UnderDownUnder Day 19: Port Arthur to Richmond..Not Quite Gale Force Winds

On the Road – Distance 89km / 55mi 1158m / 3799ft

Only partial Relive video here: (1st 40 km missing): https://www.relive.com/view/vrqDX1DkVLq

The first 19km of today’s ride wasfairly flat, with only 200m of total elevation. We headed directly north initially then east to Eaglehawk Neck and a 2.5km climb at 6.6%. Those who ride up get to go down, and there wasn’t a nice 7km descent before the road levels off again.

We checked out the ‘Dog Line’…this was area at the Eaglehawk Neck that was lined with dogs to prevent escaped convicts from leaving the area. At one time there were a series of dog statues marking the line but now only one remains.

A short section of easy undulations brought us into the Bangor Vineyard Shed just south of Dunalley, where we had coffee.

THEN THE WINDS REALLY PICKED UP AND WAS ALL HEADWIND!

From Dunalley we took the less-travelled road around through Connelly’s Marsh, Carlton River, Dodges Ferry and Lewisham. This was a beautiful bit of riding, mostly along the water’s edge, except for 30km/hr wind. There were a couple of very short sections of gravel (less than 1km) but the condition of the road surface was excellent.

North of Lewisham we rejoined the Tasman Highway for a short 5km before arriving in Sorell for a picnic lunch.

Another 2.5km brought us to Brinktop Road, the scenic back way into historic Richmond.

Just as we entered the village we crossed Australia’s oldest bridge, built in 1825 by convict labour. This bridge has no keystones in the arches!

Destination Richmond
The sandstone & brick Georgian and colonial buildings, and the abundance of European trees give Richmond the appearance of an English village. Although today Richmond provides an air of civility, genteel country life and recreation, it wasn’t always so, as its history goes back to the earliest days of Van Diemen’s Land when it was established as an important military staging post and convict station linking Hobart with Port Arthur.

Our destination for tonight was the Prospect Country House, built in 1832 by James Buscombe using convict labour. The stables and servant’s quarters have been converted into guest rooms, and I was fortunate to get the executive suite on the entire second floor of the manor house!