DAY 123 - PORTLAND VIC

PORTLAND VIC

DAY 123

MOUNT GAMBIER - PORTLAND

116.71 km

Total Time: 08.45 – 17.30 (8h 15m)

(including 30 min time difference SA – VIC)

Time on Bike: 7h 20m

Max. Speed: 56.5 km/h

Av. Speed: 15.9 km/h


There was some long, hard, stone cold, boring riding today.

Oh, and there was the small sideshow of a shitload of log trucks.

Everything that I could possibly dislike was laid on with abundance.

Only howling wind and pouring rain were missing.

It rates a podium finish on terms of least inspiring rides.

Truth be told, I did unbelievably well to get in as early as I did, especially losing 30 minutes with the time difference.

At one stage, 7 pm was not out of reckoning and I gave myself absolutely no chance of finishing before dark.

And it was so freaking cold.

Single figures today, no doubt and I don’t care a crap what the forecasts said.

I’ve got a tough skin and I was struggling.

My feet got cold at about 3 am this morning and stayed so until a hot shower after 6 pm this evening.

My hands just took turns with my feet – feet cold, hands warm/ hands cold, feet warm or all 4 totally fucking cold together.

I just gave up after a point when I realised there was no chance of getting any feeling back.

At least 50 kilometres of C192 between Mount Gambier and Portland travels through large tracts of plantation pine forest and I wish it didn’t.

Absolutely none of it was flat and more to the point, there was some seriously slow and punishing grind.

One pass in particular was layered in 4 different sections, dragging me over it at not much better than walking pace and plummeting the average speed as low as the temperature.

And not to mention the log trucks, although I believe I have already.

I was largely unimpressed.

With still 45 kilometres to cover at 2.30 pm, I started to get my night lights warmed up.

Each section of the ride was getting progressively slower and an arrival any time between 5 and 7 pm was all I could see.

As so often happens, with a little perseverance, a lot of effort and an accompanying bad mouth, things eventually improve and the final 30 kilometres into Portland was relatively acceptable.

I wouldn’t want to another repeat of today any time soon, however.

This weather is harsh and I’m taking a day about town tomorrow.

If things improve, then good.

If not, I’m onwards to Port Fairy on Thursday in the cold yet again.