Cycling in Australia last February, we noticed a bicycle path along the side of the road, but the bicycle path was gravel and we were riding fully loaded road touring bicycles and so we opted to ride on the road.

A car pulled up beside us and told us that there was a path for bicycles. We smiled and thanked the driver for the information, and he and his wife continued on their way. We sort of got the impression he thought we should be on the path rather than the road.

Several hours later we arrived at the Wilson's Prom campground (Tidal River), set up our campsite, and were starting to make supper when a lady came over to us and asked if we were the cyclists on the road. We were the only ones out there. Then she wanted to know how far we'd gone that day. 161 kms (a century). Then she told us that it was her husband who had told us about the path.

He did think we should be on it, rather than on the road, but then (after our polite response) they got thinking about it, and speculated that perhaps we didn't want to use the path because it was gravel and would slow us down. And having heard how far we'd gone that day, she thought that may indeed be the case, but just wanted to ask us if she was right. We let her know she was right. Then she wished us well on the rest of our trip and went back to her campsite ...... and we were all on good terms.