stats. Distance 197.5km Odometer 14574 Riding time 7hr 42’
Richmond to Lorne; all day on the bike. 08:40 left home; 09:40 at Mordialloc — courtesy of a group ride with Hilton, Chris, Frank, Joe, a few other Deadly Treadly people and two Ironmen/Triathlon guys out for a spin. 10:40 arrive at Mornington, lots of people everywhere, a ten minute break and a chocolate croissant for elevenses.
Back on the bike and along the coast with increasing traffic. Dromana to Rosebud was bumper-to-bumper. Grumpy motorists fuming and losing their tempers.
Met a girl from the Australian Triathlon team — or at least that’s what the label on the seat of her pants said. She was riding way too fast for me and wouldn’t stop to chat, but I kept catching up as she got caught up in the traffic. The odd driver hooted and made hand gestures, yelling at us to get off the road — it didn’t seem to matter to them that the bike lane was either full of double-parked cars, broken bottles, or blocked by cars with open doors. All they knew was that the cars weren’t moving and the bikes were, so obviously it was our fault!
The queue for the Sorrento ferry stretched half-way back along the coast to Rye — more filthy looks as I sailed on past all the hot motorists to the foot-passenger counter, bought my ticket, then sat in the shade to wait. The ferry was packed, the crew definitely earning their money today!
Ten minutes late in leaving, then a dead flat bay for the crossing to Queenscliff. Lunch on the boat, and not much else to do but sit and watch the water go past.
I managed to leave Queenscliff ahead of all the cars, then followed the signs towards the Great Ocean Road, intending to retrace the route of the November , only in reverse. Somewhere I missed a turnoff and kept following the road signs, then ended up on the Great Ocean Road, but half-way between Geelong and Torquay.
The ten kilometers to Torquay was a drag, lots of noisy traffic, and pushing into a strong southerly, then from there it was still 55km or more to Lorne — longer than I’d anticipated! Too many drivers with P-plates and bad attitudes. With the driving I saw, its a wonder that the road toll is as low as it is.
Finally arrived at Lorne at 17:40, a touch under 200km, nine hours by the clock, 7hr 42’ on the bike. The last climb up Richardson boulevard and the driveway to the house was very demoralising. The cold drinks and a chance to sit down and relax were very welcome.
Where?
Richmond, Mordialloc, Mornington, Dromana, Rosebud, Sorrento, Queenscliff, Torquay, Lorne
