Australasia

Day 7: 14th January ’12

Distance: 70.72 miles
Total Distance: 385.19 miles
Route: Bairnsdale » Sale » (Train) Dandenong » Mordialloc

One of the worst days on a bike in a long, long time. I needed to cycle from Bairnsdale to Sale, where I hoped to pick up a train to take me a good distance of the way back to Melbourne.

Running out of time to get back for my flight on Sunday night, hopping on the train had become an unfortunate neccessity. The train was scheduled for departure at 1PM, and according to the map, I had 40 miles or so to cover to reach Sale – which actually materialised to be 50 miles.

Flat, featureless, windswept and arrow-straight roads cutting through dull farmland and marsh; the absolute worst environment for any touring cyclist. A vicious headwind was causing much mental and physical anguish (& various expletives), and I simply couldn’t get comfortable on the bike.

I just didn’t want to be on the bike today, but had no choice in the matter but to fight through the headwind and make good time toward the station. For large sections of the road, I’m forced to run the gauntlet with territorial dive-bombing Magpies.

At one point, a bird actually swoops down so close that it crash-lands into my right arm; I hear myself shriek and it’s all a little surreal as the Hitchcockian nightmare plays out in slow-motion.

For the next 35 miles, I ride along suspiciously scanning the trees for the next aerial bombardment. A dead-straight avenue of bird-laden trees stetches as far as the eye can see. I ride as fast as possible through the potential melee; shouting, flailing arms wildly and ringing my bell constantly like Quasimodo’s less balanced brother.

I make Sale with half an hour to spare, and strike up a conversation with a few locals who are also taking their bikes on the train. The journey is uneventful, and the bike is well looked after in the Guard’s carriage at the rear of the train. The price of the ticket is, thankfully, one of the few things in Australia that isn’t insanely expensive – everything else is!

I ride to the coast and find an ridiculously overpriced and dilapidated motel room – the only option available. I ride to the nearest shops, buy fish and chips to eat on the beach and then cycle back to the motel looking forward to a better day on the bike tomorrow.

Day 8: 15th January ’12

Distance: 32.11 miles
Total Distance: 417.3 miles
Route: Mordialloc » Brighton » St Kilda » Melbourne

Just a short hop up the coast today; back to the centre of Melbourne and with enough time for a little sightseeing before needing to pack up the bike and head to the airport.

I take my time, chosing the much slower but picturesque coastal route. It’s Sunday and hundreds of very serious-looking, well-heeled cyclists fly past me. I’m quite happy to allow the day-trippers this liberty, even though I reckon that Scotty and me could give them a run for their money after raised fitness levels from a few hard days in the mountains!

In Melbourne, I lie contentedly in the Botanical Gardens – doing my best to top up on some last rays of sunshine, enough to see me through the rest of winter back in the UK.

Another great trip in the bag, I use the insanely long flight back home to reflect happily on the achievement and plot how quickly I can get the time and money together for the next one…