Day 5 Lakes Entrance to Orbost - 59 kms

Left hostel early to avoid retribution from Dutch backpackers in room next door. Wine with dinner increased the snoring volume significantly. Weather was glorious, cool with a clear blue sky and no wind. A number of long hill climbs and some really nice descents. Passed through an area that had been burnt in a bushfire in early February. We saw one tree trunk that was still smoldering. One of Joe's panniers jumped off after hitting a bump following a fast descent but fortunately no damage.

We arrived in Orbost and went straight to bakery for lunch (BTW, steer clear of the Hawaiian sausage roll). There were a lot of cyclists in town who had been on the East Gippsland Rail Trail as we have done number of times before.

We booked in at the pub, Marshall's Commonwealth. Walked into the public bar in cycling gear to pay and the locals obviously thought we were a bit strange/gay/alien/wackers (Of course, if Joe would stop mincing when he walks it would help too). Rooms are basic, but we both have the up market rooms that have basins and running water. Seems like luxury when you know the next few days will be camping in the scrub. Good views from the rooms too.

Unpacked and took our washing to the laundry. Had a chat to the guy there and with the washing in the washing machine went for a walk around town. When we came back the laundry was shut. Unbelievable!!! The tosser had locked up even though he knew we had washing in there. Not a major drama as we do not have far to go tomorrow but even so.

Went and sat on the balcony at the pub and had a few drinks while we planned our next few days and to wonder at the psychological profile of the tosser from the laundry. Tony went for a walk later and was able to access the laundry from the back and put the clothes in the dryer.

Went to the "other" pub for tea where they do great chinese. This will probably be the last bought meal we have for about 3 days. The next few days are fairly remote with not much in the way of shops. We will be taking most of our food for the next 3 days and camping in the bush.

Not much happens in Orbost on a Sunday and kids obviously don't have much to do and were wandering around the streets alot.

Weather is meant to be good tomorrow so we are off to Cape Conran to spend the day by the beach. The next 3 days we will be riding through areas where mobile coverage is limited so we may not post to the blog.

Day 4 Providence Ponds - Lakes Entrance - 68 kms

Decided that Providence Ponds Flora and Fauna Reserve was miss named...never saw any animals.

Got an early start and went to the Billabong Cafe about 5 km doen the road for breakfast.  Joe used to come here on the way to sailing many years ago.  Its a truckies cafe that does a big breakfast but is like stepping back about 40 years.

Particularly liked Buck.  The Billabong did a great breakfast, the decor was unsophisticated and carried a range of stock unlike anything in any truck stop in Australia.

We got to Bairnsdale fairly quickly and then headed off down the Bairnsdale-Orbost rail trail to try and escape the traffic noise.  This is a view of Joe going down the rail trail.  Not pretty I know, but I spend alot of my time looking at it.  BTW, Michael B. it's fairly easy to take pictures on a bike while you are riding without bringing the other person down ;-)).

 The surface was fairly rough and slow so we went back to the highway and covered the 31 km pretty easily.





Got some good photos of Lakes Entrance at Kalima i.e the top of the hill as you come into Lakes.

Who is this handsome devil?

We bought some flathead off a ferry and went and booked in at a youth hostel for the night.  Its a young European group so we fit in well.  Just wish Joe would stop chatting up the Dutch backpackers...male and female.  Had a good feed for tea and we are now watching The Incredibles while we update the blog.  9:00 pm - the latest we have been up for awhile.  normally we are going to bed at sundown.

Day 3 Seaspray to Providence Ponds

Slow start this morning. Misty rain in Seaspray. Left town about 9.30 and rode to Sale. Steady speed, legs feeling a little weary. Spent 3 hours in Sale, most of it in a Chinese cafe next to the mall. We went there for morning tea and then discovered the "all you can eat buffet" for $8.50 so we stayed for lunch. We weren't the only ones. The cafe seemed to attract a disproportionate number of morbidly obese patrons.

Did some shopping for dinner and to replace my pedals and finally moved on about 2.30 pm. Replaced the pedals with cleats and bike shoes that had a small malfunction that meant I could not remove my shoe.  Did running repairs at McDonalds.

Originally planned to stop at Stratford but decided to kick on to Providence Ponds which is halfway between Stratford and Bairnsdale. Last 20 kms went by pretty quick. We are camping in the nature reserve here just far enough from the highway that we shouldn't be bothered by traffic noise.

Lots of mosquitoes and a very cold night and morning.

Day 2 Part 2 Agnes Falls - Seaspray - 101 kms

Took advantage of the tail wind and pushed on to Seaspray, 63 kms on from morning tea, making a total of 100 kms for the day. Had lunch by the roadside. As soon as we started eating all the cows in the paddock came over. Little known fact is that Joe can talk to animals although the cows seemed to think what he was talking was bulltish...and they should know.

I know Phil T talks to sheep, but he only knows a few pick up lines.

Booked in to the caravan park, $25 for an unpowered site and you needs coins for the showers!! Still the showers were greatly appreciated even if the decor was from the 1950s.

Cycling has been tremendous. Today 101 kms at an average of 22.5 kph. Bikes going well although I will have to replace a pedal tomorrow. I can feel it "clicking" so it probably has a dead bearing. This wasn't a pedal that came with the bike.



Very windy and cold at Seaspray. Had dinner in the laundry because it was so cold. Dinner was ling with butter bean, corn and peach salsa. Pity there were no chairs.

Day 1 Take 2 Tidal River - Agnes Falls Part 2 - 86 kms

Have arrived in Foster after starting from Tidal River at 10.30 am. Covered 60 kms so far today and are going to push on to Agnes Falls, a further 20 kms. Riding has been excellent and the bikes are performing really well. Saw a few dead wombats by the road. Weather has been good, the wind has helped us a bit at times and we have had some light showers but nothing serious.

Guess how we took the picture!

For the cyclophiles...thank god for the small chainring - 28 teeth. Needed it to get up some of the hills coming out of the Prom with all the weight on. Bar end shifters working well too.

Currently sitting in Ando's Cafe at Foster. Just eaten excellent pie and cake with a pot of tea - How gay!

Day 1 Take 2 Tidal River - Agnes Falls Part 1

Kicked off from tidal River. Thanks to Lisa for driving us. Some steep hills coming out but great views.

Tough ride, but soon covered the 30 km to the entrance.





Have arrived in Foster after starting from Tidal River at 10.30 am. Covered 60 kms so far today and are going to push on to Agnes Falls, a further 20 kms. Riding has been excellent and the bikes are performing really well. Saw a few dead wombats by the road. Weather has been good, the wind has helped us a bit at times and we have had some light showers but nothing serious.

Currently sitting in Ando's Cafe. Just eaten excellent pie and cake.

Delayed Start

On Sunday afternoon we traveled to our starting point (Tidal River) and set up camp intending to be on our way in the morning. During the late afternoon I felt ill and was left with a choice, go home and get checked out or stay over overnight and hope I felt better in the morning. Peter Howard who accompanied us Tidal River was to drive the car back after dinner. I was concerned that if I stayed and was unwell in the morning we wouldn’t have any transport back to Melbourne.

Fortunately tests back in Melbourne gave me the all clear and we are able to start again. We have lost 3 days cycling so our final destination is a little more uncertain. My particular thanks to Peter and Tony for helping me to cope on Sunday night and to Lisa for driving us back down to Tidal River tomorrow morning. Fingers crossed, no more delays!!