Australasia

Day 1: 2nd January ’12 (Warm-up Ride)

Distance: 56.33 miles
Total Distance: 56.33 miles
Route: Melbourne » Frankston » Stony Point » (Ferry) Phillip Island

Arrived into Australia 4 days ago with minimum fuss; hours and hours of cleaning on the bike totally unneccessary as I pass through immigration without even having to open up the bike box. I could have smuggled a few oatcakes in with me after all…

There’s great weather here at the start of 2012, and a good opportunity to stretch the legs after the excesses of the Christmas period occurs when the clan is invited down to Phillip Island to stay at my brother’s fiancé’s family’s holiday house.

I decide to cycle down to the island and meet up with them all there. It’s hot, really hot – nearing 40 degrees by the time I reach the island. On the way south from Melbourne, I see hundreds of club cyclists burning up the coastal roads. They’re all kitted out in expensive gear and even more expensive looking bikes. Looks like road cycling is alive and well in Melbourne; the influence of recent Tour De France winner ‘Cadel Evans’ must be helping to raise interest (further) in the sport. The Aussie rider was born in nearby ‘Barwon Heads’.

I manage to acquit myself quite well by keeping a good pace with the club cyclists, aided by a strong tailwind and a desire to prove that it’s not (always) about the bike.

Waiting for the Phillip Island Ferry

The heat, coastal scenery and eucalyptus-scented air is intoxicating. By the time I arrive on Phillip Island I’m feeling a little crispy in the afternoon sun, but grinning from ear to ear; there’s good times to be had ahead.

Day 2: 4th January ’12

Distance: 16.75 miles
Total Distance: 73.08 miles
Route: Windsor » Melbourne area » Windsor

I wake up at 6 am to get dressed quickly and head out to catch the early ferry back to the mainland, and then ride along the coast to Melbourne.

Only I don’t do any of this, as the weather is absolutely foul and there has been a storm overnight. I decide against todays ride, and after packing the van we head into Cowes for a game of Crazy Golf instead! What better way to spend a morning is there?

I lose badly at the golf and begin to suspect the accuracy of our official score-keeper: Tom. We drive back to Melbourne, doing a little sightseeing along the way. Amazingly, the skies have cleared to a brilliant blue, and I’m ruing the decision not to have headed back by bike.

Sightseeing in Melbourne

I convince myself that I’d made the correct decision at the time anyway, and decide to head out for a sightseeing tour of the City to make up for some of the lost mileage, and the opportunity to enjoy the good weather.

Day 3: 10th January ’12

Distance: 66.14 miles
Total Distance: 139.22 miles
Route: Jindabyne » Perisher » Mt Kosciuszko » Jindabyne

The previous 5 days are taken up with preparation for my brother’s wedding, the wedding itself, sightseeing trips, meeting Tom’s friends and new in-laws and various other fun activities.

Highlights are the wedding (which goes off in great style), a fishing boat-trip in Lake Eildon (everyone manages to catch one!), climbing in the ‘Cathedral Range’ mountains, avoiding treading on a 6ft black snake by a whisker (!) and enjoying the incredibly warm hospitality of the nicest Aussies you could ever hope to meet.

Climbing in the Cathedral Range, Victoria

Yesterday, after saying our goodbyes, Tom, my Dad and myself drove 300 miles over to Lake Jindabyne in preparation for today’s summit attempt. In an ideal situation, I would have liked to have cycled all the way to Jindabyne (the start of the climb), but logistically this is impossible given the time constraints imposed. I have to accept that the ride will be done in reverse; with the main climb at the start of the trip – with more cycling to follow on later.

One worry is that I may have consumed too much wedding cake, and not have sufficient fitness to make what is in effect a ‘cold’ attempt on Kosciuszko. Regardless, I re-assemble and check the bike taken out from the van, and am ready to start the much anticipated climb.

Just before setting off on the climb, I wander down to a bronze statue of a man down by the side of the lake that I’d noticed from the Motel room when I woke. I read that his name is ‘Sir Paul Edmund Strzelecki’ and wonder if there is any link with this Polish sounding name and Mount Kosciuszko? The bronzed man is pointing in the rough direction of the mountain I must climb, so I take it as a good omen and set off in haste!

(Later in the day, I find out that Sir Paul (or ‘Pawel’ as he was better known) had actually named ‘Kosci’ in honour of Polish national hero ‘Tadeusz Kosciuszko’! I was correct in assuming that Paul was pointing the right way to the mountain – I knew I needn’t have shelled out $12 on a map of the area!)

I make good progress during the first 15 miles of the climb, but am careful not to get overconfident knowing that there is a long way still to go. Tom and Dad pass me in the van as they make their own more rapid progress up the mountain – they intend to start the climb themselves further along the road.

Almost immediately after they pass me, I round a corner and am blasted by a horrendous headwind. I look further up the road and see huge billowing clouds streaming up and over the sides of the valley; this may not be a good omen at all. Keen to avoid any weather related spanners in bicycle works, I decide to pick up the pace as much as I’m able.

I’m waved through the entry gates to ‘Kosciuszko National Park’ as luckily bicycles don’t incur any charges. Thankful to not have to interupt my rhythm (or get my wallet out), I push on to ‘Perisher’ where I have arranged to meet the others. We start out together, and I have to take my hat / helmet off to Tom who is attempting to climb the mountain on his Surly Big Dummy ‘Cargo’ bike. A recent purchase, I wonder if Tom has thought this one of his better decisions to use the ‘Big Dummy’ to ride up the highest mountain in Australia?!

Shortly after Perisher, Dad has to drop back and eventually decides to turn back round and head down the mountain. The pace too swift, and short of breath, Tom and I are concerned for him, but Dad convinces us that he is OK – and encourages us to crack on with the climb.

We climb higher and I’m glad to have the company of Tom – even more so for the considerable shelter from the fierce headwind that his massive bike affords! We push on to Charlotte’s Pass – the highest ski-resort in Australia. From here on in, the sealed road disappears and we must head higher on a gravel track.

The dirt track is tough going, and I’m starting to feel the effects of 25+ miles of climbing. I have to rest frequently and after what seems an age, we eventually come to the end of the rutted stony track and have reached Rawsons Pass – where bikes are not permitted any further.

I take my bike multi-tool out, and remove my seat-post and saddle. I respect the authorities request to not have bikes taken to the summit of Kosci, but am determined that at least some part of my beloved Scotty will make it to the very top of the mountain!

The walking trail winds round and round the mountain, and the howling wind makes this relatively easy walk much more difficult. There are several other people at the summit, and it feels a little anti-climactic to have to share the moment with so many others. I console myself in the assumption that most have taken the chair-lift high up the side of the mountain, and only walked the remaining few kilometres to the summit.

We have time to take a few celebratory photos, but don’t spend too long on top as it’s freezing cold and we have to get back to check-in with Dad back down below. On tarmac once more, I reach an adrenaline-inducing 45.5 mph on the descent; the silky-smooth surface and strong tailwind contributing to a wild ride back down.

I leave Tom and Dad at Perisher and continue to drop down further off the mountain. I bonk on the three small climbs on the way back to Jindabyne. I’m feeling wrecked, but squeeze the few last remaining ounces of energy from my aching legs.

2 out of the 6 ‘Continental Climbs’ now complete, I am thoroughly contented, if a little sore, as I happily tuck in to Pizza and beer while looking over Lake Jindabyne that evening.