The Hills are Alive!

Sydney to Melbourne Stage 5 – Wed 8th March 2017 – Sanctuary Point to Ulladulla (55 Km)

Weather: 18⁰C min – 20⁰C max, light rain, glimpses of blue sky

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“Live now, believe me, wait not till tomorrow; Gather the roses of life today” ~ Pierre de Ronsard

The day started off particularly well, helping ourselves to the plentiful breakfast that our wonderful hosts, Jim and Maureen, had left for us in the billiard room. After breakfast we went for a walk through the golf course, fascinated by the dozens of very tame kangaroos that were grazing there. Just another hazard that golfers have to contend with!

We chatted to Jim on the back patio for ages, watching the beautiful Rainbow Lorikeets and King Parrots feeding on the seeds that Maureen and Jim had left for them.

It was almost 10 am when we eventually clipped our panniers onto our bike racks and headed down the road in light drizzle, which continued on and off for most of the day. Amazing how rain and battle grey skies follow us around magnetically. But riding in the light rain does not bother us much anymore, probably because we are becoming accustomed to it and now accept it as the norm.

The 55 Km stage from Sanctuary Point to Ulladulla felt more like a real ride, so we think we have earned our feed tonight. Leaving town through the back streets, we passed through St George’s Basin and Basin View before joining the Princes Highway at around the 10 Km mark. We followed the highway through Conjola National Park for the next 40 Km, with dense eucalyptus forest on both sides of the road. Just as well the scenery was unchanging, because we needed all the concentration we could muster to focus on the wet road ahead. Traffic was heavy and the shoulder was narrow in places.

There were some testing hills rising to an elevation of about 150m along the way, but we made good progress and soon found ourselves in the lovely town of Milton where we just had to stop at the bakery. There we energised ourselves with a nice pie and a ham and avocado roll served to us by a delightfully cheerful young lady who couldn’t believe we were riding all the way to Melbourne. Just as well we treated ourselves to a good lunch because the next climb just after Milton was particularly challenging.

Leaving the highway just after Milton we passed through lush green rolling hills until reaching Bannister Head Road, containing some magnificent houses overlooking the spectacular coastline. We didn’t realise it at the time but we passed close to Rick Stein’s Restaurant at Bannister Point.

For the next two nights we are staying at a fabulous place called Ulladulla Harbour Motel. Not only are the facilities first class, but the man at the reception desk was extremely helpful, even letting as using the staff laundry to wash and dry our clothes.

Roast dinner at the Bowling Club followed by a walk around the harbour topped off a perfect day. Walking around the harbour bar, we came to a group of people fishing off the rocks. One lady even loaned Sharad her rod to have a few casts and two young lads gave some of their bait for us to use tomorrow.

We are living the dream!