Day 65 Narooma to Bemagui

Up early, last night Steve offered me a lift into Bermagui which would cut 35km of up down hills of my ride. Which I gladly excepted! Anyway packed up and wheeled my bike to the camp kitchen for breakfast. Then popped over to the Tilba parents to catch my ride. They were surprised to see me as they thought I had left without saying goodbye. But just easier to wheel all my stuff to the kitchen on my bike instead of carrying it! Anyway Shelley and Steve invited me to stay at their property in the countryside and I figured why not. For me this trip has been about meeting new people and being open to experiencing new things as well as cycling. Also being flexible to change my plans. So had another coffee with them and then me and Steve loaded up my stuff and headed to their place in the bush which is 12km outside Bemagui, a beautiful spot. Got there and did my washing and then went with Steve to Cobargo to pick up some mower parts. Had a look round town then headed to the Bemagui duck race, for charity where we met up with Christina. Quick stop at the supermarket and back in time to get the washing in before an afternoon shower. Which is weird as we hardly saw any rain all day but when Shelley got back that's all she had seen... Rain. Relaxing afternoon and evening in good company. To bed early ready to get back on the road tomorrow.

Day 64 Moruya to Narooma

I think I have lost my rhythm a bit, that's why Iam finding it hard to get motivated. I think I need to get back into the pattern I had before and things will start flowing again. Anyway started the day with a positive outlook sun was shining, packed away and after a quick visit to the supermarket was on the road by 8. I wheeled my bike into the shop and parked it by the check outs, safest place for it. No one seemed to mind. Then on the road, still in hilly country so up and down I went. I did pretty well and at 10 got to the lovely little town of Bodella, where I pottered around for about 45 minutes. Sent my Sydney Opal card over to Perth so my sister can use it when she gets there. She and her boyfriend are on their way now, which means I have 3 weeks to get to Melbourne. To be there when she gets there. Easy peasy! Most of the ride today was on the highway but just before Narooma took a left to Dalmeny to ride on the coastal cycle path. Added extra time and km to the ride but it was nice to get away from all the traffic. And the scenery was beautiful. It did rain a little but not much. Arrived at the camp site the other side of Narooma just after 2. Set up the tent and popped to have a shower. Then it rained and rained some more. Just thankful I was all set up. Forecast says it's going to be clear tomorrow then rain on Sunday, then sunny for the rest of the week. Fingers crossed. While I was cooking my tea got befriended by the Tilba parents. Here for the night with their kids. Ended up hanging out with them until 10.30 way past my bed time. Was good to relax though. 

Day 63 Batehaven to Moruya

Up early checked the weather report. Although not raining forecast said 90% chance of showers so plumped for another rain day. At around 8 after I had breakfast it still hadn't rained so I decided to just go for it. Even if I manage to get 30km down the road it would be progress. So I quickly packed away said goodbye to Lyn and Paul who were also leaving today. As I left the camp kitchen it poured with rain, only a 5 minute shower then I set of. The route to Moruya would be on a coastal road not the highway. Apparently still hilly but not as bad as the highway. Well I managed 9km before it tipped down. Only got a bit wet as was about 100 meters from a bus shelter before the skies opened. Luckily right in front of a bakery! Iam sat here now waiting for it to stop. According to the Bureau of Metreology that should be in an hour or two. Moruya only 30 km away so have plenty of time to get there. The forecast this afternoon and evening is cloudy and dry. Fingers crossed. No let up so hopped on a bus to Broulee which was the end of the line for that bus. Got me 15km closer to Moruya. Now in another bus shelter waiting for the rain to stop. Shouldn't be long now then a 45 minute ride away on pretty flat roads. Stopped raining at two so off I set. What a joy it is to ride on the flat, all the way to Moruya. Only took 45 minutes. When I got into town went to the bike shop to enquire about getting a Rohloff oil change kit. Didn't have any left but could do it for me. Initially arranged to bring it in tomorrow at 9 but as I was chatting outside to the other guy he came out and said he could do it now. So left him to it for an hour. Went to a French bakery and had a cheese and salad baguette and a cup of tea. Very tasty. All sorted on my return then I popped to see a couple I met up at the caravan park at south west rocks. Then over to the campsite, nice spot and had a good banter with the woman at reception which cheered me up no end. The weather has been making me feel a bit down about everything so it was good to have a laugh. Tent up, a little shower of rain. Now Iam in my tent enjoying 12 hours of unlimited wifi, a strong signal too, brilliant. 

Day 62 Batehaven - Rain day

Woke up at 4.30 checked the weather forecast and went back to bed. Another rain day and the forecast not looking too good for the next couple of days. Got up at 11 for brunch then popped to the bakery for coffee and a lamington. Raining all morning and afternoon. Was in my tent reading a book and felt a bit damp! Bottom of my inner sleeping area a bit wet, so went shopping for a tarpaulin/groundsheet to put down. Found one at the petrol station and sorted that out. Stuck the wet sleeping thingie in the dryer along with my airmat. Not sure if that was a good idea but seems to be ok for now. Then popped to Lyn and Paul's for afternoon tea and cake. Bit of a chat and then back to tent to read some more. Fingers crossed for dry weather tomorrow.

Day 61 Ulladulla to Batehaven

Slept like a brick! Up and ready to leave at 7.30. Pretty warm and sunny first thing so applied some sunscreen. Going was pretty good for the first hour. But then the undulating road got a bit steeper in its ups. I really am not made for hills more of a on the flat kinda girl. So my next cycle tour is going to be Holland. It's funny I know when a hill is coming, usually when it says overtaking lane ahead and also after a long decent. I had to get off and push my bike sometimes as the shoulder was too thin to be safe. Which gave me a bit of a breather. Got to Batemans Bay at lunch time and sat by the river and ate cheese and crackers. Cycled on about 4km to Batehaven to the campsite where I met Lyn and Peter who invited me for tea and cake. Thirty five years ago they cycled up to Queensland on a tandem with their then 18 month old son in a trailer behind them. Which sounds pretty amazing, they made the front page of the Brisbane daily newspaper. After getting clean popped to the supermarket to get a few things, important things like milo and chocolate. A vege burger for tea and back to the tent all before the rain started. Forecast isn't looking to good for tomorrow, will see if I get to go anywhere in the morning.

Day 60 Nowra Hills to Ulladulla

Up relatively early, got all sorted. The sun was shining so that was a good start. It has been very relaxing to stay with Janette, she and Riley have been a great tonic. Also able to give lots of route advice so that helped me make the decision of which way to continue. Thank you, see you Melbourne. 

So feel like I haven't ridden my bike for ages, started with a bit of a hill which was good, lungs/breathing coped well with that, then down hill all the way to the highway. The A1 which circles Australia. Up in Queensland it's called the Bruce Highway down here it's called the Princes Highway. Today I would be on it all the 63km to Ulladulla. The shoulder was mostly quite wide but occasionally non existent! Sometimes disappeared when going up a hill. When I deemed it unsafe to cycle I just got off and pushed my bike and got over as far as possible when a vehicle was coming. The route was up and down all the way, some nice long descents and some long slow climbs. Got into Ulladulla around 2.30 and popped into the tourist information to gets some maps. Like to have a paper map to look at and my last one finished in Kiama. That done continued out of town to a nice camp site. Reasonabley priced at $20. Set up my tent, had a shower and cooked my tea on the stove as no camp kitchen. Legs are a bit tired but I think I did well for my first day of cycling for a while. The forecast for tomorrow is cloudy so going to head past Batemans Bay. Looks like the weather is set to get wet again on Wednesday, fingers crossed I manage to avoid it! 

Day 59 Nowra Hills

Up early, feeling better. Today was suppose to be sunny and dry! Janette took me sight seeing which was great. Went to the coast first to Jarvis Bay, the sun even came out. Then headed over the hill to Kangaroo Valley. Which was beautiful. Headed to the pie shop which sold, "the worlds best pies." Both had a vegetable curry pie, I must say it tasted pretty good. Ate that in the car as it started to rain. Only a quick shower so after that went for a wonder. Janette spotted a mother and baby possum in a tree. Super cute. Then headed back and spent the afternoon sorting out my bike and packing up my panniers. Back on the road tomorrow.