Tour Planning — Getting Out There

Taking the Spirit of Tasmania ferry to Devonport — Tasmania, Day 0

Thu, 07 Dec 2023 15:35:00 +1100

After more than a year of looking forward to, planning, stressing and organising, we’re finally on our way to sunny Tasmania!

Of course, we haven’t quite made it to Tassie yet. First we have needed to take the train to Geelong from Ballarat via Melbourne, and we’ve spent the bulk of the middle part of the day today doing that. We left this morning at 11:00 from Ballarat. Danielle was still packing at 10:45 so her bike was a little wobbly and off-balance. Mine is HEAVY but well-balanced.

Our bikes at Ballarat Train Station, waiting for the train to Melbourne.

The train was delayed due to a track fault but we made it. Danielle went shopping in Geelong for some last-minute Christmas gifts and I wrapped up some last-minute work tasks, then joined Danielle at Westfield. We went to Lou’s Pizza for a yummy wood-fired pizza and local beers. Danielle has the Hawkers Pale Ale and a supreme pizza sans the pineapple; I had a mushroom and salami pizza and a Lou’s Lager. Both were delicious!

We’re here now in the Best Western Geelong Motor Inn. Checking in was a bit nerve-wracking for an instant when the receptionist took one look at our bikes and complained: “I’m really not keen on those bikes being in the rooms!” We assured her that there wouldn’t be a skerrick of dirt or marks of any kind, that the tyres were clean and we even have an old blanket for protecting the carpet and furniture. We’re hoping we won’t have to deal with frivolous cleaning or “damage” bills later. We took photos of the areas around our bikes in case we find ourselves in a dispute.

Tomorrow morning we’ll head out to the ferry terminal in North Geelong, bright and early at 06:00! We’re hoping the ferry is kinder to our bikes.

Friday 8 December 09:10

We’re on the Spirit of Tasmania ferry. Checking in and boarding was simple enough. Disregard the “No bikes in the terminal” signage, as we were encouraged to remain with and bring our bikes as we moved through security and onto the boat. We checked our little Jetboil gas canister, but besides that everything else was hunky dory and we were waved through.

The area for stowage of the bikes onboard was just next to the gangway post at the stern. We strapped our bikes as best we could to the grate and hoped for the best. We brought an old shitty blanket with us for protecting the bikes, but they should be alright as I packed lots of straps for the purpose. I didn’t get a photo but I’m going to try to when I disembark and then post it here [It was raining and we were in a bit of a rush with other cyclists waiting for us so I didn’t manage it.] to which any future two-wheeled travellers who follow us may refer.

Danielle resting aboard the Spirit of Tasmania.

We’ve grabbed ourselves a nice little post next to the windows on Deck 7 and we’re settling in for the crossing. I’m looking forward to going out on the outdoor deck amidships after lunch for a nice little smoke of my pipe!

17:05

We are still on the Spirit of Tasmania about 2 hours out of Devonport. It’s been a pretty smooth crossing of Bass Strait. I’ve had my pipe and a chat to an Exeter local named Tristan, a chippie with some advice on roads to take, had some beers and lunch, and altogether it’s been a pleasant journey. With the fair weather and smooth sailing I’m sure the bikes are OK.

21:10

We arrived in Devonport just after 19:00. Our bikes were fine — and they had company! Another Surly, a Karate Monkey in bright green, and a green Trek tourer were next to ours and loaded for bikepacking. They belonged to a German couple on their way to Cradle Mountain.

We collected our gas bottles from the LPG area and stopped by the IGA for some mi goreng noodle cups and some eggs.

We’re all set up in our cabin now with our bags off the bikes, which are locked up on the front porch with a fishing bell attached to the brake cable housing to alert Danielle to any late-night shenanigans. We’ve FaceTime’d Anneliese, had our dinner, repacked and redistributed pannier loads and now we’re retiring to bed. We’ve a big day tomorrow!

Our bikes at Ballarat Train Station, waiting for the train to Melbourne.

Danielle standing with our bikes in front of our house in Ballarat, ready to depart on our tour.

Danielle resting aboard the Spirit of Tasmania.

Planning a winter getaway tour along the Great Ocean Road — Great Ocean Road Winter Tour

Tue, 26 Jul 2022 12:00:00 +1100

Although I’m absolutely loving my job at Starlight, I’ve been working pretty hard this year and between the pressures of work, family, home and parenting I am desperately in need of a little break. So I’ve booked out a week’s leave at the end of August to tackle the Victorian Great Ocean Road. And because I’m a silly bastard I’ve opted for the wild and wet weather that the Shipwreck Coast is renowned for at this time of year. Fun!

My partner is working from Warrnambool that week, so I’ll meet her and spend a few nights together chilling out and enjoying the local hospitality, before she heads home and I depart on my way. I’ll ride from Warrnambool to Geelong over the space of a few days, camping along the way, with a hotel here or there, and even a spot of trout fishing planned at Aire River.

From Apollo Bay to Anglesea, I’ll ride along one of Australia’s best stretches of tarmac, the world-famous Great Ocean Road. I’m looking forward to the lower traffic that winter will bring, even if it means braving the elements.

Continue reading after the quote

Why do you go away? So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colours. And the people there see you differently, too. Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving.

Terry Pratchett, A Hat Full Of Sky

A broad outline of the trip

Warrnambool

Starting in Warrnambool, heading east towards Allansford and then meandering down towards the start of the Great Ocean Road and stopping for the night in Port Campbell.
Port Campbell

Leaving Port Campbell and passing the Twelve (or less!) Apostles Marine Park before climbing through to Lavers Hill and stopping the night at Johanna Beach.
Johanna Beach

Leaving Johanna Beach, hopefully getting in a spot of fishing on the Aire River, then arriving at Apollo Bay.
Apollo Bay

Cycling along the coast all the way from Apollo Bay and stopping at Lorne for the night at the Mantra hotel.
Lorne

Leaving Lorne and heading towards Anglesea, then leaving the Great Ocean Road through Torquay and then Geelong.
Geelong

If I’ve still got the energy to ride home from Geelong, I might make another day’s trip out of it, but I’m just as likely to call it to an end and train it home. TBC.

288.0 route distance (km)

2,238m elevation to climb

5 days' riding

Gear

The Great Ocean Road is heavy with tourists, and I’m going on the assumption that even in the off season there will be places to stop and eat. I’ll take some freeze-dried meals just in case, as well as my “fuel” for cycling, but otherwise it affords me the chance to slim down a little on the cooking gear.

I am also not needing things I would take into the bush, like firelighting gear, hatchet, fishing rod holders — I will fish, but not with bait — solar panels, water bladder and so on.

The reduction in bush camping gear will be offset by increased cold and wet weather gear. I’m planning to take both my sleeping bag as well as my wool blanket. I will take both tarps, but have managed to reduce the ropes a lot by using 1.75mm Dyneema lines with DutchWare [DutchWare (Dutch Clips LLC, 2026): DutchWare Hammock HardwareDutchWare Gear Welcome to DutchWare, your one-stop shop for all things hammocks, from do-it-yourself (DIY) hammock camping gear and accessories to quilts and suspension hardware, as well as DIY backpacking gear.] hardware, tiny little titanium tie-offs given cute little insect shapes and names like Fleaz, Flyz, Ringworms and Stingerz.

I took a little test ride today (Sunday 21 August) fully loaded to test the handling and everything is hunky dory. I tried to wobble and throw the bike off and my trusty Serena just kept on true to form.

Bike setup

Panniers loaded front and back, with a basket & bag at front, tent on the handlebars, extra blanket on the back rack between the panniers, an ultralight hiking chair strapped to the blanket, and fishing rod beneath the top tube.

One of the weirdly perverse benefits of anticipating wet and windy weather is that I’ve paid a lot more attention to waterproofing and weight distribution, which in turn has led me to probably my most carefully-considered pack yet. Here’s hoping it goes the distance!

Tour Planning — Getting Out There

Taking the Spirit of Tasmania ferry to Devonport — Tasmania, Day 0

Friday 8 December 09:10

17:05

21:10

Planning a winter getaway tour along the Great Ocean Road — Great Ocean Road Winter Tour

A broad outline of the trip

Warrnambool

Port Campbell

Johanna Beach

Apollo Bay

Lorne

Geelong

Gear

Bike setup