Friday evening (11/06/10) Rowan and I packed up and drove to Creswick, just north of Ballarat and about 3 hours drive west of where we live. Our accommodation was a very inexpensive "standard cabin" that was very small and smelled quite strongly of cigarette smoke. Oh well, at least it was very inexpensive.
Saturday morning (12/06/10) at 7:30 am we were at the start/finish area ... a girl guides camp ... signing in and getting ready to ride. Our intention was to ride 200 km, but I haven't done much riding since our 400K attempt about a month ago, so I wasn't 100% sure about that. We've been involved in moving since then, and I'm still struggling with DVT issues.
The ride started very well ... a beautiful route, fairly flat, and a tailwind. The temperature started around 3C, but seemed to warm up nicely although I found out later it only got to 10C. With the exception of a few minutes after the 45 km control where I felt chilly, I was quite comfortable out there.
We flew into the 45 km control feeling great with a reasonable amount of time to spare. But immediately after that control, we were into a headwind, and the hills started. I struggled. My speed dropped dramatically, and my right knee started to hurt. We decided to cut the ride at 100 km rather than doing the 200 km.
It was a fight right till the end, but we made it with about 5 minutes to spare. Pre-DVT, I used to be able to do 100K rides with no problems at all. Now they're a struggle.
Despite the fact that I was exhausted, we ate, changed, and took a little shopping trip in Ballarat where I got new earrings and towels.
We napped, and then returned to the girl guides lodge where the group of cyclists we were with were preparing for dinner. It was really nice to sit down and socialise with the other randonneurs in the area. Most of the time we arrive at the finish really late and everyone has gone home.
And I must say that the route instructions for this ride were the most accurate I've come across on the rides I've done here in Australia so far.
Sunday morning (13/06/10) at 7:30 am we were at the start/finish area, and signing in again. This time we were going to attempt the 100K ... we knew 200K would be too much for us. But on this day, I struggled all the way around. My legs had no energy at all, and my right knee was quite sore. The route was also fairly hilly ... or seemed that way.
We just made it into the 45 km control, grabbed a quick bite to eat and set off again. I hoped I would have more energy, but it just didn't happen. I also felt cold on this ride. The temperature was about the same as Saturday, and I was dressed the same ... but I was cold.
We had a great 10 km downhill run into the control at the end, but even so we arrived at the finish about 10 minutes late.
Lunch, a short shopping trip where I got new boots and a radio, a nap ... and we were back at the girl guides hall for dinner. We were fed extremely well on this tour!!
It was agreed that Monday's ride would start at 9 am.
Monday morning (14/06/10) at 8:30 am we were at the start/finish area and signing in again. Monday's ride was a 57 km loop (a 50 km populaire) and there were 6 of us in total riding it.
My legs felt like painful jello to start the ride, but they started to settle in after about 10 km, and I began to enjoy the ride. It helped that the sun came out, and that I felt warm.
The area around Creswick is interesting ... there are old volcano mounds all over the place ... so many of them!! Fascinating. The area also reminds me a bit of the Canadian prairies with fields and pine forests. The pine forests are pine plantations, but nevertheless they are pines which don't grow natively here.
We stopped for coffee at Clune. Clune is an old historic town and also appears in the move Mad Max! The 6 of us had coffee together and then Rowan and I set off a bit ahead of the rest because we knew we'd need the extra time.
With 20 km to go, we were passed by two of them, and a short time later we were joined by the other two, Martin and Libby. Rowan rode with Martin and I rode with Libby for a while, then we rode in a paceline together to the finish. Some of that time was a bit of a struggle for me, but the last 10 km or so was great. We were cruising right along!!
We rolled into the finish with about 10 minutes to spare. And then we were fed again. The food on this weekend was wonderful!!
A relaxed drive back through Bacchus Marsh and Melton and we were home ... in our nice comfy house.
All up, we rode 268 km over the weekend.
The last 16 photos in this set are of the Queens Royal Tour:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/1430288...detail/?page=8
One of the many volcanos ...
