Vanderpants Oz Tour

Distance: 75km’s (including Ferry)

Avg Spd:17.3

Max Spd -64.2 (some killer descents today)

Saddle Time: 4:18

Elevation:510 meters

Total Distance: 1,300 km’s woooooooooooooo

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Good evening to all the people who enjoy reading the ramblings of two hot red heads.

Another great day. I know right? how can that be hahaha.

As we woke at 6 and packed and gone (nescafe blend 43 down the hatch too blerrrg haah) – we were gone by 7 and I personally was excited to get some sunrise pics n vids in. Pre drone days I always loved sunsets however, moreso now and it gets me out of bed early to try to capture more of the day and it’s been so good having another perspective on the things I see. I get enjoyment out of the fact that I get to show you guys everything we see. When I first started touring I lobbed myself into a small village in Italy thinking I was this fearless man ready to take on the world and after the first three corners I was ringing my girlfriend (at the time 🙂 ) about how lost I was and if I done the right thing. A few tears were had thinking what the fuck have I just done and can I do it. So many different languages, currencies, so many unknown places to sleep and when am I going to wake up in an ice bath with one kidney gone and a note on the sink saying ‘take these drugs if you want to live’. Don’t even talk to me about Wolf Creek either hahahaha

The reason I am talking about this is because that was before sat phones, drones, laptops, google, getting around was more of a challenge. I had a paper map, an international phone plan that had no data at all so I was basically going off those paper maps and supposedly going to cycle around 13 countries in Europe. Some would say these were the best of times as the adventure really unfolds that way and is uncomplicated – you are definitely right there however at the time I was overwhelemed, scared, overpacked and had too much energy haha. After a few weeks, I overcame almost all of that and let go of the fears and let the day bring what it brings. The days unfolded and the people were super friendly and helpful (moreso thanm I thought in my own head) and that gave me the courage I needed to push on…….fast forward to now…..

The research is at your fingertips but sometimes a bit too much where you can plan EVERYTHING and it not go to ‘your plan’. Sat Phones, Google, Smart phones, drones etc etc etc….it’s so easy to get around these days. I find ‘some’ planning of an A and a B with flexibility works best for me now. Quick planning of here and there, water, things to possibly see and then just head in ‘that’ direction, has served me so well and trusting your intuition and the most important is having a sense of curiosity about the ‘adventure’ and knowing that they are all lessons be it good or bad is how I like to travel. It gets me talking to people and seeing what’s around the corner – even if it’s just having an awesome day in the sun – I LOVE IT. OK i’m rambling now, the point is…..it’s amazing I have this technology not only for memories sake, but that you all can see what a day in the life is like and also experience Australia a bit more with me – AMAZING.

We took some amazing rainbow, rainy, sunrise pics and really enjoyed the quiet morning especially after stopping for coffee and talking about the last 30km’s and how you don’t see that shit every day. Coffee was OK – service was forgettable. We ordered two banana breads and it took ages – that’s ok no probs I’ll just walk in and check on that (before I go all Leon Byner on her hahaha). I said ‘oh hi are those two banana breads coming still’? to which the answer was ‘you only ordered one’. (I heard Alex say two)
So Adrian says – that’s ok no probs 1 is fine. The answer I got was ‘Well only ONE (emphasised one) was ordered so that’s what I did’ I laughed and went ok no problems hahaha and then replayed the whole conversation to Alex, which we then deconstructed and hung shit on, then got on with bombing up and down some hills to get to the Ferry to go to PHILLIP ISLAND Yeewwwwwww

We took the Ferry to Phillip Island because the night before we mad some plans over a red wine and it looked ok. Booked the Ferry and the rest we worked out along the way. Never been there, didn’t know anything other than the GP and when we landed away we went. First thing we noticed was a big lack of shoulders to ride on. So strange when a town that brings in big tourist dollars has no sealed shoulders. I must say though, it was fun bombing around almost all of the outskirts of the island and seeing it from all angles. We wanted to see some penguins but noticed that it’s on too late for us to get back to so we just stopped for some home made lunch and went on our merry way. Still a beautiful ride to get there and back but onwards we went to see what the Moto GP track looks like them bomb again to our campsite. We spent about 5 hours in the saddle today plus some ferry time and it was all in all a great day. AGAIN…..another shitty day hahaha bouncing around on those pedals just lapping it all up. I was saying to Alex today if you think about how many summers and sunsets and great days we have, they go so quick – there’s not many when you break it down like that….when I think like that, it helps me really enjoy every frikkn minute of this trip (well most of those minutes hahahah)

One thing that’s been weird and of course I never watch the news so what would I know however, bowls of hot chips are scarce in Vic. Only chips with your meal and no extra due to the flooding, potatoes are difficult to get a hold of – they are my favourite so that’s been a shame hahaha normally i order a meal with chips AND MORE CHIPS hahah. Those floods have done way more than just causing a potatoe shortage I know however…….I miss those chippies 🙂

You would think that not having a shower for a day or three that we would stink right……I tell you onw thing, Merino wool is THE BEST for touring. I’ve said this before and i’ll say it again….it breathes, keeps you warm, keeps you cool, AND it just doesn’t smell – i’m amazed at that when you’re cycling 5-6 hours a day and just no smell – I would know, I like smells sooooooo – although maybe we do but just can’t smell ourselves…….ALTHOUGH, after dinner tonight we walked back to our tents and then opened them and OMG – that woft……we both went PHHHWOOOAARRRRRR…….but at least it wasn’t our shirts hahahaha. Could be my half eaten roll that’s been in my bags for two days or food stashed away plus dirty laundry hahahahaha

All in all today was a dream……cycling amazing NEW places, wildlife, sunrises, good food, great laughs, moto gp track, a ferry, a walk after dinner, cycling around an island – what more could one ask for….Also, there’s this bridge that connects Phillip Island to San Remo and of course being a Civil Designer Alex had to bloody take pics from this angle and that angle and then the sunset came so all the angles had to be taken again and i’m like ‘IT’S A BRIDGE’ hahahaha but it was a nice walk…i’m just takin the piss bcos he is an engineer geek and I am well NOT.

we are soooo close to melbourne now I can smell it – I actually really can hahahahaha

enjoy the video people, I hope it does justice to the day…..

see you all tomorrow