Yarragon > Pakenham (66km, 3h50)

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Baaah! Such a bad day… I feel I will never arrive to Melbourne. This morning, a thick layer of clouds was covering the sky but no rain. I was finishing my breakfast in my tent when few drops appeared. Oups! It’s time to pack as fast as possible. 15 minutes later I was ready to go but the rain intensified itself until I was soaking wet. My shoes add two swimming pool filled with cold rainwater and my waterproof gear (Jacket + pant) doesn’t last long under the rain… After 30 minutes cycling I could fill the water coming through. Then I’m stuck in Yarragon and hope the weather to get better…
Finally around 5pm, the rain stopped or at least reduced and I hit the road again expecting to do as much as possible and avoid to have 100km to cycle tomorrow! I’m ready to cycle at night for a bit.

Map.

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That’s what I’ve seen when I first open my tent: a threatening cloudy sky.

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One more time my spot was perfect :-)


Soon after I’ve started cycling, trying to follow the GPS which told me to “turn right” twice when no road existed, a guy stepped front of me agitating his arms in the air like I was driving an airplane. So I’ve stopped my powerful titanium machine ;-)

  • The guy: “I’ve seen you on the other side of my field, where are you heading?”
  • Me: “I’m heading to Melbourne and then Adelaide and Darwin.”
  • Him: “Ho, and where are you coming from?”
  • Me: “Sydney :-)”
  • Him: “Ho, this is good, this is a long trip :-). Well, If you want to go to Melbourne and avoid the main road, take the next turn to the right. The you should follow a diagonal road and reach the next village later”.
  • Me: Ha thanks :-), I was following my GPS but it always tells me to turn when there is no road.”
  • Him (smiling): It does not always work well here. I’m cycling around everyday from 5 to 6pm. It’s my training. Walking is harder for the knees when cycling is more smooth.”
  • Me: “Good on you, cycling is good :-)”

The man explained me one more time where I had to go. I thanked him and was on my way again. This is nice to met people like this on the way and get some little help sometimes :-)


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10 minutes after I left Yarragon the rain started and did not stop. I spent more than an hour cycling under the rain and my waterproof gear and not waterproof anymore. The rain was too heavy. I’m soaking wet…

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Especially my shoes. I should get plastic bags before I left and wrap them in it! This is too late obviously…

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I’m reach the first town, Warragul and found the library. At least, I can stay here until the weather gets better. When I arrived, I’ve stopped in a bicycle shop to buy a flag. It’s the first time I had the opportunity to the this kind of shop open. Unfortunately the guy sold out all of them at Christmas and did not order some more… Then I asked him where was the swimming pool (as I would really appreciate to have a nice warm shower) but he told me that the swimming pool was closed since two years for restoration… Rah! What’s going on here?! Nothing works! Thanks to the library then!

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I’ve stayed about 4 hours in the library and had the time to release the new version of my website :-) I did not lose my time! It’s 5pm and I’d like to reach Pakenham tonight so let’s go.

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No shoes but thongs. It’s less cold than I thought so I will be ok.

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Poor shoes…

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This sky is crazy. Often there is showers and I stop under a shelter to avoid to be too wet. I don’t have more dry clothes anymore so it would be a problem.

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brouuuu! Cold, windy, not so nice. Why every time I’m close to cities it’s raining? They don’t like me or I don’t like them?


Finally, after two hours and a half, I’ve reach my goal. I’ve almost stopped in Nar Nar Goon but there was nowhere to camp so as stubborn as I am I pushed myself a bit more and done the last 14km where I found a good spot for the night.

3 thoughts on “Yarragon > Pakenham (66km, 3h50)

  1. Oh… Didn’t you get a hot shower? I can feel cold through these photos…. I hope tomorrow is fine.

  2. Aïe, les journées se suivent et ne se ressemblent pas … heureusement ! En même temps c’est l’automne ! Au moins avec les tongs, pas de chaussures mouillées !

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