Riders, Railway Bridges and Country Pubs

Getting up close to inspiring old timber railway bridges and enjoying a country pub lunch were just some of the experiences that riders had, while on the Friends of the Bendigo-Kilmore Rail Trail group’s monthly ride for May.

Not only did the Tooborac to Pyalong ride’s route include sections of the former railway alignment that the proposed Wallan to Heathcote Rail Trail may utilise, it also had the riders walking up ‘Gut Busters Hill’ on Basin Hill Road. Yes they walked, as it was so steep that no one managed to ride all the way to the top!! Ride leader Lindsay Clay summarised that achievement by commenting “What a beautiful view it is from here!”

Some of the other many points of interest experienced along the way were the impressive Mollison Creek ‘trestle’ railway bridge, the deep railway cutting with its pink cliffs south of Mollison Ck, and the Hayes Ck timber railway bridge just south of Pyalong.

Former Mitchell Shire councillor David Atkinson was one of the riders enjoying this ride and commented on the Hayes Creek bridge. “Most of us had never seen that amazing bridge before, as it is so hidden from the Northern Hwy” said David.

The riders re-fuelled at the Pyalong Hotel for lunch, and shared stories with publican Scott about how fantastic the ride from Tooborac to Pyalong had been, and what important attractions Pyalong has with those two historic timber railway bridges. Scotty didn’t take up the chance to join the ride back to Tooborac, yet for the others there was the Tooborac Hotel and Brewery as the optional next experience!!