G'day from the S2S crew.  Last night we stayed in cabins at Ballarat, after discovering that Smudge had booked for 6 and we were 10 people in total, we just decided to share beds and really 'team up'.  (only jokin', we were only 1 bed short and that wasn't hard to sort out).

All in all a good stay in Ballarat, but all the crew were a bit toey knowing that the next day was the start of the ride.

So, 7am, bus packed, we set off for Melbourne.

Slight delay on the way into Melbourne as Ross (Mr. Protein) had to pick up some supplies of bars and gels supplied by one of our sponsors.

Traffic, and the supplies stop meant we were a bit later into the Alexandra Gardens than we anticipated, but our only timeline was that we needed to make the ferry at Sorrento by 3:00pm, or better still a half hour earlier so we can be sure we get on.

In Alexandra Gardens it was all hands on deck unpacking our bikes and gear which had been sitting in the enclosed trailer for a couple of days.

Once the pedals were on, tyres pumped and gear on we started to set off.  We were pretty loaded up with wet and dry weather gear, cos the forecast didn't look very promising.

We're off.......but......before he even clipped in, D-man had the first flat of the tour....LOL (cant' say he was very happy at the time though)

As you can see, the Colnago is 10 metres from the bus without it's front rubber.  D-man grabbed a spare front wheel from the trailer and at last we are off.....but only as far as Federation Sq which was just across the river.  In the Square we were met by Bikeboy (Paul Chester) who was organised to host us out of Melbourne and all the way to Sorrento.  In Fed Sq, our S2S ride began.  Firstly, of course, we assembled for a team photo.

At last, this time........we actually are off to start our ride.  Bikeboy lead us out of the city down to St Kilda then along beach rd to Frankston. Here's bikeboy...

The ride down to Sorrento was awesome.....great pace...no rain....magnificent scenery and considerate motorists.  Only hitch was that Con (the Toolman) Nakos (I don't need a mechanic to service my bike!) and his finely adjusted rear wheel which decided it didn't want to go round any more after Frankston.  So, another spare wheel from the trailer towed by ARGG (All Round Good Guy) in his Timeless Lands Bus (Thanks Jeff) and we're off again to meet the Ferry.

About 10 kms out of Sorrento Belinda ( I don't like Time Trials) Hoare decided she needed to up the pace (HaHa - she's been whinging about the pace ever since!) We stepped it up to make the Ferry by 2:35.  Excellent run in to Sorrento, then Lunch on the Ferry.

Great trip across to Queenscliff, then a short 20 kms into Ocean Grove.

!27 Kms total, great day...looking forward to the next couple of days along the Great Ocean Road.

Thanks for all your support, another update tomorrow.

Cheers the S2S crew.