2011 Alpine Delight

"The Alpine Delight is a challenging cycling event for experienced cyclists with a “delightful” route thorough the beautiful and scenic alpine region in the glory of late spring." - Audax Ride Guide

I had a quiet week leading up to the ride on Saturday. It was fortunate - there is always that niggling feeling that something may be left behind. And this ride has a list of required items:

• A rain jacket
• Arm & leg cover or thermals
• A space blanket
• At least 2 bidons;
• Tubes, pump & tyre levers;
• Pocket food
• Two front lights
• Two rear lights
• Reflective vest (which must be worn all day)

and that's over and above the normal stuff (helmet, shoes, bike!!!)

The weather forecast was poor. Bob Lim picked me up Friday lunchtime and it was raining by the time we got to Violet Town. In Bright we did a quick shop before heading to the Star Hotel for Dinner.

Early AM Saturday.I forgot my entry form!! So it was up at 5.30am for a shower and breakfast. It was still raining heavily. A short ride to the start and my feet could already feel the drips running down my socks. I completed another entry form and the Audax organisers diligently checked that I had the required gear. As I looked out into the rain, I pondered that I probably got less wet in my earlier shower!!

7:00AM Bright 0km. A brief safety message and approximately 21 (slightly insane??) cyclists were on their way. I wasn't going to stay dry for long. In fact, within 5 kms, both feet were soaked (despite having 2 sets of booties on), my knicks were slowly getting wet from above and below and I couldn't see very much at all through my sunglasses (Santa: Photochromatic glasses, please) especially when following in the pack.

The torrential rain continued until Harrietville. The road headed upwards to Mt Hotham and once in the clouds, it was mainly drizzle. The fast guys disappeared ahead. I could take my glasses off (Top speed:14km/h) and removed the sleeves from my rain jacket - it was warmer climbing. The drizzle, cloud and wind continued all the way to the top. It was 10:50am before I reached the checkpoint at Hotham Heights.

10:50AM Mount Hotham 54km. Surprise, Surprise but who was waiting for me but Bob and Graham Porteous. They were considering turning around and going home. "Not Me!!. The weather is supposed to clear and I haven't carbo loaded for 3 days to turn back now" (maybe that's why I was slow?!). After a quick discussion, we would head to Dinner Plain and then decide. Word reached us that the road was dry 20km down the hill. It didn't seem possible.

Sure enough, the clouds cleared, the magnificent alpine views appeared, and the riding was mainly downhill with a tailwind. Life is good again. Graham decided to continue on to Omeo. He mentioned something about having a pastie at the Omeo Bakery. Now I was getting hungry and it was still 35km away. Of course, just when things a looking good, Bob gets the one and only flat tyre for the day. Although a 20 minute stop in the sunshine wasn't too bad.

On our way once again, it was scenic ride through the Cowbungra valley, and down into Omeo. Dreaming of pasties. By the way, why do they put 45km/h corners at the bottom of steep hills.

1:10PM Omeo 110km.YUM YUM...a pastie with sauce and a coke. I'd need the energy to climb back out of Omeo. My legs were getting a little tired and the climb was long and steep(ish). And it was getting warm (I could have used that sunscreen I had laughed off at breakfast) and the flies were annoying (no repellent either). Bob and Graham were long gone and I had to push fairly hard into a strong headwind through the Cowbungra valley. The magpie managed to swoop me both ways - apparently Geelong supporters are not tolerated out here.

3:15PM Cowbungra Checkpoint 135km In the middle of nowhere, halfway up a hill, a tent, a boiling kettle and a happy face. Hand over my Brevet card - it's not a race - but at least I'm not last :) Cup of coffee, a banana and a friendly chat. Official cutoff time at the finish 8:20PM. No worries.

Get back on the bike. Promptly do an inverted pendulum move - end up flat on the roadway. Maybe I'm tired. Much better at second attempt. Fairly long climb out of the valley then I go through a really bad patch. Every little incline is hard work. So I get off the bike and walk for a few minutes. "You look like you're having a nice stroll" says a voice as he rolls past. "Yeah, wonderful". Back on the bike. Off again in 20 minutes. I lean the bike against a tree and go for a another walk. Wander back and look at the bike. Wonder how far I could throw it?? A couple of lollies and little water and I'm away again. The rain is back. The sky is dark. I just passed the Mt Hotham Airport but it's still 20km to Hotham Heights. It's a long slow drag uphill into worsening rain.

5:50PM Mt Hotham 165km Surprise, Surprise, Surprise. Bob and Graham are at the checkpoint. Graham is sitting shivering even though wrapped in blankets. They have both decided to get a lift down the mountain. Not me, I want to finish. Some warm custard and apple (awesome) and a coffee. Back outside. "Geez, it is cold". Just a couple of small climbs, the rest is all downhill.

Unfortunately, I overlooked a couple of key points. 1) It's Cold, 2) It's windy (gusts up to 70km/h), 3) Visibility is down to 40m!!, 4) The road is steep and wet (poor braking) and 5) There are a lot of 30km/h corners! My right hand was numb from squeezing the front brake so much. I couldn't let them go for any length of time, it felt like I was being shot from a cannon to my certain death! Very scary. The wind had a very ominous tone and pushed the bike all over the road. I was very tentative around any corner and very attentive down every straight piece of road - which way will it turn next?

After 15kms visibility improved to greater than 100m and I could relax a bit knowing where the road was going. I pushed as hard as I could into Harrietville and actually enjoyed the run into Bright. Of course the torrential rain started 5km from the finish. It was that sort of day.

8:10PM Bright 220km I knew everyone was at the Pub by now. I had completed by far the most difficult event since my Ironman in March 2000. I could not have done it without the sensational Audax support crew. They could have been home in front of a warm fire - instead - they were out in atrocious conditions looking after us. Also, huge thanks to the other MDBC members who participated, I would not have left the start without you.

Some video of rain radar and my location

Saturday 26th November - Things to do in the rain

After a mild sunny week in Melbourne, the clouds rolled in and dumped rain across the state. For David, this meant doing the "Alpine Delight" bike ride from Bright to Mt Hotham and through various other mountain goat passages in less than delightful conditions.
He left Cathy back in Melbourne to spend some time with Mother Mary cleaning out her wardrobe. It would appear that mum has not discarded any clothes since her high school days. Mum still fits into her high school cap! We only managed 4 bags full for the op shop today but should be able to double that before we even start on dad!

Saturday 12th Novermber

We always love returning home and seeing how the garden has grown. The usual tasks of washing, weeding and cutting the lawn all seemed easier on a lovely sunny day. There was 60mm rain in the guage when we got back which, along with a good dose of lawn food prior to departure, may have accounted for the lovely lawns. Mary and Kim called in for afternoon tea whilst John joined us for steak on the BBQ for dinner.

Friday 11th November - Friends

Before departing from Cootamundra, we managed to get in touch with one of Cathy's high school friends (also named Cathy) who lives in Henty on the Olympic Highway in NSW. She was working in Albury in their Christmas shop, so we stopped there for a couple of hours to catch up on the latest news. Cathy's eldest daughter had just finished her final high school exam. We worked out it was 27 years since we had enjoyed the same moment. It hardly seems that long ago. As you can see, we haven't aged a bit!!!

Driving on south, Cathy left David at Beechworth to ride his bike the rest of the way to Milawa. He hadn't turned up even after she had backed the trailer onto the site so she whipped out the folding bike and cycled out to meet him 7-8km along the road. We both had earnt and enjoyed our meals at the Milawa Hotel.

Thursday 10th November

We woke up early to continued heavy rain. Fortunately it's easy to pack up the Troopy even in heavy rain. Cathy didn't even have to go outside before we left for Orange. We collected our trailer and a new supply of tissues and drugs (legal!) for Cathy. The rain eventually stopped as we headed south to Cootamundra.

We had a very pleasant wander around the extremely well maintained Japanese Gardens in Cowra. It was great to see the sun again. Later, we had a late afternoon walk around the "Captain's Walk" - a series of bronze busts of all the Australian Cricket Captains.

Wednesday 9th November

Fog - at River level we were below it.

But as we climbed to Hill End, we rose above it. We enjoyed or $2 shower at the Village Camp before heading to Kissing Point. David enjoyed a coffee whilst we watch the fog melt away in the morning sun.

We spent the rest of the day looking for another bush camp. Sunny Corner sounded like a perfect spot but, in NSW, "State Forest" = "Pine Plantation".

We continued onto Bathurst where David's plan to set a new lap record in the Troopy was cruelly dashed as the track was closed for a private event :(

There was no camping available at Chifley Dam, so we settled for the night at Maquarie Woods. The council were busy cutting the long grass which resulted in Cathy getting the worst case of hayfever. An ordinary day of travel was completed with the arrival of heavy rain.

Tuesday 8th November

We woke well and truly ready for delicious brewed coffee provided by Simmo. The sun was bright and warm outside so a walk in a cool goldmine tunnel near camp was a pleasant contrast. Once packed, we headed along the 4WD track to Long Point to cross the Macquarie River. Not very deep, but enough for David to drive it twice and let Cathy have a turn on the 3rd crossing.

Typically, the gas ran out when brewing the next pot of coffee, but at least we had a spare cylinder. After morning tea and a cool soak in the river, Simmo turned back to Orange and we ventured forth to Hill End. Our lunch spot was at Valentines mine. The locals preferred to arrive by horseback at the Royal Hotel for their lunch.

As the cloud rolled in and the radar indicated approaching thunderstorms, we headed down the Bridle track to find a camp site. There was barely enough time to collect wood for a fire before the rain began.

Chips and drinks to the rescue.

Monday 7 November

The built in alarm clock went off at 6am but Cathy didn’t make it out of bed for a run until 7.30am. We vacated the de Russie suites to quickly buy a couple of things from Woolies, not realising that everyone from around Orange would descend on the supermarket early Monday morning. SImmo waited patiently for us at the tourist bureau then lead us out of town to claim the campsite shelter at Ophir.

That accomplished, we bush bashed across the landscape avoiding snakes and mine shafts to find the Bizmark tunnel and Doctor’s Hill tunnel. The area is full of old gold mines but no nuggets laying around for us to find. Cathy’s energy ran out after lunch and she sat back in a chair to read a book on her kindle. The boys didn’t know whether to relax or whether she would rejuvenate into a bundle of “what are we doing next?”!!!

Simmo entertained as he got the coals blazing and demonstrated a new sort of oven to Cathy – the Camp oven (hasn’t Cathy got enough ovens yet?).

We drank local Prenthe chardonnay with pre dinner nibbles then Climbing Shiraz with our roast beef and vegetables. No room for dessert or coffee. We eagerly jumped into our troopy bed whilst Simmo dared himself to walk another tunnel in the dark and wake up the bats nesting there.

Friday 4th to Sunday 6th November

Cathy's taught APLS course in Orange. David left Bright as the Hot Rod's started arriving for the Rod Run and arrived ate Friday afternoon.

Thursday 3rd November

Cathy had to fit the rest of the week's work into a morning!!! Mother Mary graciously provided the taxi ride to the airport for Cathy's trip to Orange to teach APLS.

David had an IAF (Involuntary Aerial Fertilisation) - ie. he got airsick while flying. It was somewhat turbulent in the air with 5m/s thermals mixing with 5m/s sink - not a good combination. Happy to land, have a cup of tea and a bike ride to settle the stomach down.

Wednesday 2nd November

Cathy had a very busy day at work after a long weekend. The weather was not suitable for Paragliding, so David went for an easy ride to Harrietville and return.

Tuesday 1st November

Melbourne Cup Day and Chris Jone's Birthday. Cathy left for Melbourne whilst David stayed in Bright. It's was funky in the air for Paragliding so David went for a ride to Tawonga Gap. Lots of slow climbing.

Monday 31 October

Paragliding is on!! The SW wind meant a chance to fly the Pines. It was an eventual day as we couldn't find the launch, David did a quick sleddie to a 3 point landing (two feet followed by face!!).

The day was redeemed by a delightful cheese platter at Gapsted winery.