DAY 28 - TANGAMBALANGA to WODONGA

May 25, 2022

We spent most of today riding the High Country Rail Trail, which we followed eastwards (into a headwind) to Tallangatta before turning around to ride westwards (with a tailwind) to Wodonga. We rode from our country b&b on a couple of quiet roads until we joined the trail at Huon.

Typically there was a bit of a climb at the start

There was also a welcome descent towards Lake Hume

We headed east along the rail trail, aiming for Tallangatta and its renowned bakery. The ride was very pleasant (except perhaps for the cold headwind, and the bit where Kath got swooped by a magpie) with lake views to the left and attractive countryside to the right.

A pleasant ride on the High Country Rail Trail near Huon

We soon came to the Sandy Creek rail bridge, one of the highlights of the trail.

Riding the Sandy Creek bridge

From the bridge it was about 9 km of scenic cycling to Tallangatta, punctuated by the odd bird photo shoot.

Rail Trail to Tallangatta

A few birds seen from the rail trail

At Tallangatta we had our morning coffee stop at the bakery, which lived up to its reputation.

Supporting another local business. The lady in the pink top appears to be turning her head to avoid being recognised.

After morning tea, we retraced our steps along the trail, stopping again for the odd bird shot.

More birds seen from the rail trail

The Tour de France commentators would possibly describe this as a nature break

With a few more photo stops we pootled back over the big bridge to Huon, where we had originally joined the trail.

Pootling back to Huon

Shortly after Huon, the trail surface turned to tar.

West from Huon

We saw a photo opportunity, and set it up painstakingly.

First, we selected the background.

With the background in place, we asked the subject to cycle slowly, so that he would be in focus for the photo. When he was in the frame, we took the shot.

Not quite the effect we were after

Deciding this was really just a practice shot, we asked the subject to roll back down the hill, and cycle slowly back up for the definitive photo.

So we rolled back down the hill

When the subject rode back up the hill in front of the carefully chosen background, we took the photo.

Cyclist riding uphill on the High Country Rail Trail

Cycling on to Bonegilla, we stopped for just one more bird shot.

Rail trail between Huon and Bonegilla

Another bird seen from the trail

At Bonegilla we detoured from the trail to visit the old migrant hostel (now marketed as the Bonegilla Migrant Experience). Much of the original hostel is now gone, but the remaining section is well worth the visit. We sauntered among the buildings, from the kitchen and mess balls, to the accommodation blocks, to the administration offices and the amenities block.