THE GREAT VICTORIAN BIKERIDE
Well, what a journey it was! Riding 300 km with 2,283 m of elevation was certainly a test. We all arrived in Wodonga between 2:30 and 4:30, ready and ecstatic for the adventure ahead. With our bikes and tents prepared, we enjoyed lamb and roasted veggies for dinner, then went for a swim at Gateway Lakes. After our swim, we went to bed, eager to embark on an exhilarating journey of fun and excitement.
Day two started with a quick pack-up of tents, a speedy breakfast, and then we were off on our first – and one of the hardest – days. We travelled through Wodonga and onwards to Yackandandah. The elevation was intense, and the hills were exhausting. We all gathered in ‘Yack’ for a well-earned break and some snacks. We then continued on to Myrtleford, with a quick stop in Mudgegonga for lunch, before arriving in Myrtleford to set up camp and wind down for the day.
Day three began under rolling clouds. We had a slow start to the day but were grateful for no rain. We rode to Milawa for lunch and then continued straight to Wangaratta. Together, we set up camp in a big circle and retrieved our bags from the trucks. The team enjoyed exploring Kmart, where we purchased extra supplies to fend off the rain. We finished the afternoon with a refreshing swim at the local swimming centre.
Day four brought drenched tents and the daunting prospect of facing the day’s challenges. We set out early into the cold, dark, and rainy morning, determined to tackle the terrain ahead. The hills seemed endless, testing both our endurance and resolve. After returning for lunch, we spent a relaxing afternoon swimming and relocating our tents to drier ground in preparation for the final 114.1 km leg to Mansfield.
Day five saw us rising at 5:30 am, aware of the challenging 114.1 km ride to the finish line. We departed Wangaratta at 6:30 am, stopping for lunch in Tatong around 10:00 am, marking the halfway point of the journey. The latter part of the ride was gruelling, with rain, wind, and steep hills, but we reached Mansfield by 2:00 pm, crossing the finish line as a united team.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Mrs Barber, who greeted us in Mansfield, assisted with loading bikes onto the trailer, and arranged for our bus ride home, including collecting and transporting our bags from Wangaratta. Special thanks also go to Mr Clark and Mrs Emery for organising this incredible excursion.
