Day 5 : Seymour to Macedon

It was a hot night in Seymour but everyone rose refreshed, ready for another day. We were joined by Robert and his daughter Eilish who had travelled from Yarrawonga and Craig from Corowa. But this day was going to be different. The forecast had been tooled over by many on their I-phones and it predicted rain and 60km winds. This forced a few of the riders to get out their wet weather gear, but some decided they would take a chance. Surprisingly the group left in unison after a briefing by Graeme, and crossed under the Hume Freeway headed for Pyalong. The clouds were thick in the sky but no rain eventuated as we wound our way along the flat roads towards the Pyalong hills. Red gums, cattle, sheep and delightful water courses were passed as the wind started to develop. It was an easy ride to morning tea at Pyalong, but the short climb up to the town itself was a reminder that we were approaching some serious hills. DGN John, managed to snag an akubra lying by the roadside, but lost control as he handed it to Wendy. The gravel rash was not a pretty sight. At morning tea the first spots of rain appeared and most donned their rain jackets, except for Craig, a born and bred Pyalongite who had cycled these parts for many years. The hasty exit from morning tea led the whole group up to a one way road, and we were going the wrong way so were forced to back track through the town again, onto the Highway, eventually joining the road across to Lancefield.

This was where it all started to deteriorate! The rain started, the wind blew and the hills appeared. Even Craig put on his jacket! We climbed up through rain soaked hills, misty mountains and rocky outcrops. Each rider entered their personal version of hell. Although most had jackets the wind blew straight through and fingers and toes grew cold. On a warm day this would be beautiful countryside, but today it was bleak and desolate. John Paton's bike thermometer recorded 9 C! But few faltered, fell off or gave up. As we crossed the range and came down the other side towards Lancefield the chill factor was severe. David managed to get a puncture two miles from Lancefield and a few chains were dropped. We rolled into the town wet through and chilled to the bone and wondering what the afternoon would bring.

Walking into Lancefield Bakery was like entering a sauna. The warmth of the ovens spread through the room and soon we were all enjoying hot pies and coffee and thawing out. By the time we were ready to leave the sun was breaking through the clouds and the rain had stopped. The wind continued unabated but the afternoon ride to Riddells Creek was far more pleasant. We were joined by a member of RC of Riddells Creek as we devoured our afternoon tea.

The final push into Macedon was along flat roads with the occasional dip, but the wind kept blowing at 50-60 km making it the most strenuous day so far. No prettier sight was there than the Black Forest Motel, unfortunately at the top of the town! As the westerly sun warmed us up we thanked Margaret and Graham and Wendy for the great job they had done in organising and conducting the ride.

At 7pm we all went out for dinner in Macedon to a place we thought was a wood oven pizza/pasta restaurant, but were told that we could not order pizzas in the dining room on a Wednesday night!  However, despite that we enjoyed the meal, with much conviviality and the company of several members of the Rotary Club of Riddells Creek.