After quite a bit of planning my wife, daughter and I headed off on
Monday for our first overnight bike trip.
Day 1:
Woke up to find it was raining. Got dropped off at Beechworth to start
the ride from the lolly shop. Where else would you start? By the time we
loaded up with supplies there was cloud but no sign of rain. Headed out
of Beechworth to Chiltern. The first 5km were all downhill which was
easy but had us all a bit cold. Turned off to Woolshed Falls and had
morning tea at the waterfalls. Then back on the bikes to start the
uphill leg. It wasn't real steep, but with full panniers and trailer
bike there were quite a few breaks along the way. Eventually we cleared
the crest and it was all downhill for the rest of the ride into Chiltern.
Distance covered on Day 1 was about 33km which was double the longest
trip we'd done with the trailer bike.
Day 2:
Headed off from Chiltern to Rutherglen but avoided the main road and
followed Chiltern Valley rd. This was a great route. It was flat, apart
from a side trip to check out the local cemetary, we only saw 4 cars in
an hour's riding and it was through national park and along water
reserves full of birds. So we were able to ride side by side and relax.
Stopped off at a winery as we approached Rutherglen and picked up a
bottle to drink that night. Day 2 distance = 27 km.
Day 3:
Day 3 was to take us to Wagunyah to be picked up. I'd bought some
detailed maps but they didn't cover day 3's riding so we were relying on
a winery map free form the Information centre. Here's a hint, never rely
on a map that is free. It had a scale but whoever drew the map had
obviously not been taught the significance of that. We left Rutherglen
to the south out some back roads to get to Buller winery and Bird park.
This should have added 3-4 kms according to the map but added nearly
10km (on a day we had intended to ride 15km). Eventually found the
winery and spent some time checking out the bird park then we were off
again. Took some more back roads and was talking to my wife when she
gave a cry about being bitten by something and leaped off her bike. It
seems a bee had flown into her mouth and as she spat it out it stung her
on the lip (Ouch!). We continued on past the home of Uncle Toby's and
finished at All Saints winery where we got picked up by my Dad. Of
course that was after we had tasted a few wines and made a few purchases
(all of which got drunk last night).
Day 3 distance = 25km.
Total trip was about 85km and the weather, apart from the first few hrs,
was perfect. The highlights had to be the food at Rutherglen pie shop.
Parker's Pies. Write that down, they rock. I had the best pie ever (Thai
Chciken) followed by an enormous piece of Rocky Road cake. Hmmmmmm, I
want to go back again.
DaveB