Pain Factor: 6 out of 10
Magpie attacks: 1
Cow sightings: We're not in Kansas anymore Toto!
Accommodation Highlight: Oh man, bling accommodation compared to what we have been having, but also the most expensive of the journey.
http://www.strava.com/activities/191512799
An interesting day. You win some, you lose some, and today was like a roller coaster in that respect.
But first my guts. They weren't right today. Breakfast bucked the normal trend of a healthy bowl of carbo-rich, energising muesli. I instead doubled up on two of my guilty pleasures - a blueberry muffin and an slice of banana bread. This was only because the muesli option wasn't available that morning. Anyway, that shit must have stuck in my stomach (no pun intended). The only thing that mattered on my body for the first 2 hours of riding was my stomach. I hit a service station about 20kms out of Nelson Bay. I chose (wisely) to hang here for 20mins or so.
Anyway, back to the start of the day. Today was the only flat tyre I had - but even this is a little dubious. Upon leaving the motel I noticed the front tyre was flat. When I changed it, the tyre seemed fine, but we noted the valve was a bit bent. So I am not going to include this as an official "flat".
Today started a little differently. First task of the day was an easy ferry ride from Tea Gardens to Nelson Bay. For those not familiar with the area, you will see, we have a legitimate reason for not riding this bit...
It was a simple process....
Boat arrives...
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- I hate Magpies (1 attack)
- I hate the wind (head wind persisted).
- Though a couple of fighter jets overhead (presumably based at Williamstown airport provided a momentary distraction.
So once I solved my bowel issues, the ride into Newcastle was fairly benign. I followed the GPS, but did make an executive decision to ignore it when it was taking me to Stockton, just north of Newcastle, which I knew was a point. I assume the GPS knew of a ferry I didn't. I went around the ports of Newcastle and then started entering Newcastle...
...I should have continued to ignore my GPS and follow that sign to Charlestown, which I knew very well was on the south side of Newcastle and where I needed to go. The arrow shows my "desired" route. The red, where I rode.
So as a Wollongong boy born and bred, it is my god given right to hate "the other steel city" north of Sydney. I'm sorry Newcastle, but I don't like you - dodgy GPS or not.
I eventually found my way to Darby St, which is the hip place to be street in Newcastle. I was over my 3 hour (must have lunch) mark and my radar was set to cafe. But I was not in the mood for a hipster cafe and rode past all the funky looking ones. Just when I thought I'd missed my chance I saw a rather unassuming place that looked like it had seen better days. I can spot a coffee machine from 200 meters without glasses. "This will do" I thought. I walked in. Dude looked dodgy. Place looked dodgy. A shrine to surfing awesomeness of a time gone by. This however was a lesson. Don't judge something on first impressions. The coffee was awesome. The wrap (complete with fresh cooked chicken) was awesome. And the dude gave me two of his left over hash browns. We got talking. He was fascinated in my adventure (that is, after serving as the 10th person on the trip to ask me if I knew my bike likes were still on - THEY ARE LED's I DON'T CARE!!!).
I knew what lay ahead of me. The Old Pacific Highway, around Glenrock and up through the hills of Charlestown. I told surfer dude this. A look of "processing" crossed his face. He grabbed his iPad and proceeded to show me the "Fernleigh track". An old train line converted to a bike path he explained (he also told me how he used to ride it with an ex gold medal winning paralympian). "16km's long and it will take you all the way to Belmont", he told me. I am smart enough to know that like me, trains don't like hills, so this was a sure bet. Furthermore, I'd spoken to Santo just 10mins ago. "How many km's have you done?" he asked. From memory I'd done about 62kms. "How many have you done" I asked. "82" was the reply. Now Santo is quicker than me, but my tour de Newcastle put me woefully behind.
I thanked my new friend and off I went. As usual, lunch was like turbo boost and I felt great. His instructions were sound and I found the Fernleigh track.
Fucking wow. This thing rocked. Now, back at the start of this post I said you win some, you lose some. I have explained my losses today. This was a WIN. Big time. This was one of the most awesome parts of my entire ride from Brisbane to Sydney. I hit it with speed. I had a grin from ear to ear. I was enjoying the ride. Indeed it was a converted train line. None of this roads + cars + trucks + pollution crap. This was smooth riding through what bordered on rainforest. Newcastle, we (Wollongong) have a coastal bike path, but yeah... you win...
The start of the track, which commenced at the Adamstown station - you could still see the train line and crossing from the station that headed off to this line.
This was magic, an old tunnel that I had to ride through...
In several places along the ride, they left evidence of the old railway line, which was an awesome touch...
It wasn't so bad though. I got to Swansea in next to no time (another Magpie attack of course). I had to wait for the bridge which was open. And it was about this time I made the fatal assumption that Budgewoi was 10 minutes up the road. WRONG.
The ride to Budgewoi was on the Old Old Pacific Hwy and Old Pacific Hwy. It was mostly "Meh". I was pretty spent, but was in that zone that if I needed to go another 50kms, I could have (the diesel engine was well and truly warmed up). I do not know how I didn't get a puncture on the old Pacific Hwy. There was that much shit and glass on the road it wasn't funny. I could only assume the Kevlar lining in my tyres was doing it's job. I knew there was two ways into Budgewoi, I turned off where I "thought" one way was, but checked with a local who was manicuring his front garden (very helpful I may add). This was a valid way (dodgy locals probably didn't want council to put a direction sign up for fear of the passing through riff raff... like me... taking this route). A toot from a P-plater later (no idea why) and I was in Budge upon Woi. This was motel accommodation and far beyond our normal standards. By far the best accommodation of the trip and the "hefty?" price of $75 each to match. Santo, you did well....
The last night of our trip was an enjoyable one. Other than being a bit tired I felt fine. I still resisted the temptation to "get on it" though and indulged in just two glasses of wine. Dinner was a motel room picnic after visiting the local Coles. Sydney was within one day's ride away. I finally felt confident I had this one in the bag...
Oh and it was tonight my weight loss was painfully evident. My jeans were falling down and upon proceeding to tighten the belt, I realised I was already on the smallest hole!
Captain Justin.
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