It is the start of something new for us, a cycling tour. We have to be at our meeting point in Launceston for 9:00 am which means an early departure from the Stables. This proves to be not a problem and we arrive in plenty of time. Well, more than plenty of time really. You see during the night Tasmania reverted to daylight savings time and guess who forgot to adjust their clocks? So now we have a whole extra hour to kill. There is not a lot open on a Sunday morning at 8:00 am in downtown Launceston. But we do manage to drop off the rental car and then stumble upon a very nice bakery and coffee shop. We have a few great moments watching the sparrows stealing someone’s croissant!
There are five of us on this tour called the Heritage Cycle Tour. We have almost brand new 21 speed mountain bikes, a van and trailer to haul all our luggage, and two guides to basically wait on us hand and foot. I don’t think I could ever get used to having servants. After group introductions, a short overview of the trip and a clothing check, everyone piles into the van for a short trip to our departure point. Cycling really is a great way to slow yourself down and see some of the countryside. The bikes are great and the roads not too hilly with some wonderful scenery and enough time to smell the roses, so to speak.
Lunch is in a little village called Cressy which is famous for trout fishing. By this time we have cycled about thirty kilometres and our “butts” are sore. Still, after a great lunch, we push on. A strong headwind develops and still we push on and on and on. By three in the afternoon, after about 60 kilometres we finally pack it in. The guides say that is pretty good as almost no one ever cycles the entire first day. I would guess not as the total distance is close to 80 kilometres! One member of our party continues on for a few more kilometres before he too succumbs to the distance and headwind.
Our accommodation is at the Foxhunters Return, a wonderful eighteen something inn in the delightful town of Campbell Town. It’s funny what a hot shower, wonderful accommodations, a great great supper and good company will do for sore, tired and aching muscles! Bedtime is an early 9:00 pm.