The way points of this bicycle route:
Turn left at the roundabout
Turn left again - look for the sign to Highlands
Starting to look countyrish
Hills ahead, and views of the Great Dividing Range off to the right
I wanted to revisit Highlands/Caveat (which I remember from a great rogaine in the late 80's) so decided to stay on Highlands Road. That meant steep but scenic climbs on sealed road over the next 20 km or so, with mostly gradual downhills on the unsealed roads later in the day. Don't like struggling up sandy unsealed roads so that worked out well, for me anyway!
A pleasant run along a creek valley
Starting to climb more steeply for the next 6 km or so... but the creek is very pretty...
...and this is a nice point to stop and contemplate, with the water trickling below
Well bugger me we got there. Now we can cruise down for a bit. That was the hardest-seeming climb of the day.
I thought the sign here said "Highlands 11 km" and felt a bit discouraged. But it was probably 1.1 km.
Starting to climb again and the great thing about that is you really have time to appreciate the view up the valley. This climb is shorter and seemed easier than the last.
And it's a lot cruisier from now on.
Tempting to take Sprunts Rd just for the name
Very pleasant riding along through these trees
We'll try the road down to Molesworth another day...
Good grief, a grotto with the Virgin Mary, and an attractive weatherboard church. A calm and peaceful spot to sit on a log and have lunch. There's something about Mary.
On the left, a pretty-looking road to Dropmore, part of tourist route 2 (though motorists'd be lucky to see the marker sign on the bus shelter) - for another day.
Unsealed turn-off left to Ruffy. Check roadsigns for sanity around here by the way. Here the sign had been knocked over. On impulse I took the road left, to Ruffy, unsealed, 8.5 km. Pretty in bits, and some slippery bits. You could avoid it by continuing on the sealed road to Terip Terip, then turning left there for Ruffy. I probably will next time.
A pretty creek crossing with a gentle pastoral view down the valley...
Now, you know something, Working Families use these roads, and one of them driving a truck briskly and I were suprised to see each other on this bend. We all nodded tersely.
Turn right for a look at Ruffy (and for easy 40 km sealed runs to Avenel and Euroa)
There's something about Ruffy. Houses, a street, hall, CFA - what else do you want? Well, the recreation reserve about 1.5 k down an easy road has seats under oak trees by the oval, toilets and a bit of shelter. And Friday to Sunday the Ruffy Store (www.ruffy.com.au) has great coffee and cakes, or even a late lunch, and a pleasant garden to sit in. Plus a glass or two of cold water. Thay're licensed too but there's still 30 km of unsealed road... 03 5790 4387. By the way, count on almost no GSM mobile coverage for most of the day.
OK,unsealed road for another 25 km or so. Coming up, rolling farmland and some beautiful rocky outcrops.
A pretty creek crossing, a good place to stop for a bit.
Say hi to the dogs behind the fence - they're VERY excited to see you. You're the most exciting thing to happen here this week.
The cockatoos are deafening.
Very Large Cowpats should be treated as roundabouts. They signal the possibility of Very Large Cows on the road over the next 15 km or so; also startled lambs and sheep.
Another pretty creek crossing, and you could go paddling in the pool here on a warm day. Very pleasant spot to rest. Townfolk who've let go of their lawns in this dry age will enjoy views of the stately gardens and lush lawn surrounding the two nearby houses; and on a Saturday perhaps also the sound of a ride-on mower.
Aaah, the other end of Hughes Creek Road which we passed early in the day. Aha, sandd bits. It's generally downhill now, which I think helps, and the scenery gets prettier as we go.
Sealed road starts somewhere around here again.
Now for a smooth run back down to Seymour.
Seymour, for a souvlaki, pizza, counter meal or train...
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A really nice day ride out of Seymour - about 8 hours. Great views, bush, rolling farmland, rocky outcrops and creek, plus a few splashes of autumn colour in April/May. There's the possibility of really good coffee and cake (or even late lunch) in Ruffy Fri-Sun but otherwise no services or drinking water available, carry what you need. About 40 km is unsealed road - can be reduced with a few alternatives. Fine on a touring bike (I'd be curious to know where I picked up the dozens of bindiis... probably stuffing around Seymour at the end). The Highlands are a delightful place to cycle; quiet, little traffic and quite beautiful county. Amazing when it's green. Possibly magpie hell in spring. But a real cycling treat.
Tagged with: Recreational, Onroad, Intermediate, Low traffic, Rough, Safe, Rural, Scenic, Touring
