Vanderpants Oz Tour

Distance: 72 kms

Avg Spd: 17.3

Max Spd – 38.8

Saddle Time: 4:03

Elevation: 510 mtrs

Total Distance: 635

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Hi Blog Fam

Today was an awesome day in regards to not being at work hahahaha BUT it was a ‘get it done’ kinda day with some great moments. We woke up before sunrise to Alex having ANOTHER flatty. So far i’ve had no mechanicals and Alex, HEAPS bwahahaha well not heaps but the most adjustments etc. It boiled down to a faulty tube…quickly fixed that and I prepped coffee and breakky whilst he unpacked the panniers and we fixed it together to trouble shoot. I was thinking worn rim tape but nah, just a fauly tube which we patched and away we went again. We filled our bottles with what the caran park lady said was clean rain water but it tasted like softly chlorinated water mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm that yukky flat chlorine flavour mmmmmmmm – drank that all day which didn’t go down well but it went down and kept us hydrated without being sick hahaha

Before taking off Alex suggested I take some drone footage of the lake and at first I cbf but when I saw it I was like HELL YEAH – it was well worth it.

So we took off watching the sunrise again which was great. It wasn’t the ‘Long Way Around’ kinda day BUT it was a lovely day nonetheless. There was MANY logging trucks and just highway but we cycled through some lovely country side again and of course had laughs all day.

We also found out we can have a spotify listening session so we are listening and controlling each others music or podcast. This was so cool when we felt a bit flat we could be listening to the same song at the same time together which definitely aided in us bouncing up and down when Limp Biskit came on ‘My Generation’ – screaming and bouncing on our pedals. I’m sure the drivers from both sides were shaking there heads hahahaha.

The day was headwinds AGAIN hahaha but it wasn’t as bad as the other days and a but more elevation but not enough to be tired or sore. Enough to work all the muscles which helped me that’s for sure, the flats just kill me – That’s why I love trail running. Much better when I use all my musles and have different terrain etc etc – give me a constant flat and especially with headwinds and I feel like a 44 year old lol. Give me rolling hills or hills and flat no matter how hard the hill is and I’m good for days. Both Alex and I felt strong today and I could tell because we were keeping our pace up the hill, at the top of the hill and after the hill – it was a good feeling.Today was too many logging trucks for my liking but it’s great to see that Alex has great road awareness for oncoming traffic and also traffic from the rear. One really has to be aware with eyes and ears when on these types of roads. For instance when coming up to a crest and a truck is coming from behind you kind of have to slow down, get right over and let that truck hit the crest before you because you don’t know what’s coming up ahead. Same for corners too. Always aware all day takes a toll sometimes but you have to do it. It’s nice to see that Alex has the same riding style as I do and is safe on the road. So today was a lot of pine forrests and other types of forrests and farmlands but the smells today were amazing. Anyone who knows me knows I LOVE TO SMELL THINGS bwahahahahaha – anything. I love smells – especially of the outdoors – there were plenty of them today – those country smells of wet forrests, fresh pine, animals, fresh grass etc etc. The one annoying thing today was flying through a zillion bugs for a few hours. So many swarms today – i swallowed a few too. They stick to your arms, legs, eyelashes, inside my ear too i found out after having a shower haha

Lunch was had in the middle of the forrest, bills were paid and phone calls were made also hahah. Coffee was poured and the rest time was about 30 minutes before we smashed the last 30km’s into Portland. Not many things along the way were outstanding BUT everything was at the same time. We powered on talking shit the WHOLE WAY like we do and smashed it to Portland with lots of energy and no pain. That’s a huge win in my books. I keep thinking that heading east to Melb plus up the east coast is hardening me up for the north and west of Oz. I won’t lie and say that it is a bit of a big thing to think about when I am sooo remote and doing harder days but I think I will harden up by then – I’m not thinking that far ahead just yet – just a few days at a time and that suits me fine.

As we rolled into Portland Alex said we should enter the town a different way and boy was he right. Quiet roads, lovely coastal views and an awesome descend into town. You know, I always feel like a BMX bandit rolling into town. Proud that we got there with our own horsepower. Excited to see what things I will see, what people will I meet, what bakeries will I smash and where can I swim or use my drone. I’m always excited to hit a town. Standing on my pedals happy that i did it and the newness of of it all. I have no idea what’s going to happen and I love that.

Starting now I want to also talk about coffee……which town has delivered good or bad and which is the best. So far…..BAH – LERG EVERYWHERE hahahahahahaha. Nothing has made me say ‘wow that was great’. Apart from Adelaide, Portland had just OK coffee. Stay tuned for my future updates

PS – I HATE TUCKED IN SHEETS for when we stay in accommodation – for everyone listening out there – please don’t tuck the sheets in so tight that I can’t breathe (Jean this goes to you also hahahahahahahahahah) – I don’t like my feet smashed flat so that I wake up with blue feet and feeling like I am in a straight jacket 🙂 🙂

I hope you all have a great night and until tomorrow’s new adventure this is Redman – SIGNING OFF

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