76.58 ㎞ / 3:37:43 / 584m / 29.0°C
An ugly pun in the ride title, Seymour to Alexandra along the Great Victorian Rail Trail – the GVRT. The #CycleDindi event providing impetus for the second of my two overnighter/weekends away for a bit of a ride in this part of the countryside. The V/Line trains are running reduced services so there’s only one or two trains a day that stop at Seymour – and none at Tallarook which is where I really wanted to start from. Of course the train was packed, and all the “unreserved” ticket holders (ie anyone on a Myki and only going as far as Seymour) was asked to get off and catch the bus – but of course the bus won’t take bikes so I stayed quiet and stood beside the bike space for the two hour trip
An auspicious start time, 13.37 and out of Seymour station and off to find my way south-west for 10 ㎞ to join the rail trail, then follow it to Yea and on to Alexandra. The #CycleDindi ride is “mostly” centred on Yea, but I couldn’t get any accommodation, so Alexandra it would be … about 20 ㎞ more
Stopped for a coffee at Trawool as I joined the GVRT, the staff their couldn’t get their heads around me sitting around at 2.15pm, having a coffee, then heading off to ride ALL THE WAY TO ALEXANDRA. I pointed out that I had all afternoon, the trail is mostly flat, but it seemed an Olympic feat to them
Anyway, off I went, the trail as far as Yea a bit overgrown and getting eroded in places but mostly flat. Didn’t bother stopping in Yea and passed through, then the 8 ㎞ or so gentle climb up to the Cheviot tunnel and thoroughly enjoyable long gentle descent afterwards all the way to where the trail splits in two at Cathkin
5.30 or so and I made it to Alex, a bit hillier than I remember & I was feeling a bit ragged for the last 10 ㎞ or so, well pleased to get to the pub, off the bike and have a beer and check in for the night
Few clouds, 29°C, Feels like 28°C, Humidity 32%, Wind 1m/s from E - by Klimat.app
My 1542nd day in a row riding a bike; the last 6 days of 2019, my and all of ‘21, ‘22, ‘23 and 2024 so far…
Garmin / Strava / ridewithgps
