Hi Everybody,

Details and Analysis of my day 22 : http://connect.garmin.com/activity/20392913

Today was similar than yesterday but with a stronger wind against me from my right. The weather was mostly cloudy. As we changed the territory I lost again 30 min meaning that I have now 10 hours time difference with France and 3 hours with Singapore. I lost so 30 min for my sleep. I got up at 4h40 (4h10 old time) and I left at 5h45 from Nhill. Today I didn’t cross some pyramids but some wheat fields...lol :-)... I’m so funny I know.

The distance between Nhill and Stawell is 136 km. I bicycled less than 5 hours for 6h total journey. I was quite fast whereas I had some wind against me to change. The landscape was not very pretty and the quality of the road was bad. I wanted to stop in Ararat, 31 km further from Stawell but we have decided to visit the Crampians National Park. It was a mistake as from my point of view it was not so good. We spent 3 hours to drive along the narrow roads and we have seen a small fall and also an artificial lake. Have a look on my picture or click here.

During my ride, I crossed Dimboola after only 36 km from Nhill and I crossed Horsham at 72 km from Nhill. As you can see my front picture I have a luck to cross a giant panda on the road.

I finally reached Stawell at 11h46 and we went immediately in the Crampians National Park.

Stawell (including Dadswell Bridge and Glenorchy) is a substantial town famous for its professional running races. Stawell is a former goldmining town of some 6700 people located just off the Western Highway, 32 km north-west of Ararat, 235 km north-west of Melbourne and 231 m above sea-level. It is a service centre to the surrounding district and supports a number of industries such as brick-production, goldmining, a substantial and very successful fabric upholstery concern and an abattoir, as well as more traditional grazing and farming pursuits. With the Grampians close by Stawell has a growing tourism sector (see entry on Halls Gap). Just south of town are the wineries of Great Western.

Tomorrow I plan to stop in Bacchus Marsh,  around 180 km from Stawell. It will be difficult to go to Melbourne the next and last day as there are almost only some higways and main roads. I need to have look on my itinerary tonight.

See you soon