Wangaratta Out and About Inc
Tracks
June 2016
Beautiful autumn foliage in Castlemaine Botanic Park
which was visited by a group of our cyclists recently.
Read about the tour and see more photos inside.
Wangaratta Out and About Inc
Social Gathering
Gold Fields and New Zealand
June 16 - 7.30 pm
Glenise and Trevor’s home
Please bring a small plate for supper
Twenty Years of Midweek Cycling
Thirty WOA members rode and then met for lunch at King River Cafe to celebrate 20 years of midweek rides. The group included the three members who undertook the first of these rides - Aileen
Carmody, Marg Price and Renata Lewis.
Goldfields Tour 2016
April 19
Seven cyclists made their way to Bendigo and settled into Bendigo Central City Caravan Park and we met for tea, after happy
hour at the Herbican Hotel. We were pleased Elaine Gaudion could join us, being excused from jury duty. Trevor, recovering
from major facial surgery was unable to ride for the next few days.
April 20 "Juvenile 38" - 41km
We set off at 9.00 navigating our way out of the big smoke. A lot of the ride resembled Chiltern Forest Ironbark trees,
undulations taking in Mandurang South, Kangaroo Flat, Quarry Hill. At Sedgwick Road we were photographed in the hollow
trunk of an historical tree, 700 years old. At Mandurang we stood in the geographical dead centre of Victoria. We had a
beautiful lunch at Spring Valley General Store which turned out to be a classy cafe. This afternoon some of us went shopping
and sightseeing. After happy hour we walked to the Foundry Hotel for tea.
Mandurang - geographic
centre of Victoria
Welsford - changing our route
because of major road wiorks
April 21 "The Gooseneck" - 56km
Overcast morning though it was still warm. We had an early morning tea stop at Spring Gully General Store then rode similar
terrain to yesterday, undulating, taking us to Mandurang, Sedgwick, Axe Creek and Strathfieldsaye. We had lunch at
"Boardwalk Bendigo" beside the lake. Beautiful setting and as usual, beautiful food. Home again for a quick change. Some
of us went to the Monroe Exhibition while others went to see The Great Stupa of Universal Compassion. The rain set in but
fortunately holding off till the ride was over. After happy hour we went to Krua Khao Jaow Thai restaurant.
April 22 "Lone Trees and Leather" - 26km
Short ride today. Rain cleared overnight. Cold wind. Stopped early for a cuppa at our favourite Spring Gully General Store.
Rode Edwards Road, Tannery Lane and 2 kms along a sealed bike path through a dry forest, just for the fun of it. Glenys did
an excellent job getting us back on track. We showered and changed back at the caravan park and all set off for Castlemaine.
Some went sightseeing and others visited The Great Stupa. Today is Trevor's 80th birthday. We celebrated with Aperol Spritz
and nibbles, then went to the Table Top restaurant for tea.
Rosalind Oval, Bendigo.
Giant Marilyn Monroe statue
Great Stupa of Universal
Compassion at Myers
Flat
Celebrating Trevor’s
birthday with cocktails
April 23 "The Southern Loop" - 32km
Another clear day with cold wind. Meg and Frank arrived last night so Meg was able to go on the ride. We rode through
undulating, treed roads to Irishtown. Some opted to go the extra distance to Vaughn, (Chinese cemetery, gold diggings). At
Chewton a whole cavalcade of bikies turned up. Over 200 of them and all on British bikes. No morning tea stop on this ride
so we returned to Castlemaine and had lunch at Peninis. Surprisingly there were very few bakeries open. Glenys and Trevor
reconnoitered tomorrow's ride. Other reconnoiters were carried out and a visit to the Botanical Gardens. We had happy hour
with more Aperol and Prosecco then went to the Bridge Hotel for tea.
Profile of the Mount
Alexander ride
Australian United Gold Ming Company’s
Engine House a Fryerstown built in 1869
April 24 "Northeastern Loop" - 43km
Sunny and calm morning. We went through Chewton and Faraday, turned left and started climbing Mt Alexander. 5km to the
top. Comparable gradient to Mt Buller. Popular ride for the "Castlemaniacs" who we met there. The way down, also 5km
was white knuckles and gritted teeth. We passed Barkers Creek reservoir, rode through Harcourt back to Castlemaine. Saw a
steam engine pulling 6 vintage carriages. Had lunch at "cCured". Some checked out Fryerstone, (Cornish Mill; once had a
population of 15,000; 25 pubs). Some walked the Botanical Gardens. We all went to "New Chinese Restaurant" for tea.
April 25 "Western Loop" - 47km
We headed towards Meldon, turning right and taking Muckleford Road which was quiet and narrow like Glenrowan/Thoona
Road. Gentle hills, open farmland. Had morning tea at Meldon Cafe then said goodbye to Meg and Frank who left for home.
Then we rode back directly to Castlemaine and went to the Old Castlemaine Gaol for lunch. Beautiful outdoor setting under
leafy trees. The cafe was called "The Cell"...appropriate. The gaol was on top of a very steep hill reminiscent of Mt
Alexander. This afternoon some of us went to a nice coffee shop and others went back to Maldon for window shopping.
Tonight's tea venue was the same as last night because the food was so good.
Old brick farmhouse
at Muckleford
Mount Alexander very challenging ride
View from Mount
Alexander Forest
April 26 "Southern Loop" - 78km
We drove to Newstead to start the ride to avoid the Pyrenees Highway. Some steep hills at first then gentle undulations all the
way to Clunes. Very dry sheep country, some cattle. Many windfarms on the horizon. Went through Campbelltown to
Clunes. With a good tail wind we got to Clunes at 10.50. Had coffee at Widow Twamley's, left our bikes there and did a bit
of sightseeing. Had lunch at Widow Twamley's and started the journey home. Very strong cross/head winds. We went
through Ulina to Campbelltown. It was lovely to be back at Newstead. All these days riding and not one puncture! We had
happy hour with Bruce and Heather as usual, as our hosts and celebrated Trevor's birthday again with Aperol and Prosecco.
Then we went to the Bridge Pub for tea. Tomorrow we make our way home. A big Thank You to Glenise and Trevor for
organizing this tour. What a wonderful time we had!
Pat Kuhle