Going French...Nuclear to Wunderbar

glitch

Mapping the next ride...
Staff member
So close and yet so far...

From a proposed site for a Nuclear Power Plant (State Electricity Commission, mid '60s) to its entirely unpaved roads, relative inaccessibility (at least so close to a major multi-million city), a dizzying Mt. Wellington at 96m/ 300ft above sea level, to the absence of mains services like power, water, sewage etc., a National Park occupying over half of the landmass and an anemic population figure of below 100, French Island is a stark contrast to the hustle and bustle of it's very commercial and well-renowned neighbour, Philip Island.

The bigger of the 2 islands in Westernport Bay is something that had somehow always eluded us.
It's NOT a bike/ ride destination...it's near impossible and besides, entirely fruitless, to try and byo car across (due to the lack of available and/or legal roads to drive on)....or even try and hire one of the plentiful rusted-out, unregistered wrecks...chauffeured by the locals with abandon.


There's a little ferry from Crib Point to Tankerton at the bottom-left of the island. There's a (usually closed) Rangers Office near the jetty...and the single supply-source "General Store" 2.5km up the road.
(it's for sale, Doug....Dooouuuggg!! Diversification, mate...that Millers Flat Caravan Park needs a sibling:bt)
There's a small 2-car barge occasionally running across from Corinella, if booked in advance and if the water isn't too rough...and if not filled with other supplies at the time.

French Island, aye??
Let's have a look!


Some maps and general info

http://interislandferries.com.au/map_french.pdf

http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/explore/parks/french-island-national-park

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glitch

Mapping the next ride...
Staff member
A cool, overcast morning at Tankerton Jetty


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A pre-arranged pickup by the lady running the only supply on the island,
the General Store.



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Looks like this one's only been taken out of commission yesterday afternoon...



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Store, Cafe, library, post office, community hub, rescue-hub (there IS an old tractor around the back to pull out someone stranded!)....



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...and bicycle hire centre.:eek::eek:



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Some rusty old Repcos and Kmart-Apollo-specials, helmets nailed to the wall for the softcock city-slickers ("weeeell...if you want one??!! Nobody here ever does...") , the chain on one of the assigned bikes is rusted solid but comes good after a quick spray of Canola oil ...."ran out of WD40 last week" :doh::killingme

What the hell, the $30 hire fee was already worth every penny!! :bs:bs

A wave and friendly "don't use the brakes cause they'll never come loose again...the rust around here, you know...or you'll be on your arse quicksmart, hehe"....and we're off.....sorta.
Barely 50m in and it's pretty obvious that this is going to have a damn painful end...:icon-maffick-:

Doesn't look like that bottle of Canola did the emergency rescue-tractor much good...


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Goodie,son-in-law and daughter on their 6-day whirlwind visit from the US treadling away.


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Looks like the Canola has already worn off....:bs



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Should've brought a tanker with Monteith Dark...this pedalling in the sand is thirsty work...



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Reading the billboards....and those Fridgidaire-letterboxes are everywhere around here.


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Knackered already?


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Off to the famous Tea Rooms and Chicory Kiln up on McLeod Rd. then...:D





tbc
 

glitch

Mapping the next ride...
Staff member
Oui,Oui s'il vous plait !
À bientôt, monsieur

A Mountain under 100m High? Merde Sake!

...bring the high-heels.

That Mt. Wellington must be the mother of all mozzie breeding pads...nearly made it to the top on a sandy/ eroded 4WD track before getting eaten alive, the buggers stinging through clothing and all.W-)

Any food there? Fish and chips in newspaper?

Pics of the kitchen later... but I'd rather use that newspaper to wipe me bum. :whistle::bs
 

glitch

Mapping the next ride...
Staff member
The only other multi-functional facility to the General Store are the Tea Rooms and Chicory Kiln/Museum, Island Tour Centre , Cafe and Camping area, mini-farm, Koala-watching etc etc...

McLeod Rd. turned out the most scenic stretch on the day due to its elevated position halfway up Mt. Wellington....and stretches so for about 5km, well worth the sore bum, aching shoulders, cramping quads and rising shinsplints caused by those ancient, rusted Repco-junkers. :bs

Let's have a look around this fabulous place that even shows up with multiple Google entries.



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Checking out the pantry...


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Tea Rooms and Cafe....

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Kitchen....it just might be worth checking on those use-by dates of even the beams and waxed table-cloth :whistle: The apple-juice should be fossilized by now.:killingme


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Time to go for a slow and achy pedal up Mt. Welly... should've bloody bought that half-bottle of Canola from the General Store....



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glitch

Mapping the next ride...
Staff member
Pedaling away the afternoon, getting slower and slower... the bums folding over in pain at just the thought of those torturing saddles... happy to get off and push up the long, sloping hills....talk, laugh, suffer a bit more down the next descent...repeat!



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Plenty of those buggers around...


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Cowes and Philip Island across the short stretch of water


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The hand goes up to the cheer squad


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Live ain't easy when pedalling for the "Busted-Arse-Team"...


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A great day coming to an end...the last stretch to the jetty at Tankerton.


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Silent goodbyes... last look over the shoulder.
(and clenching those cheeks in relief).:killingme:killingme


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Enjoyed it? IMMENSELY!!
Do it again? MOST PROBABLY NOT
Any regrets? SHOULD HAVE DONE IT LONG AGO!!
What was missing? BUNS OF STEEL!!
Lesson learned? BRING YOUR OWN FARKIN CANOLA!!


:gday:
 

John_Johnny

Long Timer
Plenty of those buggers around...


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Cute little guy. His hair is all wavey. Like when my girls take their hair out of plaits. Great camera work Goodie.

From the French Island website.....
"The island is also host to a healthy koala population. Koalas were introduced in the early part of the 20th century and the island now boasts one of the leading chlamydia-free populations in Australia."

Good to hear! :thumbs:
 
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