Vanderpants Oz Tour

Distance: 114.49 (total 896km’s)

Avg Spd: 18.6

Max Spd – 51.3 (during my suicide no hands – vid below)

Saddle Time: 6:07 Hrs (Total Time – 56 hrs 34 mins)

Quote: The best time for new beginnings IS NOW. As on overthinker myself, I get it – don’t be a king of procrastination – get the wheels in motion Adrian if you really want something – just start (wheels in motion get it hehe)

Song of the Day: Snoop Dog – Aint No Fun – Knowing all the lyrics to this one – a particular farmer thought it was quite interesting as I bashed out the lyric – ‘just lay back and open your mouth…..’ you know the rest bwahahahah

Album of the Day: Definitely definitely goes to Jeff Buckley – Grace – Poor bugger drowned fully clothed (no drugs in his system apparently) but this album is a real ripper.

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Good afternoon everyone. I was too smashed to do a blog last night plus I got to talking to everyone and I wish I took a pic of the place I stayed as it was pretty cool.

No crazy poodle lady next to me but a bloody loud magpie right next to my tent woke me up at 5 so up I got, packed up and set off to see what the day brings. I literally had no plans and that’s how I like it – I tried to be too planned at the beginning of my Euro tour and that turned to shit too quickly (There might have been a lot of HOLY SHIT moments and a few tears early on thinking WTF have I done) but that trip tought me that just use your instincts, the weather, trust yourself and everything will all fall into place. The best bits of these trips are definitely the open road and using your horsepower to get to places, the people I meet, the small towns, the ocean, the landscapes – not the planning ya know. I set off about 6 and the weather and wind was Perrrrrrrrfect. It was not a photo friendly type of day as it was just a lot of farmland but I had an amazing time. Spoke to nobody all day and was in my own head for 8-9 hours on the road. Music, podcasts, farmland and a tailwind – can this day get any better. I’m getting really good at handling my bike now – see below

I also now use siri to record my thoughts so what you read on my blog is what goes through my head during the day and that way I don’t forget anything….’Hey Siri – write a note’ ……….’Yes Vanderpants what do you want it to say’. ‘Remind myself that I’m awesome’ (siri then repeats – Vanderpants feels good)

Siri has no language blockage in the repeats so I had a chuckle at being a kid with a few AMAZING sentences 🙂

Half way through the day i did see a small town (one deli—-sorry one milk bar) and got a coffee and sat down for a while. There’s one awesome thing about touring that always makes me happy……I LOVE LOVE using my own horsepower to get around. Riding into a small town after some hard yakka standing on the top of my pedals, crossing a bridge and overlooking a river, watching rabbits scatter and seeing a coffee sign flapping in the wind and I go YEssssssss – especially if it’s a bakery. Those moments make it all worth while. Then add in talking to random people, patting pets and hearing about their life story and people looking at me like ‘WTF are you doing this’ hahaha. Other things i’m enjoying is being unplanned and seeing what the day brings as it’s so random but so bloody amazing (still type 2 fun though lol)

One thing I learned is that Merino clothes are REALLY good. I think i’ll use them always now. They just don’t stink and they stay cool and also warm when needed too. I forgot how good it is. Only thing is when it rains you do smell a bit like a sheep but that makes me feel close to the land and a real ozzie right **wink**

The hamstrings are better but I can still feel a minor injury there that’s for sure. Probably medial hamstring I think or the attachment – i should really rest for a few weeks but i’m hoping these stretches and using the tailwind on good days, and smaller k’s on not so good days might get me through.

On my lunch break yesterday i researched free campgrounds, caravan parks, hostels etc and I chose camping behind a hostel ($15 a night) and tomorrow (today) is a hotel room for ($50pn) and a day off woohoooo. A well earned rest and reset, charge battery paks etc and sleep on a cloud. The caravan parks here are $40 pn for some grass and I think along the great ocean road it will always be that. Why spend $40 on some grass when I can spend $50 for a room, electricity to charge, beer vouchers and a breakfast right?? HELLlll Yeahhhhh. So i’m at the Cally Hotel and the staff here are super super friendly

Oh yeah – i’m in Warrnambool hahaha this town looks bloody amazing. The parks look beautiful, easy to get around, super clean and lots of green space. I said to someone today it looks very ‘livable here’ to which their response was ‘that’s the motto of the town’ hah.

Last night was spent in the hostel talking to people (including a group whatsapp convo which made my day), having a few beers (licensed hostel how cool). All the youngsters there worked in the dairy farm so they had to go to bed early (suckers). There was gaming, karaoke, tv was on, kitchen was hustle bustle – conversations ecerywhere of all ages – it was nice after being on the road but not an every day thing that’s for sure. I cooked tuna casserole which had beans, tuna, peas and some other stuff – i think i smashed like three serves. I ate so much yesterday.

I’m now in the hotel and loving this beer (or three) and a table and shelter and probably a counter meal for lunch and probably another counter meal for dinner.



Tomorrow i hear you say……**shrugs** I have no bloody idea and I love it……

Vanderpants OUT!

PS – Hi coach – good luck with your knee op today – thinking of ya mate and i’ll buzz ya later and see how you’re gettin on

Distance: 120km’s

Avg Spd: 18.46

Max Spd: 49.4

Time in Saddle: 6hr:30mins

Elevation Gain: 350 mtrs

Quote: Vitality shows in not only the ability to persist but the ability to start over – You can fail many times – it doesn’t matter does it? Just keep frikkn goin – you’re moving forward and who cares what others think. Listen to everyone – follow no-one.

Song of the Day: It’s a toss up and I can’t decide – it’s a tie today between Billy Joel – Downeast Alexander (ripper) and Wish you Were Here by Pink Floyd (This is fun to play on guitar too) – both just felt right To take podium today

Album of the day: no album – it was Vanderpants Greatest Hits all day

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You’ll have to bear with me today – this might get out of order but you’re going to get in wahatever order my brain says the day so here goes…..

Today felt like the the tides turned a little about half way through the day. I felt like Reece Witherspoon in the movie ‘Wild’ – after some hard yakka and some tough times it’s all coming together. i say that now as that’s how I feel today and let’s hope it’s trending in the right direction. I was an 8/10 hammy pain wise and today I felt like my legs were Creeping in slowly and saying….’ahhhh before you’re life got super busy for quite a few months you were super fit and now I remember that power and feeling of just smashing out a good ride and finishing strong and still having energy in the tank’. My cycling legs are coming back to me and the bike felt good, I am finding good spots for everything and things are becoming easier. Still way tough and challenging but ‘easier’. It’s funny – I was thinking on the bike today that I have totally forgotten my Europe Tour which was I think alost 8 years ago. I forgot how to organise myself well on the road (for instance smashing out a quick meal mid ride and packing up well). This all seemed to happen today for instance – I bought a thermos that sits in one of my three cages which meants hot coffee ALLLLL DAYYY – why didn’t I think of this earlier **slaps forehead**. My water is sitting in better spots, my tripod and cooking gear are better oragnised. It’s all important so you can be carefree on the road that way. It boosted my confidence to not only hit the Victorian border but also smash out more than a tonne today. A few days ago I woulda thought it was either going to get worse and I had to think of other options or take a few more weeks. I’m hesitant to type this as every day is so different on the bike. You can go from smiling massively and genuinely to absolute HELL in a space of 30 minutes and you have to control your mind and stay positive. It can drift into how big the journey is or i can focus on the the next ten pedal steps then 10 km’s at a time and slowly slowly you’ve done 120km’s and that’s how it’s done. Each hurdle as it comes. Stay tuned tomorrow for the hammy update – i’d give it a 5/10 today – Stretch stretch and more stretch people – I think i say THINK it’s working.

I digressed a little HAH. Donna – you are a frikkn super hooman with a kind heart (even though you won’t let me take a picture of you) – thanks for solving the worlds problems last night, sharing a red (or ten) and a good meal and a cloud to sleep on. The eggs in the morning were delish. After setting off (forgetting my watch and trekking back) I was off about 9:30ish and I said to myself….Self….Portland is 110 away – head that way and see what the day brings. i shopped up before I left the Mount in case i needed to wild camp (i had a recipe in mind) and off i went. 10km’s turned into 20 which just kept going and going.Every downhill was a chance to stretch again (sometimes 1 minute) and the day had rolling hills with some 10-20 minute climbs and I smashed em. I have lost a few kg’s already (see what i mean I forgot how to eat on the road since europe) and it’s coming back to me so i’m pumping more food into me. Food and water is SUPERRrrr important when you’re putting in 4-7 hour days on the bike almost every day and you need to be prepared to eat eat and eat plus drink plenty of water which means thinking ahead two days (more in remote areas i’m sure to find out) plus a little more water than you think. I’ll give you an idea of today’s food (in no order)

3 eggs
2 slices of bread
4 Muesli bars
a wrap with cheese and spaghetti
1 serve of spaghetti (more spaghettti)
anzac biscuit
4 coffees (haha)
6 litres of water
Some peanut butter
few handfuls of salted cashew nuts
packet of chips
cheese and vegemite scroll
fish burger
fries
1 carrot
1 banana
1 apple

this was for almost 7 hours of riding (no cooking tonight – was too late) – I think a lot was residual hunger too. If you don’t get food right – you start making stupid decisions. You start looking at the trees for fruit hahaha it’s funny what the body does when it’s ACTUALLY really hungry. On that – for some reason for about 4 hours all I could think about was my cashews like that toilet right next to you – bear with me…you know when you’re busting and the toilet is ten metres away and you hold it in – WHYYyyyyyyy this was my cashew story today – do I eat my cashews now – nah i’ll wait – ok another 10km’s….nah not yet – JUST EAT THE DAMN CASHEWS VANDERPANTS as in RIGHT BLOODY NOW. Shit!

I bought a new bike stand and installed yesterday and finally I can place my bike anywhere and use it as a stand for piccies – the three best things I have purchased are a rear vision mirror, bike stand and my coffee thermos hahaha.

So mid way through my ride I almost crashed today as I was singing and riding along this bloody HUGE spider started crawling across my handlebar bag – I won’t repeat the kind of sound that came out my mouth (might have been pretty shreeky hahaha) and I tried to swipe it away and the mothership that my bike is (aka Thor) you can’t keep a hand off for very long as it’s very front heavy so i’m swerving all over the place hahahah my fight or flight kicked in hahaha. I swear it was not a safe place to be I was def almost in the middle of the road – lesson for next time – don’t panic – it’s not venomous hahaha

It rained most of the day but I didn’t let that bother me – i pretty much sung all frikkn day, the cows were running away all day (seriously), the sheep too and I was in my groove (also thanks to the tailwind) – it was a great day – jacket on – jacket off – jacket on – jacket off hahaha. I made it to Portland and I just wanted a countery of some sort but both pubs were chokkas and had an hour and half to wait – NO SIREeee was I waiting that long so off to some fish shop to eat and blog before heading to my free campsite I found just up the road #winning. Maybe a day off tomorrow or a small day – let’s see where the wind blows hey……….Legs have that nice zinging feeling and i’m off to setup tent and really enjoy a good night sleep and maybe a sleep in (hopefully no crazy poodle ladies next to me)

Vanderpants Out

Distance: 45km’s (Overall 670km’s)

Avg Spd: 16.8

Max Spd: 47

Time in Saddle: 2hr:40mins (Overall 43:57)

Elevation Gain: 150 mtrs

Quote: Be happy for this moment. This moment is YOUR LIFE.
This makes me think that throughout all the tough times in my life I can always be grateful for all the things I have (health, friends, family, arms and legs, time off work, a job, pay bills, go out, enjoy a laugh, cycle around Australia (WTF)) – the list goes on doesn’t it….all the rest is just a balance that’s always going to be a moving target and be ok with that and BE PRESENT in each moment – don’t drift and think ‘if only’ or ‘i’m worried about…’. It’s a practice isn’t it….Something i’m trying to be better at. **convinces self** You know this blog is about me convincing myself, being positive and sharing the non stop chatter in my brain with you all don’t you? Hahahaha. Forget the cycling 🙂

Song of the Day: Incubus – Pardon Me

Album of the day: Has to go to MDWAP definitely haha

From wherever you’re reading this – Hi **waves**

Well as promised I’ll show you some piccies of my adventure last night. I knew I wanted to spend the day in the Mount as I have a massage booked and I need to visit the bike shop PLUS – i’m meeting up with a friend of Karina’s who has kindly offered me refuge. Ahhhh another bed – Humans are awesome. That being said, I thought i’d wild camp just out of the Mount in the forrest so I started hunting about 20 k’s before the city. I came across this gem. OMG I had a slightly one eye open when sleeping but boy it was fun. Backdoor was open so I setup shop, cooked my mac and cheese pasta and had a grand old time. I played table tennis with myself and air hockey. This is what an adventure is all about right. Reading all the memories of a town and seeing the photos. Of course I slept centre stage so i can dream about butterflies but all I heard was mice and birds in their nest all night. Was kind of comforting actually. Behold……

My sleep was actually pretty good to be honest and I woke up thinking – I wonder if anyone has ever slept in here before – am i the first since the late 1800’s???

no tent to pack up so it was a quick departure and off I went to Mt Gambier. Was an hour cycle and god these logging trucks – so many. Although I had a shoulder I didn’t feel safe so I rode that hour on the dirt. Rather be safe and uncomfortable then DEAD and ummmm DEAD. I will check my maps and take a less travelled route to Melbourne – I love the small towns and i’m looking forward to it. I knew a good coffee shop in the Mount so as it started to rain I headed straight there and they did not dissapoint…….

I had a few errands to run, a bike shop to visit, a camping shop and also a massage to get to – all before one of Karina’s friends kindly offered her lovely home for the night which was awesome.

On a side note when I was shopping I met this little pooch coming out of one of the side stores. Of course I had to talk to his owner and this dog’s name is ‘Ping Pong’ – I have no story for Ping Pong – He needs none – the innocene on that face does not require one

The massage was 12 k’s away hence a bit of cycling still done today but i romes around town uying stuff for my bike – all the little tid bits you think of whilst on the road to make something hang better here or a pocket to hold something there. The hour massage was exactly what the doctor ordered and then headed to Donna’s at 5ish

We ate a nice meal together and chatted all night to Donna and the fam. I even got to meet the other family…. meet Tilley (dog) and Rusty (cat) – amazing pets. Rusty kept coming on over from the neighours house and so much so that when the neighbours moved, it go too dangerous for Rusty to keep finding his way over main roads back to Donna’s house that they succumbed And eventually gave them Rusty and now he opens my bedroom dor on his own (it’s sliding) and found his way to my bed 🙂 Rusty only likes to drink straight from the faucet too so when he jumps up….the tap MUST be turned on – oh and he’ll wait a little bit too just so you know he is in control and he will drink when he damn well pleases.
Donna – thank you for your kind Generosity and taking time out of your schedule to havE a yarn and a meal – i loved it – the simple things.

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Distance: 71km’s (Overall – 625km’s)

Avg Spd: 15.9

Max Spd: 34.9

Time in Saddle: 4hr:27mins (Overall – 41:17)

Elevation Gain: not enough to mention

Quote: To change one’s life….

1) Start immediately
2) Do it flamboyantly
3) No exceptions

Hi everyone,

Well after all my complaining, my Keith Martining was correct…cross wind today. I’d say half headwind and half side – i’m ok with that. I did wake to some crazy poodle lady howling with her two show poodles (i kid you not). I’m pretty sure she thought she was speaking to them but I am confident that they were howling from pain from her howls. That was amazing to wake up to.

I wanted to smash out some kind of hours in the saddle today and 4 and half hours is nice. it was a beautiful day. Sun shined almost the whole time. Got into Millicent 1ish and had some lunch and ANOTHER coffee. Spoke to another random stranger for 30 minutes or so hahaha I know right. And you know why **puts hands to ear to hear the crowd** because I just can’t SHUTUP…… The wind turned slightly and Millicent to this servo About 20 km’s away was lovely to ride apart from the traffic. Millicent to Mt Gambier traffic is bloody crazy. I got my pilot license today did I tell you that? Well more of a license to be a dickhead as usual haha.

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After my ice cream, pannier snacks and short flight I was off again (On two wheels) and I thought two things are you ready?

1) All these pieces of long thin strips of tire on the road all look like snakes – it’s the boy who cried wolf syndrome where one of them will be and I won’t know and …

2) As I ate my snack I saw three butterflies flying around and what seemed to me like playing (or an acrobatic mid-air threesome). I like the latter So let’s just go with that. Anyhoo – One them got swept away with the wind and the other two flew off into the distance far away. How will they find each other? is that it? An acrobatic mid air hot threesome and then BOOM never to be seen again – there’s no way they’ll find each other again the wind was too strong. At least they’ll have their memories.

Music of the day: My Dad Wrote a Porno (again) – ALL DAY

But I did listen to some other songs and the song of the day goes to…(cover your ears if you don’t like heavy music)

Killswitch Engage – Holy Diver (a Dio Cover) – they did it so well – I think i had it on repeat for 4-5 times. I have a wide range of taste and heavy is one of them

https://youtu.be/NR7dG_m3MsI (Wally – you’ll love it hehe)

Side Note: If anyone wishes to join me on any stint i’d love the company. You’re welcome to join this Vanderpants adventure and if you don’t like camping we can take accomm or if you like camping you can stay somewhere where I am tonight (piccies to come tomorrow – you’ll love it). Feel free to drop me a line and don’t be scared about distance or time – we will make it work whatever the go is.

My hamstrings were just bearable today due to non-howling winds in my face all day (yessss) and as I approached the 4 and a half hour mark I had enough and sought refuge ‘into the wild’ (piccies tomorrow peeps – i can’t spoil all the fun in one post can I – It will blow your socks off – and no – don’t message me – you won’t get a response 🙂 )

Lots of people have contacted me asking about my gear – Sorry to bore those of you that DGAS (understandable) but for the tourers reading, I have taken a lot from the internet and not given much back so… I’ll start pulling apart my personal life one pannier at a time So you can have an indepth look and laugh at my life at my expense ok. One thing i’ve learned is that every tourer is so different with what they do but the tips you do learn is about the road, towns, weather, wind and water (Plus some bikeporn gear). I have an equipment page for those that don’t know also HERE.

Have a great night people – once again – I really appreciate all the people reading this blog – it helps me so much during those tough times (like i’ve been gone for years hahah).

Quick Fact: People from 21 different countries have viewed my blog. This word is small but so big at the same time (and round **wink**)
Probably 1 view from 20 countries and the rest are oz hahaha.

Vanderpants OUT!!

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