AUSTRALIA Page 17 - TASMANIA - March 2007.
Australia, the adopted homeland of both Mal and Lee. The only continent under one government and the country we both love. The picture above is the “skyline” of our city, you can click on the picture to get a larger image. Perth is one of the most isolated regional capital cities in the world. There are so many things to say about our country that I simply do not know where to begin...
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Monday
March 19th
2007
Triabunna
to Sorrell.
Approx.
61.73k's
Average
Speed
9.64kph
Cycling
time
6Hr(s)
24Min. Max
speed.
70kph
Max
temp we recorded
27°C
(Shade)
Terrain:
Very
Hilly. Road
Conditions:
ALL
Poor in Tassie, O/night
Accom.:
$.
A
big day for us, as we navigate a barren part of Tassie... We climbed
two quite large hills both over 1000 feet....
Followed
by.......
and
was “in the saddle” for 11hrs or so... Lee's actual
peddling time was 7hrs 40 minutes... due to the huge discrepancy in
our speed. Have tried all the things I can think off including
“maxing” out my bike with weight. If it is possible I
will try and dispense with Lee's trailer and give her larger
panniers... It may be the solution????? More tomorrow
Tuesday
March 20th
2007
Sorrel
to Hobart..
Approx.
31.17k's
Average
Speed
8.66kph
Cycling
time
3Hr(s)
35Min. Max
speed.
43kph
Max
temp we recorded
26°C
(Shade)
Terrain:
Very
Hilly. Road
Conditions:
ALL
Poor in Tassie, O/night
Accom.:
$.
If
it was not real I would think that this state is a "prop"
for "Monty Python"... The "idiots" that plan the
roads here are clearly playing two string "banjo's" in
their spare time... which is a Loooooong time!!! Over
400 Cyclist deaths in the last ten years,
(REF: Bicycle
Tasmania) one could be forgiven for thinking it is a Government
conspiracy to get Cyclists off the roads. The Tasman Highway
ALL ALONG IT'S ROUTE is an example of purely pathetic
planning.. It would not be tolerated in a progressive state such as
(eg..) Victoria. There "A" Roads are built to a standard
that provides for ALL
road
users. "B" Roads are somewhat similar but not quite as
consistent.... "C" Roads can be mostly OK and rarely carry
heavy traffic... Even "D" Roads in Victoria are better than
most Tasmanian "A" roads The approaches to Hobart are so
deliberately dangerous that it clearly must have been planned.
Due
to the tremendous work done by "Bicycle
Tasmania" I urge anyone interested in Cycling Tassie roads
to support these wonderful people.
As anyone reading this journal
for some time will know, we ride recumbent trike's with trailers...
The approach to the bridge is on the “wrong” side of the
road, this makes it difficult for ANY cyclist that is not familiar
with the road system... It took us a LONG time to get to the
entrance.
These
pic's shows the "Cycle Path" over the Tasman Bridge...
Not
wide enough for anything more than a bike....
A
"Diamond Frame" cyclist lifts his bike over our
recumbent(s)... With our help of course... He described the cycle
path a @#$@#%!!!!!!! Until we managed to stop him from talking.... He
was very "nice" about the congestion and clearly did not
hold us responsible...
DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS WITH A GREENSPEEDTRIKE they are too wide.
Greenspeed's are brilliant trike's – this is NOT a dig against these superb VERY well built machines.
Getting to the cycle path is another story by itself.... The “engineer” (Sorry to the real engineers reading this) who designed the approaches is simply brain dead!!!
Hobart itself is VERY bicycle UNFRIENDLY. You are not permitted on pavements (Not Designated) between 7am – 6pm; forced on the road with NO cycle paths. There are of course some cycle paths, We have not covered them all. What we have seen of the CBD, there are next to none!
We have decided to “discuss” in depth our continued journey through Tasmania. The degree of hatred is beyond belief, today (20th Mar 07) our bikes were parked at the Information Centre on a designated path, Lee's bike was deliberately kicked – whilst she was there –
View
from the rear!! As you can see they are blocking no-one – just
wish I had been outside when he kicked the bike :-). We have resorted
to, one watch, whilst one shops, philosophy throughout Tasmania, to
minimise the attacks.
Wednesday
March 21st
2007
Hobart
Rest Day.
Approx.
k's
Average
Speed
kph
Cycling
time
Hr(s)
Min. Max
speed.
kph
Max
temp we recorded
°C
(Shade)
Terrain:
Very
Hilly. Road
Conditions:
ALL
Poor in Tassie, O/night
Accom.:
$.
On
a lighter note Lee at Wrest Point Casino... We did not win of course
:-(
Catchya
Later......
Thursday
March 22nd
2007
Hobart
Rest Day.
Approx.
k's
Average
Speed
kph
Cycling
time
Hr(s)
Min. Max
speed.
kph
Max
temp we recorded
°C
(Shade)
Terrain:
Very
Hilly. Road
Conditions:
ALL
Poor in Tassie, O/night
Accom.:
$.
Cycling
around this city is a dangerous pastime, however there are cyclists
here...
Hobart
is a nice city, architecturally, but is not “people
friendly”... Catchya Later...