What better way to spend the Kings Birthday long weekend with friends than to cycle an iconic rail trail in central Victoria. This was what a Melbourne group of 32 riders did after enjoying the Saturday morning’s breakfast at the Heathcote Inn. It was then out cycling along the O’Keefe Rail Trail for the riders, from Heathcote to Bendigo, quickly being immersed within the One Eye Forest, and then surrounded by water on both sides of the trail’s causeway across a section of Lake Eppalock.
With the group’s luggage transported by Friends of the Bendigo-Kilmore Rail Trail, the riders’ 50km cycling journey was made a lot easier as they arrived at their Bendigo accommodation. The City of Bendigo offered a number of attractions and dining options for the group’s two night stay. One activity included cycling trails out to and around Crusoe Reservoir.
It was then time to leave Bendigo on the Monday morning, with the group reacquainting themselves with their bikes, to head off along the Bendigo Creek Trail and directly onto the O’Keefe Rail Trail for the return journey to Heathcote.
The group’s riders remarked upon the quality of the rail trail with many attractions that it offers for cyclists and walkers. The trail passes through varying country landscapes, as well as its connection with the “once divided, now united” Axedale township.