Day 12: Queanbeyan to Bundanoon
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Got going at 7am and it was a lovely blue sky start to the day. For the first 20kms I rode along the Kings Highway to Bungendore. The Kings Highway is my least favorite road so far on this trip. For a good third of it's length there is no shoulder to ride in. It is single lane for most of it's length and I had those big double trucks passing me. I was very, very happy to be off it at Bungendore.
Bungendore is a small country town with a few old buildings. I went to the local bakery for my breakfast. After I was fed, I hit the road hoping for it to be a little bit more quiet.
Thankfully I wasn't disappointed. For the next 65kms I cycled lovely quiet county roads. I was expecting some of the ride to be on gravel (that is what my map said), but was pleased it was sealed for the entire length. The scenery was mostly farms and the odd little village. At the end of the country road I had to join the Hume Highway.
The Hume Highway is the main road between Melbourne and Sydney. So is full of large trucks. When I was a couple of kms away I could hear those trucks. Was not looking forward to this next bit of my journey. When I got on the highway, I had the breakdown lane all to myself. It was really noisy, after 5kms I had my turnoff for Bundanoon. The rest of the ride was again along nice quiet country roads.
When I got to Bundanoon I stopped at the Ye Olde Bike Shop for my afternoon coffee and cake. After, I checked into the local Yha. The hostel is in an old guest house and seems very relaxing.
Once I was all cleaned up I went for a walk around the town. Bundanoon is a very cute town. A lot of the gardens are well maintained and currently in flower, which makes the walk into town really pleasant.
Bundanoon is also the entry point to the local national park and you can go mountain biking in the surrounding hills. Also this is the first town in Australia to ban plastic bottles of water for sale. Instead, you can fill your empty bottles using the special taps provided around the town.
I am now enjoying a large pizza. It is very tasty. Today was a really nice riding day. I am pleased I was able to stick to mostly quiet county roads, so much nicer than those highways. Tomorrow I'll be leaving a little later and heading towards Wollongong.
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| A windfarm on the edge of Canberra |
Thankfully I wasn't disappointed. For the next 65kms I cycled lovely quiet county roads. I was expecting some of the ride to be on gravel (that is what my map said), but was pleased it was sealed for the entire length. The scenery was mostly farms and the odd little village. At the end of the country road I had to join the Hume Highway.
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| Saw lots of these today. Baaaaaaa |
The Hume Highway is the main road between Melbourne and Sydney. So is full of large trucks. When I was a couple of kms away I could hear those trucks. Was not looking forward to this next bit of my journey. When I got on the highway, I had the breakdown lane all to myself. It was really noisy, after 5kms I had my turnoff for Bundanoon. The rest of the ride was again along nice quiet country roads.
When I got to Bundanoon I stopped at the Ye Olde Bike Shop for my afternoon coffee and cake. After, I checked into the local Yha. The hostel is in an old guest house and seems very relaxing.
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| A yummy coffee and cake after a long day in the saddle |
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| If only my bike could go that fast! |
Bundanoon is also the entry point to the local national park and you can go mountain biking in the surrounding hills. Also this is the first town in Australia to ban plastic bottles of water for sale. Instead, you can fill your empty bottles using the special taps provided around the town.
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| One of the churches in Bundanoon |
I am now enjoying a large pizza. It is very tasty. Today was a really nice riding day. I am pleased I was able to stick to mostly quiet county roads, so much nicer than those highways. Tomorrow I'll be leaving a little later and heading towards Wollongong.
