April 22, 2024
Bairnsdale to Nowa Nowa
Beautiful blue sky day and my tent is only damp. I pack up and head out. Steve and Leanne from the Stratford caravan park are also staying in Bairnsdale. Steve heads out a bit before I do.
I cross over the Mitchell River and join onto the East Gippsland Rail Trail. One day they hope to connect the Gippsland plans RT with the East Gippsland RT, that would be wonderful.
The first thing I notice is that the gates that are on all rail trails used to make cyclists slow down when crossing roads are very stylish.
The first big bridge I cross is interesting, it's a steel structure on one side and wood trestle on the other.
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Several tunnels allow the trail to go under the road.
About this point I remember I'd left my milk container in the caravan park fridge. Oh no. Why would I care about a bit of milk you ask? Well it's the container you see. Ian and I bought that container in the Netherlands in 1993 and it's done ever cycle tour with me since. Steve gave me his number earlier and say if I needed a hand to call. They are travelling in a similar direction over the next week. I rang Steve, cause well this is kind of an emergency 🙂. Yes, Leanne is meeting him in Burthen to swap bikes with the car. Leanne will ride back to Bairnsdale and Steve will drive the car back, a great set-up I think. Sure she could bring the container with her. Perfect!! Thank you Steve and Leanne.
Next on the trail a really old derelict trestle bridge. The sun made it tricky to get a good photo.
I met Leanne in Burthen to retrieve my container. It's really lovely to meet genuinely nice people.
I grab a Cornish pasty and coffee. A group of local cyclists ask me to join them and we have a chat about the trail. I got some local knowledge to detour around a particular steep pinch after the next trestle bridge. What a great morning 🌞
The afternoon went by peaceful some nice views into the bush along the trail.
Then the Stony Creek trestle bridge came into view. It's very impressive.
The bridge was built in 1916 to extend the rail out to Orbost. So you could catch the train from Melbourne all the way to Orbost and you could get your produce to Melbourne easily, opening up new markets.
It was in use until 1988.
I made it to Nowa Nowa and a cute little caravan park that has several old caravans on site for hire. I just got a campsite.
I have a view of yet another trestle bridge from my tent.
Today's ride: 63 km (39 miles)
Total: 705 km (438 miles)
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