The first but not the last!

All sections of the O’Keefe Rail Trail were opened on Friday 15^th May to the public, and this status was posted on the Friends of the Bendigo-Kilmore Rail Trail’s web ‘News’ page late on the next day. Being a subscriber to receive email alerts when such ‘News’ posting are made, cyclist Chris McShane was one person eager to read this news!

Below is an extract from a Facebook posting written by Chris –
“Wonderful email news 6.30am this morning, ‘NOW OPEN’, Bendigo to Heathcote Rail Trail! Sunshine with little wind. So, Lets do it! Eaglehawk to Heathcote and return, 115 km. Fantastic ride, with a Gaffneys pie and large coffee before the return. Not just another long, boring, sealed trail, but a myriad of different localities, surfaces, experiences, scenery, and bird life. All this with plenty of amenities, with well spaced stops possible at Bendigo, Axedale, and Heathcote. This trail just works!!! Congratulations to all those who have worked so hard, and are still working hard to make the best better.”

Experiencing trail riding (publicly available image)

Chris’s ride was enjoyed on Sunday 17th May, and hence it is now suggested that he is probably the first person to ride the whole of new O’Keefe Rail Trail, plus some suburban trail, from Eaglehawk to Heathcote….and return! Well done Chris, a ‘senior’ rider in the Bendigo cycling community, and thanks for your positive comments.