Day  3:                                   Mirboo North to Rawson

Distance:                             102.5km              

Av speed:                            10.8km/h (including rest breaks)

Total Elevation:                 1573m

Calories:                               4496 calories (per person)

Weather:                             Sunny and warm (18*c) before late change

You may be surprised to hear from us today...  the reasons will soon become evident.

Following yesterday’s blog we spent the afternoon scavenging the town of Mirboo North. Five ham and cheese rolls and four iced currant buns later courtesy of Andrew the baker, Jon was pleased that the Aussies weren’t tight.

This morning we set off in chilly and frosty conditions from our little golf course motel. Before long we hit more hills which seemed like mountains following yesterday’s wake up call for the legs. It was about this time that Jon discovered a ‘click’ in his bike. With doomsday phrases like ‘broken bottom bracket’ being uttered, we took multiple stops trying to find the problem. At 7pm we still cant work it out and will let the learned bike doctors of Shepparton have a look on Friday (if it lasts that long... fingers crossed).

Along the way we stopped at Trafalgar and Moe, before hitting some serious hills on the road to Erica. Whilst you only climb 400m, you then descend 400m and repeat, meaning that all your efforts are wasted and its quite disheartening.

We stopped at Erica for some sodas and sangas and Chris befriended ‘Taz’ at the pub and asked for directions. Taz had lived up here for years. ‘Mate you go via Walhalla’. Thanks Taz.

About 5km after Erica we passed a big sign saying Aberfeldy (where we go tomorrow) but having listened to Taz, we knew we should go the other way. About an hour later and another 600 metres climbed we pulled in to Walhalla at 3pm. For those who haven’t been to Walhalla its a beautiful historical mining town set up in a valley, with a scenic railway and a quaint alpine village. Once again, Chris thought it prudent to check directions with a local. Rhianne the coffee shop owner and CFA volunteer uttered ‘ Oh good god no, you cant go up there’ after hearing of our plans to spend the night at Aberfeldy Bridge Campground.  Apparently the camp is slightly flooded, the road is corrugated and there are trees which you must climb both over and under to get there. If you've seen us try and park our trailers against a wall, you knew we weren’t making it Aberfeldy Bridge Campground tonight.

To say there was nervous energy, high emotions and a sense of death at this point in time were probably an understatement. After discussing options with Rhianne we decided to ride back towards the ‘correct route’ which Taz wasn’t very fond of and head that way tomorrow. Rhianne was nice enough to pack us a dinner of rice to take with us and showed relief at our decision.

An hour later we pulled in to Rawson feeling rooted but happy and alive. We’ve got ourselves a little room each in the local motel and will set out again in the morning for tomorrow’s destination of Woods Point... Rhianne assures us this is a much better/easier route than our planned journey.... then again we’ve heard that from locals before!!!