Around the Bay 135kms - 20 October 2013

By EB

It is just before 6 am on Sunday morning, and I am ready to go. I’ve been up since 4, had breakfast and, after loading up our bikes and gear, we are at Eastern Beach in Geelong along with several hundred others, waiting for the signal to start. It’s dark, but thankfully not too cold.

The start line in Geelong

We hear the signal and start peddling towards Queenscliff, 35kms away. It is a gorgeous morning, and the scenery is beautiful. There is no wind to speak of and we make good time, arriving in Queenscliff in time to board the 8am ferry.

Hundreds of bikes on the ferry

 We take the opportunity on the trip over to Sorrento to get down some more breakfast and a coffee, and then before we know it, we are collecting our bikes and riding towards Frankston. The sun is well and truly up now, and it is beginning to warm up. There are some quite challenging hills between Sorrento and Frankston, and the head wind is not helping us.

As we coast down Oliver’s Hill into Frankston at about midday, we pass a sign that tells us that from here we have about 50kms to the finish line. Lunch is at Mordialloc, where we have a well earned rest before tackling the uphill stretch to Brighton. The northerly wind is beginning to tire us out, and some of the hills are a struggle. 

Then suddenly the wind changes, the head wind drops and the cool air on our skin is a blessing. We are reinvigorated and pick up our speed, enjoying the ride along the beach through St Kilda and Middle Park, before we turn inland at Port Melbourne and head for the finish line.

It is a fantastic feeling to cross the Around the Bay in a Day finish line for another year, proud that we have set a new personal best for distance, 135kms. There’s only one thing left to do, and that is grab a cold beer from the Spokes Bar and enjoy a well earned drink!