Epilogue
Day 10 was riding from Dover to Huonville 55.8km, 3.45.50 minutes. Start at 6.50am , ave 14.84km and max 61.14km/h. Elevation 716m, descent 708m
This was the start of the 2 day return to Hobart staying overnight in Huonville on bitumen roads. The first good decision was to travel along the quiet coast road via Policeman’s Point to Geeveston. Along the way there were many Salmon farms, people walking dogs, holiday houses and only 2 cars, both coming from the other way. Certainly not flat nor the shortest way but it was quiet and peaceful. Once on the Lyell Highway it was certainly noticeable the amount of traffic without a verge until past the turn off (Scott Road) that cuts out Geeveston where it once again became quiet. I stopped off at the same “One Stop Shop” for a drink and snack before heading off again along the verge of the Lyell Highway that follows the coast and Huon River all the way to Huonville. With the pain in my right shin getting worse I decided to have an early lunch and stopped for fish and chip at Franklin. It was starting to rain so undercover was the best idea.
I arrived at Huonville soon after lunch unable to walk far due to the intense pain in my shins but could ride okay. I headed to the Huon Valley camping ground by turning left off the main road. Its some distance out and cost $39.64 but I had a shelter to myself to store my gear out of the occasional rain and a great kitchen to hang out to watch the T20 cricket on the biggest TV screen I’ve seen.
At 4.00pm they do a show where they get the adults to try to ride a bike that has been engineered to turn the opposite way. Of course no-one could ride it. Then little chicks and ducks for the kids to hold, a working cattle dog to round up the geese around an obstacle course before finishing off with Tasmanian devil feeding.
After the show I went into town in the rain to get some dinner and resupply for tomorrow. I bought a green shopping bag to carry my hand luggage as my lightweight backpack broke last time.
At sunset with dinner finished and the rain holding out I went for a walk along the river hoping to find a platypus when low and behold there was one right in the middle of the creek and its burrow right next to the bank -swimming, feeding and hiding.
I slept on the tent floor without an inflated mattress again due to the hole in it somewhere. I must say that with the occasional waking up as I turned I had no problem sleeping. The pain in my shin doesn’t allow me to stretch out the ankle like I used to.
Day 11 from Huonville to Hobart
40km, 6.49am start rain and foggy departure.
I turned off the GPS computer as I knew it was all uphill and it kept making sounds as I hadn’t programmed it. I decided to go along the Lyell Highway though I could have turned left at the first junction to go a quieter way for some kilometres before it connects to the highway that I checked out the night before on my phone but I didn’t want to turn left when I knew I needed to be on the highway anyway. The last thing I wanted was to follow an electronic device.
Up the Huon Valley the Lyell Highway has a good verge on the busy road that rises up hill slightly. Then, after the service station on the left, the road gets steeper but still manageable. After the saddle its downhill but shortly rises again where there was no verge at this uphill. So I decided to walk it on the side of the road in the dirt than risk being on the road in rainy foggy conditions with cars doing 100km/h. It might have been 2 lanes each way but not worth the risk. Once on top there is a long downhill run into Kingston, before continuing straight ahead in the rain uphill. A convenient truck stop on the left for a wee break then downhill into Hobart town centre.
A huge Pho bowl for lunch at 10.30am then off to the Reject Shop for a bag and packing tape. Back up the mall to Paddy Palin to buy a Xs micro towel ($14.36), an XS Sea to Summit compression sack ($38.66) for the tent and seam seal for the Nemo air mattress ($17.06). It states however once on wait 24 hours to dry so another night predicted on the ground.
I pick up a bike box for $10 at the Ken Ride cycle centre which turned out to be way too small and would not fit my two wheels. I caught a taxi for disabled people (mini van) to the Big 4 Airport Tourist Park for $49.25.
Check in and set up the tent with shirt off pack the bike into the small box, one wheel goes in the Reject Shop bag which of course has to be ripped for it to fit in. The box had room for cages and some bags to keep it under 23kg but some bags are used to protect the wheel. I was lucky to store the box in a shed to pick up the next day. A storm was expected at 4.00pm, so close to the time I get in the tent to ride it out. Well 65km/h winds hit and the tent pegs come flying out and then the fly just flies off revealing me in my only clean clothes rain pouring in so now soaking wet. Off I dash to kitchen shelter with tent in hand and bags soaking wet wondering what I’m going to do. I soon check out if there is a cabin free but only the 10 year old daughter is there so I leave my number. No call so I visit again to find out they are fully booked out but they will try to do something. I weigh up my options and book a hotel close by and order a taxi large to pick me up ASAP and head to the Lauderdale Tavern- Foreshore Tavern for $200 a night. I got my bike out of a storage shed perfectly dry. The taxi costs about $60 to get there. I get a text later that night from the Caravan Park but too late. A taxi cost $32 to the airport the next day. What is it about taxis after 6pm? Are they trying to rip you off or its just the price sky rockets after 6pm. Plus I also booked for a morning taxi to the airport and had to change that too twice, once to a new location then to a new time.
To make matters worse as I’m trying to dry everything out in the room the fly, the tent, clothes with the hair dryer I find out Virgin have cancelled my flight out of Hobart via Melbourne and redirected me from Adelaide to Darwin via Brisbane. So half an hour later on the phone to Virgin Airlines I get a flight to Melbourne later the next day and connection to Adelaide and had to make sure I have 2 x 23kg bag. I feel my back is a little hot and notice in the mirror I am sunburnt when I had my shirt off packing up my bike and overnight it hurts to lay on it.
Day 12
The following morning I buy breakfast from a grocery shop next door that opens at 8.00am and ibuprofen at 9.00 from the chemist to elevate the pain from my shin. The taxi comes a little late (5 minutes) but no problems at the airport and I get to Adelaide with the box upside down, having broken at the bottom but nothing had escaped. I was checking out the Evo bags at the Hobart airport someone had (4 of them) as well as another bike packing couple who were packing their road bike into their purchased boxes from Virgin. I believe they have different sizes and they managed to get all their bike packing gear in one box under 23kg.
In Adelaide I’m picked up by family and head for a few days recovery in the comfort of a bed and buy more packing tape and another Reject shop/Mad about Harry’s bag.
At the Adelaide airport I check in but forget to take out the lighter and have to first find it in the bag then get it out then tape it up again, keep the masking tape for this special occasion then ditch it before security.
Lessons I learnt about myself.
Well I’m a skilful rider to balance a huge bag on my bike with flatfish tyres and loose handlebars.
Resilient enough to handle getting cramps on the first day and fatigue in the legs to keep going day after day. Tough for walking through the knee injury, toes and shin injuries just to finish something I’ve started.
Mad for continuing riding with a severe saddle rash on both upper thighs that only got better in the last 2 days.
Only once did I think of quitting when I couldn’t get the bike up the steep incline crossing the Mersey River.
Kept riding when everyday the trail just once to go up the biggest hills to reach the dirt and forest trails. I understand why as when you're there its beautiful, quiet and on dirt roads its just the pain to get to them.
Tasmanians call them hills I call them mountains.
I thought I was going for a ride not a hiker bike.
Despite the hardship I loved it. Didn't need company just enjoyed lots of me time and nature at its best.
I also found it strange there was no one at Bushy Park , Sudbury or Ouse recreation grounds when I thought lots of riders would do this trail. I seemed to be one of the few.
Food
Main shop was Devonport plus brought with me 5 dehydrated meals and a couple of snacks. Shopped at Woolworths so I could buy rice porridge.
Bought the essentials that would last me the whole trip or at least to New Norfolk to resupply plus lunches possible at shops along the way. Reality was morning tea could be bought along the way but supplied and carried everything else.
2 bags of rice porridge
Raw sugar 1/4 put into a zip seal bag.
Apple and sultanas pack (6)
1 x Corn Thins plain
2 x Vegetable Soup (Ouse & Dover)
1 x Bens rice-lemongrass (Ouse)
1 x Freedom Rice bubbles- do not buy.
6 x small tins of tuna- 1 bought on the way
1 hot chips (Arthurs Lake)
1 x Souvlaki (Geeveston)
1 x MacDonalds chips ( New Norfolk)
1 x box of 6 Thins chips
5 x Noodle Cups
1 x Pad Thai
1 x Restaurant meal
1 x lunch at Poatina- toasted sandwich, orange, chocolate bar
2 x Bake beans bought along the way- Ouse and at Dover.
1 pack of 10 English Breakfast tea, 10 Irish Breakfast brought with me.
1 packet of GF party mix brought with me
3 packets of Carmens muesli bar (1 bought in New Norfolk)
Bananas
Strawberries
2 ice creams in Westway
Chocolate bars at shop stops
1 x dehydrated food - brought with me. 4 meals I threw away as I was not going to be eating them.
Drinks- Maximus or Powerade at shop stops and always kept 2 bottles (for water).
Changes 1 x Rice porridge and supplement on way with baked beans
Fitness
I was a little underdone on the fitness side of things obviously when you get cramp in nearly every muscle group on the first day not due to the distance but the hills and also needed back to back rides of about 50Km each day. Needed more hill work fully loaded or more in Darwin, but there are none really but could travel 100km to Adelaide River to get them there. Needed bike pushing fitness and not wear MTB shoes with SPD but hiking shoes and flat pedals. Alternatively to add a day before the start to get some practice in where I can then make adjustments beforehand.
By the last day I felt strong to get up the hills of 6-7% grade but fatigue was a factor where the hill was long.
Injuries was the left Meniscus injury I think from hyperextending my knee going up hills and then shin pain also I think from walking in inappropriate shoes plus I should have swapped sides pushing up the hills as my preferred side was being on the left. However if my fitness was higher I might not have had to walk up so many.
Clothes and gear
Going from Devonport was the best option as I was able to pick up gas in Hobart but could have well got it in Davenport as well. Checked out Dover and none to be had. My original plan was to use Methylated Spirits and a Trangia and leave from Dover. This would have also meant a big first day up 3 hills and then another to Judbury.
Obviously only had 7 gears initially, shops closed but sorted it out in Poatina by getting the Rohloff book sent to me by text.
Carried 3 bike shorts - change this to only 2.
2 long sleeve tops good, if wet could change or just change because they were smelly and dirty.
Puff Jacket- Z packs back split open either cause its too small, not sturdy enough. Would next time go for the sturdier thickness.
No need for coloured shirt - could have used the T shirt and Puff Jacket over it if needed.
2 undies good
Long pants good
T shirt good
Shorts x 1
Rubber bands- for the porridge bag and other zip lock bags such as raw sugar or if rain pants on used to avoid pants going in chain.
2 x socks good- 1 sealskins and 1 Darn Tough
Thermal long johns good
Rain jacket yes
Rain pants no but if rained more yes
1 x buff
Balaclava- not worn
Cycling shoes- no
Crocs yes but looking for a roll up shoes- like karate shoes I had bought in Bali many years ago.
Large gas canister- didn’t fit my cooking pot so I would go for 2 smaller ones. 1 would fit and the other just in case but small enough to fit elsewhere in bags.
Camera and charger- very unsteady footage when held by hand so thinking of a Gimbal to go with or a large expensive lightweight tripod.
Go pro and batteries and charger
Drone and 3 batteries
Garmin edge 830
Garmin In reach- on but didn’t track until Miena- need to work on that.
Iphone 11 , a must
1 bike lock
Mini tripod- not a must as could hav eused posts, road, rocks.
20,000mh battery- could have used 10K
Lights front- not used, back not used but when required lost it in my bags.
Torchlight yep- doubled up as a rear light on last day. Could just get away with the iPhone though, but its light and doesn’t take up much room.
Pillow
Mattress
Tent- might need a small waterproof bag just for a wet fly.
Bags major change is the Egress bag 1-2 L just not big enough for electronics and hence not waterproof.
Changes
Drone- track was too rough to take one
So many times a tree or post was not enough to keep the bike upright as the weight on the front wheel made it turn and eventually fall from its upright position hence one broken left grip. So looking at a kick stand but still not convinced one will be enough.
Lost- 1 sunscreen tube bounced out, 1 lip balm MIA, 1 USB multi cord MIA
Bike shoes- 2 broken toe nails- wear hiking shoes.
Son Hub - only used a couple of times. Once connected to the phone but it kept going on and off and making a noise then used it for the battery which didn’t seem to charge it much, I’m Sure it did but just takes a lot of charge to recharge it fully even with 240v. Fortunately most overnighters had electricity.
Take a seam seal for the mattress and patches.
No mosquitos so repellant not used, strapping tape not used but electrical tape used for the brake cord near the left lever that would cut me changing my grip position.
Bubble wrap, ($3.50) masking tape ($4.00), bag jumbo checker ($3.00)
USB multi cord ($39.95) at Hobart Airport- a necessity, as everything relies on having your phone ie airlines, check ins and airport border entry.
More tent stakes required- just ordered MSR ground hog stakes.
1 litre Katadyn Be free instead of the 600ml and a new nozzle for the 600ml as it was really hard to get anything out of it when required.
Time of the year- avoid Boxing Day and New years as most shops are closed so travel before or after. Weather was pretty good with a breeze mostly behind me for the first 3 days and only the Hobart gale which no small tent on soft sand would have survived.
Finances
Airfare Darwin to Hobart via Adelaide return plus an extra 1 x 23kg $40 each x 3 = $120 the Darwin to Hobart getting there was considered one leg.
Caravan Parks- Devonport $29, Quanbys Corner $10, Dover $25, Hobart $40.
Hotels/Motels Poatina $120, Miena $220, Hobart $200
Food- $258
Bubble wrap, ($3.50) masking tape ($4.00), bag jumbo checker ($3.00)
USB multi cord ($39.95) at Hobart Airport
Bus - $27.20 + $44.40
Taxi- $49.25 + $65+ $32
Paddy Palin- gas $14
Bike Box $10
Bike bag- $2.50 going there.