26 March 2025

Allowing a few extra days in case of bad weather, to cross Northern Tasmania, proved to be a bit of overkill as I enjoyed three glorious days in Latrobe contributing to Banjos profits (coffees!).

Banjo's Iced Coffee :)

Much as I like Latrobe, I was very happy to board the Spirit of Tasmania on Tuesday evening.

The Kona on board bubble wrapped for protection

The weather was perfect, the crossing like a cruise, and I was sorely tempted to partake in some alcohol with my fellow travellers, but somewhere inside a voice cajoled me, saying, I hadn’t done enough yet to enjoy such a treat. Fare enough, inner bastard!!

Met a couple of very experienced fellow cyclists heading off up country through Victoria and New South Wales. They were happy to share their hard won knowledge, which I lapped up greedily, though disconcerting to hear they still suffer the same riding pain I’m enjoying at the moment😂😂

Spirit of Tasmania leaving Devonport

Have to say I found the Spirit experience okay. I slept, sort of, in my recliner and found the process and Staff all very agreeable.

Bed On Board the Spirit

Fiddling around with my bike lock awaiting daylight in Geelong, I somehow managed to reset the code, creating a useless lump of metal in the process. Suitably binned, I found a bike shop and purchased a replacement lock, this one with a key, which I got them to test in the shop😊

Brekkie in Geelong

Humming and hawing about the Victoria Coast tourist traps, big hills, and no shoulders on the winding roads, I opted out of the Great Ocean Road and caught the train to Warnambool. For only $11, it was a very enjoyable journey. A few years ago I would have felt guilty about such a decision, but the beauty of getting older is you do start making smart decisions! (it’s taken a while….)

Killarney Campsite

Camped up in Killarney ready for a good night’s sleep and looking forward to devouring some kilometres over the next few days. 

22 March 2025

Over the years I have often overtaken heavily laden cyclists slogging up hills and wondering if their having fun, well, I have the answer, and it’s a resounding no! It’s all effort and pain!!!

Beauty Point to Latrobe, no way to avoid the hills. Fun freewheeling down them, but a laden bike quickly slows on the next hill….

Pushing a bike up a hill is equally not fun, but it gives the legs a rest, besides, it’s dangerous when you’re travelling so slow and wobbling into oncoming traffic.

Stopping every five kms for the last fifteen. Absolutely bushed, turns out my diversions to stay on bitumen turned out to be an 82km day.

Latrobe Campsite - Mersey River Caravan Park

After a bread and cheese tea, I’m in bed by 5:30pm, dreaming of a pack on my back and climbing in the mountains🤣🤣

21 March 2025

A blustery southerly slowed things down heading south. East Tamar highway a dangerous road with limited shoulders and fast moving trucks. I was very happy to turn off towards Batman Bridge to cross the Tamar😊

Batman Bridge, Northern Tasmania

Had a break at the bridge and not for the first time wished I was younger and fitter! Used to be easy to get fit for the mountain trips but something about getting on a bike stifled my enthusiasm. Am hoping by plugging away, day after day, fitness will come.

Decided to walk across the bridge on the footpath as the southerly was forcing me into traffic, but got halfway across and there’s a bloody concrete pole in the middle of the footpath!!! I had to lift the bike over a concrete barrier and face the traffic… the first truck that passed knocked me into the barrier (rush of wind) which was of a height to catch the rear pannier, suddenly the bloody things come off and lying on the road.

I’d had enough, got off my bike and slowed traffic down. Already dreaming of the empty roads on Flinders.

Two coffees and a peanut brownie in Beaconsfield, feeling much better😂

Lazy afternoon at Beauty Point, takeaways for tea in preparation for the Asbestos Range tomorrow.

Low Head Lighthouse

Happy chap on East Beach

Beauty Point Campsite