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Muggaccinos Pedlars Sunday Cyclists – The Bullsheet This
Sunday, 20 May: ¨ “Trois Montagnes” – clockwise from Hornsby – 73km q Ride Leader is Phil J - 9498.3684 hm or 9312.3319 wk. q Hardcopy these instructions and bring on Sunday. q Cyclists from the primary/longer departure point of Turramurra do not pass the shorter Hornsby departure spot - usually meet them ascending Galston Rd just before GreenShades Nursery Café Nosh Stop. q If you might be commencing from Hornsby and haven’t started from there before, ‘phone or e-mail PJ. Snapshot:
Detailed
Spec: ¨
Longer Ride - Cinque
Montagnes [103km] ¨
Shorter Ride - Trois
Montagnes [73km] The route now becomes common for both start spots as riders cycle N/W thru Hornsby Heights to descend to Galston Gorge and climb 3km to 1st Nosh Stop at Green Shades Café Galston [9653.1500ph] (10% surcharge) arriving around 9:30am after 30.2km (Turra’). At 10:05am, we commence a new 5.6km adjunct N/W into Glenorie which provides two testing climbs: ¨ turn L heading W along Galston Rd - changes to Mid-Dural Rd for 1.8km ¨ turn R heading N along Old Northern Rd for 2km ¨ turn R heading E along Wylds Rd for 1.8km Thence, we turn L and pedal north along the well-pedalled Arcadia Rd that changes to Bay Rd, at pastoral Berrilee, where a few km later after passing the familiar Koppers Log KOM we descend to picturesque Berowra Waters for our 2nd 10 min Sag Stop - ride on the punt. After another enjoyable climb, we take a 3rd @ 10 min Sag Stop at the familiar long-abandoned Health Food store before re-entering the Old Pacific H'way from Berowra Waters Rd. (5.5km from Turra’) at 11:10am and cycle north past Cowan station and Pie in the Sky before descending to make a U turn at Brooklyn Rd before climbing 3.9km back to Pie in the Sky at midday (68.5km) for our 2nd Nosh Stop - 30min. Around 12:30pm we commence the return home - ¨ entering Bobbin Head onto Turra' with an ETR 2:10pm – 103km; ¨ or continuing onto Hornsby with an ETR of 1:20pm - 73km. Farewell restaurant night last Friday at Crows Nest 14 fellow cyclists, predominantly from the ranks of Bike North, bade farewell to Sue, aka Momma Cass and ActionMan at Hot Basil’s last Friday evening. Merely one person’s view, however, the Thai banquet wasn't the finest fare every consumed. However, the price was right, it filled a hole and the company was most convivial. We attracted two more starters for Muggs sortie to the Lower Hunter this June long w’end - Annie S and Monique D. who recently cut their cycling teeth on the Oberon/Forbes Big Ride, have booked in at the Bellbird Hotel. PJ's rap-up of Sunday, 13 May, "Brunch at Sunrise Café Warriewood" - 96km A baker’s doz Muggs mustn’t love their mums, ‘cause that’s how many managed a leave pass to enjoy a spectacular late autumn day, albeit after a chilly start. But then mum may have been beckoning, ‘cause Marea E. and Peter T had to bail-out after the West Hd leg (reached after a furious pace initially set by Freshman Trevor with Whippet and Temperate Tony having taken up the cudgels to maintain the fury). Dieter and Helga joined us at the Headland along with a Rock Wallaby contentedly munching on the foliage a few metres from the headland lookout. Backpacker Bruce and Eric linked-in on the return leg to McCarrs Creek. The Bulbous Bloke aka Papa Bear, on yet another crash diet, was greeted by Bayview locals and seasoned Muggs [Ian, Elfi and Wolfgang] en-route to Warriewood Beach, where the blue pacific was at its shimmering best. The Nautilus Café was booked out, but fortunately the Sunrise Milk Bar, with a young blonde waitress, who must have inadvertently climbed into her younger sister’s skimpy t-shirt, proved a worthy substitute, especially with the pocket of sunshine it's corner location offered. After Whippet performed miracles on Bruce’s wonky rear wheel, which hadn’t seen a serviceman in yonks, the Peloton returned to St Ives – well satisfied with its Sojourn to the Seaside. Following Sunday, 27 May, “Ferry Boat to Patonga & Iron Horse to Woy Woy Ride” - 98 km Due to the 11am Ferry, we don't need to depart - ¨ Turramurra car park [N/E side of station in Rohini St] 'till 8:15am; or ¨ Hornsby station car-park [100 metres nth of Railway Hotel in Jersey St] at 8:55am, to arrive at Red Herring, Brooklyn Pier by 10:30am for 1st Nosh Stop (30 mins) in time to catch 11am ferry to Patonga. Ferry ride + bike is $10. After 35 min ferry ride across the delightful/majestic/blue Brooklyn Waters at 11:40am, we commence scaling Patonga and after 18km predominantly climbing to/thru Pearl Beach, Umina/Ettalong. From 12:40pm we take 2nd Nosh Stop (30 min lunch) in Woy Woy. Trains from Woy Woy [$3 fare] at 1.27pm [or 2.27pm] arrive Hawkesbury River station at 1:41pm [or 2.41pm] where we cycle 3km out of Brooklyn and climb another four clicks for 3rd brief Nosh Stop (20 mins) at Pie in the Sky from 2:15pm. Around 2:35pm we commence the final 34km to Turra’, via Bobbin Head, with ETR 4:10pm [an hour later if you miss the 1:27pm from Woy Woy]. If you take the train from Woy Woy directly to Hornsby, the ride total distance from Hornsby is 56km. Update on Muggs visit to Lower Hunter - Queen’s B’day Long w’end – Friday 8 – Monday 11 June Plans/numbers for Muggs' visit to the Lower Hunter are falling together, with a dozen having booked and several others indicating that they will. As mentioned above, last Friday’s farewell restaurant night attracted two more girls, Annie and Monique, who have booked “to rough it at the Bellbird with the lads." Accommodation: ¨ Bellbird Hotel, 388 Wollombi Rd Bellbird 2325 (4990.1094 refer Tony / Judy) - 3km SW of Cessnock – minimum two night booking of twin and double rooms $160 for 2 nights with hot breakfast (works out at $40 per head per night). OR ¨ Hunter Haven B & B (Leanne - 4990.8858) 351A Wollombi Rd. Bellbird @ $260 per double room for 2 nights with full English breakfast (works out @ $65 per head per night). Leanne will refer you to another nearby B & B if Hunter Haven gets chockers. Tentative times/dates/stuff: Fri 8 12pm “Bellbird to Broke” 70km ride - ETR 4pm 8pm - venue from below list (late booking ‘cause of traffic) Sat 9 9am “Bellbird to Braxton” 75km ride - ETR 1pm 3pm Guided tour / wine tasting at Mount Pleasant 7:15pm Venue from below list Sun 10 9am “Bellbird to Cessnock State Forest” 65km ride - ETR 1:15pm OR 9am Golf at The Oaks 2:15pm Foot-sloggen Wine-athon – 8km wine tasting - visiting Tullochs, Pokolbin Tamberlaine, Pepper Tree, Lakes Folley and Draytons – ETR to cars 4:45pm 7:15pm - Venue from below list Mon 11 9am “Bellbird to Broke” 70km ride ETR 1:15pm The Hunter is predominantly flat. Shorter rides/maps will be available for the 30km brigade to “dovetail” in with longer rides. Restaurant/café options: (a) Bellbird Hotel Bistro - our pub actually has a classy bistro with fresh seafood. (b) Café Crocodile, Wilderness Rd. Lovedale - 4930.7704 (c) Magnum Restaurant and Café, Cnr Broke & Braxton Rds - 4998.7881 (d) Casuarina Restaurant & Country Inn, Hermitage Rd Pokolbin - 4998.7692 (e) Café Caffe @ Pokolbin Hill Chateau Resort, 188 Broke Rd Pokolbin - 4998.7321 (f) Café on Cooper Shop, 1F Cooper St Cessnock - 4991.2762 The Scribe has rec'd a veritable Yellow Pages of stuff from the Hunter Valley Tourist Assoc - places to visit/ things to do, so you won't get bored, even if it dumps down. This is Muggs 3rd June long w'end in the Lower Hunter and we know how to amuse ourselves. With accommodation around Cessnock saturating, if you are joining Muggs, book digs NOW. ToothFairy survived the "shocker" weather to again cycle to Qld in 8 days Below is an extract of Ann's e-mail report on what must've been a tough slog: "Just to let you know that the ride survived despite the weather. The first 2 days were wet and warm or wet and cold or just freezing. The 3rd day was washed out and we and our bikes were bussed and trucked through to Laurieton. Whereupon, the weather improved and the remainder of the ride went well. The bushland was beautiful, particularly from Coffs and the hills did not seem as bad as last year!! Of the 40 riders, over half had done it before and the back-up team was the same as last year – well attuned/versed at managing our foibles, so it was a happy group that arrived at Southport on Sat. - 900km riding without any major disasters and everyone said, "See you next year!!" Expats Corner - e-mail from Michael Greenberg aka Peloton "For the first time in many years, Boston has a warm Spring with temps 25-30 degrees and very sunny. Sibyl and I have been riding for over a month now, mostly with “The Charles River Wheelmen”. Next weekend, we have a 165km ride in Northern Mass and New Hampshire. We just got a digital camera and I will e-mail some pics. Tomorrow is Sibyl's 30th b'day and we will go to Martha's Vineyard (where JFK Jr. died by thinking he was a pilot or something) with our bikes only. My new primary e-mail: pharma@worldnet.att.net" The Scribe - 16 May 2001 |
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