Day 36. Return to Geelong

This morning I'm at the Trisled Factory to give the RV it's weekly service, with a careful look over from the "chief", all is on order & we're good to go. 

The ride back to the Ferry was magic!

A beautiful morning, warm sunshine, no wind ... & definitely NO fog. :-) 

I managed to cover the 30 odd km's back to the ferry in under 40mins. 

Safely stowed below decks...upstairs is where the food is!! :-D

Yep, the view IS better today.  

Nice 'n clear. 

Back into Geelong. 

And with an uneventful ride back to the city, afternoon tea was in order at The Beach House, Geelong. 

Again today, special thanks to M&A for their kind hospitality.  :-) 

Track my progress in real time

For those having trouble seeing my Spot Connect, and track, this link should work. 

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And on Facebook 

Rotovelo Across Australia. 

:-)

Day 35. Geelong to Dromana.

Not long after I arrived in Geelong, I received an invitation, asking if I'd be interested in doing an interview about my travels, for the local radio station's Bicycle Show program on 94.7 Pulse. 

I was happy to do so & a time was organised for this morning. 

I spent a pleasant morning at the radio station, doing the interview & talking about my journey & the RV with the station staff. 

Thanks for the opportunity all.  :-)

Today's travel plan, after the radio interview, is to head over to the Trisled factory for a social visit. 

I've had a very nice ride from Geelong to Queenscliff, a brilliant sunny day until the last few km into Queenscliff where a noticeable thick fog had obviously rolled in off the sea. 

On boarding the Ferry for Sorento, & heading out across Port Phillip Bay, there wasn't much of a view...just fog to the horizon. 

Just a quick glimpse of the port as we left, but nothing for the rest of the voyage. 

The view didn't improve much on the Sorento side either... I can hear the small waves rolling in on the beach, somewhere in the fog...

The ride up to Dromana was terrific, a dedicatied bike lane, reasonably flat, & very easy to cruise along at 30+ km/h the entire way.... although through fog for most of it. 

Arriving at Trisled was a highlight of the entire trip. I've been trying to drop in here for the entire 14 years I've been riding their trikes. Woohoo!!  :-) :-)

It was great to finally meet the crew & give a glowing report on how good the RV has been during my journey so far. I think they are suitably impressed too. 

A special thanks to Ben, who showed me the sights...

...& made sure I was well fed & watered. 

Thanks Mate !!  :-) :-) :-)

 

Rest day 2. (sort of) in Geelong.

At yesterday's meet 'n greet with the 'bent riders from Torquay, we organised for a little day ride to Barwon Heads for...you guessed it, coffee 'n cake. LOL

A Roto-Mango Ride 

(My first ride with another Velonaut)

Paul rode his Mango Velomobile across to meet me, then lead me on our day ride. 

After an impromptu chat with a couple of upright riders this morning, who coincidentally had the same start location as us for their day ride, we set off for Barwon Heads. 

I totally enjoyed the quiet back roads, & bypassing the highway traffic. 

It's good to be lead along by someone with local knowledge, on these sorts of rides. :-)

A leisurely ride, followed by leisurely coffee 'n cake. A great way to start a Sunday. Then off on a scenic jaunt to Torquay  & Point Danger... What a view!

Roto-Mango 

An invitation for lunch put a few more K's under my belt. I had now passed 3540km from Fremantle. 

Many thanks to K&P for lunch, and it was good to meet John as well. Thanks K for the warm hospitality, the great meal, desert & coffee. 

A quick look through Paul's stable, he's mastered the Cyclist Rule .... you must have N+1 bikes..

"N" being the number of bikes you need & 

"+1"  being the bike you ride today

You can never have too many bikes. LOL

Roto-Mango ready to roll...

Time to hit the road for the return ride, Paul guided me back to Geelong, again on quiet back roads.. 

So much fun to ride these roads, & viewing the countryside is much more enjoyable. 

Thanks again everyone. 

BTW, I clocked up 90km on today's ride, so it was "sort of" a rest day.  ;-)

Rest day 1 at Geelong.

So today started off soggy, there'd been quite a bit of rain overnight, and it was still making it's presence felt through breakfast....bacon, eggs, toast, coffee...Yummo!!

I avoided the thought that I would be out on the road again soon with cold porridge for breakky ;-) lol.  

A fantastic way to start the day. Thanks M&A. 

Then with a break in the weather I set off to meet a couple of 'bent riders at a local cafe for the usual "coffee, cake 'n a yak" about my journey so far. Thanks guys. I loved meeting you all. :-)

By the time we'd finished, the sun was shining, a gentle breeze, and with an errand to run... for a replacement tent pole ... sourced froma local camping store, exactly what I wanted.  Great !!

The rest of the day was Rotovelo maintenance... Check all fittings, empty the RV, drivetrain maintenance, laundry ... done & dusted...all good. :-)

I've been invited to join a 'bent ride tomorrow morning...  Kewl. :-) 

Day 32. Mount Helen to Geelong.

Note to self...

When looking for a bush camp, don't leave it 'til sunset....the place I picked to assemble & place the tent last night seemed to appear to be reasonably flat, until after I'd set up, had dinner, & decided to sleep ... WRONG!!

The ground had a decidedly deceptive downhill slope, which had me climbing UP the tent floor all night.  :-/

I'd sleep for an hour or so, only to be woken up feeling cramped, as I'd slid down that slope.....time after time all night. 

On top of that, the wind had become rather strong, when an ominous "CRACK" announced that a segment of the flexible tent pole "met its Waterloo"....Bugger !!

That'll need replacing ASAP!

As a comfortable nights sleep was eluding me, with sliding down & climbing UP the tent floor, & the whole tent flapping loudly in the wind...at 5am I'd had enough!

Breakfast in bed again, pack everything back in the RV..& out on the road at 6.30. 

At least sunrise was spectacular!   

Again :-)

The ride into Buninyong was a good downhill coast, (45+ km/h) but the wind was a howling crosswind which would unexpectedly shunt the nose of the RV to the centre of the road. Very unnerving after not much sleep. :-(

Then to REALLY start the day off is the massive climb back out of Buninyong. :-/

"Shut up princess, just pedal...you'll get there" was the mantra for the next 1/2 hour.  

Finally creating the rise. & a couple more further on, the road & wind aligned!!  :-)

Woohoo, this was more like it!! Wind the RV out in top gear, point the nose down the road and rip along at a nice cadence & cruise at 45-49km/h... My momentum was such, that any climb was quickly negotiated, & without too much "loss of steam", I'd covered a good 60k's very easily. 

The previous night's troubles were forgotten... for a while. 

I was in the "zone" & having great fun!! :-)

A poor quality pic (due to the low dawn light & angle of the sun). These three large fibreglass chickens at the Happy Hens Egg Farm, we're pointing the way on to Geelong. 

They brought a smile to my face.  :-)

The 80k's to Geelong was completed pretty quick. 

........prior to beginning this entire trip, I was contacted by the Sustainability Teacher at East Geelong Primary School, asking, if I was going to pass through Geelong, would I be able to call into the school & do a "show & tell" presentation on my adventure. 

Today I was able to fulfil that request. 

I'd pedalled 3490km to reach them, and spent part of this afternoon answering their "20 questions" or more LOL. 

Thanks Miss D. I enjoyed the visit.  :-)

Here's the link to track my ride. 

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Tonight & the weekend will be rest days.

Friends M&A have offered bed. & breakky. 

Thank you very much...

Even more thanks now, as the rain has set in for tonight....a bed, shower & a feed, warm & dry... thanks :-) 

Day 31. Stawell to Mount Helen.

Brrr.  It's a bit frosty this morning ... 2.3degC actually. 

Breakky in bed...cold porridge, well, it's warmer when you eat inside the tent LOL 

Packing up this morning is a bit hard on the fingers...they're cold...almost painfully cold, but not quite...I can still move them...sort of. 

8am I'm ready for the road, with the rain hatch for central heating & the rain jacket on...for a few more degrees of warmth. 

After 6km it's warm enough to turn off the heater 'n add a bit of aircon. Off with the jacket 'n rain hatch... It's a bit cool. 500 metres pedalling & all is warm again. 

On through to Ararat, nice terrain to ride, pleasant weather, a mild tailwind over the left shoulder ... smiles all round. 

The view of wind turbines out of Beaufort heading to Ballarat. This section of highway is being redeveloped. The road shoulder is a pleasure to ride on. Wide, clean & smooooth ... good for the knees.  

Finally into Ballarat. With a half decent bike lane all the way to the centre of the city .. & good driver behaviour which was noticeable. A quick stop at Visitor Information for a local map, I sought out a bush camp on my way through to the Midland Highway for tomorrow's run to Geelong. 

Day 30. Kiata to Stawell.

A little excitement at my little camp last night. About 2am I heard a "thump....thump....thump......then BELT!"

a small wallaby out on its nightly run just barrelled into my tent !! It was probably wondering WTF!!  as was I  LOL

It probably cuts through the same path every night, no hassles, then all of a sudden there's a bloody tent in the way !! 

No harm done to wallaby or self...back to sleep. 

No, it's not a bushfire, it's sunrise!! :-)

Magic!! Freezing cold, but still Magic!!

Out on the road at 8am, rain hatch in place to help with heating again. Toasty warm after a few  K's. 

Made it into Horsham by midday...where I found my 2nd Maccas meal... Only 475+km since the last one in Adelaide. I do t think my waist line will mind. ;-)

Just had to grab this pic of Mount Zero, about 20km east of Horsham....

& put the RV in it too...

I saw a sign for icecreams, and found the Giant Koala at Dadswells Bridge Vic. 

Don't know what he thought of the RV, but I enjoyed an icecream break.  :-)

Further on, about 10km W of Stawell, I crossed the 37th Parallel...

I'm now at latitude 37deg South!! Maybe that's why it only got to 13deg C. today  :-/ LOL

Those last 10k to Stawell were a bit of an effort. A few longish climbs, with they're accompanying downhills...each climb seeming longer than the one before. 

I was glad to finally make it into town. 

and to find a spare bit of ground in Stawell's Grampians Gate Caravan Park ... an excellent place to end the day. 

Day 29. Keith (South Aus ) to Kiata (Victoria)

IAwoke to a very foggy dawn, & a temperature of 3deg. FRESH! Sort of sums it up. Bloody cold is more like it. :-/

By the time I was packed & had checked out at 7.45am the fog had cleared & the sun was doing its best to warm things up. A bit too slowly though... I had to clip the rain hatch on, to help with the "central heating"...

Once I had the first 5ks of the day done, I was toasty warm... even with the sou'easter. (Headwind) ...again :-/

Almost 60k done & 3km short of Bordertown I was yet again stopped by the Highway Patrol!  Damn!! I had planned to call in on THEM so as to avoid being held up... but... 

maybe I shouldn't have had a "comfort" stop. LOL 

Anyway, as all cyclists do, I found the first bakery that was open, for a calorie refill. 

Monster jam 'n cream filled chocolate doughnut. That'll help for a few K's ;-)

I was also sprung by the local press reporter who was interested in my ride. Cool. We had a good chat, with the obligatory pics as well. :-)

The rest of today's ride was pretty good. & uneventful...with one MAJOR change. 

After crossing the State Border into Victoria, the road surface IMPROVED IMMENSELY!!!!

The "breakdown" lane I had been trying to use ALL the way through South Australia is ABSOLUTE CRAP!! It's full of large gravel, roadside detritus, & has a ripple strip (fog line) that plays murder with my knees & cadence. IT'S DAMN DANGEROUS TO RIDE IN!!! Hence it's been smoother & easier to travel in the left hand traffic lane as close as possible to the fog line. That's what's been pissing off every other driver..."Suck it up princesses".. You don't own the bloody roads!! Share 'em!! :-( 

Stiff! If I hold up your life for 15seconds!!

BUT!

The breakdown lane in Victoria is just over a meter wide, is almost silky smooth, & looks to be well maintained. It's been a pleasure to ride in all day. 

Thank you  VicRoads !! :-)

Time for another calorie refill in Nhill, before setting off towards Ballarat to find a respectable & secluded bush camp. 

:-) done!!

Follow my ride Live..Spot Connect.

For those having trouble seeing my Spot Connect, and track, this link should work. 

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Day 28. Tailem Bend to Keith.

Packing up a dry camp this morning was a pretty good feeling despite it being 9deg C. The overnight cloud cover had held on to its moisture (no rain), but in about 1&1/2 hours they couldn't hold on to that moisture any longer .....

And so it began to rain....

& rain.....

& rain. 

For the next 5hrs, it continued, whilst I just kept the pedals turning. 

A took a reprieve from the wet at Coonalpyn for morning tea. It didn't look like anything was going to improve, so I just went back out & continued on. 

I had a small break in the weather, of about 45mins, at Tintinara to enjoy some "dry" riding. 

Then it was on again, wet n windy, a SE breeze was driving the rain in under the Flevobike roof, but the rain hatch kept most of it off my body. But with the perspiration of my effort inside the RV, at least u was warm n wet. :-)

As an aside, I had my handheld CB on, & the drivel from the passing truck drivers with comments of "death wish", "too small", "no flag", "can't see it" etc., started to tick me off! Not to mention the antics of the "Cowboys" who get their jollies being twats on the road !!! 

Obviously they ALL saw me, they're just too daft to realise that "today there may be something different on the road" 

So much for being "Professional Drivers???"

It was less stressful to turn the CB off & just ride. :-)

I was passed by the Highway Patrol twice with no problems, as well as a couple of Motorbike Police with no dramas :-) 

.... most truckies were ok, but like usual, the twats make a name for them all. :-(

5km short of Keith, I was finally pulled over by the Law....apparently curiosity had got too much to bear, so he came out for a look. :-)

All was good, with the usual offer of safety advice... No probs....carry on...be safe. :-)

After a day of crap weather n crappy truck drivers, a bed 'n hot shower sounded good. 

And an "ensuite" too. 

Day 27.. Adelaide to Tailem Bend

A surprise had been organised for me today. S&A were part of the support crew for the "Tour de Legacy". A fund raising ride for Legacy, from Melbourne to Adelaide via The Great Ocean Road. 

They had asked the Legacy Riders if they would be interested in sending me off, out if Adelaide. 

They did MORE than that, they provided excellent morale, & physical support, up the HUGE climb of the notorious Adelaide Hills!

Harpo, S&A's cat making sure all is good. :-)

All set, GO !!

The Legacy Riders giving me a hand to climb out of Adelaide. I can't thank them enough. It's a mongrel of a climb, 'n would've been very, very long & slow on my own. 

They even presented me with a Legacy Jersey, it WILL become one of my most prized possessions!. Thanks heaps guys, I'll treasure it !  :-) 

At the top if the climb a last look over Adelaide. 

Then we're off to Tailem Bend. 

With a morning tea stop in Stirling, and then 2 of the guys escorting me all to Echunga. 

Again thank you to both S&A and the Legacy Riders for a fantastic start to my day. 

Ride safe my friends. :-)

I continued on, following their directions to Strathalbyn, Wellington, Tailem Bend. 

Wellington provided for afternoon tea at the cafe near the ferry. 

(a special pic for "Thel" from my Nullabor support team) gotta have that arvo coke ;-)

After a great but tough start to the day, 125km was made by the legs. Time to rest. Happycamper. :-)

Rest day. Adelaide

Not a lot to report for today. I'm certainly enjoyi ng the hospitality from S&A! It's very much appreciated. 

"S" has a well equipped workshop, as the Li Ion battery injested a gut full of rain on the way into Adelaide yesterday. 

It's all good again. Dried out and is now well sealed.  :-)

All the camp gear is dry, well aired, and the grunge is out of everything else...Thanks "A". 

The RV is checked over, moving bits lubricated, non moving bits checked for tightness. 

With a top up if the pantry again, I'm all set for a 7am start tomorrow. 

Day 26. Virginia into Adelaide

Hmmm it's raining. I'm about 30km north of Adelaide. I've checked the BoM site & there appears to be a break in the rain radar... that'll be my "escape window ". Let's go. 

Well, it lasted about 20mins before I caught the first rain shower. No probs, drop on the rain hatch, pedal on. 

10mins later the heavens opened!

AND DID THEY OPEN !!!!

It absolutely bucketed down.. Good thing  I'm in the Rotovelo... I remained quite dry apart from the spray of passing traffic & the wind blown mist through the open sides of the Flevobike roof. It was actually pretty enjoyable. On the dual-lane road, I took the left hand lane, making the traffic do what it is supposed to do.. Overtake correctly! Not squeeze past. I had all lights blazing, front headlight & flasher plus taillight & rear flasher. 

All good.  :-)

I dropped in on the crew at GMK Logistics in Pooraka. They were amazed I think, when I arrived in one piece AND pretty dry for how hard it was raining. :-)

Thanks for the hot coffee & chat guys,  & for a respite from the rain for a bit. It was very much appreciated. 

After GMK, I had to wait a few hours for my next "bed owners" S&A,to return from work, so a good place to hide from the weather is under the "Golden Arches".. for a feed, free wifi & a coffee. 

My first Maccas grub in 2740km. 

I spent a great night with S&A. 

Great food , cleansing ales, good conversation...best of all, a hot shower & warm bed. 

Day 25. Kadina to Virginia.

I've had a good nights sleep, for the little effort I put in yesterday. Hardest work for the day was setting up camp. :-)

The weather has incredible timing, the only precipitation occurred whilst packing up ... I hate packing in the rain.  Oh well. 

On the road at 8am. 

A bit of hill climb practice to get to Kulpara, with some terrific undulations out of Paskerville. Woohoo!

Dropped down the escarpment to Pt Wakefield at break neck speed! 

I stopped in to a rest area at the head of the Yorke Peninsular for a breather 'n a pic of my "emu mate"

"What's that Skip, don't trust the bloody emu!"

Got ya! Ya mongrel!!

Whilst "throttling" my mate. P&A rolled in with their Van, on their way through to the Peninsula & promptly offered morning tea. 

We had a great chat over coffee 'n timtams.. Thanks guys !! :-)

Safe travels. 

The run down Pt Wakefield rd to my bed for the night with A&J was splendid. Cruising at 38-45km/h absolutely effortless with both favourable wind and terrain. 

Although it did involve a pull-over by the local constabulary  ... again. 

The officer was told to look for "the invisible bike thingy".  

I was found easily enough, a quick chat, 'n I was on my way. 

I asked that they might like to get the word out in Adelaide that I was coming ...to save me being stopped again and again lol. ;-)

All good. I arrived at A&J's to a roast dinner & a dry bed. 

Excellent! 

Especially as the rain & wind was pretty wild through the night. 

Many thanks again to all that made today enjoyable. Even the Law was on my side today. Noice!!  :-)