On a pleasant sunny Saturday aftenoon
the shop we managed to close the shop door just after noon. Actually the last
customer knew we were closing at 12 o'clock but arrived at 1 minute to wanting
lengthy advice more than anything else. Without being too rude he was advised
to come back on Monday.
Before setting off on the journey to Wangaratta I did one final check on the
contents of the car -
My prized Avanti Corsa Bicycle
Her Specialised Hardrock
Avanti EXOS helmets
Avanti arm & leg wamers - Just in case
Specialised water bottles - full
Specialised Air Force pump
Specialised Multi Tool - For repairs to other bikes
Oh I nearly forgot - support crew
Yep all there. At 12.15 we are away. A pleasant trip at reasonable speed saw
us at the petrol station just south of Wangaratta before 3 o'clock. As I paid
for the petrol I asked the attendant if I could get to the rail trail without
going into the township. I have lived here for 20 years and I have never heard
of a bike path out to Bright she said. This is going to be a fun ride.
Great relief as we stopped on the Great Alpine Road adjacent to the rail trail.
I alighted from the car and organised to meet the support crew at Myrtleford.
At 3.15 PM I set off toward Bowser determined to make Myrtleford in record time
just in case she found a material shop.
The trail signposting left a little to be desired, but I knew if I kept the
rail line on my left I should find Bowser without too much trouble.
After Bowser it was flat out down the long straight with only a small headwind.
All was fine until the first of the minor road crossings when I noticed a motorbike
coming down the road. Obviously he wasn't expecting cycles,and no harm done,
but I realised that it is important to slow down and check at every minor road
crossing.
I felt really good and was maintaining an average of just over 30kph until 100
metres before Everton where I saw my first fellow cyclist on the trail. actually
she was walking beside the bike. Its OK she said, my car is just there at the
station.
The next cyclists I saw was near Bowman. Actually they were not riding either.
He had his bike upside down, trying to take the punctured tube off the wheel.
Unfortunately the wheel was still in the bike. Five minutes later and I had
the problem fixed and was on my way again still into the nagging headwind. At
Myrtleford I found my support crew in the main street. Thank goodness there
were no patchwork shops open on saturday afternoon.
Setting out from Myrtleford I found the trail reasonably flat and I saw several
other cyclists, compared to the two lots before Myrtleford. My average was still
30kph through Ovens and Everton but from then on I began relaxing. I found myself
slowing down and had to force myself to concentrate. From Eurobin on the headwind
had disappeared. I rolled into Bright just under 3 hours after leaving Wangaratta.
Naturally the Avanti Corsa had performed
perfectly on the entire ride because it had been serviced by Peter at Warren's
Sports (The Avanti Dealer) in Emerald. I found the Motel easily enough, and
was pleased to receive a warm welcome from my fellow ghost riders, although
I thought there could have been a ghost rider jersey hung on the gateway to
guide me.
Riding solo for three hours gave me plenty of time to think. (something I am
not accustomed to).
The ride was terrific, but I couldn't help thinking how much better it would have been with Crasher keeping the pace on, or the general frivolity of the rest of the gang. I really hate to admit this, but the thing I missed most of all was the familiar ghostly wails - WHY DO WE DO THIS - ARE WE NEARLY THERE YET.