On a chilly morning, we left Woodend, the whole group feeling a bit low in energy as we headed back to Melbourne.  As we continued to Sunbury, our meeting spot for the day, the hills increased in size and length and trailer riders (Kelsey) pleaded, "please, please, don't make me do it.  i don't want to!"  But she made it up, along with everyone else.  At Sunbury, some 50kms into the ride, the group separated with some choosing to peddle on for another 54km to the center of Melbourne and others choosing to avoid the manic traffic of city life and the hot afternoon sun, but taking the train back to Mentone.
Welcome to the train option:
 

•    Pip, Celine, Luke (our friendly support rider for the day), Cassie, Libby, Kelsey, and all three trailers eagerly wait for the train to arrive, relieved with their decision to have a relaxing, afternoon (and possibly a coffee and cake!)
• A two! carriage train arrives.  Conductor appears on platform booming, "Bikes are okay on train, but NO TRAILERS!  I'll let it go this time, but NEVER AGAIN ON MY TRAIN!"  We rush into available space, struggling with BOB and the Burley trailers as the conductor vents his frustration continuously.
  • Train doors close.  One trailer, one Cassie, and one Libby (so ready to get back to the city!) left, sadly, on train platform.
• Pip and BOB, Celine, Luke, and Kelsey and Burley arrive at S. Cross station preparing to switch trains, only to be greeted by escalators, broken elevators, and much needed strategic planning to get to next platform.  Several hairy escalator rides later (with fully loaded bikes!  with two trailers, which we detached!!) we finally made it to our platform.
• Mentone train pulls up.  We hurry on board, carrying on the trailers and bikes into several carriages.  Train doors close.
  • In the kafuffle, Pip is left behind holding Luke's bike.  Sadness!
  • Luke arranges to get off at next bike to switch bikes with Pip.
  • Celine is left in one carriage with her bike, BOB, and the Burley.  Kelsey is in the next carriage with her bike, trying to suppress way too much laughter brought on by imagining Pip's sad, sad face as the train chugged away.
• Train pulls into Mentone station.  Kelsey rushes off, tossing bike against pole.  Celine, magically, manages to exit train, getting bike and both trailers off before doors close behind her.
• Celine and Kelsey wait for next train to deliver Pip.
  • 12 min later:  No Pip!
  • next train, 12 min later: No Pip!
  • Decide to lock BOB to rack outside station for Pip when she arrives.
• Kelsey and Celine start riding final 400m to school where they will be staying for debrief weekend.  Kelsey rounds the final corner, Kilbreda school within view.
  • "KERPLUNK,LUNK!"
    • Kelsey slows slightly and turns her head, shocked to see the Burley trailer, alone, in the center of the street as the metal attachment rattles along, trailer-less, still attached to her bike.
    • With school just released, Kelsey and Celine drag the blasted, bloody, concrete sludge trailer the final 300 m to school, through hordes of uniformed teenagers.
  • Anna greets us having caught an earlier train.  Pip, exhausted after playing train tag with Luke, joins us and collapses on floor.  And finally, Libby and Cassie roll their bikes in as well.
  • To recuperate from an exhausting entry back into city life, Celine, Pip, Kelsey, and Anna share hot chips and a somewhat massive amount of choc. brownie ice-cream.  
  • Life is good
  • And three cheers to the rest of the gang for biking into the city center despite hot, hot sun and tired legs.  104kms, you guys rock!  Otesha Peddle Power Continues!!