|
|
Muggaccinos Pedlars Sunday Cyclists - The Bullsheet
I had scheduled Peats Ridge Somersby Bellbird Ride for this w'end, 'cause crew seems to have a penchant for Turra' Bobbin Head starts. However, trains from Wyong to Hornsby are off this w'end due to track work. Rather than someone getting stranded and have to rely on busses, that ride is scheduled for following week when there is no track work. So if you aren't doing the gong ride, we are off to the beach with Warriewood for early lunch. 2. This Sunday, 19 Nov, Warriewood for brunch - 84kms Ride Organiser is PJ [9498.3684 to 7am]. Park at St Ives car park in Mona Vale Rd [opposite Paterson’s Patisserie and Stanley St] by 7:10am for 7:15am rollout. After about 6kms [opposite Forest Way - at Mona Vale Fruit Barn] we left into Myoora Rd then into Larool Rd for a low traffic entrance to the top of National Park. Take clockwise route [left fork] and descend to Akuna Bay and climb back out and then descend to McCarrs Creek, where we hook a hard left into McCarr's Creek Rd. Late starters can take the anti-clockwise route straight to McCarr's creek.Around 8:30am we should be passing Church Point [28kms], thence passing Bayview Marina [31kms] and crossing Mona Vale Rd adjacent the cemetery at Samuel St. Fifteen minutes later, after crossing the main beach road at the traffic lights [juncture of Warriewood Rd and Pittwater Rd], and climbing to the headland, we will arrive at a Milk Bar come café overlooking Warriewood Beach [around 9:20am - 42 kms] where you can get a good feed for not much mula.If the weather is fine, we’ll take in the ambience and indulge in friendly repartee over brunch [ hamburgers and sambos are tops] for up to an hour, carbo/protein loading for the hefty return leg at 10:15am, ‘via Bayview, Church Point and McCarrs Creek, not arriving back to St. Ives ‘till 12:30pm - 84 kms "in toto" for a much-earned coffee at Paterson’s Patisserie.Seven crew rolled out of Turra' smack on time. 7 clicks later, after descending Kissing Point Rd onto the cycleway passing Brown's Waterhole, we met Brian W. who, apart from setting a blistering pace, did a marvellous job of navigating many unfamiliar roads over the ensuing/remaining 92kms. Peter T. brought along another computer junkie Shane [EDS], who as it turned out used to live in the north western subs, so Shane proved a godsend for Brian, 'cause amidst a labyrinth of cross roads after departing the M2 to arriving at Windsor, even Brian occasionally had to revert to his map and Shane. Canadian, Barry D. brought another new recruit, Mathew. And 6 kms along the M2, another buddy of Dalsto's, Peter Cook, joined the caravan. The M2 was a new experience for many of us and seems safe enough in the cycle lane, provided you take care to give motorists departing at the two "off-roads" [before our exit at Abbott's Rd] enough space. Those 4 wheelers "zeroing-in from six o'clock" are travelling heaps, heaps faster than us, so cyclists have to be careful when proceeding fwd over those off-roads. Not long after exiting the M2, we passed Quaker's Hill station [30kms], then passing thru Schofields, Riverstone, Vineyard, Mulgrave becoming more rural as we went. After spotting gasoline @ 90.7 at McGrath's Hill, we pulled into Historical Windsor under sunny skies [46.4kms]. Alas, The Landing Café where we had brunched under a scorching sun last Dec. in a crew which included Peloton/Sibil and Frank and Fiona [all offshore] was no more. In fact, the stretch of cafés on the left upon entering George St, were either vacant or closed. Brian eyed-out Kate's Place Café just down on the RHS of George St (closer to a thriving Mall), and didn't it turn out to be a treasure? Dalsto took a peek inside and came out extolling its virtues that "everything is home made". Healthy breakfasts were had by almost all, although Dalsto opted for the Rhubarb Pie and ice cream, prompting most to muse that Canadians know as much about what to eat/when, as Septics. The Robert Timms coffee was 'right up there'. After a 40 min Pit Stop at yet another glorious Slops Shop, Brian led us to Richmond via Moses St, along the picturesque Windsor River on the RHS, where we passed the oldest church in mainland Oz, St Mathew's Anglican. After passing the RAAF base, we chucked a hard left into Blacktown Rd [52.5kms] for the journey home. One of PJ's new smickers, expensive, yellow tyres developed a nasty bulge, prompting him to catch a train at Seven Hills, but he later established that everyone made it back safely. Postscript: Our visit to Historical Windsor/Richmond, with its undertones of rural Oz, ably shepherded by Brian W., proved a most enjoyable addition to Muggs ever burgeoning Rides Calendar. Hotlinks have been added for:
Last Sunday the crew enjoyed a delightful repast at Kate's Place Café Windsor. Alas, in apportioning the bill, PJ short-changed Simon five bucks, which he subsequently settled. The Thieving Banker still owes him a couple more. It would assist if at future Pit Stops, say after 20 mins or so, you are getting itchy feet to get back on the bike, if you would obtain the bill and announce to the crew what Muggs liability is - namely the total bill. That way we can ensure the total bill is covered before re-mounting. Sometimes it doesn't work out when some riders put money on the table to cover what they think is their portion without knowing our total liability. Sometimes they put too little, due to a Sunday surcharge or an extra coffee they forgot. And other times they give too much, when I have got off light or the proprietor has rec'd a larger tip. Hence, if you want to re-mount, can you get the bill and make sure your contribution is correct - allowing a tip of between 5% and 10%.
6. Following Sunday, 26 November, "Somersby Bellbird Ride" – 122 kms from Hornsby or 108 kms from Cowan – only three hills
Ride contact is Phil J 9498.3684 hm or 9312.3319 wk. Park in Hornsby train station car park by 7:10am opposite Browsery Pottery - 75 metres north of Railway Hotel - north west of rail line - 7:15am rollout. Or pick up the caravan around 7:40am at Cowan train station. The Bikie Hangout at Mt White [37 kms] is our first pit stop around 9am, followed by Bellbrook Café Peats Ridge or MidCoast Petroleum Peats Ridge around 10:30 am [57 kms]. About 2kms after departing Peats Ridge, we cut due east twds the coast via Somersby to the pleasant dulcetones of "pinging", screeching Bellbirds, where after about 18kms from Peats Ridge we turn right [2 kms south of the Shell Garage at Kariong] and pedal the "Scenic Route" back to Mt White [90 kms] arriving around 12:20 pm. Our next stop is Pie In The Sky around 1:40pm, returning to Hornsby [122 kms] around 3:10 pm. The ride may be shortened by continuing north east from Somersby to the Shell Garage at Kariong and then turning right for 12 kms down hill to Woy Woy and catching an all stops Iron Horse at Woy Woy [six stations back to Hornsby] at 1:26 pm, 2:26 pm and 3:16 pm. Express trains, which take 34 minutes to arrive at Hornsby are available at Woy Woy at 1:02 pm, 2:02 pm and 3:02 pm. Alternatively, climb aboard at Hawkesbury River Station in Brooklyn [101 kms] at 2:40 pm or 3:30 pm or at Cowan [104 kms] 2:52 pm or 3:42 pm.Alternatively, you can turnaround at Mt White for a 74kms round trip.
We rollout of Turra' at 7:15am descending Kissing Point Rd. to M2 to Riverstone, Mulgrave, Windsor [46.5kms] for our initial pit stop around 9:15am at recently discovered Kate's Place Café George St Windsor, before taking the Old Windsor Bridge to Wilberforce, Ebenezer & Sackville, where we catch another ferry, then back to Windsor via the Tizzana Rd loop for a 2nd Pit Stop - ETR of 11:30am. [For the culture lovers, we pass a lily farm just south of Sackville.] Around midday we remount heading west thru nearby Clarendon to Richmond where we catch a train at 12:48pm [1:48pm or 2:48pm] as traffic is busier on these roads after church is out, passing thru nine stations to Blacktown, whereupon we disembark the Iron Horse around 1:22pm [or 2:22pm] and re-enter the M2 for a fast 15kms and a further 6kms uphill from Brown's Waterhole and Kissing Point Rd. to Turra' where our ETR is 2:40pm [3:40pm depending which train we catch]. Comprehensive details in next issue. Ride route and maps distributed on the day. The Scribe - 14 November 2000 - johnstph@cba.com.au |
|
|
|