Follow along as our intrepid President Janice tackles the rigors of the Ballarat to Maryborough Heritage Trail!
Janice met up with two friends at the Ballarat railway station and attempted to find the head of the Heritage Trail.
“This was not easy, but we got there about an hour later.. Then it was through the bush to Creswick following the markers which were plentiful in comparison to their complete absence from Creswick onwards. Wildflowers everywhere, and when labouring up a sandy, gravelly hill, it’s easy to see them in detail. Kangaroos bounded across the track and birds chorused us all the way to Slatey Creek which is worth a stop to admire the water flow and observe the gold detectorists. A good place to camp, we thought.”
The track is gravel, hard-packed in the main, and made for a pleasant ride before they arrived in Creswick for a well-earned stop.
“There are lots of eating options in the town, so we didn’t depart for Clunes on empty stomachs. Our phones led us on back roads, mainly gravel and dirt. We called into Lambley Nursery at Ascot, dipped by Mt Beckworth and into Clunes where the Caravan Park appeared as the oasis we were needing. Lovely cabin accommodation, comfy and clean. A total of 50 kilometres, give or take a couple. Surprise, surprise, we slept in, so we were in time for an eggy breakfast before crossing the railway line and heading towards Maryborough.”
More back roads, more gravel, and some beautiful farmland full of the sound of sheep and cattle. Eventually the travelers came to the main Ballarat-Maryborough Road and rode that for 3 or 4 km into Talbot, their lunch destination on the Courthouse Hotel’s verandah.
“The route took us a bit further on this road until we turned off and headed through more bush, this much drier with fewer birds and no wildlife, but plenty of gravel and dust. At the Landrigan Road intersection, we turned right onto the bitumen towards Maryborough, deciding not to persist through the bush.”
The 3 adventurers rode in close to 30-degree temperatures for almost 100 km over two days, seeing, hearing and smelling the backdrop to our small towns that most of us zoom through effortlessly in a car. Total riding time was about 8 hours.
“Maria was on an e-bike, while Maureen and I were riding our usual flat bar road bikes. I’m pleased to have done this mysterious well-hidden ride that I’ve known about for ages, and my advice is to keep your wits about you, don’t rely on signage or the lovely brochure for accurate routing, and take plenty of water!”
Thanks for the inspiring report, Janice!