Day 3 Beechworth to Dederang

Ok, so the first thing I'd like you to know today is that the boutique motel was actually pretty good. Some of the "boutique" elements were identified by Belinda; the extra fluffy towels, the exotic bed throw, hundreds of pillows, an espresso coffee machine in each room, nice shampoos, and a wonderful sensor night light in the bathroom.

We had dined at the Fox and Hound (wonderful food), and were in bed by 9:30pm. It had been a busy social day for me, bumping into two friends from different Wilsons Prom Lighthouse Trips: Darko, who was on a music camp, and Graham, who was on the County Court circuit.

After a not very restful sleep, we headed out early to GiGis cafe for breakfast.

This was an exciting event, as you can see!

A quick visit to the Outfitters shop was followed by an interrogation of a woman at the Tourist information centre- could we take the Kibbles road short cut towards Yackandandah to avoid the main road? She hadn't travelled the road for years but soon was passionately relating horror stories of Jinkers (some sort of large obstacle with something to do with logging trucks) and thick red mud. Once she was on a roll with these encouraging descriptions, she climaxed with a terrifying story of a woman and her elderly mother who ventured into this area at night courtesy of an errant GPS and ended up at the top of a logging trail, unable to return and too frightened to proceed. The rescue involved police, the SES, four wheel drives and lowering her small Mazda using winches!

We listened intently, and ignoring her advice set out to take our chances.

All started really well. We were actually on an old rail trail. The land was compulsorily acquired in 1891 (http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/8615827) but now apparently, one landowner won't sell their section, and the trail cannot be developed. We knew of this, but hoped we could find tracks through.

Being an old rail route, the gradient was consistent and gentle. Even better, it was downwards. The gravel was negotiable, and not scary. The track was really pleasant, shaded and Mary was entertained by the many butterflies that strangely were invisible to Belinda and myself. This was going well!

I really hoped we didn't come across a gate with a "keep out" sign....

When we came across the sign we were dismayed. there was no alternative route. fortunately we were adept with language and logic. it wasnt long before we convinced ourselves that a keep out sign without "Trespassers Prosecuted" actually meant.. "Please enter but travel discretely" this we did. Then we saw the house, high on a hill, overlooking the trail. Dressed as we were in bright fluoro camouflage gear, we decided that we may have been, or soon would be spotted. Belinda and I set out up the long driveway on foot to do the right thing and ask permission for passage. Trespassers we were, but the understandably frustrated land manager informed us that our crime was minor compared with the trail bikers who buzz noisily through her land at 7:30 am, ignoring the Private Property signs (how naughty!)

She said now that we were there, we might as well continue! This was great. The driveway we had walked was actually our short cut. We returned to Mary at Gate 2 and wheeled our bikes past gloriously healthy mares and their foals. The driveway had some challenging ruts and sand. Belinda was fortunately unharmed by a spill from stationary when avoiding a car.

Once through the property we descended a gravel road (some sandy heart starters!) and were soon on the busy highway to Yackandandah.

Yackandandah, where's that?

The final approach to Yack was a "wheeeeeee" and we were ready for lunch. We had it here.... It was good.

After shopping for supplies and a saunter through town we were in the saddle again.

What I had thought was a small stretch of up and down, was actually a somewhat tedious 10km of ascent. The undulating and obumbrated road was fortunately free of traffic, and the valley alongside was still and serene. The late afternoon was warm, and I was starting to feel tired. That's when God gifted us a 10km descent with little pedal work required. The sign to the B and B was a sight for sore legs.

Edelweiss cottage is very pretty. Sofas and showers are wonderful things.

Aaah!

My Borat suit