Day 4: Rawson to Woods Point (745m)

Distance: 77.1km

Av speed: 8.4km/h (including rest breaks)

Total Elevation: 1783mm

Calories: 3372 calories (per person)

Weather: Sunny and fresh (cold in the rainforest!) (12*c)

With the unknown before us, we were out of bed before sunrise and headed to the general store for a breakfast of noodles. We’d also planned to buy some sandwiches for lunch, but in all the excitement we forgot them... we won’t be making that mistake again.

Knowing that we’d be 1140m above sea level by the 38km mark of today’s stage, the first hour of riding was a bit disconcerting as we continued to ride up to 600m, descend to 500m and then repeat.

At mid morning we reached the Thomson Dam, which provides Melbourne’s water supply. With the sun out and barely a cloud in the sky, as we rode across the dam wall we were able to look all the way north towards the northern reaches of the Baw Baw National Park (a light covering of snow could even be seen on the top of Mt St Gwinwear). In short, the view was simply amazing.

But as well all know, the good things in life aren’t free and we were soon brought back down to earth with a horror climb (210m elevation gain in a little over 1km) up to the top of the neighbouring ridge. Once we hit the top of the ridge, the nice bitumen road was replaced with a rocky, rutty, uneven goat track which would be our home until we hit Woods Point... 52km later!!!!!!!

The next 2hrs were quite possibly the hardest riding known to man (or those men stupid enough to be riding bikes with 32kg trailers attached to them). The road just went up and up and up, whilst getting worse and worse and worse. The only thing keeping us going was the amazing scenery and views (we’ll add photos to the website on Friday for those who are interested). We also passed a plaque bearing the marker of Kitty Cane’s grave... Jon dreamt up images of a fearless explorer lost on the ridge in the early 1800s... Google anyone?? Ironically, it was also about this time that we realised we’d forgotten the rolls and started to worry that our remaining lollies, anzac bikkies (thanks Mum) and Be Natural Almond Bars (worth a sponsorship??) might not see us out.

The climb mercifully ended at Aberfeldy, not before a mean little 20% section to finish the last 150m. You can only imagine how disheartening it was to see houses, think you were there, turn a corner and then see that brute waiting for you. FYI Aberfeldy has 10 houses and a phone box and not much else. Even the houses are vacant. It also has ‘Victoria’s highest cemetery’... given the cold and hunger that was setting in, we thought a visit might see us in there for good.

After Aberfeldy we had an enjoyable 2.5hr ride along the top of the ridge to Matlock... during this time I discovered that everyone’s favourite American TV detective never made it to the UK. If possible, the road was probably worse than earlier in the day and it meant the Rock Shox were getting a serious workout. Some of the more enjoyable sections included the wet temperate rainforest on the shady side of the ridge... it was a bit of fun (and then just plain scary) getting the trailers sideways on these muddy pot holed sections.

Once we hit Matlock at 4pm we knew it was only 7km downhill (dropping 500m in the process), with the cold beer of the Woods Point Pub awaiting us. Fair to say, we knocked this 7km over in under 10 minutes!!

We can’t speak highly enough of the Woods Point Pub, the owners are great, the Tear Arse Gully Port is sensational, the electric blanket is toasty and the Scotch Fillet hits the spot! The locals even told us that the road we were turned away from at Walhalla wasn’t as bad as the goat track to Aberfeldy... if only we’d known!!! It felt like for a night we’d been adopted in by an amazing little mining community!

Rolling into bed, we doubt there could ever be a more physically challenging but rewarding day on the bike. The Italian Alps may have equally amazing views and gradients... but i don’t remember watching Ivan Basso lug a trailer up there!!