On Fire in Adelaide !

We looked on nervously while our final bike box was being weighed - 24+kgs and we would be in big trouble according to the girl behind the desk indicating that we would have to repack our bike boxes (2 of us at least) a fair ask given that we had no sharp object to open them with and no tape to reseal them- add on the small fact that our flight was leaving in 50 minutes and you get the general gist of our concern !   Like a roulette wheels ball the scales needle pivotted on 24.5kgs before finally settling on 23.9 - our collective sighs said it all !

With one drama out of the way we settled back for an uneventful flight to Adelaide disembarking in the 37c furnace like heat of Adelaide. The airport though is blessed with a bike station complete with bike tools, a low tech air compressor and even a bike box disposal area.

With our years of experience we soon departed (read 2 1/2 hours later following "Melways" Murray straight into a dead end by the airport runway. Turning around we were soon back on track with Marysias I phone guiding us dutifully through the inner suburbs before picking up the so called Linear cycle path which was anything but with detours in place every few hundred metres because of roadworks and the Adelaide festival.

It was at this point that our final drama of the day occurred when a cyclist roared past us uttering expletives while we pondered over our maps.Thinking the expletives were directed at us I fired back my own with interest before H told me that the guy was swearing at the detour signs and not at us. This had me a little worried as the guy then walked over to us while I positioned myself bravely behind Kev. Instead of throwing a punch though he actually enquired about where we were going and then proceeded to personally take us the remaining 2 kms to our caravan park cabin where Marysia fell in to the cabin with her heat stressed face resembling a beetroot !

The day ended socially as we feasted at the nearby Hackney pub congratulating ourselves on overcoming the hardships of a massive 14km day ! Ps thx for the lift Leigh !

Committed

We are off to Adelaide today the city where I grew up. All packed and ready to go and happy that my training has come to an end or is it just beginning.

It's nice to have 2 good friends to cycle with, provide a wind break and copious amount of snakes and just share another adventure. 

Stay tuned for the adventure part it just follows Mike and Kevin wherever they go. 

In anticipation !! 

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Kevs word !

Nearly there .  Now that i've been given the health green light for the trip i'm really looking forward to experiencing Australian countryside that you would normally fly through at 80-100kph , i'll be up around that mark but just short .  Pushing a bike weighing around 35kg could sort me out but there's plenty of time to smell the roses .

We're on our way !

We're finally set despite a few hiccups along the way. Kev has thankfully been given the green light by his medico after a bit of Dr shopping but is convinced that following the Vet's advice to take it easy (read going about 4.2 km's an hour) and taking a horse pill before and after dinner will get him across the finish line in Melbourne without too many problems ! In the background Marysia "Melways" Murray has done some great work plotting our way through some beautiful landscapes where we expect to only get lost daily as distinct from hourly when Kev and I are in charge ! With some expert packing from H there is even the chance that our bikes will arrive in not too many disassembled parts although previous experience has been "prepare for anything" ! Look out Adelaide we are on our way ! ps H watch out - It might be 3 years back but i still haven't forgotten you slipping me the "bum cream" instead of the sunscreen in China 2014 !!!          

Mike's Thoughts !

It's a hard "gig" but someone has to do it ! While Kev is motivated by the prospect of proudly displaying his Bulldogs premiership flag in enemy territory and Marysia from possibly one Chardonnay too many (having bravely done most of this trip solo a few years back when only fatigue and a frozen"bike" prevented her from reaching Melbourne) my motivation is simple - a bicycle, 1,000 km's of Australia's "finest" and the company of 2 great friends ! 
With much planning  this time (Thx Chris) we have decided to brave the SA heat (fingers crossed) and take on as much scenery and as many experiences that we can cram into our 2 week time frame as we "glamp" our way across the border into Victoria !
With NZ (2010) and China (2014) under our collective belts It should be full steam ahead as we take on some of the best local scenery on offer !   

Kev's Thoughts !

“Wouldn’t mind doing that ride again “.  Those 6 words uttered by one Marysia Murray started the ball rolling on a ride some of my cycling group have said is one of the most enjoyable rides they’d done .  We’re about to find out . Marysia’s comments after her first completion of this ride probably fall just short of the enjoyable category , leaning towards the agony and torture category would be closer to the mark .

The Mighty Cannondale Tourer has been dusted off , it’s airings are few and far between these days , and it’s raring to go , pity about the bloke pedalling it. It’s been 10 years since my last long tour in Australia and it’s going to be a great adventure with great friends.

All we need now is good weather and a reasonable allocation of strong tail winds wouldn’t go astray .

Marysia's Thoughts !

Oh if only I had stayed under the Doona and not opened my big mouth.! 

Foolishly I may have uttered a desire to cycle Adelaide to Melbourne again! What was I thinking??  Obviously my memory of the agony of barely being able to sit let alone sit and pedal has dimmed a lot since the 3 and a half years since I did the ride solo having had some weird thought it would be a great way to start to my retirement ! 

So now I'm committed ( funny thought that).! 

Cycle Itinerary

Tuesday 28 Feb Fly Melbourne to Adelaide 

Tue 28 Feb - Airport to Adelaide Caravan Park (15 kms) 

Wed 1 Mar - Adelaide to Strathalbyn (55 - 95 kms Lake Alexandrina)

Thu 2 Mar - Strathalbyn to Meningie (108 kms) 

Fri 3 Mar - Meningie to Kingston (143 kms)

Sat 4 Mar - Kingston to Robe (Via Cape Jaffa - 50 kms)

Sun 5 Mar - Rest Day (Explore surrounds) 

Mon 6 Mar - Robe to Millicent (Via Beachport - 78 kms)

Tue 7 Mar - Millicent to Mt Gambier (50 kms) 

Wed 8 Mar - Mt Gambier to Nelson (60 kms) 

Thu 9 Mar - Nelson to Henty Bay (95 kms) 

Fri 10 Mar - Rest Day  

Sat 11 Mar - Henty Bay to Warrnambool (90 kms)

Sun 12 Mar - Warrnambool to Colac (121 kms)

Mon 13 Mar - Colac to Barwon Heads (90 kms)

Tue 14 Mar - Barwon Heads to Melb by way of Queenscliff / Sorrento (80 kms)