Day 218

Date:- 18 October 2010
Distance:- 34.29 Km
Distance to Date:- 13062 Km
Start:- Princetown Recreation Camp Area
Finish:- Lavers Hill Roadhouse Caravan Park
Comment:- Went for a stroll around the camp area last night before returning to my tent and cooking tea. Into bed by 8.30 pm and listened to the radio. Had another welcome phone call from Ian.

It was raining on and off through the night. Out of bed about 7.30 pm and had breakfast. By the time I was ready to pack up my tent it was dry.

The sun was shining as I left the camp ground but that soon changed and a light rain set in and this was the pattern for the rest of the day.

It was only 35 km to ride but there were a few hills to contend with and needed special attention. The road twisted and turned, the breakdown lane was strewn with rubbish, bark and sticks etc.

Today was full of positives and negatives. Sun shining, sun not shining. Running down a hill, climbing up a hill. Tail wind, head wind. Not raining, raining.

Arrived in Lavers Hill about 1.30 pm, I was wet, cold and miserable. There was an Info Centre here so I enquired about accommodation. Motel Room - too expensive, Backpackers Accommodation - Full. Caravan Park - Under water. Budget Accommodation was the go.

Took the budget room, turned the heater on full bore, had a long hot shower and slowly feeling human again. Made a cup of soup settled back and watched some telly.

I met Sally and Peter from Milwaukee at the info centre in Lavers Hill They are cycling the same route as me but in reverse. Their web site:- ridetheroad.com. We met again at the roadhouse where we all had tea. We were able to share quite a bit of helpful advice. At the end of the night we wished each other well and parted company.

Back to my room and do my diary and blog.

Tomorrow I will head for Apollo Bay.