It was a windy day – 30 kilometre winds, with 40 kilometre gusts. Not my idea of perfect cycling weather, but at least it was sunny. It was my last chance to complete the Gippsland Plains Rail Trail before we moved on to our next destination. I drove to Toongabbie and started cycling south towards the end of the trail just outside Traralgon.
On my right was the Traralgon-Maffra Road. Ahead of me I could see all the way to the huge chimneys of the brown coal-fired thermal power stations on the outskirts of Traralgon. To my left, the typical green, flat plains of Central Gippsland extended to the horizon.
Although it was windy, the trees on the highway side of the trail offered shelter. After nine kilometres of a gentle decline on sandy gravel, I arrived at Glengarry Station. I was happy to see that the station building was still standing.
Bushies Bakery over the road from the station looked inviting, but unfortunately it was closed on Sunday. Luckily I had brought a picnic with me.
Heading south of Glengarry, the rail trail moved away from the Traralgon-Maffra Road and headed cross-country towards the Latrobe Valley floodplain.
Three kilometres south of Glengarry, I came to the first of three bridges.
This one crossed the Latrobe River.
The next two kilometres continued along an embankment several metres above the Latrobe floodplains. The outlook was beautiful, but it was also very windy and unprotected. In the distance, the power stations produced huge clouds, competing with the naturally formed clouds on the horizon.
I reached the western end of the Gippsland Plains Rail Trail at the carpark on Burnetts Road. A path continued towards Traralgon five kilometres away, but with the strong winds that I had experienced already, I thought it best not to extend the ride on this occasion.
Back to Toongabbie
I struggled with the gusty westerly cross-winds on the way back, especially on the long causeway across the Latrobe floodplain. When I reached the shelter of some trees, my progress began to improve. Some canola fields made a splash of yellow on my left.
I arrived back in Toongabbie, packed my bike on the car and drove down the street to investigate this historic building which had caught my eye.
It was the Toongabbie Mechanics Institute built in 1883. Just as I finished taking a few photos, a lady called Bev emerged from the building and asked whether I would be interested in looking inside. Of course I agreed. The Institute building contained a former Masonic Lodge room, the Mechanics Library (now empty), a room where the Bank of Australasia had had its office, a room where the Court of Petty Sessions for the district had been held and a dance hall. My private tour of the building was a wonderful finish to my last day on the Gippsland Plains Rail Trail.
I had cycled 28 kilometres and climbed 58 metres. On the previous day I had completed an out and back ride from Heyfield to Toongabbie and the day before the section between Heyfield and Stratford.
The official Gippsland Plains Rail Trail website provides excellent detailed information if you are planning a ride.
The East Gippsland Rail Trail and the Gippsland Lakes Discovery Trail are other enjoyable rail trails in Gippsland.
