|
Day: |
001 |
|
Date: |
Monday, 8 November 2004 |
|
Start: |
Copacabana, NSW |
|
Finish: |
Kurrajong Heights, NSW |
|
Daily
Kilometres: |
170 |
|
Total
Kilometres: |
170 |
|
Weather: |
|
|
Accommodation: |
|
|
Nutrition: |
Breakfast: Muesli
Lunch:
Fish and chips
Dinner: Bread and peanut butter |
|
Aches: |
|
|
Animals Seen: |
|
|
Pictures: |
Here |
|
GPS Track: |
|
|
Journal: |
We were woken up early (4:30am) by a phone
call from Keith and I decided to stay up and finish the October
financials. Alicia wanted to go to school on the busand I took
her down to the bus stop at 7:30am and this delayed my departure.
Then it began raining and I postponed departure till 9:00am, later
than I would have liked. Barb clearly thought I was crazy and
was worried about my safety. It was still spitting with rain
as I left and as soon as I began riding I realised my heels were
going to hit the pannier. I stopped and adjusted them in Copa
and then tackled "the hill". It was OK and I stopped at the
top and took off my Goretex.
Progress was steady to Gosford
where I decided to go up the Pacific Highway hill instead of
tackling Dog Trap Road. I made it up without stopping and
continued to Mangrove Mountain. It took longer than I expected
and I stopped for a snack at 11:30am. The weather was still
very threatening but it hadn't rained again. I then continued
on to Wisemans Ferry which again took longer than expected. It
was, however, a pleasant ride and I enjoyed looking down on the
Hawkesbury River where I had been paddling only a week earlier in
the Hawkesbury Classic. I crossed the ferry and found a
take-out place in town where I had fish and chips sitting at a table
outside. I wasn't sure whether I could make Kurrajong (and the
next shop) by nightfall so had a look in a small supermarket to see
whether they had any bread rolls, but they didn't.
I set off
along the River Road towards Lower Portland Ferry. It was a
lovely ride with no big hills and lots of views over the river and
farms. After the ferry I began climbing towards the Blue
Mountains. It was steady up to Blaxlands Ridge and then
relatively flat along the Ridge to Kurrajong., firstly through bush
and then hobby farms. I got to Kurrajong at 6:30pm and stopped
for an ice-cream and some groceries. I hoped to get past
Kurrajong Heights before stopping for the night so that I had the
biggest climb behind me. I began the climb and ended up
walking much of the way. I thought of stopping in a motel if I
could find one as it got darker. I put on my lights and
continued on looking for somewhere to pitch my tent, but it was hard
because it was now dark. In the end I stopped in a lay-by
right next to the road and set up camp in the dark at 8:30pm.
I had a quick dinner of chips, bread and peanut butter, and
chocolate, and was in bed by 10:00pm. |
|
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)
|
