Report from Dennis Dawson
The first time we ventured down to test our mettle against this trail it was a very hot Australia Day public holiday. On that occasion the president of the rail trail committee of management came out to meet us and encouraged us by warning just how difficult the crossing of the notorious "Hoddle Range" was going to be. After he made it sound like the proverbial crossing of the Blue Mountains we were somewhat relieved to find that the Hoddle was actually just a quite gentle, and certainly most enjoyable, climb of about 4 km. You could even say that the "Hoddle was a Doddle".
We did discover that the Great Southern Rail Trail was excellently maintained with a wide and well compacted smooth surface, making it suitable for a wide variety of bikes and riders. On a fine day it would easily be one of the most enjoyable rides in the state. Since this would be my first serious ride since getting back from Nepal I had been looking forward to getting back in the saddle again, although I was a little worried when the Weather Bureau predicted all sorts of dire meteorological mayhem for the day of our ride.
Apparently the prospect of poor weather did deter some of our less dedicated riders from making the drive down to Meeniyan to start the ride. It is also worth noting that the drive down from Emerald took only about 90 mins, allowing us time for a coffee stop at the MacCafe in Leongatha on the way down. Even with the coffee break we still arrived 30 mins early and this gave me time to wander into the main street and join the Anzac Day Ceremony. It is fantastic to see the way that these small country towns put so much effort into their Anzac Day Commemorations and the large crowd that had gathered was testiment to the fact that the younger generations are keen to keep the tradition going.
By 10.00 am we had 7 riders gathered for a start, many of these had not done this ride before and were keen to see what it was like. To my relief the weather was fine and cool with scattered clouds and a gentle tail wind. Since we didn't know how long the favourable weather was going to with us we set off at a good pace and 17km later were pulling up at Fish Creek, just in time to see their Anzac Day activities getting under way. We stopped for a short drinks break before heading on for the enjoyable climb over the Hoddle Range.
At the summit we discovered that a new shelter and lookout had been erected. Everyone was impressed by the panoramic views down over to Bass Strait and Wilson's Prom. It was certainly a good excuse for a photo shoot before rolling down the other side to Foster.
In spite of the stops along the way we still arrived at Foster at 12 noon having made good time all the way. We then set in to enjoy a hearty counter meal at the local pub and we were all very pleased with the high quality of the food.
Although we kept expecting the weather to turn sour at any moment, in fact it seemed to be getting better. Most of the clouds had dispersed and we were treated to long sunny periods as we made our way back towards Meeniyan. The going was made harder by the headwind which ensured that we were breathing steadily all the way back. My lack of time in the saddle was also showing up in the form of a very sore backside which soon had me counting the km back to Meeniyan.
When we arrived back at Fish Creek a sizeable crowd was gathered around watching live entertainment in the park. We decided it was time to head to the local cafe for some afternoon tea. While we were there Lothar revealed that it was his Birthday so we had a great time sharing some birthday fellowship with him. In the four years or so since I first met Lothar I have thoroughly enjoyed and valued his friendship and we all wish him well for the years ahead. How fortunate we are to have such fantastic friends to share our life's adventures with.
After an extended break we finally got back on the bikes and completed the final section back to Meeniyan. We were able to complete the entire ride without so much as a drop of rain. Everyone commented on just what an enjoyable day it had been and I am sure that this ride will remain on our Annual Calendar for a long time into the future. Those that stayed home really missed a fantastic ride.