We spent two days riding the Great Victorian Rail Trail.based from our camp in Yea
The Great Victorian Rail Trail follows the old railway line between Tallarook and Mansfield, we did the pretty parts of it. Well the other bits might be pretty too, but the bits we did were very special.
Some of us arrived at Yea caravan park on Tuesday afternoon and got ourselves settled in, the others arrived on Wednesday morning, ready to ride. I must say it's just as well the scenery and company were so good, because the temperature was absolutely freezing. I should say, it didn't rain and it wasn't windy, so I don't know why I am complaining.
We headed off from Yea on our 54km return trip over hilly terrain. The highlight was the Cheviot Tunnel, a 201 metre long tunnel, built in 1889. This tunnel goes under part of the Black Range. It is quite exciting to ride through it, because it is pitch black, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel. (you would have been disappointed if I'd let that one go past).
The trail continues through Molesworth and on to Yarck, a pretty little town and our lunch destination. The sun came out just after lunch and we all got quite excited, but then it went back in again. We rode back towards Yea. Surprisingly, the earth had tilted while we had lunch and what had been mainly uphill on the outward trip had tilted to become mainly uphill on the way back
On Thursday the sun was out, the countryside looked magnificent as we drove to Bonnie Doon to start out ride for the day. We set off and headed across Lake Eildon. The water level was higher than it had been last time i saw it and it looked an absolute picture. We rode through small towns consisting of very small churches and bigger hotels. You can read into that whatever you like.
The entrance into Mansfield is really lovely you ride through the Mullum Wetlands, some of the trees are named and the volunteers obviously do a lot of work in this area. We had lunch in Mansfield and set off on the 22km back to Bonnie Doon. We had dinner out in Yea on Thursday night, a fun night with lots of laughs.
Friday morning we packed up before a walk around the Yea wetlands and morning tea. I know we all had a wonderful time, so thank you once again Kerry for a fabulous few days away.
Particpants: Kerry, Val, Heather, Les, Michele, Sue, David, Judy, Richard, Zoe, Annie, Jay Jay, David.
