Back To The ‘Gong

Day 80: 7 January 2015, Wednesday.

This morning I decided to do something I am very adverse to doing. Going back.

First I packed and then cycled back to Wollongong, almost ten kilometres away. I had good reason too though, I needed to develop my exit strategy from Australia, or use the internet to book a flight as others may term it. It was a nice ride back to the ‘Gong, along the cycle path by the waterfront.

Going Back To Wollongong….

Once in the town I returned to the now open ‘Information Centre’ and got informed about internet availability, the best option being the nearby library which I meandered to and sat in the foyer in the cool of the air-conditioning and using my computer booked a flight to New Zealand. Now I have a timetable, I have six days left in Australia.

I finally departed Wollongong at midday, back down the bike path north along the coast and on and on past small villages and towns which had busy beaches and hills to cross to each cove.

Cycling Along The Path North.

The hills were short and sharp and I trudged along and eventually had to go on a very strange stretch of road which is called ‘The Sea Cliff Bridge’ which bypasses one of the hills bounding the coast by going out over the sea! Great for views but very prone to winds I imagine as even today with only a light wind it was much more pronounced while I crossed the bridge.

The Sea Cliff Bridge.

Once off the bridge I was shortly climbing a up to Coalcliff the next town, which was a very steep road. I did not stop at Coalcliff, the town was downhill from the road I was on and I didn’t fancy going down there and back up. I did not need anything from Coalcliff so it seemed like no point in visiting either.

Then the road headed up Bald Hill. This was a long steep climb which I had to do in my lowest gear, I must confess I did have to push my bike for sections too as I needed to rest and pushing the bike does afford my legs a reprieve. Finally with sweat streaming off my forehead in the hot humid conditions I reached the summit of Bald Hill.

Looking South From Bald Hill

In the distance I could make out the ‘Sea Cliff Bridge’ as well…

There It Is.

The road then went up again to the town of Stanwell Tops which did not appear to be much of a town from the road I was travelling so I kept on and took the turn off a couple of kilometres later which took me to Helensburgh where I was in for a surprise…

There Was A Temple In The Hills On The Outskirts Of Helensburgh!

Didn’t expect that.

I carried on to the town centre which was much more substantial than I expected with a big supermarket and other shops, but it did lack one thing I was after, a place to stay, no camping areas, no ‘Caravan Park’ and the one hotel was fully booked. I went and had a sit down and relaxed while a geezer came over and talked to me about everything and nothing while a bloke in the chair along from me ate some food while cockatoos hounded him for scraps.

Birds Are Always Hungry, I Guess It Is All the Flapping About.

I was tired of the hills and I was not looking forward to going to the next area where there would be accommodation, about fifteen kilometres further on but I had little choice and off I went. The bloke who talked to me in Helensburgh had said the road to Waterfall (the next small village) was not too bad and he was correct, I made alright time but it was already almost five thirty in the evening and I still was no closer to somewhere to sleep, I decided the prudent thing to do was to have some dinner at a fish and chips shop I was passing. It was good.

From Waterfall it was about five kilometres to Heathcoat which is the beginning of the populated southern section of the Sydney, the city itself I had been welcomed into on the entrance to Waterfall but it was wilderness between there and Heathcoat so now I really felt I was entering a city. In Heathcoat I had located a ‘Caravan Park’ in the morning while I was internetting in Wollongong. I went to the location and found a horrid place, there was no grass or even dirt area, it was gravel, and there was no staff available either, it was a place people seemed to stay for extended periods, not really suited for overnight bikers.

I decided to press on. It was now getting late so I had to take the plunge and splash out on a hotel. I found one with a room available (the first ones I checked out were full) so I took it, it was a hundred dollars! So much money, and that was after getting a discount down from one hundred and forty, the staff were Chinese so I used my Chinese experiences to barter a deal. To be fair it was a very nice room and had free WiFi.

I quickly showered and then set off to the supermarket located in the town centre of Engadine, the closest place to the hotel, and quickly shopped and then quickly cycled back as night descended. The rest of the evening I spent finally updating my blog, it was almost midnight before this job was completed so I turned in.

65.18km 4:38T 14.0A 57.5M Total = 4982

Going Down

Day 79: 6 January 2015, Tuesday.

I ended up leaving late from the camping grounds of Morton National Park as I got to talking with David and Kath again. Eventually though I managed to summon the energy to cycle off. I did not go up the super speedy hill I zoomed down on the previous two days as I was informed by another patron at the camp site (a Dutch bloke I had talked to frequently) that there was a dirt road that was much more acceptable as a cycling track.

An Easy Option To Climb Out Of The Morton National Park

It was an easy climb and soon I was back in Bundanoon. I did not dally in Bundanoon though, I had seen the town twice already so I kept on going north towards Exeter and then Moss Vale. Exeter was only a wee town but Moss Vale was much more substantial. I stopped in a park in Moss Vale and had a rest and began to dream of the road from here to Wollongong (today’s destination) as I was told back in Gunning that it was a down hill ride from Moss Vale and so far the day had involved many hills.

I was lied to! The road continued to be hilly all the way to the next town, Robinson, which was over twenty kilometres from Moss Vale. If anything I had gained altitude as a sign I saw entering Robinson claimed the altitude of the town was seven hundred and fifty metres! I had a rest at Robinson and set off and soon found out what they were talking about in Gunning, the Macquarie Pass.

Top Of The Pass

It was steep. It was downhill. It was fun. I was flying, soon I had caught up with some traffic and had to slow down to their meagre speeds. Slow cars! The air stank of hot brakes as the traffic crawled around the tight bends of the pass. It was a long drop but as all good things have to come to an end it was soon all over and it was back to the up and downs of the hills at the bottom of the pass.

I soon entered Albion Park which was where I took another break.

You Know You Are Near The Sea When There Are Sea Gulls

It was just over twenty kilometres to Wollongong from Albion Park. The road turned into a motorway and then out of the blue there was a sign telling me to beat it. I was no longer welcome on the motorway so I had to go back to the not motorway roads. As I left the motorway I arrived at a junction where there was no sign to indicate which way I should go! I decided to head to the right as that was the direction of the coast and Wollongong is on the coast so it should be the right way. Ahead was a service station which I entered and quizzed the attendant as to which was the route to Wollongong which avoided the motorway (I know where I’m not wanted, sob sob). He pointed me in the right direction and I was off again.

The down side was the local roads of the town I was it had a big ol’ hill that I had to ascend, it was a lowest gear slog to gain the summit. From there I asked a gentleman on the road side for directions and was told I was on the correct road, just keep going!

Almost To Wollongong, Definitely 4900km.

Then I was there. Wollongong. I went to the information centre but it was already closed (it was just almost six in the evening) but fortunately they had a sign telling of the free WiFi which I logged onto and using the maps application I found where a ‘Caravan Park’ was located, five kilometres north of the town centre.

The route that I decided on was along the coast, there was a cycle lane which ran all the way to the ‘Caravan Park’ so off to the beach I went.

Wollongong Beach And The Pacific.

I stood at the head of the path to the beach and had a moment of pride, I had cycled from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific Ocean (well the Tasman Sea bit) all the way across Australia. It felt like I had really accomplished something.

I set off along the cycle path, along the coast where the locals and holiday makers were enjoying the hot humid evening in the pools in the ocean.

They Look Like They Are Happy

No swimming for me though, this is Vincent’s Bike Ride, not Vincent’s Swim! I cycled the five kilometres to the area where there was a ‘Caravan Park’ and went to the reception where I was in for a shock. Fifty dollars!!!! They wanted fifty dollars for a bit of dirt to pitch a tent and the facilities to have a shower. That is truly a rip off. I would never pay that, I’d rather pay for a hotel!

I headed north massively disgruntled. As luck would have it only a few kilometres further along there was a second ‘Caravan Park’. Thirty dollars. Still very expensive but I was out of options and it was already seven in the evening. I booked in. It was a poor area for me to pitch a tent, no shade at all now or in the morning, and the ablution facilities were very average. The more you pay the less you get I guess.

I settled in and cooked my dinner and while it was cooking my evenings neighbour (in a caravan) came over for a chat. They were very nice, they even offered to do my dishes in their caravan as the camp kitchen was a rather long way away. I did not complain and after eating I handed over my dishes and a few minutes later as if by magic they were all clean and dry. They even offered me a fork to replace my plastic fork which was a bit mangled on the ends from using it to cook on hot pans but I declined. Metal implements are not preferred on a bicycle, they may puncture a pannier, or puncture me in an accident!

Another day was over, most likely the last time on this ride I will ride for over one hundred kilometres in a day. It was a hot humid evening and very difficult to get to sleep but eventually I drifted off….

102.85km 5:53T 17.4A 70.5M Total = 4917