Blogs from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, Oceania - page 4

Day 36 (9/5/21)Temps: Max 20C, Min 8C Woke up to rain falling. Departed Myrtleford at 10AM. Struck a lot of roadworks on the way home with significant delays. As we passed one set of works, 1 man on shovel working, 5 watching. Had lunch at Kalkallo at around 130PM. Arrived home at 250PM. Total kilometres for the trip was 4,367.... read more

1st March - Brighton Beach Beach Huts #heygo http://www.heygo.com Our tour started in front of Brighton Beach Hotel, Established as the Royal Terminus Hotel in the 1840s, Brighton Beach Hotel remains one of Brighton's oldest landmarks. Once formerly well known as Milano’s Tavern, Brighton Beach Hotel is the second hotel south of the Yarra River and originally built of local red ironstone. The hotel was once so remote that it was bailed up by bushrangers. Very quickly the establishment of five gracious sitting rooms, seven bedrooms for 30 shillings a week and stables became a destination resort. Also for hire were the prototype bathing boxes, these were wheeled into the bay for a healthy sea dip. Today, the altered but recognisable "Georgian" facade has witnessed it all and is classified by the National Trust. We walked ... read more

http://www.heygo.com 4th March - Introduction to Melbourne This was an introduction to Melbourne, very difficult in just 45 minutes but our young guide, an actor who was enjoying doing these virtual tours during the Covid pandemic. Australia had fared really well over the last year and seeing people going about their everyday business was encouraging to see how some countries had coped better with Covid than others. We started the tour just inside Victoria Gardens, oh how I would have loved to go inside but for today it was just a quick glimpse of the Floral Clock. This floral clock with a diameter of over 9 mtrs was presented to the city by the Swiss consul Curt Malning as a goodwill gesture on behalf of the watchmakers of Switzerland. The clock's hands are driven by a ... read more

Day 1 - There and Back Again. The big day had finally arrived. After postponing our ride numerous times due to the pandemic we were finally ready to depart. A late change of plan had us leaving around lunchtime from Fairfield rather than 8am from Docklands and I was feeling excited about starting the journey on my bike from my front door, no flying or driving anywhere, straight into it. I remember stating on one of our previous rides with unambiguous certainty that I'd never do touring where I had to carry my gear on the bike. Then after doing that last year the concession was that we spent each night in a hotel, but I'd never camp. So it was with some irony that I set out on my touring bike with panniers, front and ... read more

GOR. Day 20. Warburton Our last day of this tour. A 1 hr train journey to Lilydale to ride the old railway line trail to Warburton and back. A cloudy start but warm and what we would want for the finale. The trains in Australia are good for cyclists since bikes are no problem at. All 12 of us got on the same train to Lilydale whereas in the UK you are lucky to get 2 bikes on. The MYKI card system is also good in Victoria where you buy a card and load it with cash and travel anywhere, paying a maximum of approx $6.50 per day (£3.50). The trail was a bit lumpy all the way with a stiff climb to Mt Evelyn at 7km on a mixture of gravel, concrete and tarmac. Lunch ... read more