Set off quite late for us (round 10) with a hearty breakfast under our belts and a relatively short (36ish K) ride ahead of us. After a slight hiccup finding the entrance to the trail we were off.

First stop was 10k or so down the trail at the Nicholson General Store that claims to have the best pies in Australia….of course we had to put that to the test.

The trail was a fairly steady climb up to Bruthen – with some downhill bits, but the legs got quite a work out. The landscape went from dry and flat to rich and undulating as we got higher.

By far the highlights were the old derelict trestle bridges, still towering, which gave a sense of how magnificent the original track must have been.

Tunnels of giant corrugated iron pipes allowed us to ride under the main roads….

Arrived in Bruthen at a very respectable 3pm- in time for Devonshire tea at the Bruthen Tea Rooms – complete with plum jam and quince jelly to die for.

Now tucked up in our very modest room at the Bruthen Pub – having had early showers to beat our co-habitats to the shared bathrooms. The joint is filling up fast so we may be in for an interesting night. Menu looks like great pub food, served on a huge verandah with fab views. Our bike is in pride of place on the verandah (on instruction from publican) adding to the general quirky ambiance – and last seen was attracting some attention – so hopefully not being ridden round the veranda now we are out of sight. David is resisting the temptation to check on it hourly – he’d sooner leave me out there than the bike!