Day 76 San Remo to Melbourne (South Yarra)

Awake at 4 and out of bed by 5. Was all packed up and ready to go at 6.30. Needed to get to Cowes to catch the ferry at 8.30 so was important for me to get there early as the next one wouldn't be until 12.30. Turns out was lucky that the first ferry ran as the forecast was for 25knot winds so would have been too rough. Luckily it was only 10 so the journey went ahead. Was joined on the ferry by some tandem riders who I met yesterday on the rail trail. Told them I planned to get the train to Brighton to join a cycle path into town. He said that there was a cycle path all the way in from Frankston a 40km ride. So I decided to do that instead. Just about caught the connecting train and was in Frankston by 10.30. Popped to the tourist info to find out about the cycle path but unable to help. So after a snack off I set. Couldn't find it so ended up cycling on a two lane highway with no shoulder for a while. When it became obvious that it was too dangerous I switched to the pavement. The other thing that was hindering me was the strong head wind, sometimes gusting up to 85km/h not a pleasant experience. It was very tempting to hop on a train as it followed the line of the highway, but decided it was worth making the effort. Then 20km out turned onto Beach Road and the cycle path appeared. By this time the temp was up to 30, no sun though just clouds and still a big head wind. Was thinking about what it would feel like to not have to cycle and whether I would do another trip. Where I would go etc. I wish the wind hadn't been so strong would have made the ride in so much more enjoyable. Maybe I will do the cycle path again when the weather is better. I cycled onto St Kilda road just after 4 and met my brother outside the royal botanical gardens. I cried, with joy and relief. I know I didn't cycle the whole way, but I did cycle a total of 2467km or 1442miles. So I am pretty proud of myself. There are a few things I may have done differently but on the whole Iam proud of what I achieved. I met some amazing people and made some great friendships. I had a blast and learnt a lot about myself and a lot about human nature. So to all the kind people I met along the way, thank you. To those who chatted with me, gave me drinks and food. Who invited me to hang out with them and enjoy their company, thank you. To everyone who gave me a lift when I was tired or bored of the road, thank you. To all the awesome people who let me stay in their homes, thank you. Lastly to all the friends and family who offered support and encouragement you have been awesome. The people made it the trip it turned out to be. Oh and I can do anything if I put my mind to it, except cycle up too many hills!

Day 75 Leongatha to San Remo (Phillip Island)

All packed up and on the road by 7.30 Was a cold and windy start, so long sleeves and a buff around my neck. The road to Wonthaggi was undulating but I guess the gradient was ok. Sometimes there was no shoulder so had to be super aware of traffic. Got to Wonthaggi at 10.30 and treated myself to a baked potato and coffee. Was a bit early for lunch but I was hungry so went for it. Then I got on the Bass Coast Rail Trail so no need to worry about traffic. It was pretty windy so going was slow. When I reached the end of the trail at Anderson I was covered in flies so did a dance to try and get rid of them. After 64km of cycling I arrived at San Remo on Phillip Island. Thought about going to see the penguin parade but that would be an approximate 50km round trip. So will do it when my sister comes or later in the year. Tomorrow I will get the ferry across to the Mornington peninsula, one day closer to Melbourne! Was thinking a bit about that today and got emotional. It's going to be amazing to get to the goal.

Day 74 Sale to Leongatha

Up super early the plan to catch the 6.59 train to Traralgon take a bit of boring road  of the ride. Sandra and Keith got up early as well to see me off. I'ave had a great time with them, they have been super to hang out with and we plan to meet up again before I go back to the UK. Cycled to the station and Sandra saw me off. When I reached Traralgon I tried to find a service station with air I could use to pump up my tyres but they all seemed to be the fixing that doesn't work for me. Ended up using my pump which was hard work. Headed out of traralgon and it started to rain it was pretty cold. Not used to chilly. Also windy and cloudy, not ideal weather and not what was forecast. Today's destination was a free camp at a pub in Boolarra. But when I arrived there it was too exposed and the toilets would be shut from 8pm to 8am so I decided to carry on to what would have been my Tuesday stop. So much for taking it easy! I stopped in Boolarra for a pot of tea and a kitkat then at around 1 started the Boolarra to Mirboo North Rail Trail. Only a 13km trail but very pleasant. The sun even came out for a while. When I got to Mirboo North managed to find a servo (petrol station) that could pump up my tyres. Then the undulating hills began! Got to the camp ground in Leongatha at around 4.30 pretty tired after my first 80km ride in a while. I might make it to Melbourne by the weekend!

Day 73 Sale - change my mind day!

Up at 8, decided last night to keep going. Seems silly now to get on a train so close to the end when I have time to take it easy and actually ride into Melbourne. So first thing popped into town with Sandra to get a few things from the supermarket as would be cooking my vegetarian spag bog for tea tonight. Then had a walk round the botanical gardens. Also popped into the information centre to get some info on bike trails and the best route to Phillip Island. Back at the house did some online research and came up with a route. Going to get the train early to Traralgon then cycle from there. Mapped out a 7 day route averaging about 40-50km a day. Keeping it relaxed and enjoyable with a couple more rail trails on the way. In the afternoon helped do a little bit of gardening then made tea. Watched tele in the evening and sorted my stuff out a bit. Ready for departure tomorrow morning.

Day 72 Sale rest day sight seeing.

Lovely lye in and had marmite on toast for brekkie. :) Helped Sandra make a packed lunch and off we set on a sight seeing trip of the area. Me, Sandra,Keith and their son Josh. First to check out the Sale swing bridge then to the Esso plant where Keith use to work turns out there are lots of oil platforms off the coast drilling for oil and gas. Then to Seaspray which is at the west end of 90 mile beach. Pretty windy there but got to see a cute wild porcupine. Then thru Mafra and Tinamba which is where they grew up. Both on dairy farms quite close to each other. Out to Glenmaggie lake for lunch, then to the dam. Great country side and great company. Had a delicious BBQ for tea. All in all a lovely day.

Day 71 Bairnsdale to Sale

Had a bit of a restless night. Was woken at 1.30 by what I thought was people outside my tent turned out to be a curious possum! Dunno what it is about me and possums but I have seen loads of them, must be my Australian spirit animal. Then got woken by rain at 3ish. The weather wasn't looking too good for today so had a lie in and decided to head to Sale by train. The train didn't go till midday so took my time making breakfast and packing away. I had met a couple on day 8 of my journey at the free camping at Blue Water just before Townsville from Sale. So sent them an email about my imminent arrival asking if they wanted to meet up. By the time I got to the station I had a missed called so figured it must be Sandra so gave her a call back. Her and her husband Keith kindly invited me to stay so after I arrived was a short ride to their home. The ride on the train was good, my bike went in the luggage compartment at the back of the train. Was chatting with the guards and they upgraded me to 1st class. Which to be honest with you didn't look much different to economy class. But I got to sit right by the luggage compartment. Spent the afternoon chatting about my journey and also their journey back from Queensland. Then popped to the shops and had a good evening chatting and watching tele. To bed late thinking about whether to catch the train all the way back to Melbourne or not. Guess I will make a decision in the next couple of days.

Day 70 Nowa Nowa to Bairnsdale

Up relatively early pottered around in the camp kitchen for a while. On the road just after 8. Today I was on the rail trail again, it's so nice to not have to think about the traffic and the constant whoosh of vehicles going past. Today was suppose to be 35c but luckily it didn't get that hot was more like high 20's. It's a great path, today there were several old bridges to see. Also saw lots of wildlife, rabbits, birds a couple of kangaroos and a medium brown snake slithered across the track. Got into bairnsdale at around 2 after cycling for 60km. All set up and showered had an early tea and then popped into town. Actually quite big, popped into the train station to get a timetable. If I fancy it I can be in Melbourne in 3.5 hours. 

Day 69 Tathra to Nowa Nowa

Up super early to say goodbye to Cassy and then sorted everything out and loaded the car as Vincent gave me a lift to Orbost. Was a 3 hour drive and to be honest I don't think I could have cycled it. Very steep hills, lots of them and at times no shoulder so really dangerous. So super happy that I got a lift. It was great to hang out with Vincent and Cassy they have been wonderful. Vincent dropped me at the tourist information in Orbost at around 12.30. Got the information I needed about the rail trail. I was going to just go to a campsite and chill for the rest of the day but figured I had been doing that for a while. So after I had got some vegetables and missed the warmest part of the day I set of on the rail trail to Nowa Nowa. What a joy, no cars, no people, just a cycle path threw the nature. It was wonderful and I loved it. Yes there were a few hills but because it's on an unused rail line the gradient is low so very manageable for me. Lots of shade from the sun and even saw 3 kangaroos. Arrived I at the camp site in Nowa Nowa just before 6. Lovely camp kitchen and a lot a campfire which was cool. Tomorrow I will finish the other half of the trail. 

Day 68 Tathra - slow down

Nice slow start to the day. Coffee and marmite on toast for breakfast. Then pretty much pottered for most of the day. Was all set to help Vincent fix the pump at their dam when a big thunderstorm rolled in. So that didn't happen. Was pretty cool watching the storm. Vincent has offered to drive me to Orbost tomorrow if no other offers come in. So looks like that's the plan. 

Day 67 Tathra - Slow down ...

Awake at 6.30 just hanging out today. Breakfast and then with Vincent to Mimosa Rocks National Park. The weather has changed for the better, sunny and warm, gorgeous. Walked on the beach then back to the house for lunch. Cassy showed me the 2 resident red belly black snakes which pretty much mind their own business. In the afternoon popped to Bega to do a few chores. Also went to the travel agent to see about getting a bus to Orbost. Which turns out to be impossible with a bicycle! Unless of course it's a folding bike. How silly. Anyway the plan now is to try and get s lift. Firstly a 98km rail trail starts in orbost so I can get off the highway and also will take me past the hilly parts. So in the evening Vincent helped me post some requests online. Hopefully won't take too long to find one. But Iam happy chilling here for a while. 

Day 66 Bemagui to Tathra

Up early, slept really well. Loaded up Steve's ute with all my stuff for a ride into Bermagui. Left there at 8 and a great start a slow climb out of town. Lots of slow rolling hills which I coped pretty well with. Some flat sections which was nice but also a bit of a head wind. There were a couple of really long steepish hills which I managed to get up, to be honest I was pretty impressed with my effort. How well I was breathing by the time I got to the top. I was approximately 29km in and 15km from Tathra when a guy (Vincent) with a kayak on his roof pulled over on the verge in front of me for a chat. Asked if I'd like a lift and I kindly excepted. The hills were starting to tire me out. So we were chatting asked where I was from gave the usual Somerset answer. Said that's cider country and he'd had a guy called Jim stay with him from near Glastonbury. I said I live near there I guess the biggest place would be Cheddar. Vincent reckoned that's where he came from. So we ended meeting his partner and son for coffee. Where things got more bizarre. So back in the UK I go cycling with Liz who's son Jim has been out to Australia a couple of times. We were all chatting about this Jim over coffee and after checking a picture turns out to be Liz's son Jim. Which kinda blew me away, how random is that! So invited me to stay at there place which is awesome, gorgeous location. First though Vincent showed me the sights. Then spent the afternoon hanging out and relaxing. Plan now is to get a ride or bus further down the line as not enjoying the hills. I want to start enjoying it again. Also Iam happy meeting new people too. So just allowing things to happen and open to new experiences.