WOR GRAVEL: MILAWA - BEECHWORTH TOUR WRAP & PHOTOS
We are just back from our inaugural WOR Gravel Tour - Milawa to Beechworth in the beautiful Vic High Country!
Ride High Country & Tourism North East have certainly worked hard to establish this part of Victoria as the premier gravel destination in the State - and it’s easy to see why - rolling hills, champagne gravel, national parks and a seemingly endless network of varied gravel roads. Pair this with the other touristic highlights of the region - the gold-rush era towns of Beechworth and Chiltern, the burgeoning food and wine scene - to name a few - and it set the scene for the perfect destination for our inaugural gravel tour!
A group of 12 met in Milawa on Thursday afternoon for our “Warm-up” ride - an easy 20km loop around the Milawa region - vines, farmland and gum trees - a perfect way to dust off the cobwebs, check the bike and roll the legs out after the drive (an easy <3hrs from Melbourne for some). By no coincidence the route took us past Brown Brothers winery - our first of perhaps a few wineries of the Tour. A fitting start.
Brown Brothers - a famous King Valley winery
Warming up around Milawa
Brown Brothers wine tasting - Mark and Andrew choosing their favourite
Thx Roger and Mark!
I think Roger is making me puff a little…!!
Aperitifs and antipasto followed by dinner of local beef cooked on the BBQ (thanks Roger and Mark - cooked to perfection!) and some regional wines to wash it down all in a private dining room as we got to know the group.
Merriang Gap - crew Liz and Clare
Friday was the first big ride - Milawa to Beechworth via Kneebone and Merriang Gaps to Myrtleford for lunch. On the way we stopped in the cute hamlet of Whorouly for freshly made scones, jam and cream with coffee (thanks Jen!) - a perfect way to fuel our bodies for the riding ahead. We tackled the undulating Diffey Rd as we climbed to Beechworth - the day not yet complete as we stopped in at Pennyweight wines - their Pennyweight Gold a highlight. The Ballarat “Ratians” certainly took advantage of the setting and being only 2km from home.! A decent day 90kms and 800+m vert - well done everyone on a great ride!
Day 1 - beginning the climb to Beechworth
Perfect cyclists food!
Great shot Em!
WOR crew member the lovely Em!
Pennyweight wines!
Saturday: 100km, 1200m vertical - perhaps the best gravel loop going around!! Saturday’s ride from Beechworth was pure joy. After fresh croissants and local Jim Jam raspberry jam, we departed on the Beechworth-Yak rail trail, surrounded by forest, swerving left and right, buzzing down hill. We hit the true gravel and varied terrain and forest as we climbed through the Beechworth-Chiltern National Park to arrive at the Mt Pilot Carpark. A short walk to the lookout with sweeping views to farmland and the Alps. Incredible smooth gravel as we whizzed down to historic Chiltern for lunch. Could it get any better?
The Ballarat group at Mt Pilot
Nice pic - image credit Em K!
Russel on form!
The undulations of Orchard Rd, the old mining town of Eldorado, the challenge of Mason’s Road (20%!!!) - well done Poppy! The rolling farmland of "3 Gates” did not disappoint. It really was a top day - definitely tough - but with the camaraderie and support of others and our trusty WOR support vehicle driven by Liz with plenty of bananas, fruit cake and… licorice (who would have thought?) - the group smashed it!
WOR rest stop Mt Pilot lookout
Andrew at Mt Pilot
Orchard Rd - beautiful
Orchard Rd again - climbing gradually.
Beers, cheers and a celebratory 3 course meal with matched wines at one of Beechworth’s most renowned restaurants did not disappoint (and every single person ordered the chocolate pudding!). A day, evening and night well spent. And… if you are after a good negroni, don’t forget… the password is Isabella…
Masons Rd - so hard to capture the 20% incline !
Celebration dinner well deserved!
Our final day had crystal clear blue skies and sun shining. We visited the Woolshed Falls (with a lit bit of “bike carrying” on a washed out trail - a bit of extra adventure thrown in for good measure). Some enjoyed coffees in the sun in Beechworth before a rendezvous to ride to Milawa - mostly downhill thankfully! A gorgeous rail trail and final country roads led us back to our cars for a quick shower and celebratory al fresco lunch under the trees at Sam Miranda.
A huge thanks to our Crew - Em and Liz. And Pepe for looking after Max and Leo. Great group with some old and new faces - we look forward to seeing you on another tour and we also can’t wait until our next WOR Gravel adventure!! Get in touch if you are keen to join us in the future.
