Southwards to Strahan

The lake was really nice and calm this morning but the overcast conditions didn't make for good photography.

Once again I knew there was a steep climb to the top of the next mountain (712m), so heigh ho and away we go…   The first 3 km were fine - balmy weather and the sky was now blue with fluffy white clouds.

Then the climb began…  narrow road, so difficult to struggle slowly along with a car up ya bum…  so have to get off and walk till the next flatter section to start riding again…  another mega struggle of 6km up up up….  Big trucks, utes and then the tourists in their motor homes or fancy all-wheel drives swishing past.  So walking and riding again - ah well, this is now my biking and hiking tour!!!

it gets a bit hot, huffing and puffing along, so stopped to take off a layer….  And there, things could have gone terribly wrong, but was saved by a hero in a little Suzuki…  I had tucked my jacket under the lid of my pannier where it is safe once the lid is clicked into place….  So I was a bit surprised when the little Suzuki pulled up ahead of me and stepped out and held up a blue jacket…  it was mine!  He had picked it up off the road and then saw me and realised that I had dropped it…  don't know if he saw it flip out or not….  But GAD!!!!  Am I so glad he was an honest man, as I really needed it later in the day when it was seriously raining and cold…..  Need my head kicked in sometimes…. 

The hill struggle continued until Zeehan - only 23kms but it took me to 3pm to get there.  Zeehan is a dismal place - mining town - silver I think, run down and unloved in a gorse filled hollow - bare hills cos all the trees have been cut down…  so didn't stop there!

I had my lunch by Pyramid Creek where the gorse was quite pretty in flower, but such a tangle of prickle weed…  Still had more than 50km to go - so hoping for less hills and sure enough, lucky again!!  There were a couple of sweeping climbs, but more sweeping downhills.  After one long climb (maybe Dreadnought Hill??) the clouds lifted and there was the SEA!!!  Far away, but defo the West Coast!  it gave me some extra energy from somewhere and away we rolled - all the way down into Strahan.  After a quick look at the beach front, I headed off to the Strahan Wilderness Lodge a little bit out of town…  Cruel fate tho - up a bit of rise but once arrived all rather beautiful…  very olde English with flowering wisteria, camellias, azaleas and other little weird plants out the front.  And the key in an envelope for me and even a bike shed for Hennie….

(found out later that this had been the Manager's Residence at the mines near Queenstown, built in 1890's.  after mine closures, this home had been transported to Strahan and has been a B&B since)  really recommend this place!