Douglas Victor Smith - Cycling Australia

3 Generations - Cycling Australia (age: 12-65)

Australia (Perth - Sydney) 2,440 miles / 3,927 km in 63 days (aged 65 in 2011)

DAY 1 9-9-2011 7-9-2011 SCARBOROUGH LAT-31-53-32-S LONG-115-45-12-E

DAY 2 10-9-2011 LAT-31-39-12-S LONG-116-40-17-E 8-28 AM (Bank Avenue – 4 mile past Northam) (41.5 miles)Rolling hills, Bakers Hill – Northam – Cole supermarket. Slept behind bushes off the road. 28C / 4C.

DAY 3 11-9-2011 LAT-31-38-4-S LONG-117-0-21-E 9-18 AM (4 mile past Northam – Tammin) (47 miles)Gradual climbs, road coarse – slept just outside Tammin close to railway line. 35C/ 4C night.

DAY 4 12-9-2011 BAANDEE LAKE LAT-31-32-29-S LONG-118-3-46-E 8-02 AM (Tammin – Merredin) (44 miles)Gradual climbs, road coarse – roadhouse – yellow bushes, 38C/ 2C night

DAY 5 13-9-2011 LAT-31-32-28-S LONG-118-3-46-E 10-4 AM (6 miles before Merredin – Carrabin)Flat & hills. Merredin – nice place, supermarket – slept in sandy bush, 35C/ 2C night.

DAY 6 14-9-2011 SOUTHERN CROSS LAT-31-20-58-S LONG-118-56-8-E 6-26 AM (Carrabin – Southern Cross) (45 miles)Rolling hills, sunny 36C. Went into Southern Cross, flies – bought nets – warmer night.

DAY 6 14-9-2011 LAT-31-14-44-S LONG-119-25-11-E

DAY 7 15-9-2011 LAT-31-17-54-S LONG-119-38-9-E 6-58 AM (Ghooli – 110 km before Coolgardie) (44 miles)Stopped at Yellowdine – showers – saw Steve again. Max water, 38C, overcast. DAY 8 16-9-2011 (110 km before Coolgardie – 40 km before Coolgardie) (50 miles)40C, max. Cycling 6hrs 10 mins, AVS = 8 mph, westerly wind. 6 bottles (9 litres left). Used half of water capacity for 60 miles (no rationing).

DAY 9 17-9-2011 LAT-31-14-21-S LONG-120-8-6-E 1-27-PM LONG-121-9-15-E 3-41-PM (23 miles before Coolgardie – 12 miles past Coolgardie)On way to Norseman – hit the Wall – only handful of peanuts left by Coolgardie. Victor inches off roadtrain – rolling hills – 35C, cycling 5.5 hours – orange.

DAY 9 17-9-2011 LAT-30-57-16-S LONG-121-9-15-E 3-41-PMDAY 10 18-9-2011 (37 miles before Widgiemooltha – 48 miles before Norseman)Max temp 44C/ storm 11C (after), 70 km/h (45 mph) winds and heavy rain – following wind. Did 37 miles by 1pm – dust storm – stayed at roadhouse for 3 hours. Mark phoned roadhouse.

DAY 11 19-9-2011 LAT-30-57-16-S LONG-121-9-15-E 9-6 AM (48 miles before Norseman – 12 miles before Norseman) (41.5 miles)Eating peanut butter + biscuits, get up 6am (8.5C morning), overcast. AVS – 6.3 mph, cycling time 6:34:40. Found bread, saw cyclists, hills – long and gradual, ‘hit the wall’ – no energy!! Sleeping in bush.

DAY 12 20-9-2011 LAT-32-9-4-S LONG-121-44-34-S 1-19-PM (12 miles before Norseman–20 km past Norseman) (30 miles)Had shower, bought food, all water bottles – full. Hilly into Norseman – sunny – cycling 4 hrs 38 mins – tent in bush.

DAY 12 20-9-2011 LAT-32-10-42-S LONG-121-46-32-E 2-05-PM

LAT-32-7-46-S LONG-121-50-35-E HARD SHOULDERDAY 13 21-9-2011 (20 km past Norseman – 3 miles before Fraser Range station) (50 miles)Man gave us water, rolling hills but easier road surface, 40C, strong winds – evening. Sleeping in bush, legs tired – end of day! Cycling 6 hrs 25 mins.

DAY 14 22-9-2011 LAT-32-3-45 S LONG-123-0-59-E (3 miles before Fraser Range station–24 miles before Balladonia) (38 miles)Bearing housing – loose on back wheel – tightened bearing cup (to take out movement in bearing). Bob and Pai – helped us at Fraser Range Station, overcast 22C. Cycling time – 5 hrs 43 mins, AVS – 6.7 mph.

DAY 15 23-9-2011 LAT-32-26-4-S LONG-123-46-19-E (24 miles before Balladonia – 3 miles before 90 mile straight road) (48 miles)Min 14C, max 27C, overcast, cycling time 6 hrs 20 mins, AVS– 7.6 mph. V. Hard day– no energy!! Saw flying doctor’s runway (air strip).

DAY 16 24-9-2011 LAT-32-26-4-S LONG-123-46-19-E (3 miles before 90 mile straight road – 47 miles before Caiguna) (47 miles)Cycling time – 6 hrs, AVS = 7.8 mph, fruit cake + water given to us, side wind – NE. Back tyre – bearing again! Max. Temp 33C, morning 18C, windy!

DAY 17 25-9-2011 LAT-32-18-33-S LONG-125-10-9-E 9-33 AM (47 miles before Caiguna – 16 miles before Caiguna) (36 miles)Rain, headwind, stopped & given chocolate, tuna, bread, crackers. Victor’s back tyre bearing – Victor managed to sort it out – 90 mile straight – uphill! Victor tired. Cycling time 5 hrs 18 mins, AVS = 6.7 mph.

DAY 18 26-9-2011 LAT-32-15-48-S LONG-125-30-4-E 2-27-PM (16 miles before Caiguna – 20 miles past Caiguna) (43 miles)Min temp. 24C, max 37C. More of a following wind (westerly). Saw Caiguna blow hole & took photo of kangaroo (1^st live one). Caiguna roadhouse – v good! Had shower, bought 3 loaves of bread & 6 tins of tuna. Given hamburger. Cycling time – 5 hrs 21 mins, AVS= 8 mph, passed into Central West time zone (add 45 mins).

DAY 19 27-9-2011 LAT-32-21-28-S LONG-125-36-24-E (20 miles past Caiguna – 27 miles past Cocklebiddy) (48 miles)AVS = 8.5 mph, cycling time – 5 hrs 42 mins. 2 punctures – front tyre (tandem). Victor sorted brakes out on back tyre. Saw UK cyclist – Tony – coffee. Overcast, raining – morning.

DAY 20 28-9-2011 LAT-31-59-37-S LONG-126-20-9-E 5-16 PM (27 miles past Cocklebiddy – 18 miles past Madura) (54 miles)Saw David & Tony again – coffee! Had strong following wind (East), chips at roadhouse, slept at rest area. Cycling time – 6 hrs 8 mins, AVS= 8.8 mph, sunny.

DAY 21 29-9-2011 LAT-31-54-41-S LONG-127-19-28-E (18 miles past Madura – 13 miles before Mundrabilla) (46 miles)Sunny, spent previous night at rest area with Tony. 30 km before Mundrabilla. Tony sent 1.5 litres of water out to us. AVS = 8.4 mph, cycling time – 5 hrs 27 mins, prairie like scenery.DAY 22 30-9-2011 (13 miles before Mundrabilla – 16 miles before Eucla) (44 miles)Sunny, overcast, camped near tree (kangaroo rest area). Burger & chips at Mundrabilla road house. Hard day– cycling in sand (uphill) & road surface. Victor’s back wheel bearing gone– 4 miles before Eucla! Cycling time– 5 hrs 58 mins, AVS = 7.3 mph.

DAY 23 1-10-2011 LAT-31-53-18-S LONG-127-42-10-E 2-23 PM (16 miles before Eucla – Eucla) (16 miles)What a day!! Windy! Trying to sort Victor’s tyre/ wheel bearing out! Cycling to Eucla was like cycling on sand + headwind. 4 small tins of tuna left. Stayed at Eucla roadhouse in tent. DAY 24 2-10-2011 (Eucla)We stayed at Eucla while Victor had a lift to Ceduna (8am) to get new back wheel for his bike– 495 km – one way! Ann and I rested, showered, washed clothes, had pancakes & burgers. Slept in tent ($15 a night)– strong winds (East), thunder & lightening!

DAY 25 3-10-2011 LAT-31-40-40-S LONG-128-52-57-E 4-14 PM (Eucla)Windy again (easterly) for 3 days! Victor back about 1pm – no sleep overnight! Tony was on site – Eucla for 4 nights motel – leaving same time as us. Had a shower while on campsite.

DAY 26 4-10-2011 LAT-31-40-37-S LONG-128-53-1 1-42 PM (Eucla – 70 miles before Nullarbor) (51 miles)Westerly wind – following. Cycling time – 6 hrs 4 mins, max temp. 37C. All water bottles – full. Saw Australian Blight, camped in moorland scenery (exposed). AVS = 8.4 mph, no services.

DAY 26 4-10-2011 LAT-31-39-34-S LONG-129-7-49-E

DAY 27 5-10-2011 LAT-31-33-59-S LONG-130-14-48 E 6-44 PM (70 miles before Nullarbor - ?) (54 miles)AVS – 8.6 mph, cycling time – 6 hrs 18 mins. Westerly wind (following). Temp in morning 17C. A lot of traffic – road trains, caravans!! Saw Superman cyclist. Sore ligaments (behind knees). Camped in bush (less exposed). No services. Victor fell off bike – suction from road trains.

DAY 28 6-10-2011 NULLARBOR PLAIN LAT-31-27-13-S LONG-130-52-41-E (43 miles)AVS = 7.6 mph, cycling time – 5 hrs 39 mins. ‘Hit the wall’ – exhausted!! (Ann & I). Can’t eat enough calories! Did 28 miles in 3.5 hours! Had chip sandwiches at Nullarbor roadhouse - $5 for biscuits (pack)! In Nullarbor plain section – NO TREES! Pull off when see road trains.

DAY 29 7-10-2011 LAT-31-23-16-S LONG-131-5-47-E 10-9 AM (12 miles past Nullarbor – 14 km before Yalata) (37 miles – felt better!)AVS – 6.5 mph, cycling time – 5 hrs 44 mins. Left plains – Victor & Ann – video. Hills – more hills! Very steep final hill! Rest area – water, food and tea – very kind gesture!!

DAY 30 8-10-2011 LAT-31-29-10-S LONG-131-47-12-E (14 km before Yalata – Nundroo) (48 miles)AVS – 7.1 mph, cycling time – 6 hrs 43 mins. Max temp. 47C!! Had another puncture (front tyre) – rip in inner tube – changed tyre & inner tube. Wind strong. End of day – headwind. Victor – no energy. Ann and I – ok. Rolling hills – hard work! Had chips (Nundroo road house) & frozen bread sandwiches. Rainwater - $2 per litre. Drained!!

DAY 31 9-10-2011 LAT-31-49-33-S LONG-132-31-24-E (Nundroo – 11 miles before Penong) (40 miles)Headwind, rain and rolling hills. Ann found jar of honey! AVS – 6.5 mph, cycling time – 6 hrs 10 mins. Felt very tired by end of day – build up from yesterday!

DAY 32 10-10-2011 LAT-31-55-5-S LONG-132-58-42-E (11 miles before Penong – 15 miles before Ceduna) (45 miles)Eating a lot of bread, tuna and cornbeef!! Still not enough calories!! AVS – 7.1 mph, cycling time – 6 hrs 14 mins. Min temp 17C. Had a shower at Penong. Bought bread, orange juice, biscuits in last store for 1000 km in Penong. Overcast, slight tail wind (side). Max 33C. Road surface variable, hard shoulder back.

Road train

LAT-32-7-33-S LONG-133-40-29-E 2-35 PM Travelled from Eucla to Ceduna & back to Eucla for a new back wheelDAY 33 11-10-2011 (15 miles before Ceduna – 30 miles before Wirrulla) (42 miles) AVS – 6.8 mph, Cycling time – 6 hrs 4 mins. Passed fruit fly checkpoint. No fruit, vegetables, honey and seeds allowed into Ceduna. Sunny, crosswind. Victor bought a lot of food at supermarket! $150 + cheese. First text since Norseman! Dropped tandem.

LAT-32-7-34 S LONG-133-40-9-EDAY 34 12-10-2011 (30 miles before Wirrulla – 10 miles past Wirrulla) (44 miles)Max temp 43C, side wind, AVS – 6.7 mph, cycling time – 6 hrs 32 mins. Filled bottles up with rain water at Wirrulla, washed my hair. Rolling hills, sunny, & overcast – end of day. Eating cheese, fruit cake, brown bread, nuts, marmite, honey, butter and still feeling light headed & weak at times! Lots of road trains at night. Max length 36 m (road train).

LAT-32- - - LONG-134- - - The round cylinder (far right) collects rain water from the roof of the house. DAY 35 13-10-2011 (10 miles past Wirrulla – 4 km before Wudinna) (46 miles)Max temp 44C, AVS – 7 mph, cycling time – 6 hrs 31 mins. Warm today – sweat pouring down my back!! Hard work – rolling hills and heat. Passed half way now! Hard work! Tried eating honey by spoonful for energy. Victor looking quite thin now. Mobile phone signal text Mum, Ann and Mark.

LAT-32-58-23-S 135-18-44-E 1-41 PMDAY 36 14-10-2011 (4 km before Wudinna – 80 km before Kimba) (44 miles)AVS – 7.8 mph, cycling time – 5 hrs 40 mins. Cooler today – thunder/lightening overnight. Strong westerly (following) winds – heavy rain & strong gusts just before Wudinna. Had cooked chicken sandwiches. Ann saw dark rain clouds! Hilly on turning from Kyancutta to Kimba. Lost fly net. Another hard day!! Saw hitchhiker.

DAY 37 15-10-2011 LAT-33-11-33-S LONG-135-56-41-E(80 km before Kimba – 19 km before Kimba) (42 miles)AVS – 6.6 mph, cycling time – 6 hrs 26 mins. Very hilly! Walked up some of them. Strong westerly (following) wind. Max temp 35C – cooler and overcast some of the time. Eating honey by spoonful! Ate a lot today – tuna, bread, biscuits, corned beef & sweets and still like ‘running through mud!’ Not enough energy.

DAY 38 16-10-2011 LAT-33-4-2-S LONG-136-44-24-E 7-17 PM (12 miles before Kimba – 60 miles before Port Augusta) (42 miles)AVS – 6.1 mph, cycling time – 6 hrs 48 mins. Hilly again! Filled all water bottles in Kimba. Countryside looks like Outback (trees). Hard day for Victor. Walked up hills. Camped just off road (fences). Max temp 34C.

DAY 39 17-10-2011 LAT-32-45-37-S LONG-137-5-57-E 3-17 PM (60 miles before Port Augusta – 26 miles before Port Augusta) (45 miles) AVS – 6.6 mph, cycling time – 6 hrs 49 mins. Another hard day!! Feeling exhausted. Hills and walking up hills. Used 4 bottles of water during day. Camped behind bush – v close to roadside. Max temp 40C. Passed Iron Knob – iron ore mining site.

DAY 39 17-10-2011 LAT-32-43-9-S LONG-137-8-59-E 4-17 PM

DAY 40 18-10-2011 7-48 AM LAT-32-43-9-S LONG-137-8-59-E (26 miles before Port Augusta – 20 km past Port Augusta) (41 miles)AVS – 7.4 mph, cycling time – 5 hrs 27 mins. HOT today! 38C at 5:30pm. Port Augusta – busy place! Had 4 litres of ice-cream between us, pies and oranges. Went to roadhouse for a shower. Victor bought new boots – soles had gone. On a busy road now – have to be careful! Felt like cycling uphill all day!! Sunny.

DAY 40 18-10-2011 17-25 PM LAT- 32-28-59-S LONG-137-44-10 E

DAY 41 19-10-2011 LAT-32-40-25-S LONG-137-56-4-E (20 km past Port Augusta - 2 km before Port Pirie) (44 miles)AVS – 8 mph, cycling time – 5 hrs 29 mins. Max temp 52C. WORSE day of the trip!! Very hot – sweat pouring down my back! Asked 2 camper vans for water! Water like warm tea! Victor bought oranges. Northerly wind – hot!! Hope tomorrow is cooler!! On busy road.

DAY 42 20-10-2011 LAT-32-40-25-S LONG-137-56-4-E 1-2 PM (2 km before Port Pirie – 20km past Crystal Brook) (32 miles)AVS – 5.8 mph, cycling time – 5 hrs 30 mins. Had a shower at roadhouse (just past Port Pirie) – Victor, Ann and I. Last night was v windy – northerly – blew tent around 29C at night! Didn’t sleep well! Cooler today 33C. Had strong side wind. On quieter roads – wheat in fields. In tent – raining. Feeling exhausted – mental and physical after the heat!

DAY 43 21-10-2011 LAT-33-28-2-S LONG-138-32-41-E 2-58 PM (20km past Crystal Brook – 12 miles before Burra) (33 miles)Laid in sleeping bag in tent – raining! Waiting for it to stop. Nice to relax! Had a chocolate spread bread roll and biscuits. A lot cooler than it has been. Didn’t feel good yesterday – got a cold and felt nauseous after heat yesterday. On a good camping spot – among trees (just off road). In the hills and wheat growing area – v picturesque. Saw kangaroo yesterday. Left camping area – 12:30pm as it was raining. AVS – 6.5 mph, cycling time – 5 hrs 6 mins. Light drizzle most of day – hilly. Stopped at Spalding and had chips from roadhouse ($7). Saw 4 kangaroos on hill side and photographed reservoir. Picturesque area and lots of farms. Road – a lot quieter!

DAY 44 22-10-2011 LAT-33-28-2-S LONG-138-32-42-E 8-52 AM (12 miles before Burra – 14 miles before Morgan) (56 miles)AVS – 8.4 mph, cycling time – 6 hrs 39 mins. Sunny day – max temp 40C, light winds, hills to Burra. Mainly downhill from Burra to Morgan (scrub lands). Had 4 litres of ice-cream in Burra. Phoned Mum and Mark phoned us. Hard to find somewhere to camp – barren. Saw kangaroo & joey, and 2 kangaroos. Mother jumped the fence!

DAY 45 23-10-2011 LAT-33-35-22-S LONG-138-50-20-E 9-52 AM (14 miles before Morgan – 38 miles before Renmark) (52 miles)

AVS – 7.9 mph, cycling time – 6 hrs 29 mins. Max temp 48C. Another hot day! Had to take shelter (shade) during day – too hot!! Had a cooked chicken at Morgan. Even a few hours after eating – still no energy!! Like climbing Mt Everest! A man gave us 2 bottles of frozen water. Victor lost a lot of weight – looks like he has been in a concentration camp. All of us EXHAUSTED!!
DAY 46 24-10-2011 (38 miles before Renmark – 27 km past Renmark) (55 miles)AVS – 7.9 mph, cycling time – 6 hrs 29 mins. Sunny in morning 20C at 7am. Rain came in around noon. Heavy rain once in Renmark! Camped just past roadhouse (27 km past Renmark). Ann and I had hamburgers in McDonalds. Did shopping in Woolworths. 30 miles cycling was done from 7:18am – 11:30am (3 hrs 30 mins).
DAY 47 25-10-2011 (27 km past Renmark – 26 miles before Mildura) (54 miles)AVS – 7.5 mph, cycling time – 7 hrs 10 mins. Sunny – but not too hot. Cool southerly breeze. Max temp 36C. Felt like we were cycling uphill most of the day! Not easy to find somewhere to camp – end of day. Lots of roadtrains! Down to last tin of corned beef – need to buy things at Mildura. Still feel as if I have little energy from food!

DAY 48 26-10-2011 LAT-34-13-50-S LONG-142-6-25-E 12-23 PM (30 miles before Mildura – 12 miles past Mildura) (42 miles)Sunny but not too hot. Bought spare tyre (20”) for front of tandem. Front tyre starting to lose thread and changing colour. Seen the first signs showing Sydney 1,031 km! Getting closer. Bought oranges (kiosk) in South Merbain – very juicy ($2.50 for 9) – very good!

DAY 49 27-10-2011 LAT-34-16-55-S LONG-142-16-26-E 8-11 AM (12 miles past Mildura – 8 miles past Euston) (49 miles)AVS – 7.9 mph, cycling time – 6 hrs 11 mins. Got avocados from farm in morning. Pulled in a rest area (closed) to eat oranges / avocados and workmen/workwoman gave us water, tea and charged my phone. Not a good hard shoulder, at times, so hard work. Saw fields of citrus trees.

DAY 50 28-10-2011 BENANEE LAKE LAT- 34-31-7-S LONG-142-52-33-E 8-59 PM (8 miles past Euston – 10 miles past Balranald) (56 miles)Max temp 52C, northerly wind. Felt warm – sweat pouring down my back and arms. Victor’s feet were hurting. I felt ok – was trying to get to town before supermarket closed. When in tent (night) - windy and rain – so should be cooler tomorrow. Got 72 miles to Hay. Balranald – Hay = 132 km and no services en route. All water bottles full.
DAY 51 29-10-2011 (10 miles past Balranald – 20 miles before Hay) (56 miles)AVS – 9.1 mph, cycling time – 6 hrs 9 mins. Following wind (SE), max temp 40C. Overcast in morning, sunny rest of day. Relatively flat. Saw emus and kangaroos. Saw Diana – gave us water. Farmers shooting rabbits. Camping next to irrigation channel.

DAY 52 30-10-2011 LAT-34-31-7-S LONG-142-52-33-E 11-27 AM (20 miles before Hay – 30 miles past Hay) (50 miles)AVS – 8.1 mph, cycling time – 6 hrs 12 mins. Southerly wind (cold) & sunny. Saw Michael (cattle herder) as we were leaving our camp. Saw Diana (rest area). Had chicken sandwiches. Now on open plains – no bushes or trees so camped in rest area. Another long stretch from Hay to Narrandera (110 miles)!! And no major towns in between.

DAY 53 31-10-2011 LAT-34-28-41-S LONG-145-35-30-E (30 miles past Hay – 5 miles past Darlington Point) (55 miles)AVS – 7.9 mph, cycling time – 6 hrs 55 mins. 8:40am was about 11C, cool SSE wind. Sunny. Road surface – coarse – so like cycling on sand! Hard work! Chicken sandwiches gave us no energy so had corned beef – more energy. Camped near roadside behind bushes. I think we are now about 350 miles from Sydney – still seems a long way!
DAY 54 1-11-2011 (5 miles past Darlington Point – 20 km past Narrandera) (49 miles)AVS – 8.1 mph, cycling time – 6 hrs 3 mins. Warmer today (sweating), but still have southerly wind (cool). Roads are very coarse – like riding on sand! Went to Cole supermarket in Narrandera (3 km into town). Camping at a rest area – 20 km out of Narrandera. Had spam sandwiches.

DAY 55 2-11-2011 LAT-34-36-54-S LONG-146-2-50-E 8-16 AM (20 km past Narrandera – 5 km past Wagga Wagga) (60 miles)AVS – 8.1 mph, cycling time – 7 hrs 25 mins. Took photos of old canal (rest area) in morning. Stopped at next rest area for spam sandwiches. Entry into Wagga Wagga – dangerous – no hard shoulder and a lot of traffic!! Victor wanted to go into Wagga Wagga and out all in one day!! So rushed into Cole supermarket & filled water bottles. Then had to cycle a distance out of town to find a camping plot. Camped near road and dried up creek.

DAY 56 3-11-2011 35-12-56-S LONG-147-48-2-E 2-48 PM (5 km past Wagga Wagga - Gundagai) (44 miles)AVS – 6.7 mph, cycling time – 6 hrs 32 mins. Hills started as we left camp, so had to walk up them! Sunny and warm (40C). On Hume Highway now, good hard shoulder but more traffic.
DAY 57 4-11-2011 (Gundagai – 33 miles before Yass) (29 miles)AVS – 6 mph, cycling time – 4 hrs 51 mins. Sunny and warm – sweating pouring down my back!! Lots of hills! Victor’s feet – hurting. Ann helping me to push tandem up hills. Bike allowed on highway but had to turn off and use side road at one point.

LAT-34-48-37-S LONG-148-27-14-E 4-59 PMDAY 58 5-11-2011 4-59 PM (33 miles before Yass – 10 km from Yass) (29 miles)AVS – 5.3 mph, cycling time – 5 hrs 26 mins. Sunny and hot again (approx 42C) – sweating. Another day of hills. Highest point – 650m. Drunk quite a lot of water. Got 3 bottles filled with water at cafe (near rest area). Camping at side of road 3km from services – McDonalds, petrol station. Will go into Yass tomorrow.

DAY 59 6-11-2011 LAT-34-46-34-S LONG-148-43-43-E 11-36 AM (2 km from Yass service station – 20 miles before Goulburn) (35 miles)AVS – 5.5 mph, cycling time – 6 hrs 24 mins. Sunny in morning, then overcast and slight rain. Another hard day of hill – highest 610m ridge. Walking up the hills (sweating – pouring down my back and legs). Ann pushing tandem from behind. Victor’s toe inflamed and his feet hurt – pedalling the flevobike.

LAT-34-49-17-S LONG-149-22-21-E 8-34 AMDAY 60 7-11-2011 (20 miles before Goulburn – 22 km past Goulburn) (44 miles)AVS – 6.8 mph, cycling time – 6 hrs 28 mins. Approx 90 miles to Sydney. Overcast most of the day, but no rain. Still got hills- never flat for long! Went into Goulburn and saw Aldi (first time). Had 4 litres Neapolitan ice-cream between the 3 of us. Seen the signposts for Canberra. More traffic on Hume Highway because of Canberra and Melbourne traffic.
DAY 61 8-11-2011 (22 km past Goulburn – 55 miles before Sydney) (44 miles)AVS – 7.3 mph, cycling time – 6 hrs 15 mins. Sunny in morning. Called in service station to have our sandwiches. Bought Ann fries from McDonalds. Started raining soon after.A lot of traffic on road – need to concentrate! Started to rain after put tent up – good timing!! About 55 miles from Sydney now. Mentally and physically drained! Still doesn’t feel we are that close!!

LAT-34-5-52-S LONG-150-45-51-E 10-51 AMDAY 62 9 -11-2011 (55 miles before Sydney – 20 km before Sydney – route 53) (55 miles) AVS – 8.5 mph, cycling time – 6 hrs 32 mins. 38C at 4pm. Very hard day! Tried to get to Bondi Beach (end of trip), but too far! Very warm day! A lot of traffic coming into Sydney. 28C at midnight in Sydney city – warmest in 44 years.

DAY 63 10-11-2011 LAT-34-5-52-S LONG-150-45-51-E (20 km before Sydney – Bondi Beach) (27 miles)Cycling time – 3 hrs 20 mins. Another hard day! After sleeping (v. Little) in the tent, we cycled into Sydney (no hard shoulder) and was raining. Then cycled through Sydney (city centre) to Sydney Bridge and Opera House. Then cycled to Bondi Beach. Only had 2 small corn beef sandwiches and a few biscuits. Hard cycling and had sweat pouring down my back. Arrived at Bondi Beach 3:10pm drained and tired. Booked in Bondi Beach YHA.

DAY 63 10-11-2011 LAT-33-51-32-S LONG-151-12-46-E

DAY 63 LAT-33-51-31-S LONG-151-12-49-E 'Whatever it takes' Bondi Beach (10-11-2011), I went from 85kg down to 70 kg.

BONDI BEACH 13-11-2011

24-11-2011 U K BIKES STILL IN BOXES DUMB-BELLS 25 KILO EACH

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