Heathcote weekend. 54 km and 54 km. Hard ride

We will depart Bendigo Station and cycle the O'Keefe Rail Trail to Heathcote, dinner at the pub.
This is a cycle touring weekend and so everything needs to be packed in paniers or tube bags.
It is not practical to bring equipment and food in a back pack.
Even if you are new to cycle touring and are planning to stay in accommodation this is a good chance to test out having your bike set up with pack racks, paniers and tube bags.
We will depart Bendigo Station at 10 am. Trains on the weekend have become very crowded and so it is best to drive or grab a lift if you can.
For those who are on the train, there are trains departing Southern Cross 7.01 and 7.40 am arriving 8.56 and 9.55 respectively.
We will depart Bendigo Station at 10 am.
We'll get on to the Back Creek trail at the nearby Ewing Reserve.
The trail soon passes the Tramways Museum Cafe.
For those who are driving we will do a second pick up or re-group at the Tramaways Museum Cafe, 10.30 am.
https://www.bendigotramways.com/tours/tram-cafe
There are plenty of parking spaces in the quiet streets around the cafe and it opens 8am, so plenty of time for brekky and be ready to go at 10.30am.
The creek trail contiues to curve through linear parks in Bendigo before becoming the O'Keefe Rail Trail
The good news for train people is that Bendigo is easier for bikes than Castlemaine.
The O'Keefe Rail Trail is all gravel.
The ride Saturday can be viewed on Ride with GPS:
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/50549221
The return ride on the Sunday to Bendigo can be viewed on Ride with GPS:
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/50549265
Please download both the Saturday and Sunday route again, I have updated the route so that we follow the creek trail almost from Bendigo station.
Also in case you wish to ride ahead of the group or arrive in Bendigo after 10 am.

There is cabin accommodation at Heathcote Camping ground but you need to book this yourself, possibly organising a group with others.
For those who are camping, the cost for an unpowered tent site is $32 and a site can accommodate two people in one or two tents.
Dinner will be at the Union Hotel, please advise Liz if you wish to join the group for dinner.
The main group should arrive Heathcote mid afternoon.
For late afternoon entertainment we will walk to the Heatcote Lookout from the powder magazine. It is 1.8 km return with 70 metres of climbing. I would guesstimate 2 hours return.
The walk can be viewed at:
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/50318823
There is also a brewery that could be visited and a shopfront for Heathcote winery:
https://pallingbros.beer/
https://heathcotewinery.com.au/
Heathcote camping ground has a very good camp kitchen with indoor kitchen and dining area if you wish to bring your own brekky or even dinner.
If you wish to have brekky at the bakery Segafreda’s is recommended but there is also Gaffney’s.
We will stop for lunch both days at Axedale which also has a bakery, Rise and Grind:
https://riseandgrindaxedale.com/
Please bring pleasant and enjoyable conversation, appropriate to the beautiful and peaceful place we will be cycling through.
If you do feel the need to express political opinions please keep it very, very brief... yes, mea culpa, I may also require a reminder on that one. (LOL)
The weather has been very warm and dry recently and this increases the risk of tyre puncture by thorns and Bindis as the dry hardens the thorns up.
Please try to cycle on gravel or bitumen at all times, no matter how neatly mowed or green a patch of grass may look, it could be lethal to your tyres.
Unless you are running tubeless tyres and are experienced in fixing them, then you need to bring two spare tubes.
Always expect the unexpected when touring in the country in Autumn so bring an all weather rain proof jacket regardless of the weather forecast.
Please don't hesitate to leave a comment in 'comments' or message me or Liz if you have any queries.

RIDE REGISTRATION FORM
This will be available within a day of the ride being announced. Preferably it is to be completed when you RSVP, but no later than the day before the ride. It can be found at
https://www.mbtc.org.au/registration-forms-rider.

ESSENTIAL ITEMS
Functioning headlight & tail light
Spare tube and a puncture kit
MYKI card, ATM card/cash, basic tools, rain gear, food/snacks, etc

WATER
It's your responsibility to check the temperature and distance for the day and carry an appropriate amount of water. When riding outside suburbia remember that carrying too much water is better than not enough as the distances between water availability may vary greatly from the planned route due to road closures or other unforeseen circumstances.
Check Meetup for any changes the day before the ride, as the ride may be cancelled in the event of extreme weather or other unforeseen circumstances.

If you cannot make it to the ride please change your RSVP to 'NO' at least one day before the ride day.
This ride is for MBTC club members, or those who have not yet done 3 days riding with us. To join our club check out https://www.mbtc.org.au/membership

When I RSVP for this event/activity I acknowledge that the activity of bicycle riding can be dangerous and that I may suffer loss or injury or death and I agree that in consideration of my participation in any event conducted by the MBTC that I will absolve from liability the MBTC, its officers, and any event organiser from all claims, demands, or suits whether for personal injury or property loss suffered whether by negligence or breach of contract or otherwise, save for any right I may have pursuant to the Australian Consumer law. I acknowledge that photos may be taken of me during MBTC rides and social events, and that it is club practice that these photos will be published on Meetup, Facebook, and the club website. I will notify the ride leader and other riders if I wish to not be photographed. MBTC cannot guarantee that my photo will not be published and will promptly honour requests to be removed from MBTC controlled sites.