Melbourne to Cairns Update

Most accommodation has been booked. There seems to be no problem with camping availability but the booking of cabins by the cyclists (for those that don't like to camp so much) may be a problem at some towns. Due to recent floods & new mining development in the area that we will be travelling through, there can be lots of workers in the caravan parks at times. We are also travelling over Easter so the school holidays are an issue with accommodation.

I have developed the menu and tried it out on the family. My main issue is ensuring I have sufficient supplies for the hungry hoards. My freezer is quite full at the moment as I am aiming at feeding 25 riders and crew and we are a family of 6. Here is an example of the menu.

Melbourne to Cairns

Breakfast No. 1 Good Friday Eggs, tomatoes, mushrooms & baked beans Hot Cross Buns

Breakfast at Nindigully Provided by Pub, paid by Cycle Across Oz. Cook your own breakfast

Brunch at McDonalds McDonald meals

BBQ Dinner No 1 Lemon chicken Marinated chicken wings Rissoles Sausages Moroccan meatballs 3 salads Apple Crumble

BBQ Dinner No 2 Sausages Curried meatballs Lime/Chilli chicken chops Marinated chicken wings Salads x 3 Chocolate Ripple cake

Bush dinner Japanese vegetable curry Bread & butter pudding Tossed salad

Finale Lunch at Marlin Marina paid for by Cycle Across Oz

I have also drawn up a day by day booklet describing the daily stops and the night accommodation. At the end I have added local attractions at each town we stop and then shopping suggestions for food supplies according to availability. Maps that will be required are also attached.

2013 Cycle Around Australia Brochure

The menus are set!!!!

We average on providing 7 meals on each ride stage. Some rides have more but not many have less.

Meals can include breakfasts, brunches and dinners. We usually do the cooking ourselves but there are some spots where they provide a meal at the accommodation spot.

On previous rides we have not always been the most organised crew, with meals decided on the spur of the moment. This time round we are determined to be so much more organised.

On the eve of each stage ride safety discussion will be held with drinks & nibbles supplied.

The breakfasts will be cooked breakfasts when provided.

Brunches will usually be at a McDonalds.

Bush camps/farm camps will include roast dinners, pasta dishes, stews & curries to name a few. All meals will have side dishes & vegetarians/gluten free will be catered for of course. This trip I hope to manage to supply desserts with all supplied meals just to finish off a great meal & a great days ride. Desserts will include apple crumble, bread & butter pudding, golden syrup dumplings & fresh fruit platters. And of course some bush camps will have damper to finish off.

We also provide a restaurant meal at the end of each ride to say farewell to the riders & our assistants.

Of course all meals will be determined by the availability of food stuffs especially around the outback.

Training ride- email posted out to interested riders

Dear All,

Collis & I are planning a training ride across Mt Hotham in early 2013, probably mid-January.

The ride will go from Bairnsdale to Bright over 3 days.
Day 1 Bairnsdale to Omeo 125 kms- undulating
Day 2 Omeo to Dinner Plain 45 kms- uphill
Day 3 Dinner Plain to Bright 70 kms- downhill

We have organised the route & a support vehicle free of charge (Kathy inside, Collis pedalling)

All we need to know is numbers & when date is set we will provide you with accommodation & transport information.

Hope many of you can join us as it is beautiful country up there (if the weather is stable).
This is great training for the Cairns to Darwin ride over the Tablelands especially.
Bring your friends if they are interested.

Hope to hear from you soon

Kathy & Collis

Post note: the response has been much better than expected.

Perth to Melbourne Stages 5, 5A & 5B

Perth to Melbourne                                                              
29th July to 3rd September 2013
36 nights camping
1 night bunkhouse
1 ferry crossing
8 meals provided
1 free jersey
$2,970.00
including GST

Perth to Port Augusta
29th July to 19th August 2013
21 nights camping
5 meals provided
$1,980.00
including GST



Port Augusta to Melbourne
19th August to 3rd September 2013
15 nights camping
1 bunkhouse
1 ferry crossing
3 meals provided
$1,540.00
including GST

This is one leg that Cycle Across Oz knows like the back of their hands. This ride has been conducted by us 3 times. The route, length & accommodation changes slightly each time & this time we have more rest days and a slightly different route. We have added the extra rest days to improve the ambience of the ride allowing the riders a more relaxed time as this is the end of a very long journey.

Some of the highlights include:
Kalgoorlie
The discovery of gold by Paddy Hannan in 1893 led to one of Australia's great gold rushes. It is now Australia's largest Outback City

 
The Nullarbor Plain
This can be a very boring drive in a car but it is sensational on a bike. There is just so much to see along this stretch of Australia which most people miss because they are in such a rush to get over it.  In 1866 E. Alfred Delisser surveyed the Nullarbor Plain and noted a marked absence of trees. 

 
The Great Australian Bight
The Great Australian Bight, the largest indentation on the Australian coast, is said to be the longest line of seacliffs in the world.

The Clare Valley
Welcome to one of Australia's oldest wine regions, Clare Valley. Discover heritage towns, trails, boutique wineries, museums, galleries and beautiful scenery.

 
The Murray/Coorong
The Coorong and Murray Lakes region in South Australia is a vast unspoiled ecosystem comprised of freshwater lakes, wetlands and ocean beaches.

The Great Ocean Road
Travel the Great Ocean Road and beyond for one of the world's most scenic coastal drives, and see the 12 Apostles (what's left of them), iconic surf breaks and waterfalls.

Melbourne & the end of 6 months of cycling, touring, partying, celebrating individual achievements and living your life dreams.

Broome to Perth leg

Broome to Perth
25th June to 24th July 2013
27 nights camping
3 nights backpackers
9 meals provided
1 free cycling jersey
$2,860.00  including GST

Cycle Across Oz completed this ride for the first time in 2011.

It was a very successful & enjoyable ride which has been captured on another blog at http://cycleacrossoz.blogspot.com.au/- so I won't go into much detail here.

It was so successful that 80% of the riders on that ride have submitted expressions of interest for at least one, if not more, stages of the 2013 Ride around Australia.

We have made a couple of minor changes to this ride & route following feedback from the past participants.

It is just a beautiful part of Australia & it is a shame that it is so far away from everything else. The most spectacular coastline as you can see in the following photos.

The colours change constantly each day and I didn't find the landscape boring at any one time.

This is my favorite leg so far!!!

Some expected road conditions

 

Melbourne to Cairns

We have a dual lane bitumen road for the entire length of this stage. There is a large shoulder to Chiltern on Day 1 & 2. Care must be taken from Dubbo to Gilgandra as truck traffic increases on the Newell Hwy.

Always be aware of emus and kangaroos in particular north of St George. Wildlife is particularly prevalent between Hebel and Thallon.

Care must also be taken north of Townsville (Bruce Hwy)

Summing up good quality roads, throughout the ride. We will be on the road during the Easter break so extra care will need to be taken.

Perfect road although not much of a shoulder

Cairns to Darwin

19k climb near Gordonvale to just south of Yungaburra (Day 1)

Dual lane bitumen road till the Savannah Way turn off south of Mt Garnet. Road reverts to single lane road at 3kms west of turn off. Savannah Way intermittently alternates from single lane road to double lane till Normanton. South of Normanton road is a double lane bitumen road till Darwin.

Road is being upgraded between Normanton and Savannah Way turn off

Road trains are prevalent between Mt Garnet and Savannah Way. Always be vigilant of road trains around mining towns. Increased road train activity between Cloncurry and Darwin.

Rider’s must give way to all traffic on single lane roads.

Mining roads have to have a pretty tough surface.

Darwin to Broome

Good quality road all the way to Broome. Heavily used tourist route-BEWARE OF CARAVANS!!!! Many single lane bridge crossings make sure the road is clear in both directions before attempting crossing. Use bicycle lane at Fitzroy Crossing and Willare Bridge.

This only occurs on trips onto properties or bush camps.

Broome to Perth.

Good quality dual lane bitumen road all the way to Perth. Can be a little rough between Roebuck and Pt Hedland. Care must be taken 35k north of South Hedland and till the Great Northern Hwy turn off just south of South Hedland. Care should also be taken near Karratha (mining activity).

There is a fantastic new road just south of Cervantes to Lancelin.

Increased vehicle activity as we near Perth and Geraldton.

Dual lane, no shoulder & water hazard on the road.

Perth to Melbourne

Short sharp climb over Greenmount.

Beware of Road Trains beyond Northam. Good quality road across the Nullarbor. Wide shoulder intermittently. Smooth surface on SA side.  Busy around Pt Augusta and as we near Adelaide & Melbourne. Great Ocean Road can be particularly busy and care must be taken.