A classic route, with a twist.
This was my first experience bike packing, this was a 'test' so to speak. There was a post I saw the other day on r/bikepacking that inspired me just to strap things onto my bike and head off. So I did.
As many of you would know, the Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail route was exceptional, I could recommend that route to everyone I ever meet.
I still had plenty of energy once I arrived at Warburton, so I had three pies from the bakery and decided to make the climb up to Starlings Gap Campground & stay the night there. (I've attached the route I found, but I went back to Warburton and didn't carry on to the red path).
The climb was ridiculous, my bike was over-geared for the 10% gradient, not the right choice. It was exhausting.
However, it meant it was all the more rewarding when I rolled into camp, without anyone else present, I started a fire with logs prepared by the park rangers, and listened to the Lyrebirds in chorus.
In the morning the decent was the unbelievable, neverending and fantastic surfaces, it almost made up for the climb.
Learnt a lot, won't be long before my next one. I felt like it was the perfect blend of all the things I enjoy.