December, 2015 Western Australia Trip - October, 2015 Thanks to Kate and Graham s well named Ultimate home away from home, Graham s and my trip to the west was comfortable and well organised. We travelled at a cracking pace to the Charles Peak National Park, which is between Esperance and Norseman, to start our adventure. We climbed the peak and had 360 degree views of the park which has a very nice camp ground and wild flowers in abundance. Wangaratta Out and About Inc Ombined End of Year Ride with Morning Tea at King River Cafe Oxley
We then went on to Stirling Rangers NP to climb the highest point in the South West, Bluff Knoll. The day was not as good as the previous one with low cloud blocking some of the view, but the experience was no less spectacular. We then drove to the Margaret River, Cape Naturaliste, Bunbury and Busselton Regions where we rode 500 kilometres, a great start to the riding part of our trip. The scenery in this area is spectacular. The coffee was great too. The decision was then made to go north to Perth and follow the Munda Biddi Trail south and check out this iconic trail and some of its ups and downs. But first we rode many of the excellent hotmix bike paths around the suburbs of Perth - some really awesome riding. We also caught a bus to Northam and rode the little known, and very challenging, KEP Trail that goes from Northam to Midlands just east of Perth, passing through dry country and beautiful National Park. The Munda Biddi Trail runs from Mundaring all the way to Albany and is very rough in places and very challenging on bikes with thin tyres, as we found out. But we enjoyed the riding and there are many rewards for the riders that take up the challenge. The huts are basic but good shelter, and I am sure the riders are relieved to see them at the end of a hard day. Not like Graham and I who returned to a comfortable bed and well cooked meal each night after riding. We camped at many towns along the Trail and rode north and south from each town trying to incorporate a road loop in each ride, which was not always possible. Some of these towns were Dwellingup, Donnybrook, Nannup, Walpole, Denmark and Albany. We managed to achieve our original objectives in the west and decided to go to South Australia and proceeded to Port Lincoln. There was not a lot of riding in the Port Lincoln area [100kms] and the winds were not favourable, so we decided to do a couple of rides around Adelaide before heading home. Adelaide is a great place for riding and we rode the length of the Torrens as far as the Gorge Road, the next day riding to McLaren Vale and on to Wellunga and returned. Total ride time; 84.0hrs. Ave ride time; 19.0kph. Total distance; 1550.0kms. Murray Shaw
Gold Fields Revisited Three Sections ride all or part thereof Eight New Rides Suggested Caravan Parks Bendigo Central City Caravan Park 362 High St., Golden Square (Bendigo) 3555 03 5443 6937 1800 500 475 admin@centralcitycaravanpark.com.au Castlemaine BIG4 Castlemaine Gardens Holiday Park 1 Doran Ave, (corner Walker St) Castlemaine 3450 03 5472 1125 1300 472 762 info@cgcp.com.au Ballarat BIG4 Ballarat Goldfields Holiday Park 108 Clayton St Ballarat 3350 03 5330 8000 1800 632 237 stay@ballaratgoldfields.com.au Day 1 Wangaratta to Bendigo April 13 Bendigo Caravan Park Day 2 Bendigo Juvenile 38 50 km April 14 Day 3 Bendigo The Goose Neck 60 km April 15 Day 4 Bendigo Lone Trees and Leather 40 km April 16 Day 5 Relocate by car to Castlemaine April 17 Castlemaine Caravan Park Day 6 Castlemaine Southern Loop 32 km April 18 Day 7 Castlemaine Northeastern Loop 60 km April 19 Day 8 Castlemaine Western Loop 60 km April 20 Day 9 Relocate to Ballarat April 21 Ballarat Caravan Park Day 10 Ballarat to Daylesford 50/100 km April 22 Day 11 Skipton Rail Trail 80 km April 23 Day 12 Clunes Circuit 70 km April 24 Day 13 Ballarat Gordon Circuit 70 km April 25 Day 14 Ballarat to Wangaratta April 26
V/Line Bike Transport Information From Bicycle Network In the Loop November 19, 2015 V/Line bike D-vans retired 19 November 2015. The two goods vans that were available for use by large bike touring groups have been retired from use, with no alternative services made available. A number of formal and informal groups had been making use of the vans to carry bikes out into regional Victoria for groups tours, especially on long weekends. Trains typically could not accommodate the groups, but with access to the two available goods vans, many keen riders were able to head out to the regions for the great riding opportunities on offer. According to V/Line the vans were built in the 1950 s and had reached an age and condition where they were no longer fit for purpose. "Large groups wishing to travel to and from regional Victoria with their bicycles will need to make alternative arrangements to transport their bikes, V/Line says. For Australians who travel around the world, where bikes are fully integrated and welcomed onto all train services intercity, regional and local this situation is incomprehensible. Bicycles can be carried on V/Line trains, but only if there is space available. And there is not much of that. Space is generally available on reserved, locomotive-hauled services that arrive and depart from Albury, Bairnsdale, Shepparton, Swan Hill or Warrnambool. However, space is limited on Sprinter and VLocity trains that arrive and depart from Ararat, Ballarat, Bendigo, Echuca, Geelong, Maryborough, Seymour and Traralgon. (There have been hints that the next series of new VLocity trains to be delivered will be reconfigured internally for more bike storage, but this is yet to be confirmed.) V/Line conductors have the right to determine whether there is enough space for bicycles on each service. This decision making can be capricious. Bicycles must not obstruct passageways or doorways and must not inconvenience other customers, V/Line says. Customers with bicycles are strongly advised to travel at off-peak times and avoid weekday services that arrive into Melbourne between 7am and 9:30am or those that depart Melbourne between 4pm and 7pm. V/Line coaches The good news is that the rules regarding bikes in V/Line coach services have been clarified. Where it is necessary to replace trains with coaches, bikes can be carried on replacement coaches subject to space in the luggage area and will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Customers must load and unload their bicycle onto the coach and they are carried at the owner s risk. And bikes can be carried for free on the following V/Line scheduled coach services, if there is space available. They will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis only on thee services: Beechworth Wangaratta Bright Wangaratta Corowa/Rutherglen Wangaratta Mulwala/Yarrawonga Benalla Wangaratta Bendigo Bikes are not permitted on any other timetabled V/Line coach services, with the exception of folding bicycles. Other Club Contacts Warby Range Bushwalkers Karen Davis (Walks Co-ord) Ph 5722 2540 Benalla Bush Walking Club Doug Kneen Ph 5721 2892 Border Bushwalking Club walks details available at www.borderbushwalkingclub.com.au Beechworth Chain Gang for information about rides conducted by this group contact Wes Samson. Ph 5721 4519 PLEASE NOTIFY THE LEADER OF YOUR INTENTION TO PARTICIPATE IN AN ACTIVITY THIS IS ESSENTIAL FOR ACTIVITIES REQUIRING TRAVEL TO DISTANT LOCATIONS, USE OF SPECIAL EQUIPMENT, OR FOR OVERNIGHT ACTIVITIES