The good thing about translating is that you can do it almost anywhere these days – thanks to the internet. Which is why I’ve come to Australia for a few weeks, taking time off from the European winter and catching up with family and friends. So, no sooner arrived, the translating job I’d previously been waiting for finally arrived, so I spent the first week of my holiday working – but that’s ok, that’s exactly why I chose this activity.
My bike at Southern Cross Station
That out of the way, I’ve embarked on a week of cycling through a part of Victoria I don’t know very well, Gippsland, to the east of Melbourne and not so named because of any Gypsum in the area – Gipps is German for plaster – but after an early governor of New South Wales. Heading east from Geelong with destination Lakes Entrance, I wanted to check out several of the Rail Trails along the way. First the Bellarine rail trail to Queenscliff, a pleasant ride through pastures and woodland, though the Bellarine Peninsula is not nearly as flat as I had imagined !
On the Bellarine rail trail
The Queenscliff to Sorrento ferry takes you to the other side of Port Philip bay from where it’s an afternoon ride to Stony Point (about 50 km) where another ferry takes you to Philip Island. On this trip, I decided to carry less weight, so no tent, sleeping bag or other camping gear. There are a number of hostels along the way and it’s a great way to meet people. The Island Accommodation where I stayed is new, well-designed and excellent value for money.
Day 2 took me to Inverloch via the Bass Coast Rail Trail from Anderson to Wonthaggi – very pleasant off-road riding on a compacted gravel/soil path – then along the coast through Cape
Near Wonthaggi
Paterson with fantastic views here over the cliffs out to sea. Most of the on-road riding here has been fine, there is not much traffic and often there’s a cycle lane.
Coast between Cape Paterson and Inverloch
Day 3 from Inverloch to Foster included the Great Southern Rail Trail from Koonwarra to Foster, one of the most pleasant rides so far. A lot of this trail goes through bush and provides a lot of shade, it also has a very good surface.
I haven’t been able to add the description for the previous days earlier as there are not many public internet access points. In many areas – away from the main traffic corridors - there is no mobile coverage either, at least not for my provider.
At Foster Youth Hostel I meet John who is cycling from Sydney to Melbourne, he’s English and doing about 70 to 90 ‘miles’ a day. He does two big trips every year and always takes his bike with him. I’m lucky to have a bike here (in Australia, as I live in France), they wouldn’t let my recumbent onto a plane – too heavy and not collapsible !
On the Great Southern rail trail
Day 4 (today) is a shorter ride from Foster to just past Yarram – about 70 km – as tomorrow I have to get over the Strzeleckis to Traralgon and I want to do this early in the day. So far the terrain has been mostly undulating and not far from the coast, tomorrow’s ride will be the first challenge with a pass on the Nyland Highway at 500m. That’s not very high, but the gradients are often steep.
