Day 0It is a long way to Port Fairy. Originally i had tried to convince mum to drive us there, but that didnt work. So we were left with the bus option. Leaving at 11am from Docklands.
The scene was quite amazing. People and bikes everywhere. Also my first encounter with a GVBR queue. To transport our bikes we needed to load them onto cattle trucks. And so that they all fit well, the handlebars needed to be turned and pedals removed. Sounds easy enough, but my pedals didnt want to go anywhere. It took a few strong men to finally get them off.
Then to find the others. I was going on the ride with Judith (friend from high school) and her friend Jayne (her friend from uni). Luckily we had mobiles cause as i said, people and bikes everywhere.
Then it was into the queue and onto a bus. Obviously Bicycle Victoria doesnt like to spend so much money on its members. The bus was really shit. I think we stopped a few times on teh freeway because it was oevrheating. ANd tehre was this weird beeping sound which i thought wa sin my head for a while, but it was a warning sound for the overheating.
Finally we arrived at the lunch spot around 3pm, but they had run out of food!! So i was pretty hungry by the time we finally reach our destination. And we had taken some weird B roads the whole way. You would think that the easiest route would be the highway? but no, must make things difficult
Port Fairy was nice. We set up camp and set out to explore the town and its pubs. Dinner was a couple of snags put on my some local commmunity groups and then a bottle of champagne at the pub. Judth showed us her drunken riding skills by going around the round about a few too many times.
After that was down to the river for fish & chips (along with every otehr person there it seemed) and an explore of the light house and battery.
Back at the camp we made friends with some guys who "didnt know how to put their pedals back on" so they required our help. But we all got a dring out of (even though i did all the work)
Day 1This was were the real stuff started. The course opened form 10am today as it was only 50km to the destination of Koroit.
We packed up camp, chucked the bags on the truck and headed down to town for beaky (i think 8000 other people had the same idea). At the start line we lined up for lunch (at 9am) and then there were the obligitary photos.
Laughing stock of the ride "Tara Moss" was making an efort for the media, but we didnt think it was worth trying to get a photo with her.
The ride itself was pretty easy and i left the others behind to push myself a bit. It turns out i was riding behind an olympian, Olivia Gollum. It felt pretty good to be keeping pace with a champion.
Arrived in camp pretty early, but it took a while to get into the camp as they wouldnt let us in till 2pm.
The canpsite itself was actually a football field and the botanical gardens. Imagine 8800 people in tents. its pretty crazy.
We set up under a nice big tree and made friends with the people next door. Actually they were having trouble with their tent so we became chief tent putter-uperers. This is how we met Craig, James and Phil and kept running into them for the next 9 days.
This night was our first dinner at camp and we learned a lot about GVBR queues. Then it was cards until the sun went down and early to bed for the big 100km day the next day
Day 2Breakfast was a farce. The queue wrapped 3 times around the football field, but you gotta eat. I cant believe how much i ate during the 9 days. Breakfast at 6.30. lunch at 10, lunch again at 1, snacks and then dinner at 6.30. And then all the beer!
Day to was 100km from Koroit to Port Cambell. First really ride on the great ocean rd. It was a good ride. not too hilly but a little warm
Lunch was at Childrens Cove, a great little place with a beach were we could relax.
I ran into a few people i kind of knew alomg the way. While i was riding up a hill i was going the same pace as this guy just ahead of me so i said hello. Turns out he was on teh Rotary ride earlier in the year from Warburton to Station Pier. Send the rest of teh day riding with them.
Port Campbell was a strange kind of campsite. Combination of football field and some paddox that the grass hadnt been cut on.
Ran into the Maroondah HS crew, and also an ex teacher from there.
Tonight we watched the moonlight cinema movie - Shrek 2. I actually think it might be better than the first one now i have watched it.
Day 3Today was the hardest day i think. Port Campbell to Camperdown. Only 86km but the hills and the heat were the killer
The route took us along the great ocean rd past the 12 apostles and all the fantastic scenery, but then turned inland toward camperdown.
I was going fine until i had to walk up som of the hills. i dont feel too bad because i wasnt the only road bike doing it. The people on the "Great Vic" bikes actually fared better ron the hills beause of the "granny gear" but road bikes dont go that low. I think i was riding slower than the walkers and thats when i gave up and walked myself.
But atleast i didnt have to SAG. The SAG wagon is for people who just cant go any further and need to be bused to camp. The rumor goes that 1000 people were picked up that day.
Once in camp i had to wait ages for my bags to arrive. there wre 13 luggage trucks for 8800 riders. but only 6 or so prime movers so they had to go back and forth to collect all the trucks.
Day 4Today was one of the easiest and nicest days. Camperdown to Gellibrand. But i guess anything is good after the hills the day before.
The rolling hills through the forest coming into Gellibrand were magnificent and when i arrived i felt i could have kept going for at least another 100km, but it was only 88km
Again we were too early to get into the camp, another field and footbal ground combo.
The town itself consisted of a pub and a general store. I heard later that we bought more from that store than they sell all year. I think the population of the town is only 200 or so, so 8800 people is pretty crazy for them.
The rains came in on this day and our friends who forgot their fly for their tent got really washed out. We spent a long time down at the pub and then played cards till the lights went out
Day 5This day was rumored to be the worst of the worst. Lavers Hill. 78km from Gellibrand to Apollo Bay. Over 2 big hills of 600m each.
But personally i found it much easier than the Camperdown day.
The only bad thing about today was the rain. I dont think i have ever felt so cold in my life. It was coming into the lunch stop at around 10am when it was at its worst. My rain coat was not even waterproof, i dont think it was even splash proof. I was soaked through to the bone. And then lunch was forzen! I couldnt eat it. SO i was hungry and cold. It took a lot of courage to leave the rest stop and get back on the bike. My hands were so numb i couldnt feel the brakes under my fingers. I was so worried i would not be able to stop!
But then it passed, and it began to get sunny once we passed into the valley. It was really nice and i dried off. But then up another hill and a bit more rain.
the last leg into apollo bay was all down hill and very nice. the views of teh ocean were great and i was so happy to arrive.
But it wasnt hard riding, it was just the elements that did it.
After setting up camp and waitng for the others to arrive we caught up with Matt. He was in Apollo Bay for Schoolies and had a house with 10 other friends not far from our camp site.
God place to get some washing done. He even folded it for us
We went over to his place for a bbq dinner later (getting away from camp food) and the 30 people from the Maroondah crew were there too. Ran into David from primary school which was a bit of a surprise. He was riding with the Maroondah people even though he wasnt a Maroondah student. I hadnt seen him since grade 6!
After that it was down to the pub where Judith had just a littletoo much to drink, and then back to camp for sleep around 1am
Day 6Luckily today was a rest day. Otherwise a 1am bedtime wouldnt have worded so well. Most mornings we were up by 5.30am and on the road by 7.30. That meant bed by 10pm ecah night (curfew was 10.30pm anyway)
Today we borrowed Matt's car and drove to the Otway Fly. ACtually it almost all the way back at Gelibrand so we drove over the same course we had taken theday before. It was weird to see where we had riden. Shame the weather wasnt as nice as it was today.
the otawy fly is a canopy walk in eth otway ranges. It was pretty cool, see my pictures on my photo page.
then to see some waterfalls, the Triplet falls. Some of that area had been vandalized earlier in the year by a chainsaw wielding bandit. It had only just been reopened.
Back to camp, down to the beach, watched a bit of the movie, saw the talent show and then to bed early ready for the next day
Day 7Back on the bike again. but only 64km to aireys inlet. They had closed most of the great ocean rd just for us, so it was amazing to have the oportunity to ride car free along there. The views were great.
Being such a short ride, i took it pretty quickly and got there before camp opened (again) and then managed to get very sunburnt in the wait.
This camp was just some farmers field and hadnt seen a mower for a long time. It was a long way out of teh town, but there isnt much town anyway
We went down to the beach, and also up to the pub (who charged $4.50 for a VB can)
then back for dinner, and a walk to the light house. Great ocean views
Day 8Second last day. Aireys to Queenscliff. 79km. Was supposed to be an easy day but they chucked in some crazy hills. There was one like a roller coaster. Lots of close calls with slower riders all over the road. But didnt have to walk today at all
Got to camp and staked out a nice stop under the trees away from the heat. Bought some beer and fish and chips and we just lazed around all arvo.
After dinner it was time for the roller derby. I had won my heat at Apollo bay so i was in teh grand final. 30sec sprint on a stationary bike. Whoever goes the farest with highest speed is the winner. I went 370m, the gil who won went 380, so i just missed out. But i had won some prizes - socks, sunnies, reflector, drink bottle, tube - so i was happy.
After that we went down to the pier to watch the fireworks, and then to the "cafe de canvas" for last drinks. It was one of our new friends birthday so we had a cake too.
Day 9Last day. Only 50km from Queenscliff to Geelong. I set out to go as fast as i could and i managed an average speed of 28km/h so i was pretty happy. Not too many hills, and cause we set out early i missed the heat.
Crazy scenes at Geelong. People and trucks and bags everywhere. Finally found Judith and my bags and mum.
Then finally got them all to the car and got the bikes on the rack.
on the freeway there was a near miss when someones bike had fallen off their car! lucky i tied ours down pretty hard.
At home i just crashed. Even though this day wasnt very far i think the accumulated tiredness had caught up with me. I weighed myself and i had lost 5kg too!
It was a great time. And i am sure i will do it again. Just a shame there were not more people in our age bracket. Lots of young school kids and older retired people, but not many 20 year olds. Not cool enough perhaps, but i loved it. It had a real festival atmosphere the whole time and every one was so friendly. I cant wait to do it again. I think next year is up in Northern Victoria.
