Magic Myrtleford Ride, 11-13 March, 2005
by George D. Photos by Ludo S & Robert W.
We arrived at Myrtleford on Friday evening or Saturday morning. And, naturally, stayed at all possible ends of the town. At 10.00 on Saturday morning, Robert and Jana on the tandem, Ludo and Renild on their solo machines set off for Bright. I caught up with them just out of town, to let them know I was there, then went off to find my motel and take a phone call. I left Myrtleford at a little before 12, on the Swift Special, and pushed along to catch up. It was a lovely morning, still and hazy, but a bit hot. The trail was fairly smooth and fast. It wasn't crowded, but amongst others, I saw a couple on red Moultons shortly before Bright. I found the others eating lunch in a park off the main street of Bright. We found ice cream (but not iced coffee) and set off to see the sights on the way back to Myrtleford.
I insisted on a stop at Boynton's Winery, at Porepunkah, where we got water and coffee (but not iced coffee) and stocked up on necessary provisions for an expedition. We continued a little way to a berry farm, where we found more provisions (berry wine), berry jam and a hop vine (but not iced coffee). We returned to Bright along the trail, meeting a few more people and scattering to our various lodgings to wash off the sunscreen and sweat, before meeting at the better-looking of the local Chinese restaurants (Hong Kong House) for a pleasant dinner, and some of the provisions (but not iced coffee). On Sunday morning, the others proposed to drive over to Everton, meet at 10.00 and ride up to Beechworth. Not being keen to wait that long (and expecting another call) I left for Everton at 7.15.
The early morning was glorious, and I met about 2 runners and fifteen rabbits before reaching Everton at 8.30. The climb to Taylor's Gap was a pleasure in the cool, and the long run down to Bowman was more fun than ever. At Everton, the sun started to bite, and the serious climb began. But the trail to Beechworth is less steep now than it was a year ago, and I managed a consistent 7 mph on the upward grades. I was delayed by a flat, but reached Beechworth at about 10.30. By then, it was seriously warm. The others had a much harder time of it than I, as they arrived at about 12 - 12.30, by when it was hot, and they were mixed up with a big crowd of cyclists. The trail is beautifully smooth and well maintained - even better than the Bright leg.
Beechworth was in full holiday mode. It was full of MGs, Alvises and a Bentley, many motorbikes and 130 numbered cyclists on a run from Wangaratta. One came on a TriSled trike (which he had ridden across Australia in two directions), and another on an Ordinary, which he rode up the hill from Everton (and probably all the way from Wang), riding through Beechworth in style to applause. After lunch, Robert at last got an iced coffee. Jana and Renild checked the antique shops etc then found Robert and Ludo on the balcony at the pub. I set off early, since I wanted time in hand to deal with tyre problems. Tubes were blowing out where a Comp Pool was cut. Both Robert and I had bought spare tyres, and both of us had left them in our cars.
I packed the tyre with cardboard from a cigarette packet and lowered the pressure. My run down to Everton and back to Myrtleford was trouble-free and fast, although by then it was seriously hot. Ludo, on the other hand, followed the trail to Everton station, lost touch with Robert, Jana and Renild, who had taken the turnoff for the township, and headed back toward Beechworth to look for them, before eventually finding them again near Everton. The situation was made worse by misinformation from a passing rider and by the lack of mobile phone signal on most of the trail between Everton and Beechworth. We need to consider getting CDMA phones. Ludo and Renild headed home, and Robert, Jana and I had a late dinner in Myrtleford, with no more of the provisions. In the morning, I returned to Melbourne through Mt Hotham, Omeo and Bairnsdale, which is a trip I can recommend, but not on a hot holiday weekend. Total distance was about 100 miles (not sure what that is in stadia or parasangs). 40 miles to Bright and back, another 60 to Beechworth and back.
Limerick by John N: On a trip up at Beechworth Renild Was alas with anxiety filled Like a strange case of Cluedo She misplaced dear old Ludo Was he missing or injured or killed???