From the wet foggy climes of Mount Gambier to Western Victorian towns of Casterton and Coleraine, it was a straight and clear drive on the Saturday morning. Once you hit Casterton and climb high above the town you realise it is indeed a hole, out of which the countryside becomes rolling and scenic. Lots of cows and sheep grazing in the lush fields, which have clearly seen recent rain, ran scared as I streaked past at only 100kph, the official speed limit in Victoria - beware the hidden mobile speed cameras!! After a brief stop in Hamilton to stretch the legs at the local lake, I headed eastwards until Dunkeld where I promptly hung a left and drove another 65km to reach my destination of Hall Gap. It was great to see the grandiose peaks of ... read more

Another chance to see Australia arose when i was able to take some leave early on Friday afternoon and head east to the 'big smoke'. The buses out of Mt Gambier leave twice daily, once at 8.15am and then again at 2.25pm, eventually connecting with a train at either Warnambool (coastal scenic route) or inland to Ballarat. The inland bus route to Ballarat takes in lovely pastures in western Victoria, rolling countryside and small traffic-free roads worthy of some good cycling I'm sure. Hamilton, Victoria, is a base for visiting the Grampians in the southwestern corner, and similar sized to Mt Gambier, but things really get bigger once you reach Ballarat. If you hanker for a good transport network, University town feel, that has enough size to warrant a theatre for travelling shows and movies, this ... read more

All aborad for the great 4WD adventure! Well, I must be worthy of an upgrade again, thanks to the friendly people at AVIS Mt Gambier. In a flight of excitement and desperation to exit the confines of this small city, I arranged car hire late on Friday afternoon to pick up on Sunday. Timing it right, I would use it to commute to work Monday morning, expectant of rainy climes that are known in these parts at this time of year. Some patient told me that Mt Gambier had one third of it's rainfall on Tuesday June 30th, last week. And similar rates throughout the Stae I am told too. So much for having one half of Auckland's rainfall, I am certain it is as wet here as at home! Backtracking a bit....Saturday was pampering day...long ... read more

Here are some pictures of Mount Schank, which i rode to yesterday. It was a bit prolonged after taking an extended route between bay Road, which connects wets with east, and the main highway into Mt Gambier with the logging trucks. Needless to say, keeping left has never had such meaning when they pass! I should add that when cycling one should NEVER imagine or say the P word…yes, punctures come as and when least expected. I got one, seemingly on way to pool this morning before work along the greasy, truck soiled, wet roads of Mt Gambier. Picture flat as pancake tyre, unresponsive to the gym instructor’s nor my pump, then unresponsive to the Woolworths Servo pump. At this point I admitted defeat and made call number 2 to hospital to explain my lateness. Got ... read more

A sunny Sunday without pouring rain begged a cycling tour of the Green Belt and Lakes of Mt Gambier. After gearing up for a chilly 13C maximum, I headed out westwards from Jubilee Highway until Tollner Road, which links back towards Grant avenue by the cemetery and memorial gardens. This is the shire of Grant after all, a famous explorer of the 19th century! One way to get away from the traffic and amongst the cows and sheep is to explore one of the many farm trails (like budget white tar seal) around Mt G. The scenery is flat or undulating, and at this time of year, autumnal colours are raging! The ride then curved westwards headed along Yells road to Moorak, where I passed a humble tennis club and, strangely, another cyclist! But they did ... read more