The End

April 8, 2025

Richmond to Hobart

Short day.
Done and dusted. That’s the end of the tour.

Richmond is only about 26 km from Hobart so we had the luxury of a 9am ride start. There are several route options but we chose to ride the main highway because it was most likely to have the best shoulder. This turned out to be correct for most of the way.

There were a few uncomfortable stretches where the side lane disappeared, drainage grates appeared from nowhere or there was a random combination of merging lanes, road debris and a rush of traffic.

All’s well which ends well and we’ve arrived in central Hobart safe and sound.

Many thanks to co-rider Joel Krewaz who has now done three of these testing capital to capital fundraising rides with me. Once again his good humour and boundless energy made the ride so much more enjoyable than it would have been as a solo effort.

The day in pics.

Australia’s oldest bridge. Richmond. Built by convicts.

Lynne and Paul. From Brisbane. Their return to cycle touring after a long break while raising their family

What two cycle tourers look like after 1200 km and 17 days of touring

Today's ride: 28 km (17 miles)
Total: 1,217 km (756 miles)

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Mike AylingHi Graham,
Way back last century, mid nineteen nineties there were a number of Associate/Franchised Youth Hostels in Tassie, some very basic. I was a Venturer Scout Leader at the time and I facilitated a cycle tour there for about eight teenagers staying at these hostels. After thirty years all I can recall is that we spent the first night in Deloraine after disembarking from the ferry. Hope some of them take up touring when they retire!
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1 week ago

Graham SmithTo Mike AylingMike that’s interesting. We have a shared experience in introducing cycle touring to younger people.

In the 1980s I was a (young) teacher.
With a few like minded colleagues, we set up an Introduction to Cycle Touring end of school year activity. Over 10, years we took hundreds of secondary kids on week long, supported cycle-camping tours. NE Vic, and the Bega Valley area were the areas we used.

Those students are now in their 50s and 60s! I know for sure that some of them did take up cycle travel because of those school trips.
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1 week ago

Marco WenzelThanks for the journal and the experience - I enjoyed the journey with you!
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1 week ago

Graham SmithTo Marco WenzelThanks Marco. I’m glad you enjoyed the journey.
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1 week ago

Karen PoretWell done! And, most importantly: Thank you! :)
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1 week ago

Rich FrasierGraham, thanks so much for taking us along with you. I enjoyed the journal - love seeing places that I’ll probably never visit myself. Congratulations on a great voyage for a great cause!
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1 week ago

Graham SmithKaren and Rich thanks for your interest in the ride and the journal. It’s been a fund cycle tour.
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1 week ago