Wednesday 6th Feb Melbourne to Mornington

We had a relatively early start today as we were keen to get started on our next stage of the trip. It was also forecast hot weather which proved accurate, at 37 C and getting warmer and warmer throughout the day. Our water in the water bottles was actually hot to drink and when we paid for something with coins the shopkeeper said I must have had these coins on the dash board of a car. Not so though, they were in the top pocket of our back pack. We had some lovely views of Melbourne harbour with it's cruise ships and then lovely beaches all the way along the coast south. About half the day was on cycle tracks and half rather busy roads. Ready for tea now and a bit of a rest. It's not worth putting the tent up yet as it's still too warm. The campsite has an air conditioned room with wifi which means we can get our body temperature down a little before we go and pitch the tent. I was just getting a thumping headache and finding it hard to think, but already after ten minutes cooling in the air-conditioning I am feeling a little better.
We are making our way clockwise around the bay and will get the ferry tomorrow across the bay towards the start of the great ocean road.
Today's temperature is supposed to be the really hot one and the temperatures start to slide down slowly each day during the week.
Photo one.The harbour where the cruise ships come in and the pride of Tasmania sets out each day.
Photo two. Vets sometimes get really hard jobs to sort.
Photo three and four.Views back to Melbourne on the way around the bay.

Tuesday 5th February Launceston to Melbourne

Today started well with fruit, yogurt, cereal, and honey all followed down with a mug of tea or two. We were invited for a short ride with Vicky and her friend Margaret around Launceston and finishing up with a pleasant coffee stop. Afterwards we packed the bikes up and set of for the airport. Vicky was kind enough to give us a lift to the airport in good time for our flight.
The flight went very well and everything was on time. We spent the evening with our hosts Paul and Julia who live just a few miles from the airport. They have agreed to look after a few of our packaging bits which we will pick up again when we need them when we leave for home later down the line.
It is warmer here in Melbourne and the forecast is for the hot weather to return and the high for the next two days is 32C and 35C which is a good ten degrees hotter than we have had so far.

4th Feb A day in Launceston

Catherine went with Vicky for a water aerobics session to the local aquatic centre which had 6 separate swimming pools. Something different to start the day and rather exhausting. Tony had a walk around and then waited with a coffee for us to stagger into the cafe.
We then had a cycle along the cycle tracks in the city and visited the local museums.
When we got back to our WS hosts home we helped out with the plum sauce making. Tony enjoyed the fruit and sweetcorn picking whilst Catherine was hands on in the kitchen.

Sunday 3rd Feb back to Launceston from Westbury

Getting closer to the airport now ready for our flight to Melbourne on Tuesday. We had an easy ride into Launy today with the wind on our backs and practically no hills. Just as we got to Launy we heard a shout and on looking around we saw two people on bikes approaching us. It was our WS hosts, Malcolm and Vicky just getting back from a Sunday morning bike ride. So we followed them to their home for a welcome cool homemade blackberry squash, shower and change of clothes.
In the afternoon we walked along Cataract Gorge which is just a stones throw from Vicky and Malcolms home and is the second biggest tourist attraction in Tas. It is beautiful and it has been a hot sunny Sunday today so there were many people out enjoying it. The place is like Dovedale on steroids.

Saturday 2nd Feb to Westbury

It was a little noisy last night but it did settle down. The guy in the next tent phoned his dad at about 12 pm and we could hear every word as if he was in the same room but it was to sleep from then on.
We got up about 7AM to glorious blue skies and packed up quick and took the bikes to the camp kitchen with us. It was well equipped so we could have a good breakfast. We cycled to Shearwater and had a look at the beach with the tide out. We also popped into Sheatwater IGA and topped up on drink and provisions.
So up the same road that we came partway down yesterday. It is Sat morning now and what a change! No logging trucks and very little traffic it was like another ride totally compared with yesterday. A good bit of altitude to climb and because we crossed a few rivers on the way along the coast we had a few accents and decents. We finally got to the Blue Barn again which was close on the watershed of our ride but we went on a little further and stopped at a little shop. They had some seats outside, so we had cold milkshakes in the shade which was heaven.
Then onwards and mostly downwards to Westbury which the guide book says is like an old English town. With the stone church and cricketers in their whites on the village green did give it all a bit of an English feel. They obviously take cricket very big here as you will see from the photos.
Camping behind Andy's bakery for 8AU$ which is the cheapest yet but the facilities are non existent . Still we can eat at the bakery for a change tonight. Free WIFI as well which is amazing. First cafe I have seen that even acknowledge it exists and the last two campsites did nothing on the Internet access front.
Got to the campsite early at about 2.30 but have found a spot in the shade of a tree. We even had an afternoon nap in the shade, first time ever whilst touring on this tour but we needed it. We have managed a good bit of altitude over the last few days and although I have no idea of the figure it is well over 3000ft per day. Catherine even commented on how our legs are shaping up with taunt muscles for both of us.

Friday 1st Feb Beauty Point to Sorrel Point

Bteakfast in the little kitchen area today. It really rained over night but blue skies this morning, so at least it rained when we were out of it. The bikes fold down and go in the porch of the tent so it is great to camp knowing that the bikes are not sitting in the rain. We are on a peninsula so decided to pop over to the other side over the Dazzler Mountains. We expected an up one side and down the other sort of day but actually it was quite a range of mountains and there were lots of ups and downs.
We reached the road on the other side and we had been told by the lady at the campsite to go left for a kilometre to the Blue Barn Cafe as we were told rightly that this would be the only chance for a food stop on the journey . We could then go back to the coast although from the cafe we could see that the road had lots of huge trucks dashing up and down it. We were tempted to go the otherway towards Launceston but Catherine was concerned that it was chickening out and we would be at Lauceston way ahead of time for our flight on Tuesday. So to the coast we went, mostly down hill. The great logging trucks roared up behind us and announced their presence by applying their engine brakes which made a huge low sounding roar behind you. The scenery was great but the traffic was hell. We realised afterwards that it was about three PM on a Friday, so things were perhaps made worse because of the Friday afternoon rush hour.
Our reward was a great campsite right near the beach and we walked along the beach this evening and it was lovely.
A noisy campsite so we hope it calms down. We have worked out that the best route now is the way we came but we are hoping that the lorries do not work Saturdays and that the traffic will be lighter.

Thursday 31st Jan Lilydale to Beauty Point

It was time to say goodbye to Britt and we would not be returning to her this trip. As Britt had an appointment in Launceston it was decided that she would take us and bikes to the Lavender Farm and then on to Lilydale Falls where we would part our ways. We had coffee at the Lavender farm and had a look around although the Lavender itself had just been harvested so we did not get to see it in full colour.
Then on in the car to Lilydale Falls where there is a free campsite which looked very good and we would have used it if this had been the end of the day rather than the start of it. We went the five minute walk to the falls before putting our bikes together. Britt went off and it was back to cycletouring again. So first into Lilydale town and stock up with liquids at the IGA. The town had some interested artwork.
We headed then for the river Tamar and crossed over on Batman Bridge. I was interested to see why they named a bridge after the caped crusader from Gotham City but reading the plaque it appears that a guy called John Batman was the first person to navigate down the river and start a settlement at the end.
We have gone a little way up the west side of the Tamar and ended up at a campsite by the river in a place called Beauty Point. 15au$ but they had an outside kitchen area with shelter with a gas operated barbecue. So steak and peppers on the barbecue and rice and English Breakfast Tea heated on the trangia, a spot on meal. A good job we had the shelter as it started to rain hard and has done for the last hour. It has been dull all day and very cool, I would think the temperature did not get over 20 degrees even at midday. So rather British weather really and there was us worrying that Jan and Feb would be really really hot. Hush my mouth however as it could still happen yet and when we go back to Melbourne it will be a good few degrees hotter than here.
We are just about to work out what we are going to do over the next few days. We fly back to Melbourne on Tuesday and are being hosted by WS in Lauceston on Sunday and Monday night so we have two nights of camping to do not to far from Launceston.
Photo one,Two and Four Artwork in Lilydale.
Photo Three,an interesting post box.
Photo Five,crossing the Tamar on Batman Bridge.
Photo six,Lilydale Falls.
Sorry they are out of order from the order of the day. Cannot work out why by IPad resorts them in an odd order!