I have decided to complete the ride from Sydney to Brisbane. I started to ride back in January of this year. Unfortunately it was interrupted by having to return to Sydney to deal with issues related to the property settlement with my ex-wife.
Last time I got as far north as Forster before turning south and taking the train from Newcastle back to Sydney. This time I have decided to start from Newcastle. This meant taking the train from Sydney to this fair city.
The Bike Finally Arrives
I was finally able to collect my bike from the shipping agents on Wednesday. This is almost 3 months since it was loaded on truck in London SW18. I was told to expect the transit time for its journey to Sydney would be 5 to 9 weeks. Who knows where it has been since the beginning of September???
I took the bike and related possessions (panniers and camping gear etc.) to my Balmain host’s place. Next morning I returned collect it and head over the bridge to my storage unit to organise the stuff I needed for the trip north. The winds on the Harbour Bridge were amazing.
Train to Newcastle
I finally got to St Leonard’s’ Station around 3.30 p.m. The place was packed. An announcement over the PA system informed us that a tree had fallen on the track at Milson’s Point and all trains were delayed. It must have been a very big tree. After over an hour, the trains finally started to arrive.
I changed trains at Hornsby for the intercity train to Newcastle. The line crosses that Hawkesbury River as it travels north. This is a spectacularly beautiful part of the world. I lot of people take this route on a daily commute to, and from, Sydney and the Central Coast. It is a long commute, but at least they get to pass through some beautiful countryside on the way.
The place to store my bike on the train was interesting. Check out the Flickr link. Sydney Trains must think that the only people want to take bike of the trains are under 10 years old – .i.e. they ride very small bikes.
I finally arrived in Newcastle about 7.30 p.m. I checked in the Beach YHA and found a place to eat on the foreshore.
Newcastle not a Bad Place
Newcastle was one Australia’s ‘steel cities’ and the home of BHP Pty Ltd. The steel works have closed. This initially caused a dramatic decline in the city. However, in recent times the city has experienced a bit of a resurgence. This is large built of the growth of the coal industry in the nearby Hunter Valley. This has brought a lot of wealth to the region. Previous industrial areas along the harbour foreshore have been converted into trendy housing and commercial complexes.
A great feature of the city is its proximity to some really good ocean beaches.
Finally Riding Again
Next morning, I had a very healthy breakfast in great little café in Hunter St. These sorts of places never existed in Newcastle when I travelled here in the 1980’s when I worked for Caltex.
I now all set to climb on the bike and start riding again.
Flickr Link
billrider2013 