Day 184: Newmerella to Goongerah - A happy ride around Australia (third attempt) - CycleBlaze

November 28, 2022

Day 184: Newmerella to Goongerah

Start: 8:10am
Distance: 81km
Ride time: 4:53hours
Average: 17km/hr 
Max: 51km/hr
Finish: 3:30pm

Some baby corn on the flats between Newmerella and Orbost.
Heart 2 Comment 0
This is the mighty Snowy River.
Heart 5 Comment 0

Banjo Patterson's poem "The Man from Snowy River" was first published in 1895.

The Man from Snowy River was made into a movie in 1982.

Some street art in Orbost created by Neil and Ryan Findley:

A faller.
Heart 5 Comment 0
A lyrebird. This piece is made from parts of a 1973 Kato excavator.
Heart 6 Comment 0

Lyrebirds are amazing and can mimic the sounds of other animals and machines and humans.

From Orbost I will head north, inland to Canberra. This will be a much quieter route than following the coast.

The beginning of the Bonang Hwy. It has hundreds and hundreds of bends.
Heart 5 Comment 3
Veronica JoinerIt's only a road now adays. ; )
Reply to this comment
1 year ago
Annie O'SheaThat brings back memories
Reply to this comment
1 year ago
Vince McCarthyI wonder why it got demoted?
Reply to this comment
1 year ago

I know this road well. It has no shoulder, is very hilly and winding yet it is surrounded by wonderful forests.

There are no shops until after I cross the border into New South Wales tomorrow. 

Previously this road would have many log trucks using it. I am in luck today as the logging operations have recently ceased. 

As the road is very winding it would be a little risky to cycle it while the log trucks are working. I recommend you talk to the info centre in Orbost before riding this road.

This might be the twiggy daisy bush.
Heart 7 Comment 0

Olearia ramulosa.

A lot of this forest was burnt in the 2019 fires. It appears to be recovering very well.
Heart 4 Comment 0

I spent the day listening to many birds as I cycled along.

This is a type of Daviesia.
Heart 6 Comment 0

Daviesia

I saw several cow ear tags nailed to trees with pink marking tape.
Heart 2 Comment 0

The Department of Environment has done this to identify where they have placed 1080 poison baits to kill foxes and wild dogs. 

This big truck was the only one I saw today. It had a pilot vehicle in front so I had plenty of warning to get off the road.
Heart 3 Comment 0

This is a very quiet road. I would only see a total of 17 cars for the entire day on the Bonang Hwy. 

Sardine Creek.
Heart 3 Comment 0
Here I found 4 other cyclists. Meet Mitch, Noah, Stu, and Jordan.
Heart 6 Comment 0

They are doing a cycling loop from Orbost for a few days. They were heading north to Goongerah too.

Crossing Martins Creek.
Heart 2 Comment 0
I was surprised to see another cyclist, this time heading south. Meet David.
Heart 7 Comment 2
Mark LampardSimilar bike to my Reise and Muller. Amazing bikes, but I would expect he struggles sometimes finding a place to recharge the batteries!
Reply to this comment
1 year ago
Vince McCarthyHi Mark, you're correct. He told me he organised for someone to meet him with a generator at one spot so he could recharge.
Reply to this comment
1 year ago

David is doing a loop from Warragul and is on a 2.5 week ride. He is riding a Reise Muller electric bike.

His bike has full suspension and a rohloff on the rear with an electric shifter and is a belt drive. An expensive bike.

We spoke for 20 minutes or more about all things bike touring.

I made it to the small Goongerah campground. I had climbed 735 metres to get here today.
Heart 6 Comment 0
There is a small river here, some picnic tables, and a toilet. No phone reception.
Heart 4 Comment 0
There are a few possum boxes in the trees around the campground.
Heart 4 Comment 0
This campground is free!
Heart 6 Comment 0

Today's ride: 81 km (50 miles)
Total: 10,661 km (6,620 miles)

Rate this entry's writing Heart 5
Comment on this entry Comment 0