Day 5 Ouse to New Norfolk

    The second "rest" day started a bit damp looking with some rain over night and a grey sky as we prepared for the days ride. After breakfast at the Lachlan Hotel for some of us (which all of us were charged for, not happy) we set off up the Lyell Highway a short distance before turning left down the gravel Lake Repulse Road. After winding our way through some farming country we were passed by a farmer in a ute who pulled over and introduced himself as not only the owner of the land we were riding through but also the president of the Tasmanian Trail Association after a bit of a chat we headed on our way and started a descent past some cattle who seemed intent or running down the road instead if off to the side, eventually after giving them some space they got the hint and we had reached the bridge over the Derwent River right behind the Repulse Power Station Dam holding back the waters of Lake Repulse. A bit of a climb up and now into sparsely forested land due to a fire a few years back and the track became a bit muddy and it was sticky clay that stuck to your wheels so they would hardly turn, this was fixed with another descent which threw the mud in large chunks everywhere before arriving at a creek to wash the remaining off and get our feet wet. The rocks were large an slippery so care was needed and the choice was shoes on or shoes off, I chose off which kept my shoes dry for about half an hour more.

Grey skies as we left Ouse

Heading down Lake Repulse Road

View over the Derwent Valley

Mooove over!

Bridge over the Derwent River at the base of the Repulse Power Station dam

Warning to check the level

Time to get the feet wet

Shoes off for me

 

 

We continued on finding the trail markers quite well meandering through previously burnt bush and pine plantations, the native bush was slowly recovering but the Radiata Pine plantations were now just burnt and blackened sticks. After a way we turned right onto Ellendale Road and though the tiny township of surprisingly, Ellendale where we stopped for a quick refuel before continuing on, and a few km out of town half way down a nice descent the Tasmanian Trail left the main road and into some private land. We lifted our bikes over a gate and the follow the trail though a very enjoyable bushland track down a few hills and up a few steep pinches (which I think from memory only Michael and Jo managed), a great little section before coming out to a gate and an open field which once crossed and through another gate it returned to bush again. We then came back out into open fields again so had to be on alert to find the little Tassie Trail triangles. We nearly headed down an obvious track before Dale pulled us up as the trail actually followed down the fence line (Good catch Dale). This brought us to the top of an amazing grassy descent which a farmer we met at the top had only just mowed. It was fast, wide, great fun and brought us down to a farm house at Meadow Bank where we turned right and up a gravel climb of Meadow Bank Road and then down a fast descent over Ginger Creek and met up with Gordon River Road at the crossing of the old rail crossing. We then headed down the road at Fenton Forrest past some houses and farmland up a climb to a gate where another farmer met us and offered to open the gate and after crossing his crop opened another, great bloke! We continued along the ridgeline over looking Glenora before a right turn to head down hill into the town onto Kenmore Road and out to join Gordon River Road near the town swimming pool.

 

Through the prieviouly burnt out bush

 

Regroup after the bush track climb

Steve leading the way across the open field

Little over grown in places

Michael at the top of the freshly mown grassy descent

Nigel at Fenton Forest

The great bloke who opened the gate for us

Overlooking Glenora

 



 We then followed Gordon River Road through to Bushy Park for some much needed food and drink, then after moving off we crossed the river Derwent again and not long after met the Lyell Highway and straight across onto the gravel Black Hills Road which after our lunch break seemed so slow and dragging as we pedalled down to the base of a very large hill with our days destination on the other side. It was a long slow climb but the weather was in our favour with the overcast conditions keeping us from getting too hot. after a 300 meter climb we reached the top and a reward of a few snake lollies before heading down the huge decent into New Norfolk, first on gravel then onto tarmac I almost reached near 70kph down into town. We then parted ways to our different accommodations to get cleaned up then meet up at the pub later for dinner. This is where Nigel was leaving us due to work and family commitments. Thanks for the company Nigel your not bad on a MTB for a roadie ;) . After dinner I made my way back to the caravan park by the river and my little cabin for the night to rest for the big day tomorrow. We had ridden just over 75km and climbed just more than 1,800 meters, not bad for a rest day!

Lunch at Bushy Park Road House

Hop farming country

The Derwent Rive once again

Dead pan road and a big climb ahead

Top of a 300 meter climb

Leo checking in at the New Norfolk caravan park

My castle for the night

 

Day 5 GPS