On the Road: 130km/75 mi l 1,722 m/5,814 ft el

Please watch Relive video here:https://www.relive.com/view/vYvrzr5o7Lv

If there was one word for today’s ride, it would have to be … “exhilaration”!
Starting at an elevation of 800m, we finished at 200m, riding through three different environmental regimes: alpine moorland, sub-alpine forest and farming land.

We had to do some work to earn all the joy that was in store however! There were two significant climbs leading into our morning coffee stop: 3.5 kilometres at 8%, and post coffee with similar statistics. But these are the only significant climbs of the day.

Yes, there were other hills – as you can see from the total elevation for the day – but they rolled much more moderately and this was a great day’s riding. As we topped the second hill we could look back from Mount Round Lookout all the way to Cradle Mountain. We then wound beautifully down through Mersey Valley (yes we ate some too!) to our lunch spot near Mole Creek.

Then heading on, we rolled through flatter terrain to the cycling centre of Deloraine in the heart of Tasmania’s farm land, to stay at one of two traditional pub-style hotels. A great day on the bike!

Deloraine is the hometown of Aussie Tour pro Richie Porte!

🎼 He was sitting in the lounge of the Empire Hotel, He was drinking for diversion, He was thinking for himself. A little money riding on the Maple Leafs, Along comes a lady on lacy sleeves 🎼….Joni Mitchell

After dinner but before dessert, Mark the hotel owner took across the street to the river to look for platypus, which only are seen at dawn or dusk

A rare California redwood planted 150 yr ago…

Then back for dessert…

Life is good in Deloraine!