This
site proudly supported by
|
|
|
 |
|
This is the page where people who have cycled The Golden Trail send in their trip reports so that others can learn from their experience.
Handy inclusions when forwarding your trip report are route taken and why, good places for lunch, rest stops and accommodation. If you find a bakery, cafe, B&B, motel, bike shop, .... providing excellent service, then let us know so we can help promote that which trail users seek. Don't forget to include memorable events, people or moments or scenes, as well as photos.
 A Cycling Journey following in the footsteps of the Chinese who walked to the goldfields in the 1850s from Robe S.A to Bendigo, Vic
THE TEAM: (Aged from 63 to 72 years)
DRIVERS: Dulcie Varney and Gail Saddler
CYCLISTS: Max and Glenys Layton,
Lloyd Saddler,
Col and Aileen Thompson
DOGS: Robbie and Amelie
Collectively, the members of this team have cycled tens of thousands of Kms in many countries in Europe, Asia, U.S., Canada, N.Z. and Australia, so are not new to Cycle Touring.
AIM:
- Have fun and companionship while keeping fit
- To meet people along the way
- To promote the idea of this historic cycle and walking trail
- To promote the idea of life be in it for seniors
- To follow and appreciate the amazing effort of the chinese
- To complete the journey, the ride
STARTING POINT: 31ST March 2009, 10am Robe S.A. at the Chinese Monument
FINISHING POINT: However long it takes. Bendigo Chinese Museum
DIARY
 31st March - Robe to Kangaroo Inn Area School
Stayed at Heritage listed Campbell Cottages (08 8768 2932) in Robe, where hosts Lyle and Clare were extremely helpful.
Met local reporter for Kingston Leader to tell her of our venture. And promote idea of the Golden Trail.
On way to Kangaroo Inn Area School looked at Chinamen's Well and Clay Wells and marvelled at the achievements of the Chinese immigrants under such adverse conditions.
Were welcomed at the School and set up camp on the side of the oval, having use of the toilets and showers.
1st April - K.I.A.S to Penola
As agreed, we met the well mannered children and spent time with them answering questions and telling them about our quest to follow the Chinese route. The idea of the Golden Trail being set up appealed to some of the staff and they could see the possibility of the Home Economics classes being involved in catering for the passing cyclists. (Could be an idea for the future).
After checking  out the ruins of the old Kangaroo Inn, we followed the main road to Penola and found it very suitable and not very busy. Had many punctures on the way., (no fault of the road).
At Penola, camped at Camping ground, which was full of itinerant workers for the potato picking. We were charged $20 each for 2 small tent sites, $25 for a powered site for the campervan and $85 for a unit. The difficulty was that the 7 of us had to use the toilet and shower in the unit, because of the crowded conditions. We were not impressed.
2nd April - Penola to Casterton, via Dergholm.
A great ride with a few hills and majestic river red gums….so photogenic!! Stopped at Dergholm for lunch and then on to camp at Casterton. Dinner at the Hotel was very welcome.
3rd April -Casterton to Coleraine.
 Travelled south of the Highway on the Sandford Rd through rolling hills. A short, but beautiful ride. Coleraine camping ground was also full, because of cycle races at the weekend. We managed to squeeze in and mingle with the racing cyclists (it wasn‘t hard to tell the difference though) Visited the chocolate factory…….tried the chilli chocolate……a taste sensation.
4th April - Coleraine to Dunkeld via Cavendish
Saw the cyclists take off early in the morning for their 30Km warm up rides before their 80-100kms race. Decided that was a totally different sport. Today's ride for us was far more relaxed and beautiful for the eye. We really enjoyed looking at the shapes of the majestic old trees as we trundled along. On to Cavendish for lunch where we noted that there was a cairn commemorating Chinese travellers of old in the main street. As we ride on, our appreciation of what they endured during their trek from China to the goldfields grows. We were riding with backup and friends, …..they walked and carried their belongings and were misunderstood and persecuted.
Cavendish to Dunkeld with the Grampians rising in front of us was an inspirational ride.
 We camped at Dunkeld and (incidentally) were woken during the night when the Murray to Moyne cyclists passed through. Once again we decided that that is a totally different sport.
The camp manager at Dunkeld was extremely helpful and suggested the best route for us to travel
5th April - Dunkeld to Ararat via Willaura. 84 Kms
Today's ride was to be the longest ride on our trip, so an earaly start was mooted. We rode along the busy Glenelg Hwy for 15 Kms and turned left at Burnside Lane which joined up with the Maroona-Glenthompson Rd. Our plan was for riders and drivers to meet at Willaura for lunch, however, we had such a brilliant tail wind that just had us sailing along , that we continued on to Ararat. Before meeting our back-up team. Our camping ground for the next 2 nights was The Acacia Camping Park. It was near to the Chinese Museum “Gum San “ where we spent a long time the following day. We found this camping park, with its large camp kitchen and central position, really suited our needs, so we stayed 2 days and learned more about the Chinese gold seekers.
7th April - Ararat to Avoca via Elmhurst
Beautiful country was crossed today . One thing to beware of though, is the railway crossing that crosses the road diagonally. One of our experienced riders came to grief there, fortunately only the bike was damaged. Stopped at Elmhurst Hotel for lunch and were welcomed by the owners, who were very interested in the idea of the cycle trail and could have put us (and our bikes and our 2 dogs) up for the night . That's one to remember for next time. On to Avoca to set up camp for the night. The pie shop with many varieties of pies is worth a visit and the wide street is worth looking at and dreaming of bygone days when it would have been a thriving town.
8th
April - Avoca to Maldon. (via Maryborough)
A few more hills today, but such picturesque country, we hardly noticed. Maryborough at lunch time had us having difficulty choosing which café to stop at, there were many to choose from.
Maldon Camping Ground was our overnight stop and we had plenty of time on arrival to look around the lovely historic town.
 9th
April - Maldon to Bendigo (via Lockwood South)
A big hill out of town got us warmed up early. We stopped at a rusting gold dredge on the way and marvelled at the size of the machinery and wondered how it was all transported there. Our thoughts turned to the Chinese diggers who had none of the luxuries of machinery when they were searching for gold.
On to the Alternative Calder Hwy which was very busy with many large trucks and transports…not our best road. It was good to turn off towards Bendigo at the Bendigo-Maryborough Rd.
Bendigo was abuzz as it was preparing for Easter and you could feel the excitement……or was it that we had made it to the end of our journey?
Unfortunately, we were unable to stay on in Bendigo and celebrate and spend time at the Chinese Museum. There was just time to stand on the bridge in front of the Museum and proudly say,
“What a team!! We did it!! We achieved all of our aims and more”.
|
|
|
|
