of the air is delightful. The morning sounds of the magpies and kookaburras...the bushman's alarm clock.... 

1st breakfast, 400m up the street at Holbrook Bakery...then it's off to Gundagai 

Getting a clear run in the breakdown lane...not too much debris...

Some long runs "out in the lanes" due to the ripple strip taking up MY bike lane 🙄 or the new chip seal crap being too rough to ride on...

Then the steepest climb so far....the locals call it "aeroplane hill".... one hell of a long,  steep climb to Kyeamba Rest area....and 2nd breakfast. 

I'm just about to jump in and roll on, when the ever present "Dot Watcher" turns up with a top up for my ration pack 👍🏻👍🏻

I'm always happy to have a chat with them and tell stories of the road...

Thanks Jonathan 👍🏻 

This part of my ride is now climbing through the Great Dividing Range....plenty of UPS....and some DOWNS, where I can let the Jaffa have its head and blast downhill at 65+kph....

The wind today is variable and the occasional burst of crosswind at 60+kph makes for "interesting" antics in the Jaffa. 😎

I think I remember more about the climbing than the descents because of the amount of effort required to conquer them... 🤣...and the amount of detail I experience travelling so slowly. The animals in the scrub, the smell of the roadside trees, the smell of passing cattle trucks! Stopping to talk to the cattle and sheep in the paddocks....stuff you never stop your car for! Unique experiences! 

Shady spots and the view at the top of climbs have been very good today. 

Today was also rather warm at 26°C, and those times I was climbing with a tailwind added extra heat to the cockpit...nice and juicy in my own sweat 😓 😓 

Finally,  hitting the last downhill run for the day, and cranking out along the flats into Gundagai at a nice 35kph  for those last few kilometres, was a pleasant way to reach the day's destination. 

Welcome to Camp Gundagai  🏕 

Day 39. Tour 4 Legacy

.... it seems to be a bit chilly this morning, there's quite a heavy dew on the tent... but I sleep very warm of a night...sometimes a bit too warm, waking in a lather of sweat. 

It must be the beanie and bed socks 🤭 

....but I think it's the "sea to summit" thermal sleeping bag liner.... it truly works as claimed in my opinion ... to increase the warmth of your sleeping bag by 5°C to 15°C.  a pretty good piece of kit. 

It's turning out to be a cracking day for riding... and the pictures don't do the scenery justice....

An informative comfort stop...

A lot of the rest areas are named for Victoria Cross recipients, with information of their Citation and a bit of life history. 

Thank you for your service. 

Moving on to 2nd breakfast again 👍🏻

Crystal clear skies, cool temperatures, very little wind....😎

I had a marvellous run into Holbrook, small undulations, 35kph and faster for the last couple of kilometres...totally great fun....proper velomobile riding 😀 

In the town of Holbrook is the display of HMAS Otway ...a full size Submarine. 

This picture shows the propellers and rear stabiliser...

... a bit to big to attach it to the Jaffa 😀😎

....and at the "pointy end"

"Daddy, I've found you 😍..

..will I grow up to be as big as you?" said the Jaffa...

....lunch at the Submarine Cafe 👍🏻👍🏻

In checking the weather forecast, rain is due pretty soon, as early as Friday morning... time to devise a plan for its arrival...

I reckon I'll stop here today, & head for Gundagai tomorrow and maybe take a rest day while the rain passes through. 🤔

Due to the wet pack up this morning, best to get things dry for tonight. 

Good to see my mascots are still getting along 😉

Day 38. Tour 4 Legacy ANZAC DAY

Plan....

*Dawn Service 

*Breakfast 

*Stuff everything in the Jaffa 

*Ride

Yet another day begins... I had the alarm set for a 5.15am start, to be able to get to the 6am Dawn Service for Benalla's ANZAC Day.

Campsite to Cenotaph.. a 15min ride. 

... I just happened to notice the lights were on at the Golden Arches as I was heading in....

of course..junk calories are one of the major food groups, for any meal aren't they? 

Solemn and respectful to start the day, with quite a large crowd in attendance. 

A nice service with just the noise of the birds breaking the dawn stillness...

I stopped to get a picture of daybreak from the bridge over LakeBenalla... and with yet another discussion about the bike and Legacy, find myself in the picture. 

Loaded with calories, the Jaffa also Loaded....it was one of my latest starts for getting out on the road. 8.30am. 

20km into the morning and I'm feeling like it's time for 2nd breakfast....

BP Glenrowan for toastie and, you guessed it....Coffee 🙃😎

I'd like to make it to Chiltern today, seeing as i had a later start...or possibly Wodonga, depending on the "terrain"...(read that as "how big are the hills?")...if things go well I'd consider the extra few km's into NSW. 

It'll feel good to be back in my home State again. 😌 

All this cycling and I'm hungry again...10km to Chiltern and I'm feeling the "bonk" starting to come on.....

Maybe a comfort stop and a couple of muesli bars will settle my stomach...

I spy with my little eye, something beginning with .👀.....Bakery!  🥧🥪☕️!!

Chiltern Bakery..... 2 pies, coffee, chocolate milk.....and buy a Coke (to save for the end of the day 🥫)

After getting some food into me and checking the road's elevation profile ...it's pretty much downhill....NSW HERE I COME!

A really good downhill run too...the so called "bike" lane has been mostly clear of debris pretty much all day...fairly stress free riding 😀 

Cruising along at 28-45kph was rather enjoyable for those last 20km or so of the day. 

 Back in my home State IS a good feeling....now to get tonight's stopover sorted..

Spotted by Dot watcher Steve just as I rolled back into NSW, we had a good chat about my time on the road so far. Thanks Steve 👍🏻 

This looks like a decent spot to spend the night....🤔