Early start with SA being half an hour behind Victoria means it’s light half an hour earlier. Another slog through pine plantations, keen to get to Tantanoola for a coffee😂😂😂
Course, when I arrive it’s closed. No choice but to continue on to Millicent, where I succumbed to bacon and eggs…
Decided to carry on to Beachport, where Sue very kindly reserved an ensuite cabin. Luxury after another slog in strong winds.
Nothing much to say about today. Portland to Nelson is all about farming and forestry. Thankfully the logging trucks don’t run on a Saturday.
Had a coffee at Nelson. Was going to stay there but the campground was very small, and Nelson didn’t have a vibe that said, ‘stay the night’.
So, I pedalled on to Mount Gambier. Very happy to arrive after a 109km day of rolling hills. Met with rain and strong winds, but after a hot shower I couldn’t care less.
Early night tonight!
Killarney became windy and cold, no potable water, very basic amenities, and a school camp to boot. My airbed informed me that after twenty years of abuse it had had enough, splitting at the seam in harmony with atmospheric pressure. Made for a very poor sleep.
Up at the crack of dawn, I made my way to Port Fairy, a pretty little tourist town that, according to the internet, had a sports and camping goods store. Unfortunately, they only had a large velour covered mattress, weighing in at three kilos. I enjoyed a coffee, thinking, one more crap night and I’ll be in Portland. Hopefully there’s an airbed with my name on it there.
Princess Highway to Yambuk Lake. Trucks, cars, and caravans, but joy of joy, a semi decent shoulder. Still on edge, but amazing what a white line can do to make one feel relatively safe.
Pulled into Yambuk store to get some water. Lady behind the counter said a caravanner had popped in and paid for a coffee for the cyclist passing through. I enjoyed it thoroughly while taking back all the things I said about people towing caravans😂😂
Pitched my tent next to Fritz, a German guy out celebrating his 75th birthday, by himself, at Yambuk Lake. He welcomed me with a filtered coffee, and we enjoyed a pleasant conversation about nothing in particular.
No shade at Yambuk Lake, a pleasant enough place, but very hot in the sun. I attacked my airbed with the last of my sealant and it only deflated four times in the night.
Up early in fog, so had to curtail my enthusiasm. With sixty kms on the Princess Highway… I wanted to be seen!!
Big place Portland. Four bulk carriers in the harbour, and lots of tourists.
I found one of those shops that sells absolutely everything, and they had one “Sea to Summit” airbed for sale. So happy😊😊. Bit expensive, but a good night’s sleep is a good night’s sleep! Treated myself to a coffee before booking into the campground at Portland.
