Australia

My road : Anna Bay, Salt Ash, Hexha, Kuri Kuri, Cessnock, Quorrobolong, Millfield, Wollombi, Mangrove Mountain, Spencer, Wisemans, Lower Portland, Kurrajong, Bilpin, Bell, Mount Victoria, Blackheath, Katoomba, from 10/27 to 11/02, Katoomba, Wentworth Falls, Blacktown, Parramatta, Brighton-Le-Sands, Caringbah, on 5th and 11/07, Caringbah, Sutherland, Waterfall, Stanwell Park, Thirroul, Wollongong, on 11/10, Wollongong, Port Kembla, Kiama, Gerringong, Nowra, Ulladulla, Batemans Bay, Batehaven, Broulee, Moruya, Narooma, Cobargo, Bega, from 11/12 to 2009/11/16.

My stop at Anna Bay extends from one day for bad weather with strong wind and rain, have also been spared to camp, people in whom I am offering me a room. Taking up the road, the weather is sullen, starting in covering my bags, also bought a pancho. I adopt quickly a good speed with sturdy legs. After 35 kilometers I have to go 2 big axes with the Pacific Highway and the England highway, the borrowing for a short distance, but well enough. The second is the axis of Sydney, as saying that I am very little lost in a madness traffic, unable to transfer the noise in this story.
I lead a rapid step in having covered 80 kilometers in the morning. From Cessnock I continue until Quorrobolong where Ken and Jane await me, a couple met to Cambodia. Remaining here the time of a day, I can go riding through the vineyards of the Hunter Valley, small in area but known for its wine. With these friends I spend a great time to talk of course travel, share their table for a sumptuous dinner, or just sit and drink tea.
From home, my destination is the Blue Mountains, studying with Ken which route to take. One that will take me to Wollombi will be the start of a wonderful journey, going away on a secondary road, less busy, passing small localities, from the hollow hills, cows on pasture, and bathing in the quiet, a true happiness. Then continuing to Bucketty, I find nothing, no houses, no town except 2 firemen to barracks, but enough for me to replenish water.
The next day will be a sumptuous trip by going to Wisemans then Lower Portland. At 7:30, I'm on the way to a day ahead, immersed in full nature. Shortly after my departure, I know my first puncture in Australia. By starting again, the fascination outweighs the kilometers being often stopped for the picture. I also join with the Hawkesbury river that I'll follow the rest of my day. I reach Spencer, a quiet place for a break. On the way I find beautiful homes, with many to sell. I am then to Wiseman for a crossing by ferry. Again little, but a calm assured. My journey is then to join the Blue Mountains road, but without passing through Windsor. Why I continue to ride along the Hawkesbury for a fantastic and amazing trip, full of beauty, coming forward or overhanging the river for stunning views, filled with happiness and fascination. This brings me to Lower Portland for a second ferry had a woman, only that I am to pass, then wanting to go to Kurrajong. The person with whom I stay a moment to speak, handed me a map and shows me the route to follow. But finding the river again, I realize that I'm in the wrong direction. It is too late to return, I have found to spend the night. Seeing a guy mowing his lawn, I go toward him, stopping all at once to listen, fascinated by my adventure. Then he leads me home, serving me a large orange juice, saying that this evening I dined with them and that he prepares me a bed. Again the evening was beautiful, staying up late with this guy. The next day, leaving for the Blue Mountains, reaching it in Kurrajong. I then met a cyclist who asks me where I go. Announcing my itinerary, he alerts me of the difficulty of the journey, saying that his wife comes to fetch him and up 8 kilometers above, he proposes to take my bags in the car. Then his wife arrive, I get from her an invitation to lunch. Steven told me, "you put your bags in the car and I ride with you, then have lunch together." The case was launched, to a severe rise with portions of 15%, to soak the shirt and feel the legs, but happy to have climbed Kurrajong Heights. From up there the view is superb as the lunch with Steven and Catherine. But the following day, the legs are still heavy, over the journey continues to be stiff going to Mount Victoria and Bell. Few flat portions, they are long and fast descents, starting again immediately to go up, I found myself totally to start from scratch, often having to dismount and push my machine. The kilometers do not run quickly, but for a picturesque route. The only regret is that traffic, fortunately with many motorcycles, heard next to this the wonderful weather and that is sunday. Some motorcyclists even have respect for me and welcoming, which is not the case for motorists did not like cyclists on the road told me. In this way I spent several mounts, going much beyond the 1000 meters. I'm also stopping at scenic points for first discovered below a wooded valley, steep-sided, surrounded by high rocky cliffs, the place is impressive. The round of Blue Mountains then led me to cross Mount Victoria and Blackheath, discovering every time different views but still incredible. Stopping at Govetts Leaps, the view is remarkable with high cliffs, a waterfall dropping. Downstairs is a vast forest, as forming a basin. I also stop at Evans where a marriage takes place. The place is also gigantic with the presence of a canyon, spending a time. At Mount Victoria, while I try to spend the night, I am inviting by a family, to be entitled to a bed and a copious dinner with Antony. So I just have to reach Katoomba, finding a very nice lodge, owner is Nepali, superb with me. This is probably the most visited place with the Three Sisters (3 columns of rock), but also breath-taking views, going to explore this neighborhood on foot, taking off several times, observing, listening, absorbingof this nature so special.
I leave Katoomba and go down toward Blacktown, where expecting me to a Ken's friend, reviewing him when I arrived at Tim, who will be myself very helpful to extend my visa, but at what price to pay 210 euros, and undergo a chest X-ray to check my health, seeing it as a lucrative business. With Tim I also spent a delightful evening, making him a taste of muscadet from Vallet, and making a feast of cheese, never ceasing to talk cycling trip. To go round Sydney and its disproportionate axes, going to Caringbah, Tim will accompany me by bike, using walk path, in the way tasting the Australian fish and chips. Here I have only to cross the Georges River which flows into Botany Bay and I reach Caringbah on the other side. Again a guy wait for me, met in my journey of Queensland, in relation of Graeme, leisure cyclist who aspires to a long journey. From home, I can leave my bike to take the train to visit Sydney for 2 days. But in the first the weather is stormy or rainy, not taking advantage of the city. Back to Greame home, I am rewarded with a barbecue along with 3 of his boys, the fourth left in Thailand with his mother. Indeed, so curious to find myself in a family of 4 boys, which is identical to mine. On the second day in Sydney, the weather is superb, taking in morning a ferry to cross the harbor and join Manly, a very pleasant place with a long beach. Back in Sydney I head to the famous Sydney Harbour Bridge, the bridge over Port Jackson. It's a huge work, colossal, dating from 1932, can cross on foot and enjoy an exceptional view over the city and its harbour. My discovery of Sydney stops there, while I continue my journey to Wollongong with a sublime way, first through the Royal National Park, then along the coast, the latter being of great beauty from Stanwell Park to Thirroul, the panoramas are succeeding, and the waters of the ocean ranging from blue to green. At Wollongong, I am expected by Richard and Rose, people met shortly after Darwin. Remaining a day with them, all you climb Mount Keira, discovered off the coast and the city. For all those people I can see again, is very pleasant and a pleasure to find them, being wonderfully received, and spending superb moments. But the road calls me to continue, and Melbourne is closer, my way to Batemans Bay and along the coast. After all the greetings, I have to take camping. While reaching Nowra, I go to the tourist office to find a place, leaving it with little information, if the storm and rain appears. By not knowing what to do, I see a woman coming toward me, asking me if I look to spend the night. Answering yes to her, she told me to have a free room at home and that I am welcome, pointing me on my map when to go. His invitation is for me incredible, being wonderfully received by Sally and her husband Stuart, making me even help in preparing the dinner. My continuity will comes disastrous, for over 2 and half days find no strength in my legs, dismounting for nothing, then struggling physically and morally, not understanding what is happening to me, having been so hard day past. The trip is not easy, with long climbs followed by quick descents, and so on. Without to find explanation for this, the third day I'm going a little better, finding again spirit to ride. But again there is bad weather, rain making its appearance, and nothing to spend the night, trying to put my tent somewhere. Tired of searching, I'll knock on the door of a house, received by a woman to whom I explained my concern. Coming out with me, I point with the finger a workshop, asking if I can stay there. Concerned, she asked me if I really want it, saying her that is just for one night. And that's how I sleep at the foot of a work bench. But at night these people will not leave me alone, celebrating an anniversary, we just get me that I join them in saying that the food does not lack. From this point, I reach Bega to take rest before continuing, hoping that it will do me good, especially since I'm planning to go to the Australian Alps before joining Melbourne.