Sunday 10 October: Campbelltown(59km)
Officially I could have ended this ride in Canberra but who wants to finish a ride in Canberra? Plus, as much as I love the bellbirds, I hate the swooping magpies and Canberra was full of them. The cycling tracks in Canberra are great, if you can weave around the pedestrians and the broken glass - and the cyclists that will not condescend to say hello. I decided to get on with the ride and finish in Sydney. I had been given so many different routes into the city and was warned that venturing on to the Motorway or the Freeway would sting my wallet, so I decided to ride as far as Campbelltown and get the train into the city. I had a beautiful downhill run from Mittagong and, would you believe, a tail wind just when I really did not need it? There was little traffic on the road, apart from a shirtless bogan who leaned half his body out of the window and yelled something I could not understand. The beer bottle in his hand was evidence to a hard night of partying. No wonder there were so many roadside memorials - I was glad that I was not a victim of this idiot. The kookaburras and the black cockatoos led a chorus of birdsong as I easily pedalled past. I crossed the Nepean River three times, reminding me of crossing the Ringarooma River near Derby in Tasmania three times in one morning - only that section had been mountainous. I reached the Narellan road turn off to Campbelltown and the warning sign for bicycles not to proceed on the Hume Highway. Once I reached Campbelltown, the drivers were more aggressive, especially the women. One woman was waiting at the lights after cutting off my access, then started preening herself in the rear view mirror. When the lights changed, she took her time before roaring off in a cloud of exhaust fumes. Bogan women are far worse than bogan men. I arrived at a cafe and was enjoying a hot coffee when Ashley Walsh's producer, Deb, phoned for an ABC Adelaide Radio interview. Ashley introed with a reminder of people recovering from the City to Bay Fun Run while I was pedalling my heart out for the next three weeks. He sure got that right! It was a great interview, as always. Thank you, Ashley.
Monday 11 October: Sydney
I only cycled as far as the railway station today. Someone had suggested taking the train to the city as the Motorway was blocked to cyclists. Getting the bike and trailer to the platform was a nightmare and I had to unhook the trailer, load the bike and trailer separately and wrestle with the only access (the elevator) while some very unchivalrous people gawked. One excuse for a male even asked me to move my trailer out of his way but shut up very quickly when I told him to wait a second and I'd roll out the red carpet as well. Honestly, people in Campbelltown must be hard up for entertainment. Steve Byrnes from Wollongong phoned to tell me that he had tried to leave a comment on the blog but "it wouldn't let him". He also offered me a bed in the 'Gong if I decided to change my mind and head down there. No, the only Gong I stayed at this time was Mittagong.
When I arrived at Sydney Central Station, I had the same problem getting my bike and trailer above ground, but a lovely (and chivalrous) gentleman called Rob who worked for a company called Zip offered to assist me. I then walked the bike past Eddy Avenue and up the one way Chalmers Road to my accommodation. I was staying in a nice, and inexpensive, motel with my own kitchenette and bathroom and even a balcony. The traffic was roaring past but it was relatively quiet after 11pm. I had now crossed the continent from West to East, from South to North and all the way around the coast.
People have asked me if I plan to cycle overseas. I probably will when I retire but my next holiday will be without head winds, flies, bee stings, magpies and without having to check my speed and my odometer. In other words, it will be a restful one.
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