Australia

My road : Bega, Bemboka, Nimmitabel, Cooma, Berridale, Jindabyne, Thredbo, Khancoban, Corryong, Tallangatta, Kiewa, Yackandandah, Beechworth, Tarrawingee, Milawa, Glenrowan, Benalla, Maindample, Merton, Yea, Yarra Glen, Lilydale, Ringwood, Donvale, Melbourne, from 19 to 2009/11/29.

After 2 days in Bega, my decision is to continue as planned to the Australian Alps, Ron with who I stayed having announced me a hard part. Wake up at 5:30, I start at 6:45 with a beginning going up then riding goes well, reaching Bemboka at 9 am after 35 kilometers for a first break before to face the Brown Mountains. Besides, since a time when I spoke to the people of Cooma, it seemed to frighten them. Also at Bemboka a man says there's a steep climb. From the outset they are advertised in first their name and then a climb of 10 kms. At the second kilometer it gets too hard, starting to walk and push my machine for 8 kilometers, with some really steep parts, the legs will suffer and feel pain. It takes me 2 hours to reach the top, finding a pleasant spot for lunch. This climb offers me little to be discovered with a gray and cloudy weather. The remainder will not be funny with a dust storm, making the atmosphere even more blurred, but also a strong wind, horrible and painful. I reach Nimmitabel to the limit, exhausted, tired of cycling in these conditions. The day after my legs have recovered, leaving for 36 kms and reach Cooma. But the weather is again blurred and the sun pale giving to me fear about it. The road is only peeled mounts with some animals on it. All the same, theway goes well, arrived to this place at 8:30. At 10am I take back the road, but the wind will get up to be dreadful with a new storm arrives, the galley is set off again. Halfway with Berridale I stopped at a petrol station but closed, trying to leave with a car. A man stops, but going only to Berridale therefore leaving with him for 17 kilometers, so taking my lunch. Then thinking that the weather will get better, I'm starting to get Jindabyne. But I am mistaken, this will be again the horror, suffering and struggling 3h for 28 kilometers, making me swept by the wind, once more my enemy, riding the eyes on my speedometer to see the kilometers passed at small pace, waiting for one thing, arrived to Jindabyne, put down my bike, to take lodging and take a rest. This day will exhaust myself to the point of having to spend a day at rest on the spot. But I will meet Ian, a guy from Canberra with who I am going to Thredbo, which allows me to discover the road, also a ski resorts in Australia, this place was deserted at this season, with a sullen weather and rain. The next day I get up early to leave at 7am and reach Thredbo. The weather is again uncertain, rain tends to occur. As a precaution I have come to cover my bags. Around 7am the sky was clear and I'm going, but the weather scares with heavy clouds. That ends up having to take pancho, removing it, taking it back. Passed the entrance to the park Kosciuszko, the rain really comes with a headwind. But a car passing me, she stops, Ross asked me if I want to go with him, thinking that I wanted to continue cycling. We need to quickly load my bike, reaching Thredbo where he leaves me, so I can thanks him because otherwise I was soak by the rain. On site I found 2 guys from south Melbourne with whom I trace my route to go faster towards the city. From there I reach the highest point on the road with 1582 meters, the weather again became calm and mild, the rain had ceased. But temperature is not high with about ten degrees, to cover myself with a trousers, gloves, a hat, a jacket and a windbreaker. This descent is not overly long and fast, going through a forest, discovering on a meadow an incredible number of kangaroos as I had never seen before. Behind, the trip is not so fast, with a long climb of 8 kilometers, steep enough to push, the arrival at Khancoban passing easier. On the spot I'm looking for a place to put my tent, stopping to see the manager of a petrol station, informing him of my situation. He then invited me to return to his shop asking me to take a drink of my choice, then to wait outside, saying me that he would see what he can do for me. After few minutes he comes back to me saying, "we have a room available and that I can use it, 1 day, 2 days a week if I want." He then asked to his wife to put sheets on the bed. He also tells me must dinner with them. During I was writing my journal, he comes to bring me a beer. Once again I get an extraordinary welcome, more than I could expect. Willem then picks me, he is doing a barbecue with sausage from South Africa, which is its country of origin, of beef and mutton. He asked me also to take another beer. Jeanette his wife has prepared a variety of salads to accompany the meat. The dinner with this couple is superb, seeing myself transported to another continent with Africa, which is the subject of our discussion.
From Khancoban, my road is joining Melbourne, going the most direct. I then left the New South Wales to enter Victoria being my last state to cross. I ride well again, with a long climb to the level of Shelley, climbing it on my bike, controlling my breathing effort and the legs facing up. In this area I pass through a forest to reach Koetong where I met Brendan and Kathi, a couple with whom I stay for the night. When I start preparing my dinner, Brendan comes to me,asking me what I do, then telling me to leave my stove and to go with them, being invited to a barbecue held to finish the last piece. Kathi also cooked me a half dozen eggs to take the next day. The days that follow, I take back to ride steps around 100 kilometers with one at 110. I want to reach Melbourne and finish my journey, I am tired of having to endure these plagues of flies constantly to shake the head to get rid of it, causing my bike to leave its trajectory. The course is not unusual, riding through valleys broiled, searching each night where to put my tent, staying one night in a plantation of strawberry plants from a guy who has experienced what I have by riding in 1985. At Glenrowan I am stopped by a passing windy weather before the rain arrives, hosted by a couple of Greeks. I know a few disappointments with 2 of my tubes, overcoming the disadvantage by purchasing new. Since Benalla, I can get in touch with a couple from Melbourne, met at the beginning of my journey, I am invited to stay at home. Between Yea and Yarra Glen, I cross the region that had suffered the devastating fire earlier this year. The step that gives me to reach Melbourne is very humid, stopping 3 times on the way to take lodging in just 40 kilometers. By early afternoon I get to George and Jenny home, greeted me by saying, "We're waiting you for tea." These people are letting me take a shower, then I find myself around a table with them and their children for the birthday of George. After 8 days of road to reach here, I find myself suddenly in a completely different context, for great things to eat, drink tea, breathe and tell me I have to cross Australia from north to south, I found myself surrounded by wonderful people.
Now I am preparing to go to Tasmania for a few weeks, after which will come to New Zealand.