TRAVEL FEATURE - AUSTRALIA
MEGAN GOVERNI ( W ) / LEIGH WILKINS ( P )
GET LOST !
A toss of a coin . An idea not born of me ; it seemed a ridiculous way to find our way through the Australian state of Victoria . Two hundred kilometres of riding and we were no further than twenty kilometres from the CBD of Melbourne . We were lost and so close to home .
“ We are NOT lost ,” came the voice in my helmet , my partner annoyed that I ’ d suggest such a thing . It was his idea to toss a coin to decide the direction of travel . His riding style gave away his frustration , I could see he too was annoyed that we were still so close to suburbia .
The suggestion was that we would do away with the coin and now take a new tact , we ’ d turn right , then left and again right , left . The new plan was to continue this route for the remainder of our five-day ride and see where we would end up . Victoria is Australia ’ s smallest , and most densely populated , of all mainland states , there weren ’ t too many places we hadn ’ t ridden so a new way of discovery was certainly needed .
Our new plan , new route , took us in a north westerly direction , passing the hamlets of Kyneton and Metcalfe I knew we were now heading in a direction that would find adventure , I also knew the story of being lost would eventually be coming , I prepared myself for an afternoon of mind wandering , off on an imaginary adventure of my own .
We turned left and found a road , bitumen and single laned , it was enough to have a little fun as we wound upwards , no idea where we were or where we were going . I ’ d been told no devices , just a paper map of the state . Great idea .
A small road appeared on the left and we turned . Wait ! The last turn had been left , so we were now breaking the ‘ rules ’, seems it was ok when it suited the ‘ rule ’ maker .
Struggling to find level ground
TRAVERSE 153