Melb to Syd Journey complete! 1214km

We've been relaxing in Sydney for the last two days after finishing the journey at syd gpo/opera house. See you all back in melb soon!

On the road again..towards batemans bay

After gate crashing the surf life saving carnival in search of a free camp site in the bermagui public park we are now in moruya near bateman's bay. Tonight we're relaxing in a pub/hotel. The hills have been pretty epic since cape conran and when we think the road ahead will be flat for a while we turn the corner to see yet another hill. We have only worked out that when we see an 'overtaking lane ahead' sign for cyclists it's really saying 'there's a huge bloody hill coming up so enjoy the flat while it lasts and prepare for the slog'. We had a few trucks pass us at close proximity on the road today which was unnerving but generally the shoulder feels pretty save.

On the road between pambula and merimbula after we went kayaking with will from ocean wilderness we rode into a German guy whose cycling from Melbourne to cairns. he stayed with us at our camp site that night and is now riding with us to Sydney.

Patrick manages to get through the kms on much less food than us and it has made the 3 of us wonder whether we're eating too much and wonder whether we will come back heavier than when we left.

Next stop: bateman's bay

We're closing in gradually on Sydney now - inside 300km!

Day 9: mallacoota to eden

It was a smooth sailing 85 km today leaving in the cold from mallacoota. Mallacoota was rain pretty much most of the time . We wentto the market, saw matt Preston hit the lake on a zodiac that was waiting for him, so we quickly gave chase in a hire boat to the tune of James bond. Our hopes of snapping some paparazzi photos quickly dissolved when we realized we had to take a specific route thru the channel. All in all it was pretty non eventful trip on the lake (except for the obligatory I'm on a boat song).

There were a few hills on the way here which we don't mind as you then get some relief on the downhill. what made it all the more exciting was that rob did it in a wife beater from genoa onwards for $ 20 and suceeded in only getting burnt in 2 spots on his shoulder blades. He has still got 30km in it tomorrow for me to get my moneys worth and him to get the cash. We stopped for lunch at the border and remnantof 60s prestige. There wasn't any real excitement besides that which we were feeling and the picnic spots looked pretty abandoned and we thought what potential lost. As per usual getting a decent dinner was difficult and we think the classiest restaurant didn't like the look of us as they wouldn't give us a table despite dressing up in our finest tshirts reserved for sydney. So it was pizza again...

Average speed :17.2 km per hr (fi let us down on the hills in Eden... )
max speed 44.5
total trip 696.7 km
ride time 5hr 1 min
day distance 86.98 km

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Day 7: cann river to mallacoota

Catching up on the first of rest days


We're relaxing at the camp ground overlooking the lakes at mallacoota and contemplating what to do on our first rest day tomorrow and a boat ride seems on the cards. the first 50km to genoa was pretty good mostly downhill and we escaped the 3rd deadliest bushfire town cann river alive. The genoa townfolk were quite something particarly the butch at cafe Berlin where I thought I could get some scones.alas nothing but another fast food chiko joint where the owner was nt the most welcoming . This lady shooed us away saying out with our bikes which we put under the verandah. we have been doing some roadside repair as rob broke one of his spokes and luckily we were at a place where a couple cycling around Australia had the tools to take the back sprocket off so now we're looking for a place to pick up the tools in case it happens again. Pit stop time was a few hours at the pub escaping the 35 day heat. Fionas puncture today 6 km from mallacoota was a lot quicker 10 mins.

Days distance 70.32 km
average speed 17.5
Max speed 42.5 (rob normally zooms downhill a bit faster)
time riding today 3hr 59 mins
total trip distance 608.9 km (fionas ridden - 330m
km

Happy new year from cann river

Day 4 - the trail to nowa nowa

Last night fi joined us in bairnsdale and today we left bairnsdale enroute to orbost via the rail trail. After 3 day of averaging over 100 km per day on the highway shoulder it was a pleasant change to complete 65km on the old rail trail. We passed a number of impressive old trestle bridges but conditions on the trail were harsh. tonight we've arrived at a tiny little town called nowa nowa - pop. 200. From ehat i could see The town had 3 buidings - a pub, a general store and catavan park. We decided to stay out of town 100 meters away at this neat caravan park backing on to the boggy creek. Inspired by the adventures of Kentuckian alex brown australian outback explorer,our evening began with a dip in the Jasper rich fresh water holes before feasting on mi goreng and Maggi noddles and stir fry veg.

From here on we're changing the schedule a little.

We're pushing to get to cape conran rather than just orbost and then cann river by new years eve. Fingers crossed the hotter temps don't bring any fires and/or dehyration with them.

Day 3 - Rosedale to Bairnsdale

Day 2 was hell but we are back on schedule! After falling short of warrigul on day 1some serious cycling through pain and exhaustion barriers have gotten us to bairnsdale as planned.  

We pulled into the Caravan park and shortly after we were followed by two guys going from Newcastle to Adelaide. It was great to chat to them about the road ahead. Comraderie between cyclists is certain alive and well.