Day Six
Riding Through the Storm
Day 06, Riding Blind Through the Rain
The morning started quietly, with one last look at the Twelve Apostles Marine National Park. The sky offered a brief gift a soft sunrise breaking through before the weather closed in. That moment became the best photo of the day, because not long after, the rain arrived… and it didn’t hold back.
By around 8:00am, I was on the road, leaving earlier than planned after checking the forecast. It warned of rain, but forecasts don’t always tell the full story. Today, the rain wasn’t just persistent it was relentless. Cold, heavy downpours turned the ride into a test of focus and endurance. At 14°C, soaked gear and overcast skies became the theme for the entire day.
The route should have been spectacular. I passed through the Belfat Coastal Reserve, Tower Hill, Port Fairy’s coastal stretch, the Deen Maar Indigenous Area, and Discovery Bay before cutting inland toward Mount Gambier. In reality, I barely saw any of it. Sheets of rain reduced visibility to almost nothing, transforming what should have been a scenic ride into a narrow tunnel of grey road and flashing spray.
For nearly six hours, I rode without stopping except for fuel. No photo breaks. No coffee stops. Just kilometre after kilometre of wet road, hands tight on the bars, eyes fixed ahead. It was the kind of rain that demands respect, the kind that forces you to ride deliberately and calmly. I’ve ridden in Scotland, but even that didn’t quite compare to today.
Somewhere along the way, the storm finally began to loosen its grip. The rain softened, the sky lightened, and the road felt less hostile. I passed through forests, old towns, and even met another biker a brief, silent acknowledgment shared between two riders who knew exactly what the day had been like.
By the time I rolled into Robe, the rain had finally stopped. After 365 kilometres and 6 hours and 33 minutes in the saddle, the silence felt almost unreal. The world seemed calmer, washed clean, as if the storm had spent everything it had on the road behind me.
With the evening clearing, there’s hope for a few photos before the light fades. Today wasn’t about views or perfect conditions it was about resilience, patience, and pushing through when the road gives you no choice.
Tomorrow, the journey continues.