I’m certainly not in Otesha Land anymore. I started my bike ride at 12:45! My aim was to leave by 11, at the latest, but there were fresh berry pancakes to be eaten, blogs to update, and stories to be told and shared with Barbara and Rick. And so finally, at a quarter to one, I began the long peddle off to Strahan and Diane.
Part 1 of a two part cycling journey, Tullah to Zeehan:
Hello rain! Hello hills! Rick had offered to drive me up the 4.4km steeeep hill winding its way up Mt. Black that was waiting for me after I left Tullah, but no no, I said, my goal is to bike Tasmania. And that means hills too! But this hill was serious. It wanted me in granny gear from the get go, so I had to oblige. It had started to drizzle and I wished more than anything I’d taken my jumper off before starting the climb. I couldn’t tell if I was getting soaked by rain or from sweat, I’m pretty sure it was the latter. But I knew I couldn’t stop to de-clothe for fear of not starting again, so I kept sweating and kept peddling. I can say with 100% certainty that I’ve never muttered the F word as many times as I did in the time it took me to get up that hill. And there was no more gentle self talk about taking it nice and easy either. No, I had to trick myself. “Okay, you can stop in .25k’s and take this blasted fleece off.” But no, I’d get there and knew I couldn’t stop. Thank goodness for that Maloney stubbornness that runs through my blood. “Oh look, that curve up there, that’s the top. You’ve made it! You are almost there, keep peddling, you rock!” But of course, no, it was not the top. And so it went on. I came to despise all the people passing me in their speedy little (or big) cars. Not even honking to commend my efforts! When I finally did reach the glorious flat stretch with a view of the upcoming downhill, I pulled over straight away, half climbing, half toppling off my bike. After collecting myself, I began the descent into Roseberry. I couldn’t fully enjoy going down because of the rain and worries about having a disastrous slip, so braking quite a lot, I made my way into Roseberry, not stopping along the way. It’s amazing. When I’d started my ride, I’d felt anxious about leaving so late and this and that blah blah blah, but (one of) the fantastic thing about cycling is its ability to put me in an A+ mood right away. Endorphins, fresh air, etc., it works wonders for any anxiety or slight staleness of mood. The drizzle became rain and now I was wet, but didn’t want to stop and get my rain gear out. What was the point? And so I cycled on, over several more leg piercing hills, to Zeehan. There was a little, solitary info hut that served as a perfect lunch spot. Homemade bread from Rick and Barbara’s, peanut butter, banana, and chocolate. Yummy.
Part two: Zeehan to Strahan.
Hello sun! Hello flat! Hello straight roads! Oh how I’d missed being able to see so far in the distance. Hello amazing trees and panoramic views and yay riding conditions all around! This is it. My favorite ride so far. The hundred and one shades of green, glistening in the sun. The mountains all around me. Hardly any cars. Little brown with yellow wing tipped birds. Sulphur crested cockatoos. Crows. Did I mention, no hills? I felt so amazing I was wahooing on the flats, something new. I zipped along except for stopping to take pictures. Hmm, there isn’t much else I can write about the ride. It was so special and amazing.
Strahan. I’d written down the directions to Diane’s that morning and was certain I’d find her place without having to check on my notes again. I’d ridden through town and was still searching for Andrew Street when an ambulance pulled over. “Are you Kelsey?” “Uh, yes.” Diane wins the award for the most creative, out of the ordinary introduction. She directed me back to the beach by her place for the sunset finale, where she’d meet me after dropping off the ambulance in its shed. I stretched my achy legs, staring straight at the sun as it crept lower towards the Macquarie Harbor. And then came along Diane. If Diane was akin to a bike ride, she’d be the ride from Zeehan to Strahan I just described. Immediately, I felt completely comfortable with her, both of us telling the basics about ourselves and quickly getting into the wonders of cycling. She’d helped organize many rides throughout Victoria, Tasmania, and elsewhere, aimed at getting people out on their bikes for the first time, for a day or for a week. Back at her home, she whipped up delicious curry pasta for dinner and pancakes with raspberry jam (from Barbara!) and fresh fruit for dessert. Intensely witty and charming, as she described herself (and I have to agree), I was laughing for the entire evening. She also offered up a wealth of knowledge about the birds, trees, and natural history of the region, plus lots of give and take of personal stories. We decided to leave the washing up for the morning, and so then I crawled into my bed and went to sleep feeling full, happy, and safe.
Tullah to Strahan
Total K’s cycled: 87.73
Avg Spd: 17.2 km/hr
Max Spd: 64.1 km/hr (not in the rainy bit, don’t worry mom!)
Hrs on bike: 5:05
KM Scary hill rating: Tullah to Zeehan: 5/7 Zeehan to Strahan: 0/7
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