Pop Quiz (Bairnsdale, Victoria to Congo, New South Wales in 7 days)

A pop quiz for you.

1) If you are in Melbourne and your goal destination is Cairns, and you have from April 5 till June 8 to get there,

would you:

a) catch trains up eastern coast, perhaps hopping on and off at popular destinations along the way

b) fly directly to Cairns after spending more time in Melbourne with friends

c) hitchhike, much to a big frown on your mother's face

d) ride your bike!

If you are restless for lots of movement, adventure, and challenge, combined with a deep love for wild places and cycling, you probably chose d!  Like me!

2)  Having chosen to ride to Cairns, gathered up the same bike you rode around OZ on 5 years ago, borrowed panniers from friends, and had a box full of pivotal bike gear odds and ends sent from home...  for the first leg of your journey (to Sydney),

would you:

a) ride the whole way along the coast highway at a leisurely pace

b) ride up through the highlands via Victoria's "best kept secret," the Barry Way, for remote mountains, steep dirt road climbs, and views of the Snowy River and THEN cut to the coast

c) go inland via a route you've already done

B?  Oh good, me too.

3)  What is your preferred reward waiting to greet you on top of a big, long, tough hill climb:

a) a group of women just finishing a yoga retreat smiling, clapping, and cheering, "Hooray!  Wow!  Good work!  You made it!"

b) Two yellow-tailed black cockatoos low in the trees RIGHT by the road.  Screeching and flying by as your ride past.

c) One lone grey kangaroo.  Sitting.  Watching.  Waiting.

d) A family of wallabies

e) Dirt road changing into paved road

f) A magnificent, winding downhill decent where the wind rushes against your face and you don't have to pedal once in 10 minutes

g) "Who needs a reward?  I love the uphill part!"

4) Upon waking early, early in the morning on day five of your trip, in your tent at Jacob's River campsite, which would you prefer to find on your tent:

a) Ants.  Medium sized.  Red.

b) Spiders.  Several.  Small.  Venomous-ness unknown.

c) This:

A goat moth (?)

d) all of the above

5) Which are the most common moods experienced during a typical day of bicycle touring:

a) grumpy, exhausted, exhilarated, awed, grateful

b) bored, restless, apathetic

c) silly, tired, hungry, humble, proud

d) a and c

6)  In a week of backcountry / small village camping, how many nights out of 7 would you expect to be offered and served dinner and or warm drinks/cakes:

a) zero.  you smell, your stuff's exploded everywhere.  nobody is coming near you.

b) 1-2

c) 3-4

d) 5-6

e) all 7!  people love you!

Well, you might EXPECT zero, and be prepared for such, but never underestimate the friendliness of strangers.  Lucky for your belly, unluckily for the weight of your panniers, the answer is D! (Thank you Jampal and Siba-ites, Robin and Gerald, Helen and Pat, Gillian and (?I'm sorry I forgot your name), Helen, Peter and Sue, and Paula and Jock!)

Final question!

7) Bicycle touring is a most fulfilling way to travel:

a) True!

b) False

Thank you for your quiz time.  You have now earned a rest day!

 More pictures of trip....

Packing looks something like this

East Gippsland RailTrail (day one)

   Siba Buddhist Retreat Center (day/night two)

                                                         

Alpine National Park via Barry Way

                                                                 

On towards the Barry Way (day three)

Willis Lunch Spot overlooking Snowy River (day 4)

The 12.4km uphill jaunt out of Jacob's River Camp (day 5)

Can you see the road off on the left? I came from way down there!

Leaving National Parkland 

Dalgety to Nimmatebel.  Mud!  Rain! Wet! Mess! (day 6)

Peter, Helen, Sue, and Missy.  Cyclists traveling via caravan are very handy to come across for route advice, place to stay in when I reach Queensland, scrambled eggs, and a cheater's lift 100k up the coast when your tendinitis flares up! (day 7)

Congo Beach (drop off point)

Ah!  More rain coming!  Good thing the mom of Julia's friend found me after a string of text messages at this beach and took me to her home for hot shower, roasted veggies, sparkling shiraz, delightful conversation and laughter with her and her husband, Jock, and a warm, real bed.