Kim's Journey
  • Home
  • Hangetsu Yoga
  • Rock Construction
  • Stories
    • XMAS 2020
    • XMAS 2019
    • XMAS 2017/2018
    • XMAS 2016
    • XMAS 2015
    • XMAS 2014
    • Travels >
      • Maldives
      • 25th Anniversary - Fiji
      • Vietnam 2016
      • Europe 2016
      • Cambodia/Thailand
      • Japan 2013 the words
      • Japan 2012 the words
      • Mauritius
      • Uluru
      • Barossa Jaunt
    • Farewell to work email
    • Canberra Fires 2003
    • Annus Horribillis
  • Photos
    • Europe 2016
    • Japan >
      • Japan 2013 photos
      • Japan 2012 Photos
      • Engrish
    • Arboretum
    • Birds
    • Best of the Commuting
    • Winter's Day
    • Childhood Memories
    • POTUS
    • Bond, James Bond - sort of
    • Defying gravity
    • New- Canberra Autumn - 2014
    • The Extension
  • Videos (new feature)
    • Finolhu
    • Japan
  • Bushwalking/Geocaching/Biking
  • Contact Me

Bass Coast Rail Trail

9/6/2014

2 Comments

 
Victoria is a bit ahead of the rest of the States and Territories in converting old unused rail-lines into bike/trekking paths.  Centred around the town of Wonthaggi, is the Bass Coast Rail Trail, apparently the only Rail Trail overlooking the ocean.  For the nit-pickers, the trail between Geelong and Queenscliff, I guess is technically overlooking Port Phillip Bay.  The beauty from a riding perspective is, all "ups" and "downs" are very gradual so how good is that?????

With the good lady galavanting around the other side of the globe, I took the opportunity for a quick blast down the Hume, on the Queen's Birthday Monday (Royalty does have its uses, I admit not many).  Zipping through Melbourne mid afternoon on a public holiday, I was amazed at the amount of traffic on the roads. 

I was staying at San Remo, the gateway to Phillip Island.  I got up at Sparrows on the Tuesday and was a tad gob-smacked to discover a pea-souper covering the island.  Well, you know what they say about pea-soupers ........ ....... ....... No, me neither!  I drove to a suggested access point to the rail trail, pulled the bike out of the car and put on lots of layers of clothes.  A powertrail of geocaches has been hidden along the trail which was part of my reason for the journey - more on that later.

I set off into the mist which slowly began to rise.  In fact a glorious day unfolded so the layers of clothes began to come off.  With frequent excursions into the vegetation on either side of the trail, I was glad that I wore gaiters but my shoes and legs did get very wet.  There was a slight malfunction with my RunKeeper App (Ok, I forgot to unpause it) so Day 1's map cheats me of a few Kms.

Day 2 started with no fog but much colder temps. I drove to the town of Wonthaggi and started my journey. I loved the trail and began to get annoyed at the frequent stopping for geocaching hunts, many being unsuccessful so I decided to just enjoy the ride and only stop for a hunt every few Kms.  Much better!  The trail then approached the ocean and that was just plain old magic!  I had been wondering about route to take for my return journey to Canberra and that settled my dilemna - it would be a coastal route via Eden.

I eventually got to where I had got to the day before so it was time to turn back.  I didn't appreciate one of the bridges I had passed over earlier in the day but on the return leg, I could see it's true beauty.  Must admit, by the time I got back to the car, I was tired but chuffed at the experience.  I've decided that Geocaching Power Trails have their purpose in life but more so to be experienced in a group of friends.  This PowerTrail is defienetly better quality toward the newer hides with many quality containers.  The older bits .... Nah, just didn't do it for me.  The best bit of the Rail Trail is between Wonthaggi and Kilcunda with the trestle bridge being very close to Kilcunda.
2 Comments
Mason
22/10/2014 04:09:45 pm

Hey,
I was wondering where you started your biking near Woolamai? Is the Anderson section still accessible?
I am thinking of going on the ride so how long would you say it would take to go from Woolamai to Wonthaggi?

Reply
Kim
23/10/2014 07:32:37 am

Hi Mason, I parked at the Park n Ride, at Anderson (near the Round About) which was sort of the midpoint between Woolamai and Kulcanda. If you do a car shuffle (ie, you don't need to turn around and ride back), I'd say you are looking at 3-4 hours. I was stopping all the time so it is very hard to predict. The 2nd day, I parked at Wonthagai

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Bushwalking & Geocaching a match made in heaven.

    Picture

    Archives

    November 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    February 2020
    November 2019
    August 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    June 2017
    April 2017
    February 2017
    April 2016
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    March 2015
    September 2014
    August 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    May 2013
    October 2012
    September 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed