Day 58 Nowra Hills

Focusing on getting better. Had a good sleep. Did a bit of research on Victoria Rail Trails. There are couple I will be able to use which will be good for getting off the highway when I get down there. Went  and did a bit of shopping with Janette. Cooked vege spag bog for tea. Then took Riley out for a walk. Decided to have one more rest day and start cycling again on Monday. I think I will be ready then. 

Day 57 Nowra Hills

Slept really well. Had a bit of a chat to my sister about my plans of catching a train to Melbourne. She asked if I might regret that. I guess I probably would. So the plan is to go and see a doctor and try and clear up my breathing issue. It has been lingering and is an issue when I exert myself usually when going up a hill get very breathless and tired. So if I can get something to sort it out I have decided to carry on down the coast. Instead of cutting in and going over the mountains at Jindabyne which will be remote and probably a bit risky by myself. Phone reception not good, have to carry loads of water and wild camp for at least 3 days, oh and loads of hills to ride up! So the plan now would be to circle round the bottom instead. Also of course shouldn't be as cold as going over the mountains. See what happens after my doctors appointment this afternoon. So turns out my lungs are clear just a bit of congestion in my throat. So got some cough medicine and a prescription for antibiotics if it doesn't get better in a couple of days. After my appointment Janette picked me up and took me on a sight seeing trip. Went to Berry and then onto the coast at Gerringong and Gerroa. Then drove up to a look out where you could see the whole area. Was gorgeous, see photos below. Also took her dog Reilly for a bit of a walk, lovely dog.

Day 56 Kiama to Nowra Hills

Woke up to rain! Was pretty windy last night and didn't sleep too well. Packed up and moved to the camp kitchen to hang out until I needed to ride to the train station. Got the train at just before 10 and for the first time on a NSW train got to sit down. The bike occupying an unused wheelchair space. Countryside reminded me of home, lush green grass rolling hills, grazing cows and sheep and of course rain. When I arrived at Bomaderry half an hour later I treated myself to a coffee and a doughnut. Then crossed the river into Nowra. Told Janette that I would be there around 2pm so in no hurry. Stopped at the farmers market to get some vegetables and got a spicy lentil pie for lunch. Then it stopped raining! Of I set for Nowra Hills, got there in time, located next to the Navy Base. Welcomed by Janette, her son Jamie and their gorgeous dog Reilly. Spent the afternoon chatting about options and routes. Thinking seriously about just hopping on a train to Melbourne. Or another option cycle to Canberra then follow the train line down so I can hop on a train if I need to. Will think about my options over the next couple of days.

Day 55 Kiama - Rain day

After my call for suggestions I was pleased to receive many texts and emails with ideas and encouragement. Which was just what I needed as was feeling pretty disheartened yesterday. Main one was to stop for the day. Which I did. Also spoke to Mazz who I met up in Forster who has arranged for me to stay with a good friend of hers tomorrow. Which will be a train and a short 15km ride away. But will get me out of the elements, will also be able to chat with her friend about other options/routes to get to Melbourne.

Today I got up at 9.30 and just pottered for a while. I needed some food so the lady in the campsite office kindly lent me an umbrella and of I set. Kiama is actually a pretty little town, with a nice coast line. Very rugged in bad weather, I can imagine when the sun is shining it's gorgeous. Got what I needed then walked on the coastal path to look at the blowhole! The power of the ocean is amazing especially when it's rough. Had a tasty pasta tea and a nice chat with an older gentlemen. Then to my tent, which seems to be attracting lots of snails!  Tomorrow onwards, slowly but surely. 

Day 54 Coledale to Kiama

Awake at 5.30 didn't really want to get up but did of course. Was lots of rain overnight and a bit chilly in the morning. A bit slow going packing up, by which time it started raining again. Waited for it to stop, in the mean time chatted to several different people about my trip. Met a German couple that were cycling north from Melbourne, when ever there was too much highway cycling they would hop on a train or bus. Which is a pretty good idea. Wayne the guy I met last night gave me a flashing bike light and a Velcro tie which is cool. At 10 when the rain stopped I set off. About 4km down the road stopped to get a sandwich for later and by the time I got out of the shop it was raining again! The problem I have is it looks like it's going to be raining for the next couple of days and I don't like cycling in the rain. So what to do, I am undercover now at a church courtyard in Thirroul waiting for the rain to stop again. It's noon. So we will see if it does. I waited another half hour but no luck so decided to hop on a train to the end of the line see if I could get ahead of the rain. So Kiama is where I arrived. Funny thing was it wasn't raining when I got there but started maybe 10 minutes later! Great, anyway I went to the first camp site and just wasn't impressed at all with the sites so rejected that one and moved on to the next one. The next one wasn't ideal but by now I had had enough. Set up the tent, secured my bike and popped to get some chips. I now need to find a solution to my problem. The next five or so days are going to be raining. I don't really want to stay in one place for 5 days and I don't really want to cycle in the rain. Having a problem getting motivated as well. This is probably the first time on the trip that I haven't been super positive, I blame the weather and my health not being 100%. Maybe I should stop for a day and think about what to do. Any suggestions welcome.

Day 53 Leura to Coledale

It's been lovely to hang out with Sally and Liz in The Blue Mountains, they have been great. The cats were also very entertaining. But it's time to get back on the road. So back into Sydney on the train, and then out to Cronulla on another train. A 3 hour journey that cost $5.81 which is ridiculous, I want to know why it's so cheap and why it can't be that cheap in England! Hot day. Arrived at the ferry at 12.30 but no ferry until 1.30 so had a coffee. Arrived in Bundeena at 2.30 after a pleasant ride on the boat. Decided that I would try and get to Coledale to a campsite by the beach. Only 40km, get my cycling legs back a bit. Stopped  at a garage first to put some more air in my tyres. Then off I set. Up a hill first then rolling up and down with gum trees either side of the road. Cycling in Royal National Park. Then a big decent into a forest and then of course more hills. By this time it was 4.30 I was getting a bit concerned that I wouldn't make it before dark as still had a way to go and the hills seemed to be never ending. Had to walk up lots of them as not feeling too good, still have a cold and feel a bit chesty. Finally came out of the forest to an amazing view of the ocean from the top of a cliff. More descents and a few more hills and I made it to Coledale just after 7. What a relief. By the time I had put the tent up, showered, cooked tea and written this it was 10.30. Not ideal but it's good to be clean, fed and lying down. Tomorrow might have a rest day, try and shake of this cold or more than likely continue on. See how I feel in the morning.

Day 52 The Blue Mountains

I could get use to having a lie in everyday. Such a luxury, I love it. So when I eventually got up Sally took me to a rhododendron garden, Evans lookout and then drove out to the other side of the mountain. Australia really is a beautiful country, so many things to see. In the evening I cooked tofu stir fry and then got organised as tomorrow I start cycling again!!