MTM: Beechworth to Yackandandah Return

Day 4: Beechworth to Yackandandah Return 52 kms

Back in the saddle today with a vengeance. I thought rail trails were supposed to be easy with low to no gradients. As we came flying down the hill from Beechworth, all I could think was "We're gonna have to ride back up this 10 km hill". We actually did 759 metres of climbing today. Anyway, with a little help from jellybeans and the temperature (it was only 20 degrees max) we made it. 

Taking a 100 metre detour over the top of the hill, we visited the ducks at Lake Sambell, a lake resulting from gold mining. Those miners didn't mind felling all the trees or blowing up huge bits of ground. Nothing much has changed. 

It was such an easy day today (according to Ray) that he is sitting at the table with his laptop open, his hand on the mouse and is fast asleep. Can't wait for karaoke.

Pics

The fruit trees and mountains of the Victorian High Country

A lot of the track to Yackandanda was beside roads. Many of them were backroads but the 15 klms were beside a not too busy main road

This was the track leading down to Yackendandah. Great going down, but you know what they say....

Our first official recognition that magpies are out to get us. Although magpie season is over in Queensland, we've been attacked numerous time in riding over the past couple of weeks. Funnily enough, after preparing for the worst, not a magpie in sight.

Not sure if this qualifies as a gnarly tree, although if the pic was taken from the other side, it probably would.

The greenheaded, white banded, red winged orange footed duck. Obviously a veteran when it comes to cadging food from tourists, but it got nothing from us as we were all out by this stage.

Two different ducks with different views of the world

The Magpie duck.

Lake Sambell was once where the gold miners were digging to try to recover gold. It's quite a large lake so they must have done a lot of digging. It is quite possible they used all of the soil they got out of the pit to help build the railway line up to Beechworth. You will see in tomorrow's pics some quite deep gullies that were bridged with soil to help keep the track staight.

Another promenade of trees welcomes us back to Beechworth. Note: No panniers makes for very easy riding.

Ride Notes

• A very pleasant ride into Yackendandah and back. All on a dedicated sealed path.
• There is a 10klm down/uphill out of Beechworth but it is not very steep and there is a fair bit if shade along the way.
• The 6klm down/uphill into Yankendandah was steeper but had plenty of sections for recovery. It still was not that steep