Vanderpants Oz Tour

Distance: last three days – 222.7 km’s


Max Spd – yeterday was – 75km – hooting along

Saddle Time: Last three days – 14.5 hours
TOTAL SADDLE TIME – 128:44

Elevation: Total in last three days: 1999 mtrs

Quote: Give every day the chance to become the most beautiful day of your life. – For me this means that you need to put the right ‘glasses’ on in the morning – what you see is what you choose to see isn’t it.

Song of the Day: Metallica – Don’t tread on me

Album of the Day: Metallica – Reload – I basically had Metallica on shuffle for two days – my all time favourite band. A lot of people thought this was a flop album but I really dug their change.

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Hello all the readers – Today I hit the 2,000 km mark. That’s a pretty big milestone for me – i know i’ve done other tours but this one if different. It’s bigger, harder, hotter and more of a learning curve. I am so happy about this. I really got into my stride today. I must admit though, Every morning when I heave my leg over the bike AKA Thor, I feel all the aches and pains and I ask myself ‘ok, what’s the next niggle that’s going to make my mind wander into the (can I do this) mindset’. I just want to paint a picture for a moment – not a complaining podium time but moreso what I have to manage in my head (and also body). So far i’ve been really sick, almost the quitting kind of hamstring soreness for the first couple weeks of headwinds, two bulging discs in my lower back that give me grief, a bung left football knee that’s had two scrape outs and keeps getting fluid build up in it, a shitty groin, and on top of that – general soreness from 4-8 hours of riding almost every day. My point is……what is my point actually – i’m just typing away and not really thinking hahaha – my point is that anyone can do anything. I have managed it by changing pedaling techniques, resting on the right days, getting advice from people on what are the best stretches and strengthening exercises, picking my routes based on my body and how it feels on the day, using the wind to my advantage, stretching and more stretching 30-45 minutes each day (this one has realllllly helped me a lot). My left knee started blowing up a few days ago due to the climbing and I think I got slack with my pedalling technique so I had to be more conscious of not letting my knee push out and ensure that my core is engaged and I am scraping the pedals up and keeping my legs straight the whole stroke – that’s helped a lot. ot doing hills would be the smarter option but impossible here hahaha. All that aside, It hasn’t stopped me from just keeping those pedals cranking and really finding solutions all the time and focussing on all the amazing things i’m seeing and the people I am meeting – so far it’s been a super (I can’t find the word) eye opening, challenging, humbling and amazing experience.

Ok let’s get started on some summaries of the last few days. I woke at 5am to watch the sunrise at Bream Creek. Apart from the clouds RUINING them, it was still beautiful. I made a coffee and ate my muesli (with water – yes with water – I’m getting lazy in my eating as i just want the nutrients in my belleh’ I left my amazing campsite and rode through some beautiful valleys and thank god I was off the dirt road. I rode across many stunning rivers and bridges and was just looking around all day with a smile on my face.

As I approached Hobart I knew I had a one hour climb ahead so on went Metallica again and ‘Don’t Tread on Me’ came on and I was like ‘expletive YESSsssssss’ and those pedals just kept cranking over knowing that Hobart could possible offer some good fish and chips off the boat. A team mate and friend I ride with hooked up accommodation for me in kingston so Hobart was a bypass which I was happy about – i’m not enjoying the big cities that much although I know there’s a lot to do and Hobart is beautiful – I’m happier on the road pedaling through small towns. I do like using them for getting things I need though. my lunch was fish and chips (took 50 minutes as they lost my order….**shrugs**. Rolling with it although I could feel the ‘hangry’ feelings coming on hahahaha. I was dissapointed that it was not that good (maybe a once off) – but Triabunna was definitely and still is and maybe forever be the best fish and chips i’ve eaten. After Lunch I headed into Kingston – Bruce…..you didn’t tell me the hills I needed to climb to get there DID YOU!!!!! Hahaha. OMG they were steep – i felt like my tendons were going to snap off. 3/4 of the way there I saw a big tower and it was built in 1870 and called a shot tower. Some dude came up with the idea to melt arsenic and other things to make ‘shots’ for rifles and it dropped a long way down into water. Paid my $8 and had a squiz – was a nice break from the hills and a beautiful view

I finally made to Kev’s place and I must say – the hospitality (and view) was amazing. I was met with a cold beer and a conversation (is there any better?), got shown to my room and dinner was in the oven. After my shower, I think I ate 4 blocks of cheese and a packet of chips on my own hahaha Sorry for eating your house down Kev hahaha but bloody hell, thanks so much for having me and for all your messages of support and bringing an absolute stranger into you lovely home to meet your fam—including Walter……Walter kills Bandicoots and loves ‘playing’ with them – look at those eyes though – how could he hahahaha.

After drinking a bit and eating A LOT – it was bed time and I tried to blog but my eyes wouldn’t stay open. The next morning Kev was at the gym smashing it out and I was in his house eating his food again hahahaha…lots of toast and a coffee (thanks mate LOL) oooh and a banana……I took off early and headed towards Hobart again as I needed to to get where I was going. I stopped into a bike shop to get a longer bolt for my kickstand as it wasn’t long enough and they installed my stand for free and we had a chat and off I went. Hobart has an EXCELLENT intercity bike path that went on and on and it made entering and exiting Hobart so safe and easy – we need one of these Adelaide – BADLY. Great signs and easy to navigate. I rode past lagoons and mountains all day – beautiful. About 5 people have stopped me along the way to chat to me and one bloke lives a couple hours out of Sydney and offered accommodation when i’m up that way – now who in Adelaide does that? Hey, I don’t know you but if you need a bed……you’re very welcome and also if i’m not there, I have a cabin you can use……WOW!!! People amaze me….I will take you up on that Jake 🙂 thanks mate – i’ll message you when i’m close….tell me which beer you drink 🙂 – I did find an amazing coffee stop just before hobart though – an old mechanics establishment converted into a cafe – was brilliant.

I also met someone who is doing the same race as i am in New Zealand but three days after me and I got so much great information from him that will help me prepare – sometimes things just happen for a reason don’t they…….the trick is – you gotta be looking for it don’t ya.

I said i’ll summarise but i’ pretty poor at that aren’t I? Just roll with it people. So anyway, I rocked up at this campsite after lots of climbing and when i say campsite I mean……someone’s backyard who’s converted it to a place where for $7 you get some grass, power, place to cook and sit and for another $2 you get to use his shower. I wish I took more photos but I forgot. I’ll try to paint the picture because I LOVED IT…..His name is Grumpy…from memory he is 76, a potty mouth that’s BRILLIANT, a campsite that he made out of what I would call JUNK, and a very rustic and eclectic ‘experience’. Because Grumpy is small, of course he made the kitchen and shower with low ceilings didn’t he (hits head numerous times). The shower was like junkyard scrap put together and a bucket you fill with hot water then walk alll the way back to the shower, pump goes in water, switch goes on, click the button and you have one bucket’s worth of hot water. Don’t forget to take the pump out of the water and hang it up though or you are in trouble. I spent the night wanting to blog but in the end I was talking to a bicycle tourer, a motorcyling tourer, a worker who was a long term resident there, and a german couple. In the middle of the backyard there were two tables, we all drank beers, ate dinner and shared some of each others, shared stories and talked until 9:30 – it was brilliant. One of them had vietnam stories, the other travel stories and others piped in with variuous other topics. Was just a nice vibe. Again – wanted to blog but got too tired after that. I was told that Grumpy told some (i won’t say the nationality but you may guess)( people earlier that week to EFF OFF and gave them the finger because they were being rude…..I wish you were my grandad Grumpy hahahaha. his ‘campground’ was literally in the middle of a hops field…they grow similar to weed (don’t ask me how I know) hehe but it was unique I give you that

Next morning I knew I had more climbs so a few stretches, a couple convos, a coffee and some muesli and I was off. By the way – my tent needs to be named. his name is VTwo. Vanderpants two. My bike ‘Thor’ and my tent ‘VTwo’ are like my friends. I talk to them for instance on the dirt road Thor handled it no problems and we have a conversation whilst riding along and I thank him for being so frikkn tough. Vtwo and I have had a couple conversations and they are mainly around how stable he is and how well ventillated he is and how lucky I am to have him. My, Vtwo, how wonderfully easy your zips are and the fact that you have double entry…….They are like my Wilsons of the world.

My shirt was getting old and haggered (from not being careful enough when fixing my bike) aaaand I left it at Kev’s so told him to bin it and I went out and bought another merino top and this one is very fitting

The day was spent riding in hot hot weather but i’m weathered now, i’ve settled into hot days, hard rides and just shutting up the mind and getting on with it and loving every minute (well almost every minute) – but honestly the West Side is quieter, less beaches but it has beautiful forrest and lovely scenery. Hotter but in my eyes, more scenic. Lots of lagoons, rivers, mountains and forrests. I’m looking forward to the next couple days of riding and getting deeper into the west. I found an awesome caravan park…..as big as approx 7 football fields and plenty of space and noone around me, they have a pool, a shower and toilets and soft grass – all for $12 – YES PLEASE…….I cooked my dinner (pea soup, bread, pringles, lots of water, an egg, a tim tam, an ice cream, a muffin and some coffee. I’m full, clean, finished blogging, ready to try to watch some netflix and close my eyes feeling blessed I am doing this and taking it all in as much as I possible can – bring on tomorrow – lots of love from the WEST SIYEEEEED

Vanderpants OUT!!!!

Side note: a mate called me today and said ‘want some company for a couple days?’ I am so pumped to meet him in Strahan and hang…I have a few ideas re boat cruise, waterfalls and pubs hahaha. Night all.