Not A Mid Life Crisis, Just An Extended Tour (Part IX)

 DAY 12

A bit of a dusty start this morning thanks to that bottle of red I hauled from Q'town. Think of the money it saved me though....anyway, after a few trips up and down the old Mole Creek Hotel staircase I had the bike loaded and was ready to go. It was warm and I was sweating already! How awesome was this weather? Perfect for motorcycle touring!

First stop was just down the road at the Deloraine Town Cafe' Bakery - again. 

This place has great food and is centrally placed on the main drag. Sitting out the front watching the world go by was a great way to start the day.

I was going to rock into Honda City in Launny for a new rear tyre that I had organised on Monday. No booking was necessary if I dropped the wheel out myself which made for a cruisy morning with no deadlines. 

No matter who was working on the bike though. It was dirty and I needed to knock some grime off of it. I found a pressure washer at the BP in Deloraine and for $4 cleaned the bike up a bit.

Before....

And after.

As I mentioned a few days back the only tyre they had that suited my bike was a Michelin Anakee Wild. Not my first (or fifth or sixth for that matter) choice for a rear tyre but beggars can't be choosers. Rocking into the Honda shop the mechanics weren't busy so they would do the whole wheel change from go to whoa. Err, ok.... The salesman noted my Tutoro chain oiler and asked about it, including the mechanic in the conversation....

Anyway, an hour later I was back with a new rear tyre and new rear brake pads (there WERE getting thin) and about to roll out the door. I thought I would check the chain oiler outlet as the dispensing nozzle placement is a bit critical to operation. 

Now this is how I installed it and it is meant to look -

I didn't get a photo but the delivery tube was now bent completely double back on itself (forward) and the dispensing nozzle was nowhere to be seen. 

Fcuk. Me.

We looked everywhere on the floor and work stand for the nozzle, to no avail. I kept my cool as best I could (having just forked out near $450 for two jobs I can and do do myself) with the mechanic defending himself with a "it's hard to line the spacers, sprocket carrier and axle up by yourself" and me thinking "fcuk, we spoke specifically about the chain oiler right before you started the job and you ARE A PROFESSIONAL MOTORCYCLE MECHANIC after all". I'm just a seat shining white collar worker but fuck me, attention to detail is what separates a craftsmen from a mere tradesmen. 

How. The .Fcuk.Could.You.Not.See.The.Tube? I need to order a new one from the UK now so who knows when that will arrive.

So, I thanked them, said don't worry and rode out. If I need work done I'll ride to Hobart in future.

I wanted to ride up Ben Lomond and despite it's head being in cloud I headed out Blessington Road. There were some great views to the south west toward the airport.

The new tyre was feeling weird. Tipping into a corner the rear walked out a bit like I was riding a motocrosser on the tar. It also weaved quite a bit with undulations in the road surface. I guess it is just a big knobby? 😞

It was a pretty ride out to Ben Lomond though.

I was at the turn off to the national park much more quickly this time than the last time I rode this way. The mode of transport has something to do with that.

The road up to Leggs Tor is great dirt and would be quite easily done on a sports bike. An ADV bike is certainly no necessity. It does make it more comfortable and waaay quicker though. 😁 As I climbed up the road surface became wet, then the drizzle began to fall in waves as the cloud drifted by.

The moisture just made the gravel even more grippy though so I decided "what the hell". It may be 15 degrees up here but it was 25C and sticky down lower so the worst that could happen is I'm cold for 20 minutes.

I scooted up to the notorious Jacobs Ladder section of the climb but it was a doddle with the hard packed, wet gravel. I was soon feeling my way around in the cloud at the top. Just like being at work!!

It was a bit of a shame about the view but I have seen it on a clear day before. The beauty of this kind of weather is that most people give it away. The only other vehicle I saw was this white Prado that climbed the Ladder while I was at the lookout. It gives a bit of scale to the size of the climb.

It was soon time to keep rolling. I ripped on my cheap R-Jays gloves. Plenty warm enough, even up here.

Yep, warning noted.

And over we go!

A slight break in the clouds revealed the ladder and the outlook.

Once down safely, I stopped to look back up at it and of course, the cloud began clearing!

Dropping off the mountain I turned right and headed for Upper Blessington. There was great view of Ben Lomond from the road. It's head was still shrouded in cloud.

I didn't have much of a plan from here other than to "get lost". So far, it was looking good!

Once I got into those trees on the other side of the valley the road turned to dirt. Good dirt. Wet dirt. But it was well gravelled and I just stood up and roosted out of the corners. I must say, I liked this Anakee Wild on the dirt! It was a completely different tyre! This section was only 25 kilometres but it seemed to take much longer. The concentration levels when on the dirt are through the roof, as I was constantly scanning for ruts, clay surface and any other issues that might require me to pull this supertanker up quickly. I wish I had set the GoPro as the forest was stunning, even when it began to rain and I hit some clay sections. 

I got back onto the sealed road at Upper Esk which was just a locality. The narrow strip of tar was wet in places but felt like a superhighway after the dirt. It soon took me to Mathinna. Not much to say about Mathinna. Does anyone know somebody who comes from there....?

Ringarooma. 

Sounds like somewhere in New Zealand. Better go check that out! And I am glad I did. Initial sealed road that was completely covered in moss and wound it' sway through the forest before it gave way to a set of rough uphill dirt bends. This felt like I was in the middle of nowhere! 😎

Yeah. This is what ADV bikes are for! They get you to places that most don't see.

The road opened up to be 100km/h + and before I knew it I was back on the sealed stuff, enjoying a set of bends that dropped into the valley with stunning views to the north east.

Just out of Ringarooma was an intersection with a road sign that pointed right, to Pyengana - The Pub In The Paddock. I contemplated turning right for a minute but decided that I had had enough dirt for today, so went left through Ringarooma, Legerwood and on to Branxholme and the Imperial Hotel, my home for the night. ( It would have actually made a great loop - Pyengana - Weldborough - Derby - Branxholme compared to what I did ride)

Just as I entered the Branxholme "town" limits I spotted hop fields to the left of the road. A quick stop was called for to get a photo of this beer flavour in it's natural state.

It was too early to stop for the day and Derby was only a few kilometres to the east. So I pushed on a bit longer. I couldn't believe how busy Derby was. The last time we cam here to MTB was about 2017 and Derby was very "new". There was one bike shop in town, one pizza place and the pub had just been taken over that week - we were lucky to get a beer! Now there were dozens of riders in the street, every shop was filled and there were numerous new accommodation options! Five or six years ago you could get a house here for less than the first home owners grant. Now it commands capital city prices! And yes, the trails ARE that good!

But no mountain biking for me today. I'm far too unfit at the moment anyway.....and the Weldborough Pub was calling me....

The bends climbing out of Derby are first class then the twisty stuff through Frome Forest is pure gold.....and then you pop out at Weldborough, with the pub being about six feet off the road. A quick Little Rivers beer here, a pleasant chat with some Victorian tourists then it was back onto the bike to head for Branxholme.

Through the bends of Frome Forest and down into Derby again.... 😋

Checking in and the pub was amazingly well maintained. All new carpet and bedding upstairs. I wonder if this is a result of the mtbers and Derby's lack of accom? 

There is a link trail across here from Derby and plenty of bicycle influence to be seen in town.

Sitting out on the deck at the side of the pub, the temperature was just perfect! About 20 Celsius, no insects, a cold beer and looking at the huge hop vines towering in the paddock right behind the pub.

Did I mention the food? Well, it was sensational for a small country town pub. A perfect, fresh salad, perfectly cooked crispy chips and perfectly cooked schnitty! Unexpected but very welcome!

I was in bed early again tonight and the only thing to spoil the Branxholme pub experience were the pissed dickheads running up and down the stairs to the guest accomodation until the early hours. Once I summoned the energy to get my ear plugs out of my jacket that problem disappeared though.

Another "average" day in the saddle at 378 kilometres but again, there was a lot of action packed into that distance yet I never felt rushed. I'm loving Tassie!

To be continued......