The plan was to check out Ocean Grove and Barwon Heads on the way – but I did that yesterday so today would be a short ride but I can’t change the map.
Stage 4. Clifton Springs to Geelong
Not having the tent to worry about resulted in a getaway around 8am. I slowly pedalled up and out of the Springs giving muscles and brain time to warm up. A need to turn right at a very busy roundabout to get on the road to Geelong certainly jogged things into life. Once again drivers took care not to run me over.
I took a couple of pictures of the dual carriageway, the traffic and the cycle lane. Neither were saved! But I worked out what I was doing wrong. This post should be illustrated a little later on. In the meantime I barrelled along the highway cruising at 20-25k for quite a while. It must have been slightly downhill but didn’t look it. I was minded of the tales of rounding the Horn in a Windjammer. All goes well as long as the person steering doesn’t look behind! The steady stream of cars, trucks and buses poured past, I was comfortable in the cycle lane – just don’t look in the mirror.
In no time at all I was deep in the Geelong suburbs following my previously worked out Ride with GPS route to the Barwon River.
Look – a picture!
It was a simple k or 2 from coffee shop to a road running by the river on which a couple of caravan parks sit. But first I hopped onto a shared trail running next to the river. Heaven. Quietness, traffic less, trees, birds, joggers….. ah, Bliss.
I cycled to the end then decided I should sort out somewhere to stay. Back a few ks and into a park. Bagged a powered tent site for $37 pn.
In the afternoon I explored Geelong.
I found a way across the river by road bridge. Then cycled up and over quite a hill to gain access to the waterfront – where this pier is. Now used for car parking. There are plenty of shared paths by the Corio Bay. I may be able to explore them tomorrow on my first rest day.
On the way back I found a supermarket in a massive shopping centre. I am not good in them tending to easily get lost. After getting food for tea I went to load up Magnum and found I had lost it!
After walking all around the outside of the complex and no trike to be seen, I sort of remembered where it was. Finally – there it is and even has the rear light flashing to remind me! What an idiot. Will I make it to Adelaide?
Tony's Tasmanian Cycling Blog 
Good job Tony. I’m enjoying both your foibles and your successes. I think it’s fun to share both, and I like when others do too. (There is no shame in temporarily losing one’s bike or trike. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve come out of a store or some other kind of building and have gone into a panic when my bike wasn’t exactly where I thought I left it–only to remember that “oh yes, now I remember, I parked it around the corner.”)
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Thanks Greg. Losing your bike adds that little something to the day.
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