Planning For The Trip!

With the first trip only a little over a week away, the planning is full steam ahead.

Where to go, for how long, what to take, and just as important, what not to take?

I've decided to tour my own back yard first up. Why not, we have a beautiful area here in The Burnett. So I'll be taking in the Burnett and North Burnett Regions. Leaving Bundaberg I will head out through Gin Gin then take in the Boolboonda Tunnel and the back roads to Mt Perry.
From Mt Perry I will head west again to Ceretodus then up through Monto, onto Kalpower then across and down to Greata. From Greata, back down into Gin Gin then home to Bundaberg.

The planned trip

It's beautiful out this way and although I have driven these roads in cars and trucks, I have never cycled them. There is some great scenery that is diverse as the regions change. Oh, and hills, I can't forget the hills. There is a mixture of dirt and sealed roads and I have decided to free camp all the way.

I am planning on the trip taking me four days, with three nights camping. Only a small trip, but as it is the first for me and the bike, I'm not going to push it. Yes, it would be easy to plan for further, but hey...sometimes commonsense must prevail. I have also allowed an extra night for a "just in case" scenario.
Day 1 will be from Bundy to Mt Perry and I will ask friends if I can camp on their land there for the first night. Approximately 120 kms
Day 2 I will head from Mt Perry across to Ceretodus. This section is quite hilly and there are several ways I can go. The shortest being about 72 kms to the longer route being 80 + kms.
Day 3 is from Ceretodus to Greata via Abercorn, Kapaldo, Monto and Kalpower. This day is the longest in the saddle being around the 140 - 150 km range. I do have options on this day to cut it shorter if the legs and the heart isn't in it. If this is the case I can use my extra night here.
Day 4 is from Greata to home being around 116 kms.

Boolbooonda Tunnel & Mt Perry's main street

How did I plan this route? Easy...I simply worked out where I wanted to go, then looked at the sights and roads I wanted to see and take, then available free camping in that loop. I then worked out the distances for each days travel and decided on what I thought was comfortable for me. Also I took into consideration time for sightseeing, filming (as I want to video and photograph as much as I can) and breaks, lunches coffees (can't forget the coffee) etc. Then worked on an eight hour day roughly.
I also took into the consideration of my speed, as I'll be taking it a lot slower loaded up on a hybrid rather than my Domane.
I used Garmin Connect to work this out with an average speed of 18 - 19 kms. Some people use Google Earth, I'm still learning...lol. I also think Garmin takes you on more cycle friendly routes and is a little more accurate as well. Plus I can save these into my Edge 810 for navigational purposes.

Ceretodus Free Camp, Kalpower NP, Monto

What to take, and what not to take? That is the question...
This is where I am learning...lol. Although I have done plenty of camping in my day, and some remote basic camping, I have always had the luxury of a four wheel drive at my disposal. In these cases I have always been able to pack more, much more, rather than less.
Working out what is a necessity, and considering room and weight, and the fact that I only have two rear panniers, is a challenge but I'm getting there.
I started out with the essentials, tent, sleeping bag, sleeping mat. I then went onto other essentials like cookware, clothing, food and water, lighting, my solar pack etc.
After packing the panniers a couple of times I worked out what can fit and what can't. Out of what couldn't fit I then looked at what was absolutely necessary.
In my left pannier I am able to fit my tent & fly, sleeping bag & liner, inflatable pillow, sleeping mat and my travel towel. A LED head lamp and a small LED camping light and some batteries for night time. There is still room at the top of the pannier and it weighs in at around the 4.2 kgs.
In the right pannier I have my clothing in a stuff bag, and it is here that I was able to cull sufficiently. I originally packed clothes for each day, plus spares...and ran out of room...fast. I then worked on two pairs of bib shorts, two riding shirts, plus a pair of shorts and t-shirt to change into after the days riding and a wash.
Cookware comprises of my 4 piece hiking set, cutlery, 1 x Hexamine stove and tablets, and 1 x gas stove and bottle (x 2). I don't need plates as I can eat straight form the pan. I have packed my old steel plate simply for under the Hexamine stove. As the tablets burn and get smaller, flames extrude from the bottom. No need to start a fire. I also have a small plastic chopping board.
Food will comprise of some pasta, rice and couscous, some oats & powdered milk, some sachets of tomato paste, some stock cubes, dried herbs & spices, some small tins of various additives (fish, veges, coconut milk), some carrots, onions and dried tomatoes. Along with this there will be some 2 minute noodles, cruskits/crackers and a peanut butter. To me this is the most cost effective way. I am not traveling through major centers so I will not have the luxury, or the need of the added expense of buying fresh every day.
I looked into the packaged hiking freeze dried meals, but at $14.95 a pop, no thanks. Plus I can't see why you can't eat what you like on the way. A couple of carrots and onions will not take up that much room. This pannier comes in at around 5.4 kgs
On the top of the rack will be my tent poles, tripod (which I'm still tossing up whether to take ot=r not), a 2 lt hydration bladder, a small back pack (acting as a trunk bag) containing the battery pack and my tablet, jumper etc. My phone and camera, along with some muesli bars and miscellaneous items will be in the handlebar bag.

Spares and tools, such as tubes, levers etc will be in the side pockets on the panniers, and wet weather gear and extra miscellaneous items can be stuffed into the panniers' top pockets.

So; so far, so good. I am sure I will learn something new on the up and coming adventure. I will learn to rationalise and construct a trip better. This is all a learn as I go experience. You can watch all the Youtube videos you want and become an armchair expert, or you can get out and give it a go...this is where you learn. Sure, definitely take the advice of others, but I think that you have to experience these things personally to see what works for you best, the way you pack, the way you work out your trip etc...everyone is different.

The main things I am focusing on is distance versus ability. I am a reasonably strong rider that has a decent amount of experience with longer rides. That said though, most of my riding has been on my road bike, not a loaded tourer. But steady riding should enable me to cover the daily distances comfortably.

Water is essential, so I will have three water bottles mounted to the bike. I will also be carrying a 2 lt water bladder. Most places I will be traveling through or staying will have water available, ie water tanks, general stores, so there is no great need to carry enormous amounts of water with me. The three bottles and bladder will give me a total of 3.7 lt, more than enough for a daily ride and night's cooking...

I have allowed for the trip to take four days/three nights but have allowed for an extra day's food just in case...

Simple food storage. A standard drink bidon 

will hold enough rice or pasta for 4 meals

I have packed light on the clothing...not as essential as other stuff...

Spares and tools to a minimum, 1 x small shifting spanner, 1 x screwdriver, 1 x multi & allen key tool, 2 x tubes, tyre levers, puncture repair kit, 1 x small bottle of chain lube (I'll be traveling dirt roads). I'm not carrying spare spokes or an extra tyre on this trip, if it were to be longer, I would...

Basic camping and cooking requirements...

1 x First aid kit...

Over the next week, the bike will be going out loaded to get used to how it handles with the extra weight on it. Although there is only probably an extra 15 kgs in total, it will effect the way the bike handles and brakes. I'll unload and reload the panniers a few times to get used to living out of them and repacking them efficiently.

As the time approaches I'm getting a little nervous. The what ifs are setting in. I know it's only a few days, but out where I'm going isn't the most populated areas. But you can't live by what ifs, I'd rather live by "Oh shit! At least I tried"...

All I can be is as prepared as I can be, be willing to learn and enjoy the experience. Even if it goes belly up and I call for the support vehicle, I'll look at what I did, or possibly went wrong. Then re-evaluate, re-plan and re-do...

If we never try, imagine what we would miss out on...cheers...