Training Log Archive: Yak

Interesting ride.
Had offered to help with a first timers up Norton Summit woman's group.
So there were some slow sections, esp at NS.
We got passed by Harley and about 35 other vegan riders + others who were obviously racing the climb.

From there we went to Marble Hill and down Montacute. It was funny as none of them knew the area at all.."but what suburb are we riding in?"
I left them at the bottom of Montacute, and as the temperature was still ok, I decided to climb up Montacute ...not my favourite hill but I did it ok.

Then I went across to Woods Hill Rd to Greenhill rd and then rode back and down NS and home. Not a lot of kms but hilly.

42 degrees so I enjoyed washing the mtb.

Stayed at Crosbie campground in Murray-Sunset NP, after arriving in the dark, after 13km of dirt rds. I was the only person in either of the 2 camps in this region. It was great waking at sun-up and seeing the great pink lakes.

despite the fact that it was to be 41 degree plus in Adelaide I wanted to get in a ride and explore. went out early and spent 90 mins out though only 60 mins on bike -rest taking photos and little walking.
Rode thru some evil smelling black mud at some stage
Followed some nice single walking tracks between the lakes and over to a salt museum - salt was mined here until it became a park in 1979, even with Italian internees in WW2. Even had a railway to take the salt out to Linga but it wasn't effective, as it kept getting covered over by sand.

Seemed to take a long time to drive home in the heat. A 3 ice block trip.

Just extracted myself from the mud at the Pink lake and drove to Echuca/Moama. Went to 5 mile mtb park presuming it would be sand based like Coomealla but it wasn't - mostly clay. (I had ridden here before but forgot). Was a lot of clay and also some of the tracks almost went into the river due to rising river plus rain.. It was slow going and I didn't do some of the wooden items because of the wetness.
Spent about the same time as I rode removing the evil smelling mud.

Rode from Echuca TI centre around the river banks and paths, some of which I had done before but some new areas too. Really fun, esp seeing all the paddleboats - must ride on one some-time.

Then had lunch at Beechwoth Bakery (Echuca edition) and used a 5 yr old voucher! Drove thru little roads to Patchewallock to see their painted silo.
Also saw a mallee fowl and many bearded dragons on the road.
Had a car problem with one of my Thule bikerack lights coming off after I bottomed out somewhere - zip tie fix!

Moving day...
Did some computer work then drove from Mt Beauty to Myrtleford - Milawa - Winton Wetlands - Shepparton - Stanhope -Pink lake. Was a boggy entrance after all day rain ...so hope i can extract myself in the morning. Arrived in yhe dark.

En route i stopped for the first time at the Winton Wetlands. Had intended a ride but bike would have got clogged with mud so i drove around and popped out for one walk in light rain.
It is big. Some gd arty things alongside the road in there.

Staying at Mt Beauty Holiday Park with Michelle & David with river frontage and few others. One is Bernie a 48kg rider who is a chiro in Ballarat and rode with others ip Falls on Thursday.

M procrastinated about riding as she goes by Bom radar and doeesnt like riding in the rain. I go by the clouds.
I decided to do the Mountain Creek 30 km loop and they were going to dhort cut it and meet me after it stopping raining...did so and then we did about 8kms exploring a bitumen side rd to see whether it went thru....did not.

Then the aim was to do a lot of the backrd just east of Kiewa valley highway. But it started to rain so M & D decided to return to Mt B bakery for lunch and resume asap.
I looked at the clouds and continued onewards and within 5 mins had no rain. Also got a quiche at Tawonga shop soon after having started with just 1 banana.

Few kms on main rd and lovely quiet bkrd that goes to Tallangatta. Flat at first and increasingly hilly...think 11% & 2 km climb. I kept going and got hot ..decided i needed food and drink so turned off with 11km to backtrack thru dederang gap to Dederang itself. Meanwhile M & D had turned back about 25km earlier without catching me. I had a scenic tour thru Dederang as last time i was with Liz Wilson on our infamous 2 week mt bike touring ride escaping bushfires.
Pub and school have new sculptures and there is a vintage shop selling old farm relics etc....been thete 3 yrs.
I innocently asked the owner the hours the food shop kept as liz & i missed it last time, also on a sunday. 4pm he said you best hurry....as it was 3.50 and shop 1.6km away. I sprinted as was very thirsty and hungry.

Made it just ...milkshake, coke and honey log as too late for real food. Did the job. 7 kms more on main rd and back to bkroad with some more hills and headwind.
On return i stood waist deep in river and ate an iceblock and read the paper. Tired.