Now I Remember

I didn't realise the boys took such pride in how they looked on the bike and even less that it took such a long time to get the look right. However when they were eventually ready, closer to lunch than breakfast I did think that after 4 hours of waiting that they were a very good sight. 

So it was goodbye to Nelson and on the main highway to Portland which seemed like an express way for the logging trucks. The log truck drivers were very courteous though often giving us a toot to let us know that we were seen and that they were going to pass. One time when an oncoming truck was coming and a toot from behind let me know another log truck was going to pass and with very little shoulder of road left for me I made the quickest dismount ever. 

It was cycling the rolling hills with the wind in my back that I suddenly remembered why I cycle, I had almost forgotten, it was wonderful to watch the kms click bye effortlessly for a change. 

Gratefully we turned off the highway into a very minor road heading toward the very picturesque Cape Bridgewater and lunch. The March flies thought it was lunch too and even doing the Irish jig didn't put them off. So we were happy to get back on the bikes and pedal like mad to get away from them. It's said that to escape flies one has to pedal faster than 19 kms an hour but I'm not sure how fast one has to pedal to escape the dreaded March fly as they still seemed to be hanging around at 30kms an hour. 

Anyhow it was good to remember why I cycle because I often ask myself why! Don't all cyclists. 

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Kev on the Ball !

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Cape Bridgewater

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700 Down !

The fact that we were back in Victoria seemed to inspire one M Murray to seriously consider hitting the road at 5.30a.m. ! Thankfully for Kev and self we were staying 2kms further away in a different caravan park so could't be swayed by such foolishness instead settling (to Marysia's anguish) on a much more civil departure time of 9.30a.m. (.. as boys we needed to look good on the road !)

We left Nelson on a lovely morning with Maysia soon way out in front competing for space on winding roads with semis and log trucks ! To give the log truck guys some credit they at least gave us fair warning of their approach and often a wide berth in passing but still the force of the passing trucks while riding on a limited road verge was enough to make you feel constantly uneasy !

After about 25kms we had our first serious climb on tour a 3-4km effort that put "granny" as well as our tender bums back into play The descent following though was brilliant as for the first time on our trip we had the full effects of a tailwind right behind us. Henleys squeals of glee were evident through the forested area even though he was a km in front of me !

We finally turned off the main Nelson - Portland road at the 50km mark taking what felt like a lane towards Portland Airport where we encountered Portlands version of the Ottways a series of steeply rolling hills that made their way down to Cape Bridewater. CB on arrival looked stunning with its lovely breaking waves, white sand and aqua coloured ocean but unfortunately came complete with squadrons of marauding march flies that descended upon us as soon as we tried to take lunch. Even the Steve Irwin of Fly Catching one Kevin Catchem Henley put up the white flag as the flies threatened to devour him whole and fly away with his carcass if he stayed still !

Leaving CB and the carnage behind, we headed this time into Portland a 15 km undulating ride with the days heat beginning to take effect. Passing through Portland we headed out of town to Henty Bay to our lovely caravan park setting with 102 kms showing after a fine days effort.

Having checked in our wary approach to our cabin was justified finding out that our guaranteed view of the Ocean was correct only if you stuck your head out through the torn flyscreen on the side windoww. With no air con, a stifling room, and a toilet almost directly attached to Kevs bed we decided to back track to the office to seek out accommodation more befitting our social staus! With the gardeners shed unavailable we settled instead for the next best thing (see pic)

Nearly 700 kms down and only 300 to go ! 

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Swimming in Little Blue Lake

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To Ewans Ponds

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Breakfast in Mt Gambier !

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Little Blue Lake

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Re: Back in Vic & Blue all over !

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-------- Original message --------
From: michael litchfield <m_litchfield@hotmail.com>
Date: 08/03/2017 11:57 AM (GMT+00:00)
To: litchy1.haydend@blogger.com
Subject: Back in Vic & Blue all over !

We started the day in magic style climbing a hill or two to the beautiful Blue Lake,  Mt Gambier's number 1 tourist attraction a stunning blue coloured lake formed by a volcanic eruption many eons ago. Thanks to Chris we took breakfast (including bacon and eggs) in the morning sun overlooking the lake that had many early morning walkers salivating at our feast as they walked past !

Having bloated ourselves we did a full circuit of the Lake before taking off towards Port Macdonnell amazingly this time wiithout a headwind !

After 15 kms we took a 3km detour to the not so well known Little Blue Lake a cut down version of Mt Gambiers main attraction the difference here being that we could actually swim in it !

With Marysia recounting stories of her misspent youth (yes she was a local Mt Gambier girl) she lead the charge by jumping into the lake ( a cool 17-18c) with her bike gear on quickly folllwed by Chris and self. This limestone sinkhole is a stunning place to swim in despite the surrounding signs indicating that your skin was likely to peel off because of the watersl blue water algae !  Our splashing around like overgrown kids soon enticed one Kevin Henley to give it a go !  Kev might have got away with it despite his 1/2 Kapersky on entry (he called it a version of the fosbury flop) if he hadnt forgotten how to swim once he hit the cold water ! In a state of panic Kev tried to make it back to the pontoon whike Marysua and I debated whether in fact he was drowning or not - "looks a strange swimming stroke to me I said"...." do you think he's trying to swim the whole lake underwater" said Marysia ! 

While we debated Kev finally made it back onto the pontoon indicating he'd had a panic attack as soon as hit the water having not swum for over 40 years !!!

After drying out on some nearby rocks we continued on our ride to Port Macdonnell turning towards Nelson where took lunch 5 kms on  in a lovely setting by the ocean other than for the marauding March flies ! 

Our 2nd adventure was only 9kms away at Ewan Ponds. This stunning limestone water pond (allows scuba diving and snorkeling) with a great range of colourful water based plant life was out in the middle of nowhere !  

Our plans to snorkel here were put temporarily on hold when a group of departing scuba divers complete with wetsuits remarked that it was bloody freezing. I tentatively sat on the end of the pontoon gradually anaesthetising various body parts not knowing whether i could endure "numb nuts" when Chris bravely took up the challenge and plunged in remarking on how beautiful the underwater surrounds were as she snorkeled her way around the outskirts of the pond.

 I soon followed amazed at how much my voice sounded like a 15 year old Welsh boy singer before even Marysia braved the cold alternately screaming whike trying to breathe through her snorkel. Out of the water we all agreed on what amazing experience this had been !

Now invigorated in the afternoon heat we soon clocked up the kms on smooth limestone roads before rejoining the main Mt Gambier - Nelson road 10 kms out and saying hello once again to our arch nemesis the headwind !

Despite the fact that we battled the headwinds to Nelson and cycled on a shitty road verge on a road complete with trucks we could not help but agree on what an amazing day we'd had !

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Best 80 kms ever!

How does breakfast sitting in the sunshine over looking the Blue Lake in Mt Gambier sound! Well it was pretty good!  excellent in fact. All the early morning walkers treading the kms around the lake in pursuit of fitness thought so too. In fact Chris could have made a killing selling coffee and bacon and eggs on toast that she produced for us out of her caravan. We were lucky enough to enjoy all this in the sun over looking the Blue Lake having opted to have breaky on route to Nelson rather than sit in a dull and boring Caravan park Cabin . 

The lake looked so beautiful and brought back lovely memories of my youth and my nursing training in Mt Gambier many years ago. 

Then it was off to the Little Blue Lake a well known local swimming sink hole aprox 16 kms from Mt Gambier . After toe testing the water guess who was the bravest of them all ?? Yes me. In I went fully dressed  in my cycling nicks and jersey ( they are Lycra after all) . Chris and Mike followed . Even Kevin not to be denied the pleasure eventually jumped in, the first time he had been swimming for at least 40 years! His body almost went into shock and I nearly had to call on my 50 yr old life saving 

 skills. Thankfully my faded life saving skills were not required and having survived our swims we headed off soaking wet( gee those nicks pads take a while to dry) to the

Ewens Ponds. These are a series of three spring fed sink holes where the waters are so crystal clear and very COLD . It's a beautiful place to go diving or snorkelling and a unique experience ! that is once you bite the bullet and get in. No wet suit mind you just bike nicks and a jersey that had dried off from the previous swim. Chris ventured in first followed by Mike and then reluctantly me after much prompting and cajoling. Freezing ! Jeez!! Bloody freezing can't breath through the snorkel for yelling in shock. It was crystal clear though and in my mind I promised myself a glass of Sav Blanc if I survived . 

Well survive I did and so from there we headed straight into a blasted head wind all the way to Nelson.  It was such a good fun day it didn't dampen the spirits and it ended in the pub where I did get to enjoy my glass of Sav Blanc and the company of my fellow travellers. 

Best 80 kms cycled ever. 

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