Vanderpants Oz Tour

Distance: 173 km’s – TOTAL KM’s 3,472

Avg Spd: 17.3kmph

Max Spd – 64.9kmph – this was fun haha

Saddle Time: 9 hours – total

Elevation: 1,650 meters

Quote: Are you following your truth or someone else’s?

I read something from a psychiatrist once that went along the lines of ‘we only need to remove the habits of negative thinking. It’s only necessary to remove that which is false’.
Or how Einstein put it…. ‘“Man should look for what is, and not for what he thinks should be.” – I’ll keep that in my back pocket every time those thoughts creep in.

Song of the Day: I listened to audio books and PS – don’t listen to podcasts which are about a missing person in a town in which you will go through – why do people continue to either warn me or tell me about murders and backpackers and tourers and all the bad things hahhahaha cmon people – tell me the good things.


——————————————————————

G’day you beautie’s,

well the last couple days have been simply put…..working around the heat and highways and that’s it…ok a bit of failed attempted sightseeing but that’s all part of it isn’t it. After that last little vid I woke up at 4am to beat the heat and off I went into the dark and rode like the wind.it was early but the people I met the Night before purposely woke up to say goodbye to me and offered accomm and a possible catchup later on in my trip for a ride or hike. Thanks Gals it was a pleasure meeting and chatting to you ALL NIGHT hahahaha.

On the way to Yass (i love saying that name over and over LOL) I met a nice person who stopped at the top of a big climb and continually offered food and water and we had a quick chat. Just amazing – I had to accept the offer of at least some biscuits because I wasn’t allowed to say no but I had everything I need haha. How cool are people right? Just stops and says ‘what do you need…water…food….a lift’….People are awesome

So althought the day was hot I got to Yass and it was like 40 deg’s and just way too hot to be sitting under a hot tin shelter and cook stuff so went to the fish and chip shop and ordered a fish burger and chips…the ladies were asking what was I doing looking at my maps and I explained what I was doing and they gave me my meal for free. So here I am, white with salt and wet with sweat, red faced, breathing hard, looking homeless and they say ‘it’s on us darl don’t worry about it’. On my tough days people just seem to pull through it’s bloody amazing.

Some people do anyway – the caravan park owner was nice but had no idea I think (must’ve been a relief manager perhaps). He put me in a spot with no shade (so i moved later LOL). Again, I couldn’t cook as there were ants and bugs bloody EVERYWHERE. Even in the camp kitchen and there was no shade so off to the pub I went and had a couple. There’s not much to do in yass (apart from say that name over and over in your head and LOL to yrself). So I prepared everything to leave early the next morning and I setup my tent the minute I had a bit of shade. it’s so hard sometimes sweating and being drenched from 4-5am until 9pm when the sun goes down for days on end. It gets really taxing and you gotta dig a little deep (i have a lot left though don’t get me wrong) and find ways to enjoy it sometimes. I’ve never had sweaty knees before but now, I could fill a cup just from the ‘knee sweat’ HAHA

fell asleep at 9pm after eating a warm can of baked beans, a muesli bar and some warm water – i really couldn’t be bothered and it filled me up. The next morning was another stinker so up at 3:30 this time and I knew I have about 5-6 hours on the road. I saw some beautiful scenery, lots of kangaroos bouncing along with me and these…..it makes it all worth while it really does …

So after 900 Vert climbing and 90ish k’s i rocked up in Goulburn and I knew it was going to be a stinker the next day and I got a $60pn room with an AC and when I say room I mean a room with a TV and an AC and a Bed – that’s all i need….no frills for me – just those three things thanks – i got the rest hah. I walked straight into the pub and before I even ordered this man said to me in what I would call the biggest ocha voice you’ve heard ‘Bloody hot out there isn’t it cobba, better you than me ayye, makes the ass’ole sweat i tell ya mate’. We had a good yarn and he was telling me about his farm and the dogs he has and how he trains them plus how much of his life they are. This man was full of stories – loved it. We shared a beer or two and that was it for me. Into my room and reset all my gear, showered then went for a walk around town. I organised a looked up a few things for the next day to make it worth my while and not sit around all day. I like to make the most of things when i’m somewhere – or so I tried……

• Big Merino – saw it – loved it – read the history of merino wool in australia – I did not know these things
  • 1807 – first wool was exported to Britain
  • The first Merinos (spanish) came to Australia in 1797 from South Africa
  • 1939 – Shearers were banned from enlisting in the war as wool was so important to it for uniforms and so many other things.
• Goulburn Brewery – CLOSED – although all reviews and website did not say this. I was looking forward to a tasting paddle haha.
• Goulburn War Museum – CLOSED – although all reviews and website did not say this
  
  So i rode around in the heat going ‘oh FFS’ hahahaha. All good – shit happens. I got more time to blog then LOL.
  
  Side Note: If you are an animal lover, i wouldn’t suggest going on a bicycle tour. I have seen thousands of dead animals in all kinds of ‘dead’ states. I start guessing and looking now to see where the impact was and cause of death haha. I’ve seen so many things come out of all orifices it’s not even funny. If I see a live one i yell at it to shoo it away before I arrive as to not startle it and then run into oncoming traffic and hence endangering me also. Or if there’s lotsa cars I just stop so I don’t startle the wildlife and go again when the cars go. Yes that’s an actual thing in Australia – safety to me on a bike is a car avoiding an animal and hitting me. Almost happened last night – a car coming my way – at least 30 kangaroos sitting in the dark on the side of the road, not hearing me, I hear a car (a long way away) and I shoo them….they jump away…i’m happy hahaha. The car stopped and said ‘be careful mate – there’s so many out this morning’. I said ‘mind your own business dickhead’………..No I didn’t say that hahahaha I said cheers and went on my way.
  
  
  Speaking of danger….I see SO many death markers on the side of the road also. I stop at everyone that I can and I like to read them and then quickly remind myself again what i’m doing and be greatful (and careful). A lot of them seem to be on a bend. As in, getting tired getting tired – long straight……getting tired……bend comes……hits bend. I’m not sure if this is actually the case but that’s my educated opinion from YEARS of research into motor vehicle accidents in Australia :-). A few trucky ones too last couple of days. Stay safe out there people – I see everything first hand riding a bike I really do. Rubbish, The animals large enough to write off your car (and i’ve seen a few written off on the side of the road), the locals, death markers, close calls, lovely people, angry people, people in a rush, people speeding, people going too slow, lovely tributes to loved ones, carelessness and last but not least I do Mostly see great people and good driving but just stating that – be careful on the road people – it really is more dangerous than you know inside that little air conditioned metal tin with your music on and that destination in your mind at 110kmph.
  
  I wanted to also mention truck drivers. I have had 99.9% of them (literally only 1 was a bit of a dick) and thousands have past me and have all been great and giving me space or tooting me if they are coming up my rear (teehehehe) and another car is heading towards me. Although i’ve already seen both vehicles it’s nice to know they are thinking of this stuff.
  
  Tomorrow i’m attempting 10-11 hours and another early morning to beat the heat AND get to the GONG and almost ready to relax for a bit so I can prepare for my NZ race. I need a bit of time as I need to research the whole route and purchase everything from sratch starting from ‘THE ACTUAL BIKE’.
  
  Have a great day everyone and thanks for reading my random thoughts and experiences
  
  Vanderpants OUT!!