We made it. Yep that’s right. My ride ended with me reading my computer 4015.7km then getting off the bike and heading into the Jawa Bar North Melbourne where an outstretched hand handed me a bottle of a nice European beer.
Three days earlier after leaving Warrnambool Troj and I had got our first real taste of the wet weather Victoria has been experiencing. We got a little wet but what really surprised us was the lush green vegetation, it looked a lot like somewhere in Europe. Troj had a few problems with his tyre, his tube had blown out dure to a tear in his rear side wall. We stopped and patched it, hoping it would last at least to Colac. It didn’t. About 10km out his tyre blew again, I rode into town trying to get there before five to get a new tube and tyre. I got there in time and headed back out, during this time Troj continued walking and I met him just 5km out of town. After the repairs we headed into town, set up camp and had our first “major” drink in a while. It wasn’t much but after not drinking more than two or three at one time throughout the trip it felt like a big one on the amber liquid. From Colac we headed along the backroads to Geelong, travelling through more lush scenery and light drizzle which kept us cool. In Geelong we lived it up and stayed in a motel, went out for a few beers to the National to see a band and met up with Chris and Tim who were going to join us in on our ride into Melbourne. The following morning we all met up at Cunningham Pier in Geelong with Matt from Bicycles for Humanity also joining us. We followed the bike trail to Lara where we voted in the State elections and had breakfast. After doing our civic duty we continued to Werribee when just on the outskirts the heavens opened up. Within two kilometres of riding we were beyond saturated and stopped at the pub for lunch (it was a good excuse). The publican saw us and offered to dry our clothes, while giving us clean t-shirts to wear and allowed us to leave our bikes inside out of the rain. We stayed for a few drinks and a meal and soon realised the weather wasn’t going to get any better and had to soon get going. Followng the federation trail towards Melbourne became an adventure. Parts of the trail were flooded and we rode through about half a metre of water, my trailer was inundated.
At the end of the Federation trail in Brooklyn Matt took us to where Bicycles for Humanity have their container and where they organise the bikes for shipping. Here Andrew met us with his two little girls in the kiddy trailer. The group then headed down Footscray Road into Docklands where Luke Troja’s Parents and my parents were waiting with friends to welcome us back. It was good to see all the faces. Fr4om here after a few photos and some chatting we headed to the Jawa Bar where Brett (the woner) was waiting with others. More came and it became a but of a party.
At that point I felt a little strange, I didn’t know whether to feel releived that I had finished or sad that the journey was over. I could have kept going, my body felt good and seeing the country go past slowly every day on my way to a new place will be missed.
I would like to thank all those who supported me, particularly Luke who joined me for half the ride, my parents and friends who all have contributed more than finances and of course all those who have donated.
This journey has taught me that you can do anything you put your mind to. There were many times I wanted to just pull over and stop, particularly those extra long days along the Nullarbor, but I always found something to keep going.
Below are photos of the last day from Geelong to Melbourne, more photos will be added soon.
