Day 1 Devonport to Minnow River 52.2km 27 December 21
Overnight min 7°C with a max 18.7°C forecast for Devonport while Sheffield (Max 21.2) 41.1km took 3 hours 3 min 36 sec.riding time 10.56am start. Ave speed 13.43km/h, Max speed 63.35km/h 532 m elevation 266m descent
Sheffield to Minnow River
5.07pm start 43.57 min riding time. 11.1km Ave 15.09km/h Max 57.04km/h 166m elevation, 297m decline
Woke up at 5.30am to watch the sun rise over Devonport. Funny how everyone was asleep in bed.
The kitchen remains closed to 7am so I started on getting the bike ready and packing up the tent and bags. I headed off to Woolworths to do the shopping for food at 7.15am for a $75 shop, list of food items already was prepared but I was unfamiliar where everything was as I shop at Coles and every store has items in different places. Once outside the shop I unwrapped everything I could and bagged them in zip lock bags and paced them in the front roll bag as well as well as a few items in the feed bags. Upon returning to camp I had breakfast and cup of tea with fresh milk and then continued to load up the bike, pump the tyres and had another go at fixing the rolloff hub which had only 7 gears without luck. Fortunately they were 1-7 gears and not the high end. A few things were tossed away including the backpack, and rags. I departed at 10.56am.
200m down William Street I have my left crank and pedal come off. I fix it on then realise I have a gap on the other side and need to fix again. Once tightened I have no problem with it at all for the rest of the trip. With the GPS on I’m following a pink line on the screen and the directions to turn left, right etc that takes me across the Mersey River bridge on the Bass Highway. I know I’m meant to turn right and travel along River Road but the GPS tells me to do a U turn, I ignore it. Laster on I discover it wants me to go to the Ferry terminal for the start of the Trail. The River road turns into a well maintained bicycle track to Latrobe past a huge platypus and the Woodchopper hall of Fame. After Latrobe the first left off the road leads to the first dirt road, on Old Deloraine Road and then a barrier to the forestry trail. Motorbikes can be heard in the distance. I manage to lean the bike over to get under the barrier, didn’t try to get out the key to the lock though the lock looked hard to get access to it. I try out the drone for the first time without any success. I use the key on a gate for the first time to exit the forestry section and to Native Plains Road towards Railton. A large swathe of poppies appear mostly white with some orange that are used for making medicines but could be harvested for heroin.
Lunch at 1.00pm at Railton in the Lions Park with toilets and water on the corner of the main road. The trail then follows an old rail line for most of the journey to Sheffield from here but it appear all uphill of a 2% grade which I’m struggling with. A few gates, cars and mtb riders later I get into Sheffield by 3.00pm. Just before Sheffield I have cramp in both calves and decide to loosen my leg Skins to my ankles, which does the trick. I check out the campground then head into town. A snack at the grocery store and chill out then on the way out think again about camping at the campground but the signs say no tents only RVs and it has no shade so I decide to find a spot further on. From Sheffield along Paradise Road I hit some speed but also some steep hills to walk up, my first walk up of many to come. 3 walk ups on this day. My hamstrings are now cramping up along with my right hand and I can start feeling some rubbing pain at the top of my thighs. I stop at a great campsite next to the main road along Minnow Creek at 6.00pm. It has a table and chair and easy access to water. Dinner and tent set up I also experience cramp in my right groin. I wonder if I’ve done enough preparation and fitness to survive or Ill get fit the hard way. I’m in bed by 9.00pm while it is still light but headed off to sleep easily.