Countryside Riding

The forecast has been for rain, and a lot of rain. Heavy showers, the forecast said, so we are seeking cover for a few days, where we can rest our legs and enjoy being still for a few days. Deloraine is our goal, so we set out from a few days rest by the lake.

To Sheffield

We had been told that it was mostly downhill to the lake from Sheffield, and it was not; it was a mixture of down and up hills, ending with a 5 downhill at the end. It was a marvellous ride, descending to the lake, which is why we had decided two nights, because when we left we would have to ride up the same 5km hill.

It has taken us until midday to be ready to leave. Our excuse is that there is no deadline to checkout, like at a caravan park, but the real reason is that we are dreading riding up the hill. Collectively dragging out feet, if you will. Now that our panniers are packed, and our bikes are loaded, we have run out of excuses. It is time to ride.

It is a gentle ride for the first 3km, the road winds, with wide bends, around farm land and past a winery (only open on weekends) and below trees that hang over the road. We cycle past some council workers, fixing the road, who give us a smile and some small encouragement, remembering us from the camp ground below.

Ezekiel and Levi have disappeared around several bends, they want to conquer this hill, aiming for the entire ride with out any stops (Levi stopped once, and Ezekiel twice). No need for encouraging our boys on the hills, the challenge before them is all the encouragement they need. I am sure they are out looking for Bragging Points.

I asked Ezekiel, afterwards, what he remembered of the hill, he said "Easier than I thought it would be. A lot easier. Hard and tough. But easier than I thought it would be."

I asked him to close his eyes and remember:

"The first part was bush that looked like jungle, the second but was just through farms.

"Blackberries by the side of the road. A fruit tree. Farm lands, animals, houses, trees. Lots of road kill."

The second part of the hill was tough. About 2km of gradient that pitched between 8 and 12%. Sticking to a steep grade for the last 1/2km, it didn't quit but Jacqui and I did, the weight of all our gear making us use our feet, rather than wheels. I even asked Joash to walk beside me, just to lighten the load.

The sticky roads, returning to Sheffield were made easier by the thought of camp for the night. Once in Sheffield we stocked up on food, walked the streets to see some of the murals, and setup camp on the Tasman Trail.

Downhill to Deloraine

We were told that the road from Sheffield to Deloraine was "mostly downhill", and it was downhill on some bits, in other bits there was some steep hills that separated our cycling caravan. The hills were less severe than we have ridden before, so while there is a small amount of whining, we all change gears and get to the top.

Once we are beside the river the hills disappear, and the road follows the valley, flowing with gentle slopes, with the steep gradients rising beside the road, so we do not have to ride them.

The road passes some small houses, cracked walls, slanted porches, with vines creeping from the ground to cover a steep-pitched roof. A man stands in the doorway and waves as we ride past, members of our caravan waving back.

We turn right and head over a bridge to Kimberly, our stop for lunch at the warm springs.

Warm Springs

Water. My family loves anything to do with water. Waves at the beach, jetties in a lake, or thermal warmed springs. As we found today's lunch stop, thermal warmed springs make an excellent swimming spot.

Just off the main through road, from Latrobe toward Elizabeth Town, there is the small town of Kimberly. No shops, just houses, a Telstra exchange, and some warm springs, down a small street and off the path a little-ways.

The water is calm, an odd coloured sludge sits on the water's surface, and a smell of warmed sludge that is not too overpowering. Through the crystal clear water we can see the plant life growing below the surface, and the two springs, bubbling like a gentle simmer, pushing puffs of sand out as the water rises.

Bike shorts come off and everyone gets in. The water is warm, not hot. The older boys drift into a deeper part of the thermal pool, daring each other to be the first to get to the spring. Surprise sounds come from their mouths as they feel the odd sensation of the moving sand, and before long all three of them are playing games in the water.

The swim is refreshing, the warm water and the summer sun, after a morning ride, was perfect preparation for the afternoon on heavy roads, which included: an elderly couple who stopped to take photos of us riding past; riding on the main highway (which was buzzing with trucks going fast); stopping for ice cream after a big hill.

Deloraine

I cannot ride ride a hill without thinking about going back up it, so it is unnerving to be descending into Deloraine, the road is at a steep pitch, and we are braking while going downwards. I almost stop to make sure we are heading in the right direction, just to make doubly sure we didn’t have to ride up it.

The grass is green. The trees sit below huge trunks, green leaves blowing in the breeze. The street is busy with cars driving up and down the roads. A steep decent down to the caravan park is lined with old houses, and big trees, the brown we have been so familiar with, riding along country roads, has been replaced by bright green.

The caravan is park is along the river. A slow flowing, and wide river passes right in front of our camp. Ducks waddle up to greet us, probably wanting food, their loud noises and friendly manor show they have been around lots of people before. The children feed them apple cores, and are surprised when they are eaten so quickly.