Day: |
001 |
Date: |
Friday, 20 July 2007 |
Accommodation |
Cheap motel in Taree, NSW |
Summary |
Riding from Gosford to Taree |
Start Time: |
5:00am |
Finish Time: |
3:20pm |
Daily
Map Kms: |
228 |
Total
Map Kms: |
228 |
Map Kms To Go: |
14,183 |
Daily Odometer Kms: |
244 (It’s not that inaccurate, so my map
kms must have been miscalculated. The NRMA’s website says the
distance is 240.3km). |
Daily Average Speed: |
27.2kph |
Weather: |
Mostly heavily overcast and cool with
occasional light showers and a nice tailwind for most of the day. |
Nutrition: |
Muesli for breakfast, second breakfast at
McDonalds, lunch of two pies and a lime milkshake, and dinner of
noodles and a rice dessert. |
Encounters: |
It was very interesting to meet Eugen
Schilter, the current holder of the record for riding around
Australia. What can you say about a guy who left Sydney at 2am,
carrying a farewell banner, to ride 80kms, some of it along a very
dark and winding mountain road, to see me off. And then rode back
again after riding the first 12km with me! |
Highlights: |
Being farewelled at 5am on a very cold,
windy and pitch dark morning by my friends on the Central Coast. |
Lowlights: |
Getting very tired very quickly when I hit
some hills after lunch at Bulahdelah. |
Daily Pictures: |
Here |
Daily Podcasts: |
Here |
Journal: |
All of the preparation meant that, for the
second night in a row, I didn’t get much sleep, so I was already
feeling tired when I left the apartment to cycle the two kilometres
to Adcock Park in Gosford, my “official” departure point. I had
immediate problems when I couldn’t get my twin generator-fed
headlights to work then, for no apparent reason, they began
working. I think maybe they need the power to run for a while
before they light up.
At Adcock Park it was gratifying to
see so many of my friends had made the effort to get up so early to
see me off (I hope they have reason to come back in 53 days!).
Eugen Schilter joined me for the first 12km before he returned to
Sydney and I turned northwards on the F3 Freeway. It was dark, cool
and there was a lot of commuter traffic. I rode along in the
freeway breakdown lane (you’re allowed to do that in NSW and some
other States) wondering what on earth I had committed myself to.
One positive was that there was a nice following wind, so I was
making good time despite a reasonably heavily-laden bike.
I reached Hexham (87km), north of Newcastle, the furthest north I
had ventured on my day training rides from home at 8:30am, and
crossed the Hunter River and entered new cycling territory. I find
it much more stimulating riding in places I haven’t been before.
Shortly after I stopped for a second breakfast at McDonalds at
Raymond Terrace.
From there, it was a very easy run to
Bulahdelah (171km) with a tailwind along mostly freeway that was
relatively flat. There was less traffic and more scenery – mainly
forests, nearby hills and the occasional large river. No obvious
drought around here. I reached Bulahdelah at noon and stopped at a
café for lunch. I sat outside and soon realised how cold the day
was when you are not pedalling. Given that I was making good time,
I began thinking about going further today than originally planned,
but soon was reconsidering when I hit the first long hill of the
trip and the quads suddenly felt very heavy. A few more similar
hills and I decided that Taree, my scheduled destination would be
just fine. I expect it will take me four or five days to build some
of the strength I need if I’m to stick to schedule, but was a bit
disappointed at how quickly I tired. I suspect tomorrow could be
tough.
I reached Taree at 3:20pm and found a cheap ($50)
Fawlty Towers-like motel (really a hotel) in the centre of town (I
prefer the centre so I can walk to wherever I need for shopping).
After a quick shower I walked into town wearing my cycling long
pants and fluoro top, attracting more than a few stares in the main
street, but it was too cold to wear the shorts I have. I had an
early dinner in the hope of getting at least 7 hours sleep and an
early start, after finishing my diary and other chores. I
experimented with my digital voice recorder, talking while cycling,
but haven’t had a chance to check the quality for podcasts, etc.,
yet. |
|
ADVENTURE LIST
Round Ireland
(2016)
Hume & Hovell Walking Track
(2013)
Via Alpina
(2012)
Australian Alps Walking
Track (2011)
Land's End to John O'Groats
(2010)
Round Oz Bike Record Attempt
(2009)
Round Oz Bike Record Attempt
(2008)
Round Oz Bike Record Attempt
(2007)
Australia Tip to Top MTB
(2006)
Adelaide to Darwin MTB
(2005)
Sydney to Melbourne MTB
(2004)
Three Peaks Race
(2004)
Appalachian Trail
(1986)
Alpine Track
(1983)
|