Yesterday Brompton and I went out for a 70 km ride on the Gippsland Plains Rail Trail from Stratford to Traralgon. The trail was passing through farm lands all the way. The speed was limited to some extent due to unpaved road condition but the tail wind helped me and Brompton to complete the long ride on a mild day in spring.
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Route: Stratford Station to Traralgon StationDistance: 68.8km
Average % of slope: total 0.1% ascent 1.8% descent 1.8%
Acquired elevation: ascent 160m descent 85m
Arriving at Stratford Station by V-line train, Brompton and I immediately started for the Gippsland Plains Rail Trail.
The rail trail started.
Because I was a bit concerned with time to reach Traralgon Station, I tried not to stop for the first 1 and half hours for 31.5 km.
The trail continued straight ahead. I took a first break to relieve my thirst when I reached old Dawson Station.
There were some traces of the old rail tracks left on the way.
The rail trail was suddenly interrupted between after Dawson and before Cowwarr, diverted to the vehicle road for 5.5 km. It is only a section not to follow old rail tracks due to no rail trail bridge over the Thomson River.
JUNE 2022 UPDATED: ‘MISSING SECTION’ OF GIPPSLAND PLAINS RAIL TRAIL NOW COMPLETEDThe Gippsland Plains Rail Trail stretchs 63km from Traralgon to Stratford and the new bridge is a milestone removing a 4km road diversion between Cowwarr and Heyfield that has existed since the rail trail opened; a great improvement.
The trail restarted from here.
Arriving at old Cowwar Station where was 40 km from Stratford Station.
Yellow flowers (probably rapeseed) bloomed all over the place.
Reaching old Glengarry Station. There was IGA in the town and I purchased bottles of water.
Please note that there were no facilities of drinkable water and no vendors/restaurants on the trail after Heyfield and before Glengarry. This trail is, in terms of facilities, not well organized at all like the Lilydale Warburton Rail Trail. A rider cannot get food or drink without a certain diversion from the way. I recommend to bring enough water (and some food) for the ride during summer season. I brought 2 bottles of water but not enough for this hot day.
Passing the Eaglehawk Creek.
Finally we arrived at Traralgon Station where the VLocity train was waiting.
It was a wonderful long ride to train myself and to know Gippsland.
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