Horsham to Glenorchy
Peleton!
Today we are a machine! We are a fully-functioning, fast-moving, whirry-sounding peleton of six, and we whizz through the countryside from Horsham as one. We fly!
Maybe we fly because we are full up of fine bakery goods, taken after a drive from Edenhope to Horsham to get us back on track (and off highways). Nevertheless we fly, and reach our lunch spot near Taylors Lake in record time.
There’s only one problem. We are at the lunch spot, but our lunch is not. John is driving today, and he turned at the wrong Taylors Lake sign. I’m sure he set up a beautiful place for us, but unfortunately we were not there, we never arrived, and he had to pack up all the chairs to drive around to where we were!
This morning we started with glimpses of the Grampians. By lunch we have full-on views, and this continues as we make our zig-zaggy, peleton-ish way toward Glenorchy, our end point for the day.
But the best is yet to come! We have been promised a lovely ride into Glenorchy, and we are not disappointed, though it initially appears we will be, as the road that takes us to the lovely Gilles River Road is dirt, rough, rutted and way, way too long. Tim and Greg, who did the reccy for this know what is coming, but the rest of us are sceptical, bone-shaken and ready to give up just before we reach the bridge that takes us to redemption, and the canter home.
Gilles River Road, which runs alongside (we think) the fairly dry Wimmera River, is hard-packed dirt and makes for a great ride for the last 10km of today. We take a break to visit with a small group of beautiful horses, who come up very gingerly to say hello to us. I am transfixed as they run about the paddock, following us to the end fence, and watching as we ride off into the distance. Just beautiful. Horses are one of my most favourite animals.
There’s not a lot going on at Glenorchy, but we make a quick photo stop outside the old pub, which our friends Clarissa and Duncan used to own. They bought a wreck and renovated to make a beautiful home.
Glenorchy is the end of the ride, but not the end of the day. We load the bikes up and drive to Stawell, settling into a motel before heading out to seek dinner. My last experience of Stawell told me there’s not a lot going in the evening for dinner, but we find a pub that’s open and will feed us.
Our motel is right on the highway, which means for us not only road noise, but every now and then during the night a truck passes and the whole room shakes!
The Ninnes journey, I believe may have taken a bit longer.
Crossed the Wimmera at Salter Waldens Station. Reached Horsham. One Publick House, smithy store and 3 or 4 stone uts. Now is very large. I think Miss Rohan told me there is 10 Publick Houses in Horsham.
My understanding is that Thomas Ninnes wrote his diary retrospectively. So the above suggests that Horsham was very small when he passed through, but subsequently became much larger, with many more pubs!
Stats for today:
- Distance: 60.85km
- Climb: 135m
- Average speed: 19.6km/h
- Average temperature: 23C
- Moving time: 3:06:38
- See our ride on Strava
The beer picture
At the end of a day’s ride, our tradition is to enjoy a beer, and to photograph it for posterity. Today’s beer picture was taken outside our room at the Goldfields Motel, Stawell. Same beer, different motel. Poor Thomas. I bet he needed a beer, or a porter, when he arrived in Horsham. Not to mention his poor, long suffering, pregnant wife.
Along the way today:
