Well last night I didn’t have a campsite at 8pm but I thought surely there weould be one withing the next hour. It’s good the light doesn’t fully dissapear until about 9:30 at the moment and i’m enjoying that. I cycled on for another 10 minutes and thought I found one but there were a couple there in a van and the rest was flooded out. I had a chat to them for a while and they were lovely but a few too many mossies and I wanted to find somewhere that was off the beaten track a bit and not on rocks haha. That I did……30 minutes down the road I found a place right by the river and noone was around – PERFECT…I had 4g reception somehow I don’t know how but I knew there a family dinner on back at home so I facetimed everyone that was really nice. A good chat and I was passed around the family but the mossies were eating and I hadn’t setup tent yet so had to call it…….tent was setup in 10 minutes and I was in there looking at the river as my eyes slowly closed at 9pm totally spent from the days climbing. Generally I force myself to sleep but these last few days I haven’t been able to keep them open and I like that.
My campsite for the night
As I woke up 6am the birds were chirping and I knew rain was coming so i quickly packed up, ate my muesli and was off. It started BUCKETING down. I knew there would be no towns all day and i needed water so i cycled back 30 minutes to the hotel I saw last night (idiot I should have stocked up last night) but whatever….I pinched some water behind the hotel and I was off…….I learned that no matter how expensive your wet weather gear is – it’s just a matter of time before you’re soaked……the better the gear – the more dry time but in the end – just make sure it’s windproof. I got totally soaked.
My glutes were so sore from the last few days and i really wanted to stop and sit down but because i’m in the sticks there is absolutely nowhere to sit other then the side of the road but you can’t really do that when it’s bucketing down. I really wanted to sleep too and have a nap but NOPE….I had to push on – and so I did for 4 hours without stopping. That totally sucked as I was so sore ut when the rain started bucketing down – you’re mindset changes from ‘oh i’m so sore’ to lets just get it done and funnily enough – I did.
I wanted to make it to Queenstown but I was drenched, tired and sore and when I saw a campsite at 66km’s – I didn’t care. I rode up, saw a shelter, rode in there, undressed (yup totally I didn’t care haha) and got all my warm clothes on and just sat there making a coffee with my new espresso shot maker and watching the rain and not caring. I think i’m going to set up my tent in the shelter tonight so I can setup and packup dry. IDGAS hahaha. It was a tough day and everything is hanging to dry (it won’t) and i will cook my dinner in a minute and just setup tent and zzzzzzzzzz away. Ready for a dry day tomorrow I think aaaaaaand a good friend of mine is flying into hobart on Saturday and driving to meet me in Strahan so I will have a ew days accommoation which I am really looking forward to catching up with him aaaaaaand resting these poor legs.
This trip I have cycled 2,198 km’s – pretty stoked. Also pretty stoked to do a few tours in Strahan and just go for some walks and eat some pub meals. Who is this friend you say….I’ll post piccies when he comes…….
The day ended with coffee in hand and was talking to a couple who rocked up (after I got changed hehehe) for lunch and they were outdoor tour guides and we shared stories and they gave me some milk and a beer. SO GOOOOOOD – i’ll smash that right now….not many pics today as it was so wet and I just wanted to keep going
I saw this last night and forgot to post – my first wombat i’ve seen…alive…
No music today and no quote – Vanderpants is buggered haha no music was listened to but lots of sweat was lost. I promise the quotes will be back tomorrow
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Hi Everyone,
I’ll try my best to summarise today – better than last post hahaha – I suck at making things short sharp and shiny but what kind of blog would that be…I did this then I done that – BORrrrrrring. LOL
Today was the three H’s….Hot, Hilly and Headwinds – all the best things you wish for hahaha. I was happy with my efforts today – i slogged out 1138 mtrs on a heavy mothership – I am done but looking forward to zonking in a minute. I felt like I climbed for 30km’s and that’s no joke. As you’re descending down hills and you see the otherside going up, generally, as you approach, and as you go farrrrrrrk, the opposing uphill kind of flattens out like a bridge closing one of it’s sides but here – you go ‘farrrrrrrrrk’ and they don’t do that lovely ‘vanderpants bridge euphemism’ – they are as bad as they seem as you approach hahaha. A lot fo the climbs I could hear my heart beat so loud, like a hammer hitting a brick wrapped in cloth – I could hear it in my ears hahahaha. Lunch was spent by a lagoon and i tried my new miniespresso machine out – heavy but small and holy crapola it was yummy – great purchase
I stuffed up my water a bit and was down to 500ml with two hours left. Not enough in the heat and for climbing. I got rid of 2 litres earlier as I thoguht the next town would have water but, the town was 1km off the main road and during my huge decent, i totally missed it and 5km’s later i realised and I was like – hmmmmmm do i climb a huge 5km hill for possible water or do I kick on……I chose to kick on and 15km’s later there was a town 8km’s out of my way……hmmmm yes i’ll give it a shot – I struck gold – a tiny shop in the sticks who would’ve thought. So good – filled up and ate some hot chips and off I went….feeling MUCH better. You know the hills are steep when a car passes and you smell their brakes or clutch haha.
another two hours later and here I am in the pub smashing a meal because I couldn’t be bothered cooking my meal tonight….that will be tomorrow – i’m off to find a campsite near the river somewhere hopefully.
PS – people talk about snakes and spider and murders but these loody massive (Gherns and I call them Buzz 180’s) due to their size are HAZARDOUS…. I think it’s a carpenter bee but i’m not sure. they have done the most damage than anything hahaha
– hit me at 75kmph and they hurt like a bullet – hit me in the head causing me to fall on my bike and break my mirror – hit me in the head again causing me to lose half my hot chips – made me duck one then trip over my tent
these things will be the death of me – noone told me this hahaha
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.
Quote: DREAM – Dream lofty dreams and as you dream so you shall become – I must say that this is true – If you ‘lean in’ with a thought no matter how scary – the mind does amazing things and helps you think about how to get there – you’ll stumble along the way but you will get there – wherever that dream is….Whatever stopping you is just fear, the unknown, your own mind and negative things you choose to focus on.
Song of the Day: Karnivool – Deadman – this is probably almost my number 1 song of all time – it has everything I love in a song – a journey…killer riffs, a proper band that writes their own EVERYTHING, timing, beat changes and basically – EVERYTHING.
Album of the Day: Radiohead – OK Computer
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G’DAY Everyone..well what a day it was. I want to start off by saying that yesterday I bought milk, bread, yoghurt and ice cream. OMG I don’t think i’ve had toast in a month and i missed it….was soooo good.
Yesterday was spent feeling bad about missing out on a beautiful island and I was in two minds but I really needed to have a reset day, clean my bike (drivetrain etc), tighten a few things, do my washing (it’s been a month bwahahah), go to pharmacy and fix up a pannier. All this was done with a nap in between but it was nice to rest and also get all these things done. other than a nice walk around the place I stumbled across this place on my walk…they used to bury people here between 1846-1860 – from memory there are 8 graves there that’s accessible only in low tide (I couldn’t walk across but thought it was pretty interesting.
Other than that – it was a nice day off and went to bed early after watching a netflix movie. On the morning of the 5th (today – Sunday) it was supposed to be 21 but the heat in the morning felt like an Adelaide day was about to be a scorcher – it’s weird as I said before – Tassie is jacket on – jacket off weather and the sun is really hot here. Side note: i swear people who sleep close to me must think i’m eating a house down because all night all they must hear is packets rustling and me chomping and going ‘mmmmmmm’ – I am eating soooo much hahahaah
The morning was spent eating 4 pieces of toast, yoghurt and two coffees and I packed up and off I went. I knew today was going to be about 700mtrs in climbing but I did not count for 40 of it being dirt road hahaha. About 6km’s into the dirt road I thought…..hmmm how long is this road – and it was another 35km’s….it was poor condition and really tough riding. I thought…let the adventure begin – and decided to do it. I’m talking like 12-15 16% climbs on uneven terrain (i lost count) and I couldn’t pedal half of them as the bike was bouncing so much I couldn’t get traction. On the decents, it was so bumpy and loose that one loss of concentration and I was off the road. I had to walk a few of them but let me tell you – this road that I decided to go down was WELL WORTH IT…it’s the hard and unplanned ones that turn out to be the best and today was one of those days – one of my most challenging but I coudln’t get the smile off my face. A lot of people were stopping saying ‘you’re crazy’ or ‘you’re inspirational’ or ‘wtf are you doing on this road’ hahahaha. A couple people wanted to know my life story – I just end up saying – honestly…i’m just a red head pushing the pedals and i’ll Keep on going. Nothing special about that – just finding my way through tassie and honing my skills as i go.
It’s not all shit’s and giggles
Brunch, Lunch and Dinner were all SUPERRRRRB spots and I can’t explain today any better other than ‘a tough and amazing adventure’. 16 percent up – 16% down – 16 percent up – 16 percent down. If anyone knows cement hill…..well that’s 9% – that should give you an example. But today was some of the most beautiful forresty and oceans plus lookouts i’ve seen and only about 10 cars all day. With tough cycling days you gotta keep your happy hat on and remember why you are doing it and all the good things that have happened and also – that will happen in the future – easy to say – but sometimes you feel in the middle o nowehere toughing it out, looking at your water…bla bla bla – I work it out – I always do….just explaining the mindset sometimes – you gotta keep it in check – the happy times doesn’t come automatically all the time if you get my drift. reminds me of the film ‘wild’ with reece Witherspoon – I think I mentioned that before.
Brunch was spent here – no words needed…
Lunch was spent at a perfect spot deep into the forrest in this hut…I couldn’t find my coffee cup anywhere so rice cream can it was hahaa was kinda creamy and yummy actually LOL.
My average speed was 11 and it was over 4 hours of tough, hard bike handling, beautiful scenery kinda day and as the sun is setting….I am in my campsite and there is NOOOOOOONE here and the view is SUPERB. Today made me feel like I am on an adventure for real. It had everything I wanted…tough times…scenery…nice people…..beautiful stops to eat…..quiet secluded campsite……grass to pitch my tent oooh and did I say beautiful scenery enough……I will remember today for a long time as the type 2 fun that becomes type 1. After I got to my farm/campsite – I called into my moral support Ms Gherna and realised that my spot tracker hadn’t updated in a while (i was under tree canopies for a while) and my emergency contacts were going into ‘thinking mode’ – all was well after my call in and the rescue 1 helicopter was called off hehehehe. Thanks guys for looking out for me – we honed our emerg response today and changed a couple other things which is nice to know.
My hands are freezing though and I can’t type so this is me signing off ppl – tomorrow is Hobart with a friend of a friend then I take on the WEST SAYYEEEED and that will be shorter KM days’ quieter from what I hear and more scenic – AND MORE HILLZ
As I sign off, I put $10 in the charity tin (because this is someone’s farm), im hearing sheep in the background, I am watching the sun setting over a winery and looking at mountains and the ocean. There is no breeze, no bugs (for once) and it’s quiet – A vast reminder that I am lucky and life is good.
Vanderpants Oz Tour 