Finally, I arrived in Down Under. And what nice surprise: all the bag (incl. the bike) arrived as well! :-) I spent about one hour to pass the control (they wanted to see if the bicycle had mud on the wheels) and then another 1-2 hours assembling the bike and pumping the tire. I didn't want to hurry to much: the weather outside was grey and not very warm. After some breakfast and coffee, I left the airport... but where to? I had a map, but one "exit" in direction of the south to Melbourne was saying "no bicycle" on the highway. The correct one to the north was as well to a highway - but no interdiction. Even one Aussie told me, that bicycle were not permitted on there, I choose to ride on it because 1) nothing was written and 2) neither me nor the guy had an idea where else to go for the north.
Everything went well. In Sunburry, I had another coffea before I found shopping centers to buy two small gas bottles and a telecom-shop. Telstra told me to go to its competition Optus, who was suprised as they might not have as good coverage. But they should have the better data plan. Even the sales person told me "hot spot data connection sharing through iPhone" should work, I realised two days later that it's not. Their data packet seems to be quite new as nobody did know on the phone. Another point I learnt: sometimes it of use to "reset the connection" with the iPhone to get acces to the internet (e.g. when switching the network provider).
So I cycled my way to the north following the direction of Bendigo. Arriving at the highway, it said "No agriculture vehicle..." etc. Markus (as road cycler) told me always, I am riding a tractor... so I took the road at the left of the highway. Doing some extra km and heights. Up to the point, where the road would go either to the east or the west. I needed to head to the north! I asked a stopping car who told me to take the highway as it was allowed. So I passed by the "No agriculture Vehicle"-Sign to see 50m later another one: "Carefull: cycle crossing". Than I knew it was allowed.
The temperature had rised from 10-15°C to over 20°C. With the time, I had to find somewhere to stay for the night. My goal was not to tent the first night, as the night before was good, but not enough for cycling. Despite my goal of doing 40km the first day, I ended at near the twice in Woodend, searching for a hotel. So I asked Evan, who was cycling with his daugther Pippa one and a half bike. He told me that there was only one hotel and should try there.
It was by far to expensive and for the other solution I had to cycle back. So I started to ask around, if there would be a way to take a shower e.g. in a sport club or so.
And then I met Evan and his daughter again. He kindly proposed me to take a shower at his house. So we drove all to their house. I even did not already unpacked my stuff, that I was invited to dinner... and then to sleep in their guest room (after confirmation of his wife Fran, of course). So I end up the day with Fran and Evan and their Children Harry and Pippa (short for Josephina).
Cheers, Gerges
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