CCW Gravelo – Rode to Echuca – Day2
A chilly morning greeted us in Heathcote for day 2. Clear mornings usually mean clear days. Good times.
After the obligatory coffee stop at the local bakery, we rolled out of sleepy old Heathcote, thinking today was going to be a breeze. After some initial gravel backroads, we needed to do a few kms on the Northern Hwy. Scary prospect, after hearing the big trucks pass through town overnight. However we needn’t have worried. Big wide shoulder and after 3kms we turned off for what was going to be very special.
We hit the gravel and it was golden. With a small cross-tail breeze, we were on our way and motoring along at nearly 30kmh. We were tacking left and right and always seemed to have a bit of tailwind. However, there came a request to ease up a little. A long day ahead off the back of a tough day the day before …… well fair enough. We still had some 90km to go.
Now the next 50 – 60kms was some of the most outstanding gravel. I’m going to try and condense it into a paragraph. So here we go!
Started on fast country roads, only travelled by local farmers, tractors and cows. Dale needed a nature break. Smooth dirt and white gravel roads. Quick snack. Slightly rough roads, that probably hadn’t seen traffic in a year. The sun was high. Felt like we were passing through farm roads. Stopped at a crossroads of hard loaming dirt. Tummy rumbling. Rochester close. Pace has gone up. I’m going to have a coke and an toasted sandwich. I wonder what the boys at work are doing. Short bitumen into Rochester.
Wow its like time travel – now time for lunch.
We were only 25 – 30km from the border now, but feeling a little empty. Yes I had a coke and toasted Egg & Bacon Sandwich, and a cake and a coffee. Do what you gotta do to get through! Great chat with a couple of locals, who were interested in the state of our backsides after such a long ride, but we had a border to chase and we were off again
Wait – Dale wanted photos!
Off again and we had a long straight sector of bitumen. Did someone say tailwind as we sat in around 38 – 40kmh for the next 5kms. A puff of dust up ahead indicated it was time for a little more gravel in our diet. The day was getting on and we had to ensure we made it to Echuca in plenty of time for the train. Still stomping, we finally hit the outskirts of Echuca. Pretty happy with that cos its only just sunk in we had ridden to the border.
After navigating through the township, we found the train station and eventually the border. Job done it was time to celebrate. Again obligatory photos, then in search of something to eat/drink. Unfortunately the only option for us was the pub across the road from train station. Ahhhh bugger!
The train is a great idea. Essentially it rolled out of Echuca at approximately 3:15pm. There was room for our bikes. We rolled into Southern Cross station at 6:30pm. A change of train lines to get another train to Heathmont. A short ride home from there in chilly conditions and we were home by 7:45pm.
Wow wee – what a ride!
