Vanderpants Oz Tour

Distance: 93.2 km’s

Avg Spd:18.7

Max Spd – 51kmph

Saddle Time: 5 hours

Elevation: 415mtrs

Total Distance: 807 km’s – getting into the tonne soon yay

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Hi Readers,

Well today was (and im not just saying this for the blogs sake) EXCEPTIONAL. It was a day filled with country roads, side roads, tailwinds, quiet dirt roads, a couple sights along the way, good coffee and just lolz alllllll day. It was what touring was all about. Alex and I were basically on a high all day and 90 clicks felt like NOTHING. First off I want to shout out to Alex who is not only is a powerhouse but today he was in charge of navigation and routing and boy did he do an amazing job. It’s not easy self navigating and creating a non direct route off the highway for 90 KM’s but I had one of the best day touring in a LONG time. He did an amazing job and every road was awesome and we didn’t even know what kind of road was ahead but all in all they were all sublime – great Job mate – this is your first tour and you smashed it. I also want to shout out AGAIN to him because of all the hard work and training he put in to make this happen.

The day started off with me cranking a michael jackson song (do you remember) really loud to wake up Alex and start singing hahahahaha – to which Alex joined in the minute he woke up lolz. It also started off with me putting on wet knicks hahahaha – my other pair were let’s just say ‘unsavoury to wear’ and the wet ones were clean but WET – so on they went mmmmmmmm. The day really started out on an awesome rail trail. For those who don’t know what that is, it’s an old railway line converted into open space and a nice gravel road to cruise on. So that was how our day started, 20 odd clicks of that which was awesome and with a tailwind. It actually reminded me of The Netherlands today. Broody grey clouds riding along a flat ‘canal’ with a river to the side and many different animals to look at along the way – like I was cycling on along a canal – it was awesome – no trucks and busy roads.

We FLEW along the Rail Trail and smashed out 50 clicks until some waterfall you’ll see in the vid. Along the way today we did some filming, droning, coffee stops, laughs, easy cycling, fast cycling, loudspeaker music playing and headbanging (especially to RATM and Silverchair) and literally saying to each other a thousand times, ‘OMG HOW GOOD IS THIS’. It was THAT GOOD today. So many natural smiles along the way and Alex shaking his head saying ‘is this a dream’ hahahahha – those are the words I wanted to hear because before he started if I had any concern, it was that we can make it fun enough for him and not just hum drum highways and that was so nice to hear that and see the smile on his face. I know that there are already so many memories locked away in his brain (and mine) that will last forever already. The videos say it all right? – and that’s EXACTLY how it’s been the whole way so far. I am forever looking at possible photo opportunities or drone shots and thrilled to share Australia with you guys so you can see all the little things you might miss in a car. This country has sooooo much to offer and by bicycle you really get to see so much and take it all in. It excites me to show you everything I see. OK my blog might not be a video every day like it has been for the whole trip (it might though hahah) BUT I get joy out of letting you see what I see. I want you guys to see Australia with me – the Real Australia – it’s bloody stunning. Where the bloody hell are ya hahaha

I’m getting better at the drone now. Alex timed me and within 65 seconds of stopping the bike, the drone was in the air and 25 seconds of that was the gps locating my home spot. within 30 seconds it’s packed away and we are off. So good – it’s the editing that takes a while lol but it’s also nice to have these memories for myself and watch them back to appreciate what’s actually happened in the day. So much happens in one day so it’s great to have these lil snapshots and vids to go back to.

In short today went like this:

Woke up

Breakky and coffee

Drone then Rail Trail

Offroad Trails

Drone again

More back country roads

Coffee Stop

Waterfalls

Good Times

One Flatty

15 minute snack stop and a few calls back to home

Made it to Cobden

Edited said video below

Walked to Pub

Two Beers and dins

Blog

Pack/plan/make some eggs for tomorrow

Talk more shit

Few phone calls

shower

zzzzzzzz

I’m pumped for tomorrow because……we have planned a 3 day gravel trail route that winds through the Ottways which emcompasses dirt, rail trail, hills, 12 apostles, and NATURE yay – this will be Alex’s first multi day off road trip and i’m excited to do it with him. We have planned it perfectly so lets see how it unfolds. Knowing the last 10 days, probably a 10/10 hahaha but anything can happen hey – i know this however, I think he is going to LOVE it. We are on track for Melbourne so lets go explore some back country right? YEwwwwwwwww

Side Note: Alex said to me today ‘you know i could be deaf and mute and I think you’d still say exactly the same things to me as you do everyday’ bwhahahahaha ok yes I talk a lot – **shrugs** – let’s face it…..I probably would hahahahahaha.

Side Note 2: there’s quite a few followers from China which is amazing right – hello from Australia – welcome to this amazing country and shout out if you have any questions…..

Some partof me feels like this is a great start to my whole adventure. Blessed with great days and getting fitter by the day but it’s slowly getting me ready for up north and down west, plus the Nullabor. I’m not pre-empting anything but I do know it will be a different challenge and I wont lie, it is a little daunting about the challenges that face me – I know I can do it but sometimes those oh shit moments creep in and I know i’ll be in for some tough times and I think this is a perfect start to harden up that mind a little more as I go along and learn so much more along the way to prep me for the challenges ahead

Thanks for reading everyone – it helps us keep pedalling every day. More than you know……..Your comments/messages/voice messages/pictures/videos help me even more – I love them all. Even the ‘hurry up c**t’ messages hahahahaha

Love you all

Redman OUT

PS – By request I was asked to add headbanging music and less airy fairy tinkly finkly music because lets face it……We are headbanging to Slipknot, RATM, Metallica, Limp Biskit etc etc so it’s only fair right – i reckon a few listeners would love this lil Adelaide band so how fitting is this WICKED SONG that we headbang to also.

Enjoy Peeps

Redman REALLY out now………