Day 49 i left Merimbula after my days rest and headed to Tathra where i visited the local Bakery for a nice hot chocolate and a blueberry muffin for breakfast. I met Tas and Wim from the shop and there where asking me all these questions about what i'm doing. Wim is from Wietnam Bluce ,and she told me she is going back to Ho Chi Min in a couple of weeks for holidays. I told her that you are there and she asked me where do you stay and what you look like. I told her that you were tall ,dark and handsome to throw her off, dont worry she will never find you. Tas, I'm pretty sure is from Port Fairy, so i asked him if he new Keith and he said no, butt he has heard of him.He told me to tell keith that he makes the best cream buns in town ,so come on down.
 |
| Tas who would like to meet Keith and Wim who would like to meet Bluce. |
I then continued on my merry way which was quite a nice route that i took, across wooden bridges and lakes with the hills and trees all around me. With the fog still hanging around and no wind made it very peaceful and crispy. Getting the picture or do i gotta keep going.lol
Still more hills and then the drizzle of rain that just doesn't stop, but pleasant enough because it wasn't that cold as Gippsland Jude.
 |
| Very bootiful. |
 |
| One pic for you Andrea,thought the banana peel i threw him was a fish,silly BILLY. |
 |
| Wooden Bridges and one lane only. |
Some of these hills around here are still quite steep and a funny thing (i thought anyway) happened today as i was walking up a hill, i came across another cyclist waking up the other side coming toward me. We met at the top both agreeing that its no good being a hero and busting our guts so late in the day. It was Mike from Chicago cycling from Sydney to Melbourne fully geared up as you can see in the photo. He is a 22 yr old qualified Electrical Engineer after just finishing uni. We spoke about the hills and cold as true long distance practising cyclist do and wished each other the best.
As i rode off i thought to myself, now,theres a guy flown all the way over from America to cycle around a bit of Australia as an adventure, good on him.
 |
| Mike ,looking the part. |
I ended up riding a further 10km to a place called Bodalla and within 10min of arriving I have organised a room at the local and had a hot shower and ready to order a meal.Too easy:-)
Rain and more hills forecast for tomorrow,bring it on.
P.S. I noticed Yern (Mr Fantastic) and Shaz are trying to steal the limelight from my blog commenting where they are. So as a special treat i will put the location tab at the bottom of the blog where they are, drinking red and rolling in the hay eating snails ,Blois. The boys got some energy.
Hoo Roo Grant
I'm glad you sent a photo of Wim, I'll keep an eye out for her. :-)
ReplyDeleteKeep on Truckin'
good to see you're hugging the coastline Grant, if it's hilly there it's even worse further inland. A lot prettier too. Loved the photos. Hope you enjoy all the lakes and inlets you still have to cross, it's magic on the south coast.
ReplyDeleteWe are getting some cold weather here in Mildy, don't know if I can cope with reading about you heading in weather that gets hotter as you go. Still, Sydney looms and it will be interesting to see if it's anywhere near as easy to get across as marvelous Melbourne.
Hope Jim's keeping dry, like all plumbers he would've downed tools at the first sign of rain!!
Lins is watching footy tonight, it's half time and he has never kept the TV on this long before. Melbourne must be doing all right for a change, but I am keeping an ear out for the inevitable, soon the cussing will start, then the shouting, then I know the plug will be pulled and he will storm off to bed.
Enjoy your Sunday!
You might be able to get a nice cheese platter in Bodalla.....I'm sure that's where they make the cheese!!! Sounds like you are all rested and ready for getting some warmer weather. It's cold up here at the moment and raining for the next few days but that wont last for long! Happy Travels!!
ReplyDeleteYes Jeanette,your on the ball,i'm right across the road from the cheese shop and when i arrived i had the best butter scotch thick shake from there that i had tasted in my life.I had never heard of a butter scotch flavour thick shake before. Trouble is they don't open till 9 am and i will miss out on another from there.
DeleteYes, I find it quite amazing that i have never heard any W.A people talk about the South Coast of N.S.W. I think a great trip would be to hire a car from Sydney and drop it off in Melbourne and visit every place on the way. Nothing wrong going when its off season to avoid the crowds and have the place to yourself.Sure the Great Ocean Road has the ocean views but not the amount of places like here. This place has got a trees ,hills,lakes,beaches and plenty of places to stay at reasonable prices.
ReplyDeleteAw!! That's for the beautiful pelican picture!!! :)
ReplyDeleteTake care, AndreA
Trouble is now,every animal i see now i think of you. Well ,i don't think thats a bad thing.lol
DeleteLOL
DeleteThat is funny! :D
I bet you would be seeing amazing wildlife!!
Keep taking all those pictures :)
Hope the weather is nice for you.
Take Care,
Andrea.
Still like thickshakes, I see. I seem to remember making you the thickest thickshake you'd ever had when you were over in Vic all those years ago....had to give you a spoon if my memory serves me right!
ReplyDeleteSome things i remember,but not that.
DeleteGreat to meet you, Grant! Best of luck on the rest of your journey and thanks for the tips.
ReplyDelete-Mike
Ah you don't muck around getting on the blog. i only met you yesterday and your on it. .Good on ya. I have known some people for 40 years and they still can't make the effort. Hope your happy with the pic and the accuracy of the story and like i said,, keep dry and watch that Gippsland freezing weather.
DeleteHi! Grant,
ReplyDeleteits been a little while not coming on saying hello, but you have certainly done well. Love your blogg. You will soon reach Nowra area, Huskinson, Jarvis bay...reminds me of my early years as a Rotary Exchange Students. I stayed there for 3months..Have a goodday...take care,
I see your a well travelled man. i never would of thought you even new where those places where. Anybody i need to avoid in Nowra or say hello to.lol
DeleteThere is someone i know but since moved to sydney and lose contact years back. Well, you'll be in sydney either tomorrow or the next. Have a great week.
DeleteThat South Coast looks like a place worth visiting, if your pics are real. Pelicans in the sea?
ReplyDeleteI survived the footy last night, but West Coast didn't, this arvo in Brisbane.
You're heading North with all those old retirees, for winter. Do they all have a sticker saying "Spending the kids' inheritance." on their vans?
Haven't seen many grey nomads yet. I think when i leave Sydney whenever that is, they will all be heading North scrambling to the parks to talk about there fuel consumption. They keep all records so they can talk about it to each other,riveting stuff. Still trying to see my first vehicle pulling a caravan with a women driving and a man in the passangers seat.
ReplyDeleteGranty, finally found some wifi in paris. Very impressed with the blogs now, havent had time to go completely through them as yet but they look great. Met some yanks cycling around france in st remy de provence, told them about you i think they didnt believe me. Be back soon cheers.
ReplyDeleteHey will you two stop enjoying yourselves,its killing me.
DeleteIs Mike popping in to see Joy?
ReplyDeleteOh Jono, you shouldn't have said lol! I was just about pack up the spare room :)
DeleteMike WHO.
Deletehello Grant
ReplyDeleteJust a quick hello to wish you well in the next few days, enjoying a holiday in Perth today, so have enjoyed the blog and the news. Keep pedalling..
Grace
Keep pedalling is the story of my life at bthe moment. All good and still remaining positive.
DeleteI see you are heading into the good doctors territory now....you will be pleased to know that I have pulled through the dreaded cold - appear to be over the worst of it - it must have been the excellent nursing care that I received. New admiration for the bro - if you had a cold worse than mine I don't know how you even got on your bike let alone ride it!!
ReplyDeleteGrace good to see you are consistently doing the blog - you will definitely be getting an invite to the welcome home celebrations....you have exceeded the required 4 blogs and more!!
Great footy this week (good excuse to have the cold and just watch the TV in the warm) but it has done nothing for my football tipping!
Jackiexx
Through Nowra already? That's moving,mate, so I'm surprised you got a chance to even notice how beautiful the South Coast is - but a good plan to go back there in a car. Illawarra Coast forecast is looking a bit rough for the next three days - you'll power along with southerly winds over 20 knots if you don't get blown off your bike. Forecasting 30kt+ gale force on Wednesday! Watch out for the trucks going into the 'Gong and the cars up to Sinney. Are you going up the F6 or Grand Pacific Drive? The coast road is a lot prettier and a lot more places to stop - like Great Ocean Rd. Either way, you need to carb up beforehand and maybe go out in a strong southerly to push you over the mountain. But if the Demons can win, you can do anything!
ReplyDeletePicked up the coast road at Bulli and did the scenic route but it sucked my wind from my sails because of the mountain.Grinded my way through the traffic right into town and up to Paddington without a map and found the terrace house only by asking directions. Stuff all the technology sometimes and just go by feel and common sense.
DeleteWont be going anywhere at the moment. Just outside Gerrygong broken down with loose spokes and wheel buckling but i am remaining positive.lol Rang the bike shop up in Kiama and Alex is on his way. Must be my smoooooth telephone voice. Whatever happens no lifts will be taken.
ReplyDeleteLooks like you got things fixed and heading into Kiama for the night.Another town with a great view! Hope the wheel holds together for you and you can get the vehicle in good shape to take on all the cars over the next couple of days.
ReplyDeleteHave you noticed how early it gets dark here on the East Coast? At least it's only for another 18 days then we will get a little more sun each day. enough to notice and appreciate when you get north to some good weather and more camp-outs.
Freezing weather though at the moment, think of you heading out in the mornings. Looks like you had crazy winds today too, lots of westerlies that were trying to push you into the ocean? Will keep our fingers crossed for this week.
Lins was funny after the footy. Couldn't get to sleep for hours, too much adrenalin flooding his system. I said, 'aren't you glad they don't win more often!' Didn't go down well.
Wheels back in order and just carted the bike up 3 flights of stairs at this pub to my room at Kiama,never have i seen a flight of stairs like it. Its the first three story one i have stayed at and the last.
ReplyDeleteMate, what do you want for dinner? How about a cracking steak & extras or would you rather Lasagne or Pasta...your call...Our treat so no matter what it will be good.
ReplyDeleteSee you in a few days
Frzop
Well if i get there tomorrow i will have steak,lasagne,pasta and extras...........Dosent worry me mate, i'm there for a couple of weeks so i'm bound to try everything.lol
DeleteThat's a great effort to be able to cart that bike up 3 flights of stairs after the day's ride. You are some muscleman. I couldn't even lift your bike!!
ReplyDeleteYou losing your touch? Can't get a room on the first floor? Or second? Don't tell me they're booked out middle of winter. Is it really a matter of balance? Have to do some upper body work to make up for all the leg work?
ReplyDeleteYes almost full because a lot of workers use it because they only charge $150 per week, i had to pay $45 just for one night
Delete2week! shit mate I am not sure what the dog will think about having to share the kennel with you for that long...you'll have to check that out with the mutt when you get here...no arse sniffing either right.
ReplyDeleteFrzop
Holy something Batman...whatever you do...DON'T LOOK BEHIND YOU TODAY
ReplyDeleteAs you near Port Kembla there's a mother of all storms behind you and winds at 85Kph
This is about 1.00PM Tuesday, so by the time you check this blog, hopefully you will be warm and rugged up inside a room on the 4th story of a pub, out of the wind.
Another day i let the supporters down with flat batteries in the 'Tracker". Only realised half way through the ride but had more important things on my mind like getting to Sydney before the storm.I made it around 3.30 to Tony and Jens place in Paddington just before the clouds opened up.
DeleteIf you thought the weather was bad in Gippsland thank goodness you weren't there today - you would have had to put floaties on your bike. Well done on making it to Paddington.
ReplyDeleteThankyou, and without a drop of rain on me.:-)
DeleteI just wrote a long message and it has disappeared into the ether!!! I will start again: Good news to hear you have arrived in Sydney and missed the storm. The good Doc rang me tonight very concerned providing me with the latest Sydney weather report concerned you were out in it!! We can all relax now that you are able to stay in the kennel at Tony and Jen's and eat pasta and steak. We want photos of the Opera House on the blog and it is worth considering whether to do the climb of the bridge to get that photo on the blog - although this may blow the daily budget - the climb is expensive as are the photos - you cant take up you own camera. I don't think they will let you take your bike up either so I suggest you get public transport there. Anyway great news that you have made it from Perth to Sydney...enjoy the rest and the time with friends. Jackiexx
ReplyDeleteHi! Mate, we are little worried about you. The wild weather at the South Coast..hope you are sheltered somewhere.
ReplyDeleteNo need to worry,all is good in Sydney resting the weary body.
DeleteSo you slipped through the eye of the storm to make it through to Sydneytown.Have you installed a motor on this pushie or what!You literally flew from Merimbula up that coastroad.
ReplyDeleteMight have to make you go around twice at this rate,btter lock up the bike when you get to the Cross!
Yeh the run from there was still a grind, feels like im going up hill on the map. Down 12 kg and ripped,LOOK OUT.
ReplyDeleteYou been pushing too many pedals Dylan!!!! 12kg eh,might have to take you to Hungry Jacks n KFC for a decent hoedown that,ll knock a couple kilos back on.
DeleteCant have you disa-Grant-ppearing on us,ha, ha so funny!Not.
Are you really having a R & R in Sydeney for a few days?
ReplyDeleteGood idea, I'd say, esp if staying at a friend's.
And the infamous Tracker, seems to have gone walkabout in Liverpool Street!
ReplyDeleteWhat's up? Testing, testing?
You know how Bruce worries when he sees cobwebs on Google.
PS where's Shane? Who is he? Anon?
Looks like the batteries again, but he's a stones throw from the Bridge, well done, I'll go out tonight to celibrate your on the same latitude as Perth, from now on it's all North.
ReplyDeleteI don't know where "The Wheelman" is, maybe following along at a descrete distance?
Take care and by the time I get back from being entertained tonight you will be clear of Sydney.
Cheers, watch the bloody traffic, you should see them here in Vung Tau.