(Temporary Backup) Day 2 Dunstan Trail 70 kms

The day started at 6.30 am with us up for a shower and pack our bags ahead of taking the van to Ian’s place for breakfast at 7.30am

Breakfast was great with cereal and toast then we were on our way to start the days ride at Smiths Way at 9.45 am. The route today was along lake Dunstan which is a man made lake used to store water for the hydroelectric system . The country was very dry as is most of the central Otago region which does have a lot of wineries… when I say a lot it really is something to behold!

The trip along the lake to Cromwell was delightful with some very expensive holiday houses on the bank of the lake and some beautiful inlets with boats etc.

The properties along the lake are in excess of $1.00 million! The owners live in the bigger cities of NZ and fly to Queenstown and take the short drive to their holiday homes.

The weather started coolish but warmed up as the day went on with it being quite hot on the afternoon! The Garmin was registering temps of 32 degrees centigrade!

At Cromwell we had morning tea at the bakery with good coffee and carrot cake for me.

Then it was on to Coffee Afloat on Lake Dunstan for lunch. This is a cafe located on the lake on board 2 speed boats which are fitted out with expresso machines on one board and a grill on the other for the food which for me was a venison burger… all good EXCEPT after lunch we had a big climb of about a km and about 400 metres….silly me for having the hamburger!

The views as we progressed along the trail were stunning and the track was quite interesting in places with some parts quite narrow and some interesting bridges attached to the rock walls all very interesting engineering!

There was a second quite big climb of about 1.5 kms with several switchbacks and some interesting views again at the top…

The next stop was the Dunstan rowing club for a break to get water in the lake which was a blessing. Ian, the van driver had a swim and advised that the water was quite warm for the first few feet but cooled off as you got deeper!

After a short break we then traveled the last 15 or so kms to Alexandra where we had our accommodation at a caravan park. The cabin we had managed to fit all 8 of us comfortably and the facilities are good.

After cleaning bikes and sorting out washing we had a Mexican dinner in the town which was good.

The day was a good one for us all as discussed at the end of the day and we almost completed 70 kms 

My health situation seems okay with the change of dressing on the leg wound

Looking forward to tomorrow on the Central Otago rail trail 

Here we are at the start of the ride!

Handsome bunch all kitted up!

View of lake Dunstan and you can see some of the trails 

Lunch at Coffee Afloat!

Venison hamburger was great but not good for the climb after lunch!

Another view of the lake from the top of the climb

Hugo’s bridge along the tail

The Dan wall and hydro power station at Alexandra near the end of the ride

Day 1 NZ Ride

Today was the first day on the trail ride in the South Island of New Zealand 

We have 5 Aussies being led by 3 Kiwis including my riding pal Chris Jones. I have done several rides with Chris over the years and he has been keen to host me in his home country!

It was an early start for the 4 of us who left from Melbourne being Rob Baker, Steve Seymour, Ellio Stocco and myself. The cab arrived at 3.30 am to take Rob and I to the airport with another cab picking up Steve and Ellio at the same time from their homes.

We arrived at the airport around 4.15 am and we’re almost the only ones there!

Ellio and Steve had a bit of a problem with space and had to come in 2 cabs…

After waiting at check in until 5.00 am we then made our way through checkin and had a well earned breakfast in the Qantas lounge 

The plane left on time at 8.00 am and the plane flight was uneventful to Queenstown 

Our arrival was terrific with Chris, Ian and John from NZ there to meet us with the special tour sign.

After the special welcome it was off to Arrowtown to Ian’s “Bach” to unpack our bike boxes and assemble the bikes which was done with the help of plenty of bike tools and equipment.

My bike unfortunately had a gear cable problem which needed help from the local bike shop back near the Queenstown airport which fortunately had a great bike shop where the repairs could be done. I then road tested the bike by riding a couple off kms to the airport where I was helping Chris welcome Phil Eager who flew in from Brisbane. Once again the sign was part of a special welcome for Phil!

We then traveled back to Arrowtown to help Phil set up his bike and load our bikes on to the trailer specially modified by Chris to transport our bikes between trails on the 3 weeks we are here in NZ.

After this it was off to dinner at a lovely restaurant and a walk in the lovely historical town.

After this it was back for a briefing at Ian’s batch and to the youth hostel/ holiday park for the night 

A great first day with warm weather which suggests the ride should be great!

Looking forward to a sleep after an early start to the day!

Bikes loaded on the trailer with Phil looking very pleased!

Loading the bikes!

The bike trailer and van at the Queenstown airport 

Ian on right and Chris with the welcome sign as we came through immigration!


Bike packed and luggage for the trip at home 

Day 14 - Broadford to Melbourne

Today started with a bit of fog when we woke at about 6.30 am!

After getting dressed we made our way across the road to the local cafe/service station to pick up an egg and bacon roll and fruit juice for breakfast.

We were on our way at 8.05am and the fog had cleaned….Ellio’s turn to navigate…. We started in the wrong direction but after a short time we realised the error and made amends. 

The ride to Wandong was through lovely country and the road was very good with the sun shining and birds singing….a wonderful day!

After coffee and cakes at Wandong it was again good riding to the outskirts of Melbourne but the traffic was building up. A reasonable road shoulder made it reasonably safe but for a couple of clowns yelling at us and honking.

On reaching the outer suburbs we made our way to the Darebin Creek Trail for most of the ride home. 

We stopped on the trail for a sandwich lunch near Thomastown and met some lovely people having a bbq waiting for their disabled son to join them..unfortunately he had to cancel.

We had another stop for afternoon tea at “Stephen Seymour’s coffee shop” which was a good break!

The rest of the ride was interrupted with trail flooding where the Yarra and Darebin creek met and through the flood plain near the Burke rd bridge 

We finally made it home to Kenmare st at 3.15 pm in the sun!

It was the end of a magnificent and challenging ride from Sydney to Melbourne 

We have covered 1136 kms and climbed 10,443 metres 

Our only mishaps were the rain preventing us from doing the leg from Wagga to Albury and one puncture!

We had some challenging days with the weather but overcame them with typical Aussie and Kiwi determination.

Special thanks must go to Chris for organising the navigation and keeping both Ellio and I honest to use navigation rather than our gut feel. Also for teaching us new tricks on our Garmin's and using cycle.travel.

Also special thanks to Ellio for joining the ride from Albury…. He had a great time.

The initial reaction on finishing the ride and having a tea at Kenmare st was joy in completing the challenge. I am sure we will all reflect on the achievements we made on our journey  and savour the special moments we had.

Well done Chris and Ellio for your special friendship!

The start of the days ride…

On the road….

Here is Melbourne…. Almost home!

My 2 riding buddies!

Oh … oh. There is no way over this water on the trail near the meeting of the Yarra and Darebin creek 

My tattoo!!!

No it is grease from the bike chain!

Day 13- Euroa to Broadford

Today was just a beautiful day for riding…

- there was virtually no wind

- there was virtually no rain!!!

- the temperature was coolish to start off with but warmed up as the sun came out !

So we started riding after a quick breakfast at a cafe in Euroa. We were on the road by 7.30 am and made our way to Avenal for morning tea. It was in a cafe which previously housed the station. It was a hive of activity when we arrived as the food and coffee were great.

We then made or way on to Seymour for lunch.

As we made our way to Seymour the land become more hilly. This was in sharp contrast to the past couple of days where the roads were dead flat!

At Seymour we had lunch outside the station with takeaway pies and cakes from a lovely cafe.

After lunch it was on to Broadford with the roads going through more hills as we made or way.

We finally arrived at our hotel at around 3.15 pm.

Great day of riding with the enjoyable company of Chris and Ellio. 

Breakfast at Euroa at the cafe which was open early!!!

Morning tea at Avenal… great cakes and coffee and a real buzz of action!!

A creek we crossed where the flooding has recently receded 

A view of the foothills near Broadford 

A view towards Broadford 

Note the sun!!!!

Day 12- Wangaratta to Euroa

Todays ride was again in the flat country north of the great dividing range in Victoria.

Looking at the weather map earlier this morning it was looking ok for most of the day but it was rather cool. It was time to layer up with gear.

We made good time to Glenrowan where we had morning coffee and had a look at Kelly’s last stand.

After this it was on to Benalla for bike repairs as Ellio had a broken cable on his rear brakes. The repair shop was called Wheelie Awsome!

Whist the repairs were underway we had another coffee and sausage roll in the next door cafe which was run by Headspace a disability provider. It seems they run the bike shop as well. We had a delightful chat to a local couple who were in the cafe and as usual they were interested in our ride.

After coffee it was on to Violet Town but we were held up with a tyre puncture from Chris’s bike which was duly repaired.

Arriving at Violet Town we had a late lunch and drink and were able to chat to the local council representative who was full of information on the region. 

After this it was on to Euroa along a road that turned into a real bog which even the biggest tractor would struggle to make progress!

We pressed on for about 7kms in the slush and to make matters worse it started to really rain hard!

Now throughly saturated we made our way on sealed roads into Euroa!

I made a trip down the Main Street to see whether Phil’s bike lock was still on the bike stand….. well no it was not there…in fact there is an entirely new stand there now…. Sorry Phil!!!!

At this stage the rain was really coming down and so I waited to make my way to the motel.

Now thoroughly saturated, dirty with mud it was in to the shower for a thorough clean and warm up.

After this we organised the laundry with the motel owner and then we went to dinner at the Seven Creeks pub where I enjoyed a meal of bangers and mash

Today was a good day of adventure and I am pleased we made it through relatively unscathed!

It was a day where we travelled about 92 kms and climbed 262 metres 

Euroa…. No lock on the bike stand Phil!

What a bog!!!!

Chris fixing his puncture 

Travels along Harrison Road!

Day 11- Albury to Wangaratta

Last evening we were joined by Ellio Stocco from my riding group in Melbourne…. He caught the train up from Melbourne to join us on the last 4 days into Melbourne….

After briefing him on the ride and sorting out his Garmin to download rides etc we had a delightful roast dinner at the hotel…. Roast pork chops and vegetables!

After a good night of sleep we awoke to a reasonably good day with some clouds and even a bit of sun!

We started at about 8.30 am and made our way through  aaaaqAlbury to the Murray River which was right up to the bridge almost. There was water everywhere along the floodway near the river!

After crossing into Victoria we then made our way to Barnawatha for a lovely coffee stop run out of a caravan next to the post office. The lady serving us was delightful and it seems the place to go for bike riders as several groups of riders from Albury stop there.

After coffee we made on to the lovely town of Chilton and enjoyed the history of the place which started during the 1850 gold rush. 

Being not ready for lunch, Ellio and I found a lovely cafe/ winery where we were able to get a toasted sandwich to go. The venue in Chilton was called Posh Plonk which is work another visit sometime.

After this the fun began with ever increasing showers along the way to Wangaratta. We also managed to organise ourselves to draft into the wind hitch proved to be very helpful to progress towards Wangaratta.

When the rain became very heavy we stopped to have our toasted sandwich in the shelter of the CFA station in North Wangaratta…. Thank god for this shelter as the rain was very heavy!

After this it was on to the final push in to Wangaratta and the closer we got to the to the town the heavier the rain became!

We finally arrived at the motel at 3.30 pm after doing about 90 kms with about 450 metres of climbing.

We were absolutely drenched and it was off with the clothes and on to a warm shower….

The accommodation tonight is in bungalow style buildings such as you see in caravan parks

We are a little out of town so will do an Uber to somewhere for dinner 

We are on the road again tomorrow to Euroa and we all hope the rain eases!

Finally in Victoria!!!

The wet state!!!

The mighty Murray River in full flow and flooding 

The lovely place in Chilton 

Posh Plonk … must come back here

It is in the old Masonic Hall which has been beautifully renovated 

Some of the flooding on the bike path whic we went through today!

Day 10 - Rest Day Albury & Ride to Ettamogah Pub

Today was another rest day on the ride in Albury… 

The weather was cloudy with passing showers for most of the day. There were some sunny periods to make it a mixed bag really! The temperature was around 20 degrees for most of the day.

Again we awoke early after a night of watching the Budget speech by the new Australian Treasurer and it was full of the entirely predictable comments from the press which makes the whole event pretty “ho hum”

As Chris said nothing really changed for us on our ride today in the budget.

The good news is that we have continental breakfast included in the room charge, so after showers we made our way to the dining room. The breakfast was good and filling!

E then made our way on the bikes to the Ettamogah pub along bike paths and roads and enjoyed the scenery along the 20 km route. The pub itself was okay but not spectacular and we had morning tea.

After waiting for the showers to clear we made our way back to Albury along a more direct route and we’re back at the motel around 2.00pm

I then made a 2 km walk to the laundromat to do the washing.Once again this was between showers!

Some silly women at the laundromat accused me of staring at her, to which I apologised and made sure I did not look at her again. To be frank she caught my eye as a typical bogun type!

After making my way back to the hotel we awaited the arrival of Ellio Stocco who is traveling to Albury by train to meet us for the ride back to Melbourne.

Tonight we will have dinner in the dining room at the hotel ahead of an early night of rest before we make the way to Melbourne over the next 4 days 

Another good day on the journey!

Another pub on the way to Ettamogah… a day of pubs really!

A view from the road towards the Hume weir 

The Ettamogah pub!