Epic Day in the Saddle Up Over Around and Home

Saturday saw another adventure with a long day in the saddle expected. I was planning on a 4 hour ride. So after meeting Rob at 6.30 we headed out along Dandy Creek trail to the base of the Dandenongs.

Its true the bike almost rides itself !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


We climbed our way up the mountain on the single track and fire road until we hit Dodds track, where we proceeded to dismount and walk. This track is really really steep and the challenge is there for someone to ride it.


Its always a relief when you get to the top and can look back down the hill. And on Saturday the sun was just coming up and it was great to be out in the bush on the bike.


Posing at the top of Dodds, with slightly aching calves after the uphill walk.

So now with the majority of the climbing done we headed over to ferny Creek for a little hidden gem of a descent, that I had done once before. Unfortunetly this track had been altered and is now a great walking track, not so good for bikes anymore, so after that dissappointment we pushed on through Belgrave to Tecoma where we would pick up a link track to Lysterfield. All timings were working well.

It was a great morning, but I think I mentioned that already.

As we arrived at the picnic ground that is the start of the link track to Lysterfield we were told the area was closed as due to the Upwey fire in Feb they have closed the area to allow the wildlife some natural bush to make new homes. So we were sent on our way up a climb, that we were told would get us to Lysterfield. We were only about 1km away from Lysterfield when we got turned around so we figured it would not be too far.

So after climbing the hill, riding through what seemed like someones back yard thinking we had found the track again, going down the hill to the creek we were essentially lost, no track to be seen. We knew Lysterfield was south west of where we were so we pushed on up back up the hill out of the valley.

As we got to a road we stopped a car coming from the direction we were about to head and asked
if it was the way to Lysterfield, she said it was but it was "miles" away.

So as our 9.30am deadline passed and the 3 hour mark in the saddle arrived we finally hit Wellington road, but still had a bit of work before we got to the singletrack. As we finally arrived to a T junction I said to Rob 1 hour ago we were 2 kms to the right, we had just done one mighty loop around. Needless to say he was not that impressed

As we hit the lake track so Rob could catch up to his kids who he was meeting there we bumped into the ladies MTB skills session. After catching Rob's kids and JD I headed off for a lap of the park and home.

On the start of the Commonwealth Games Track I again met up with the 20 odd ladies doing the skills session, learning how to get over a log. 10 had completed and 10 were waiting to go, they waved me through and as I approached the log with 20 sets of eyes on me I made it with no issue, phew no pressure.


So at the top of the CGT is was almost 4 and half hours in the saddle.



The day was cool but clear, and now I was heading home, so things were looking good.

Dandenong doesn't look so bad from this distance.

So after another 20 mins on dirt to get out of the Park it was the long slog home up Stud road. The legs were feeling heavy but still ticking over. I got home after 5hrs50 mins, so it was a fair days work, and it was only 12.30.

So I will rest on Sunday and then will be back on the road bike on Monday.