Torquay, Heathcote, Nagambie, Moroopna, Bright, Table Top, Wangaratta, Mansfield, Carlton North, Hepburn Springs, Dixon's Creek, Mt Evelyn, Leongatha. Great names. Most people think, where the hell is this! I can tell you they are all little towns in Victoria, Australia. One bigger then the other but all cozy, with at least one hotel (read: pub), restaurant, coffee bar, bike shop, bottle shop, an I.G.A. and a R.S.L.
So no problem to find food, drinks or spare tubes.
The main goal of the second stint in Australia was The Herald Sun Tour and the Melbourne to Warrnambool race but....
But first things first. When you stay in Torquay for the Cadel race and it is 44°Celsius, don't ride your bike! It is crazy, it is not done, it is irresponsible! Not that we did that, or actually yes we did but...
We leave the accomodation with a nice 25°C and sunny, direction Queenscliff for a 70km ride. Beautiful day, nice ride along the ocean. Arriving in Queenscliff, plenty of time, lunch and a hot-rod car show. We hang around, way too long and start our return way too late. Halfway our return ride we had a cold drink with Liam White, warning us for the heat, but too late! The temperature went up to 44°, no shelter, no wind, no nothing. We stopped at a surf club, where they had an outdoor shower. O so nice for another 10 minutes !! We finally got back with the help of Wazza! Thanks mate.
How good is it when you can meet a rider from Gent in Australia. Iljo is also the godfather of our sunday morning cycling club WTCDK, with a base in Gent, café De Karper. The worldwide famous sportsbar in Belgium run by his father Ronie Keisse! Those who travel to Flanders for the classics or Gent 6 must get a beer in this great bar.
Another spot we visit every year is the suburb of Melbourne called Essendon North. There lives a family we know since 1984 or is it 1983. The Neiwands, a family of cyclists, Ron, an ex pro married to Barb, a real cycling mama and their sons Gary (world champion and olympic medallist) and Craig (envolved with Melbourne 6 and Darebin track). It was great to catch up again with them, having a nice meal at the hotel and a few sherbets!
On our way to Heathcote, we had to stop in the middle of nowhere, cause a herd of sheep had to cross the street. The shepherd (on a motorbike) and three border collies where guiding 100s of sheep into a smaller fold. In the shed next to the pen the scissors were waiting. While the sheep crossed the road the farmer ask us where we came from. O Belgium, wanna see some sheep shearing? Drive 2km up that road, we'll meet ya at the shed mate. (good advise when you travel to Australia, do not plan a lot in advance, as before you know you spend an hour in a shed where some young male and female shearers do there jobs with loud music). Great entertainment and amazing handy people making a sheep a few kg's lighter then they walked in.
Next, the Sun Tour, always been a big favourit race for me. Since the 80's I kinda love this race. Maybe because I knew so many riders who rode it. Mc Farlane, the Hammonds, Bulldog, Delongville's, Vennie, Provis and other Vandeperre's, all names and friends. And it took untill this year to be part of what they used to call the "Fun Tour". Anyway this edition we followed with former National Road champ and former Sun Tour stage winner David Mc Farlane and his wife Maree. We booked accomodation in Bright (close to the brewery!) and stayed with friends of Macca in Nagambie. Only few km's away from the official start in Mitchelton (the winery of Gerry Ryan). The plan was to be at the start of the Warrny as well, but our complete travel scedule had to be re-organised to be on time in Avalon. Lieve and I decided to cancel this plan and keep in holiday mode for the rest of the weeks in Victoria.
We drove up to Albury and Wodonga to meet Ashley Humbert and Rhys Pollock, two former Drapac riders. A visit at the local brewery and a morning ride the next day with Ash and Rhys made it a special one. Lucky they ride also a bit slower then few years ago.
A great stop on our trip was Wangaratta. Home of Barry Burns, a Vietnam vet who was a pro rider at the age when most retire. He rode all the big races in Australia, came over to Belgium to ride kermesses, would have been member of the Italo/Australia pro team Polli-Mobiexport but a nasty crash stopped this plan. Later in the 90's I met him again at the Tour of Luxemburg as a staff member of the Giant - AIS pro team. And yes now we had a nice diner, some beers to bring up heeps of stories and memories.
Just accross our accomodation we found one of the best restaurants we dined at, "Watermarc Dining". A beautiful outdoor deck, friendly staff, great food and very nice wines.
From Wangaratta we rode to Eldorado, a 62km loop on a nice bikepath and very calm roads. A lovely sunny day out on the bike.
A place I love to bring up on our way to Beechworth, the home of Ned Kelly is a little coffee house. A young girl opened this little place on a not so busy road in a not so busy town. But man I was happy that I stopped here for a coffee. I think I could come here every morning to have my brew. Can't explain what feeling I had, but it was fantastic. The few people going in and out, friendly, talketive. Even know now the whole story of an old lady who told me she had to go home as her dog was alone, she took 10 minutes of the time of a DHL courier at the way out, and he apologised after five minutes that he really had to go. The sun was gently shining in the meantime and the coffee was perfect. And Lieve saw that it was good. The name of the coffee bar: Ineeta Cafe.
Carlton North, another catch up with lifetime friends, David & Susan Mc Kenzie, Alby Iacuone. Macca (yea, all Mc.... are Maccas) organised an unforgettable evening at the Bodriggy Brewing Company. No need to tell ya the beers I tasted were yummy, so was the food and the company. Again stories from our IteamNova period came up. David, who we usually see every year at the spring classics or at the Tour, Allan, we only see every few years.
The next day we went for a 40km ride around Melbourne with David as a perfect guide and finished it off with coffee on the Southbank. Like Susan said later: still living the dream.
Lieve and I travelled towards the Yarra Valley, staying at the Devine Escape, then continuing to the Healsville Sanctuary.
The last visit before heading home was Leongatha, since 1985 THE town (I call it the capital of Australia) were I have been staying almost every time I flew over to Aus. So must be around, pff 10 times. It is the place were I spent my first night in Australia ever. March 1985 at Brown Street. Over the years I know more streets such as Parr Street and Gray Street, lol. Who lives there? The Mc Farlanes and the Watchorns. Leongatha is part of Gippsland, a nice and windy place to go for a ride, but it can be hot too. Had it all over the past years. They have a hotel (read: pub), a R.S.L., a milk factory, a news agency, an I.G.A. But above all this, a lot of good friends!
It was great catching up again with Terry, Yvonne, David, Maree, Jordan, Tom, Leon, Lois, Bec and Ben!
Back in Melbourne we also catched up with Jamie, brother of Shane Kelly. A rider I met in Belgium in the 80s, but had enormous bad luck few years ago. Jamie ended up in a wheelchair. Need to find a signed picture of Eddy Planckaert for him!
To finish the whole 2020 trip Down Under we had dinner at a Japanese resto with the Giramondo's and Docker's.
pff that's it for Feb, talk to you soon. Cheers!
So no problem to find food, drinks or spare tubes.
The main goal of the second stint in Australia was The Herald Sun Tour and the Melbourne to Warrnambool race but....
But first things first. When you stay in Torquay for the Cadel race and it is 44°Celsius, don't ride your bike! It is crazy, it is not done, it is irresponsible! Not that we did that, or actually yes we did but...We leave the accomodation with a nice 25°C and sunny, direction Queenscliff for a 70km ride. Beautiful day, nice ride along the ocean. Arriving in Queenscliff, plenty of time, lunch and a hot-rod car show. We hang around, way too long and start our return way too late. Halfway our return ride we had a cold drink with Liam White, warning us for the heat, but too late! The temperature went up to 44°, no shelter, no wind, no nothing. We stopped at a surf club, where they had an outdoor shower. O so nice for another 10 minutes !! We finally got back with the help of Wazza! Thanks mate.
How good is it when you can meet a rider from Gent in Australia. Iljo is also the godfather of our sunday morning cycling club WTCDK, with a base in Gent, café De Karper. The worldwide famous sportsbar in Belgium run by his father Ronie Keisse! Those who travel to Flanders for the classics or Gent 6 must get a beer in this great bar.
Another spot we visit every year is the suburb of Melbourne called Essendon North. There lives a family we know since 1984 or is it 1983. The Neiwands, a family of cyclists, Ron, an ex pro married to Barb, a real cycling mama and their sons Gary (world champion and olympic medallist) and Craig (envolved with Melbourne 6 and Darebin track). It was great to catch up again with them, having a nice meal at the hotel and a few sherbets!
On our way to Heathcote, we had to stop in the middle of nowhere, cause a herd of sheep had to cross the street. The shepherd (on a motorbike) and three border collies where guiding 100s of sheep into a smaller fold. In the shed next to the pen the scissors were waiting. While the sheep crossed the road the farmer ask us where we came from. O Belgium, wanna see some sheep shearing? Drive 2km up that road, we'll meet ya at the shed mate. (good advise when you travel to Australia, do not plan a lot in advance, as before you know you spend an hour in a shed where some young male and female shearers do there jobs with loud music). Great entertainment and amazing handy people making a sheep a few kg's lighter then they walked in.
Next, the Sun Tour, always been a big favourit race for me. Since the 80's I kinda love this race. Maybe because I knew so many riders who rode it. Mc Farlane, the Hammonds, Bulldog, Delongville's, Vennie, Provis and other Vandeperre's, all names and friends. And it took untill this year to be part of what they used to call the "Fun Tour". Anyway this edition we followed with former National Road champ and former Sun Tour stage winner David Mc Farlane and his wife Maree. We booked accomodation in Bright (close to the brewery!) and stayed with friends of Macca in Nagambie. Only few km's away from the official start in Mitchelton (the winery of Gerry Ryan). The plan was to be at the start of the Warrny as well, but our complete travel scedule had to be re-organised to be on time in Avalon. Lieve and I decided to cancel this plan and keep in holiday mode for the rest of the weeks in Victoria.We drove up to Albury and Wodonga to meet Ashley Humbert and Rhys Pollock, two former Drapac riders. A visit at the local brewery and a morning ride the next day with Ash and Rhys made it a special one. Lucky they ride also a bit slower then few years ago.
A great stop on our trip was Wangaratta. Home of Barry Burns, a Vietnam vet who was a pro rider at the age when most retire. He rode all the big races in Australia, came over to Belgium to ride kermesses, would have been member of the Italo/Australia pro team Polli-Mobiexport but a nasty crash stopped this plan. Later in the 90's I met him again at the Tour of Luxemburg as a staff member of the Giant - AIS pro team. And yes now we had a nice diner, some beers to bring up heeps of stories and memories.Just accross our accomodation we found one of the best restaurants we dined at, "Watermarc Dining". A beautiful outdoor deck, friendly staff, great food and very nice wines.
From Wangaratta we rode to Eldorado, a 62km loop on a nice bikepath and very calm roads. A lovely sunny day out on the bike.
A place I love to bring up on our way to Beechworth, the home of Ned Kelly is a little coffee house. A young girl opened this little place on a not so busy road in a not so busy town. But man I was happy that I stopped here for a coffee. I think I could come here every morning to have my brew. Can't explain what feeling I had, but it was fantastic. The few people going in and out, friendly, talketive. Even know now the whole story of an old lady who told me she had to go home as her dog was alone, she took 10 minutes of the time of a DHL courier at the way out, and he apologised after five minutes that he really had to go. The sun was gently shining in the meantime and the coffee was perfect. And Lieve saw that it was good. The name of the coffee bar: Ineeta Cafe.
Carlton North, another catch up with lifetime friends, David & Susan Mc Kenzie, Alby Iacuone. Macca (yea, all Mc.... are Maccas) organised an unforgettable evening at the Bodriggy Brewing Company. No need to tell ya the beers I tasted were yummy, so was the food and the company. Again stories from our IteamNova period came up. David, who we usually see every year at the spring classics or at the Tour, Allan, we only see every few years.The next day we went for a 40km ride around Melbourne with David as a perfect guide and finished it off with coffee on the Southbank. Like Susan said later: still living the dream.
Lieve and I travelled towards the Yarra Valley, staying at the Devine Escape, then continuing to the Healsville Sanctuary.
The last visit before heading home was Leongatha, since 1985 THE town (I call it the capital of Australia) were I have been staying almost every time I flew over to Aus. So must be around, pff 10 times. It is the place were I spent my first night in Australia ever. March 1985 at Brown Street. Over the years I know more streets such as Parr Street and Gray Street, lol. Who lives there? The Mc Farlanes and the Watchorns. Leongatha is part of Gippsland, a nice and windy place to go for a ride, but it can be hot too. Had it all over the past years. They have a hotel (read: pub), a R.S.L., a milk factory, a news agency, an I.G.A. But above all this, a lot of good friends!It was great catching up again with Terry, Yvonne, David, Maree, Jordan, Tom, Leon, Lois, Bec and Ben!
Back in Melbourne we also catched up with Jamie, brother of Shane Kelly. A rider I met in Belgium in the 80s, but had enormous bad luck few years ago. Jamie ended up in a wheelchair. Need to find a signed picture of Eddy Planckaert for him! To finish the whole 2020 trip Down Under we had dinner at a Japanese resto with the Giramondo's and Docker's.
pff that's it for Feb, talk to you soon. Cheers!
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