Simply cycling around – Page 52 – Simply cycling around

Ashville > Strathalbyn area (89km, 5h)

Today the clouds are coming back but the rain is missing (lucky me!). I had some light headwind during the second half of the trip because I’ve changed my direction. Not a big deal, I was just getting used to 30km/h and now I was 17km/h. I felt like a snail :-) The road was quite boring most of the time except when I’ve catched a ferry and pass thought some cute villages. South Australia as many similarities with France I guess. Several houses are build with stone which makes a huge difference style wise. And this specific area is full of winery :-) Let’s start the visit!

Salt creek > Ashville (107km, 5h)

This is another windy day in my favour today :-) So before it stops I’m using it as much as I can! This morning was cold but the rest of the day was perfect. I met a couple in “Salt Creek” who offer me a hot drink and invited me at there place :-) They live on the northern side of Adelaide so I will see them in few days time I guess. Very nice!

Robe > Salt creek (108km, 4h30)

This is a new day, one more towards Adelaide and especially Darwin. I still have a long way to go but I’ve done well already. It might be around 1800km and I have more than 3000km coming haha :-) So far, this is the fastest cycling day I had. I think I said that yesterday but I did not know how the wind would be today! This is crazy (for me) I was sometimes riding for a little while at more than 30 km/h! FouaaaH! This is lighting fast! And I’ve met late this afternoon two cyclists, Cindy and MJ, going the opposite way :-) Unfortunately for them they are struggling the wind which is my best friend today!

Tantanoola > Robe (108km, 5h10)

Today is the fastest day I’ve experienced until Sydney. The road is pretty flat and I’ve got a nice tailwind nearly all the way to Robe. This is why I made more than 100km! At this pace, I will be in Adelaide sooner than I thought! But we never know. The wind might be a head one tomorrow so I took the opportunity today. I’ve stopped in Beach port for lunch and made a new flag. I bought a pole yesterday when I left Mt Gambier and fixed the flag I found on the road few weeks ago. This way is much cheaper than to buy a new one from a bicycle shop for $20. The pole was less than $3 and the flag was free of course. Just because it’s a security accessory they push up the price. This is a rip off!

Mt Gambier, visit with Anthony then cycling to Tantanoola (34km, 1h40)

Surprise after surprise, after the worst 30 kilometres I’ve done yesterday. My day turned out to be a lucky one. In fact, I was ready to find my spot for the night and went out of the McDonald’s where I met Anthony. He asked me where I was going to sleep that night and proposed me straight away if I was interested to stay in house with a fire wood. How can I refused an offer like this? :-) Anthony house sit his daughter’s place for the night and it’s 3 minutes away from where we met. I’ve followed him driving slowly to his place and we spent the evening talking about Australia’s famous places.
Today, Anthony proposed to guide me around Mount Gambier and treat me as he said “like exchange students we had”. I’m completely fine with that :-) We started early and visited until 11am to go to the library. Then around 4pm, we came back to his daughter’s place to collect our stuff and I was on my saddle again! What a nice day!

Nelson > Mt Gambier (36km, 2h30)

Shitty, shitty and shitty day today. I should stay where I was and have my day off… But I felt good this morning and was motivated to have a short trip to Mt Gambier and improvise once there. I know there is the blue lakes to visit. Two person including Jamie told me about that so I could have a look today. The problem, rain and wind and rain… The only interesting thing for today is (well, is it really interesting?) I’m now in South Australia :-)

Narrawong > Nelson (87km, 4h50)

Today is a cold day! I’ve started cycling when the temperature was 9.7 degrees. My hands and feet were freezing! Fortunately I’m moving so this cold sensation disappeared after about 30 minutes riding. My plan is to rich Portland, which is 15km away and try to go to the library (if this one is not closed on Fridays). Then I don’t know where I will cycle to yet. I will see that. And I did not spent the last night in my tent for once. I’ve slept in the “change room” of this kind of “hut”. I let you discover that ;-)