www.Muggaccinos.com   The Bullsheet

Sunday, 8 June – Cinque Montagnes (anti-clockwise) from -
Turramurra station 8:30am 100km   ETR 2:30pm; or 
Hornsby station 9:05am    72km   ETR 1:40pm

•          Cyclists commencing at Turra' do not pass Hornsby start point, rather usually catch those departing from Hornsby when approaching Pie in the Sky

•          Ride Leader:  Phil Johnston  9498.3684 hm or 9312.3319 wk. and 

•          Hardcopy these ride directions and bring on Sunday

Both below ride start points to arrive at initial Nosh Stop -  Pie in the Sky for Brunch approaching 10am:

¨        Longer Ride - Cinque Montagnes [100km]
Arrive Turramurra car park [North/East side of station] in ample time for a 8:30am rollout in/out of Bobbin Head, arriving at Kalkari Reserve 1^st Sag Stop (5 min) after 13.5km from 9:05am.  We take a R onto Pac Highway at lights after passing Asquith Golf Course. Then due N to the Hawkesbury.

¨       Shorter Ride - Three Hills [72km]
Arrive at Hornsby car-park [100m Nth/West of Railway Hotel in Jersey St] for 9:05am roll out cycling 500m Nth up Jersey St and turn L and 60m later turn R [at traffic lights] onto Old Pacific Highway for the 26km ride to the pie shop, after descending to Brooklyn Rd, and climbing back up to PitS.

Both groups pass Cowan station from 9:35am.  After passing Pie in the Sky and descend to water level, we U turn at Brooklyn Rd around 10am for the hard fought slog back up to the pie shop for 1st Nosh Stop (25 min) at Pie in the Sky approaching 10:10am (skip the climb from Brooklyn Rd if you're slow).

10:35am we return S for about 8.2km before taking a R into Berowra Waters Rd where we descend to picturesque Berowra Waters for 2nd Sag Stop (15 min) and ride on the punt. 

[Or continue south and return to either Hornsby [46km] or Turra’ [76km] car parks]. 

After cycling thru rural Berrilee and Arcadia we arrive at 2^nd Nosh Stop (30 min)  - Green Shades Nursery Café Galston [9653.1500ph] (10% surcharge) for lunch from 12:40pm - leave bikes outside the rest rooms and inside the green metal doors on LHS.

Allowing a 30 min repast if the weather is pleasant, we commence our return home via Galston George at 1:10pm pulling in at the familiar Hornsby Heights' bus shelter at 1:30pm for 3rd Sag Stop (5 min).

ETR -
¨                  Hornsby 1:40pm - 72km - 3 hills

¨                  Turra' 2:30pm - 100km - 5 hills

Bank Teller's rap-up of Tour de Wisemans Ferry w'end - 180km

ToothFairy's inaugural T de WF proved a marvelous success, not the least of all due to the brill, balmy weather, Annie and Alana generously providing two Sag Wagons, and a mega contingent of 25 [Brenda aka Widget, Whippet, Pacific Pete, ToothFairy, Ray aka Kitchen Sink,  The Samurai,  Kate,  Rummager, Pete W, Ann-Marie, Peter W, Angelica, Danielle K, Craig T, Angela R, Prem, Colin aka Springbok, Gracinda aka Senorita, Nurse Karen, Trev aka Tornado, Sig aka Smiling Assassin, Marcel aka Credit Agricole, Annie Oakley, Alana, Bank Teller] on , supported by: 

• Sat - Papa Bear, Koala Bear and Graybeard; and 

• Sunday - Princess Caroline 'n Publican who cycled up that morn' leaving Dural at Sparrow's Fart, and Greenie and Matt who met us at the Stone House Cafe. 

Nosh Stops under splendid sunshine at The Bike Hangout Mt White, Peats Ridge, and the delightful, bucolic Spencer Village Store on the waterfront, evidenced our ETA blowout something fearful.  But no one was fazed.  

The friendly service and cabins at Del Rio were appreciated.  Alas, the 'in situ' bistro left a tad to be desired, but is 'twas a long walk to town, so some of us suffered the westieville ambience of clanging poker machines for the evening.  Others went for a trek to the local Rubbety Dub in the Big Smoke.   With Samurai steering the ship, and The Probationer (Kiwi Mike), 'in absentia', they arrived back at camp well before midnight and sober.

The 2½ km from our digs along the river bank over the punt/ferry, and back to the main drag, was truly pictorial.  If that bucolic, rustic, verdant Mark Twain setting, with old man sun rising over the river, didn't make you feel good, nothing would. 

Bank Teller's brief in last week's Bullsheet underestimated Day 1 by seven clicks, and Day 2 by 1km, and failed to mention a ferry ride approaching WF.  But worst still, he didn't know about a killer 1.1km climb at the start of Day 2, which had us all hanging out for any sign of life on the 19km stretch twds Halcrows Rd.  

Fortunately Kitchen Sink knew of the Stone House Cafe 4575.0155 which was a "sight for sore eyes", 'cause at that stage our bellies were whinging somethin' fearful, even though we'd only completed 20km.  Perhaps it may have had something to do with the imbibing the previous evening, and that bugger of a hill.  

Day 2 also highlighted the need for at least one Sag Wagon to stay behind the slowest rider.  That faux pass was Bank Teller's omission.  It won't happen again.

Memorable High Spots:

• lunch on Sat arvo at Spencer Village Store on the river bank; and

• arriving at Stone House cafe on Sunday morn', after our tongues 'd been hanging out.

Pics from Sat night 'n Sunday morn'

Post ride pics back at Hornsby

The below ride is cancelled, 'cause of RTA trackwork on 8 June on the Central Coast rail line

Sunday, 8 June, Ferry Boat to Patonga & Iron Horse from Woy Woy to Brooklyn
* Turra’ BY 8:40am - 94.5km – ETR 4:10pm; or
* Hornsby BY 9:10am - 65.5km – ETR 3:15pm

• Ride Leader  Phil Johnston - 9498.3684 hm

• Hardcopy these directions and bring on Sunday

• Cycle two abreast at own risk.  Keep well to LHS

• Get off the road at Sag Stops

• Maintain your membership of Bicycle NSW for Public Liability cover in case another Mugg sues you for riding negligence

• When passing a fellow Mugg, always provide a metre clearance.  If you can't, or are passing on the inside, you MUST call out loudly eg. "passing inside tight" etc

1st Legs: either Turra' 41.5km or Hornsby 26.3km - to Brooklyn

Due to the 11am Brooklyn ferry departure, arrive -

• Turramurra car park [N/E side of station in Rohini St] by 8:30am; or

• Hornsby station car-park [75m Nth of Railway Hotel in Jersey St] by 9:10am.

Details for Turra' start:

Rollout by 8:40am in/out of Bobbin Head, arriving at Kalkari Reserve after 13.5km Sag Stop (3 min).  4.4km later (immediately after passing Asquith Golf Course on LHS) -

• R into Belmont Rd for 150m;

• L for 30m to lights at Old Pacific H'way;

• R onto H'way heading Nth for 20.6km; and

• R into Brooklyn Rd for 2.7km around 10:30am.

Details for Hornsby start:

Rollout by 9:20am -

• N for 600m up Jersey St;

• L for 20m to traffic lights;

• R onto H'way heading Nth for 22.5km; and

• R into Brooklyn Rd for 2.7km around 10:30am.

Arrive at Red Herring, Brooklyn Pier by 10:30am for 1^st Nosh Stop (20 min) to catch 11am ferry to Patonga (fare incl bike $10).

2nd Leg: Patonga to Woy Woy - 14km
After 35 min crossing the delightful/majestic/blue Brooklyn Waters at 11:40am, cycle -

• 5.3km up Patonga Drive to Pearl Beach Drive;

• Ahead for 3.2km past the Umina Beach 180^o "U"-turn (during the descent) where road changes to Mt Ettalong Rd, then thru Ettalong to SW Woy Woy;

• R into Hobart for 200m;

• L into Sydney Ave for 150m Sag Stop (5 min) outside petrol station just prior to Ocean Beach Rd and GET COMPLETELY OFF THE ROAD;

• Ahead crossing Ocean Beach Rd and along West St for 400m;

• L into Trafalgar Ave for 2.9km;

• R into McMasters Rd for 450m; and

• L into Blackwall Rd for 750m to 2nd Nosh Stop (30 min lunch) from 12:40pm [Turra' 55.5km - Hornsby 40.5km] in the sunny courtyard o’side the Grouse House (3/5 Blackwall Rd - 4340.2300ph) where “Mamma Maria” serves yummy burgers.

At 1.26pm [or 2.26pm] we pedal 100m further NNW along Blackwall Rd and cross Railway St (at traffic lights) to Woy Woy station and catch the all-stops train [$3 fare] arriving at Hawkesbury River station 14 min later at 1:41pm [or 2.41pm].  [Alternatively, at 1:02pm or 2:02pm catch an Express train from Woy Woy arriving Hornsby 34 min later - ride distance starting from Hornsby is 40.3km.] 

3rd Leg: Brooklyn to Pie in the Sky - 6.5km
Cycle 2.6km West along Brooklyn Rd and climb 3.9km Nth for 3^rd Nosh Stop (20 min) at Pie in the Sky from 2:15pm.  

4th Leg: Pie in the Sky to Hornsby - 18.7km or Turra' - 32.5km

Around 2:35pm commence final leg, either -

• Sth to Hornsby for 18.7km - 65.5km - ETR 3:15pm [an hour later if you miss the 1:26pm from Woy Woy]; or

• Sth for 15.7km, then L into Bobbin Head for 16.8km -  ETR Turra' 94.5km - 4:10pm [an hour later if you miss the 1:26pm].

The Scribe - 1 June 2003