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Muggaccinos Pedlars Sunday Cyclists – The Bullsheet Anzac Day, Wed 25 Apr - 7:15am Hornsby to Wyong and "Iron Horse” home – optional climb of dreaded Bumble Hill – 93km or 99 km With no track work on the Wyong line on Anzac Day, we depart Hornsby station car-park [100 metres north of Railway Hotel in Jersey St - N/W side of Hornsby train station] by 7:15am to catch a train home from Wyong either the - ¨ 2:37pm express, or ¨ 2:45pm all-stops. Our 1st Nosh Stop is after 37kms at Mt White Village Store around 9am. Cycling north from the Bikie Hangout by 9:30am, we take a 2nd Nosh Stop at the Midcoast Petroleum, Peats Ridge by 10:35am for 20 min. Around 11:30am we descend Bumble Hill and the keen ones cycle back up Bumble to the KOM (the extra six clicks in heading), before re-descending for a 50 min lunch Nosh Stop from 12:30pm at delightful, serene, stately Yarramalong Manor. At 1:20pm we commence a 23km flat/fast stretch into Wyong, arriving by 2:30pm. An express train departs at
2:37pm, however, these are sometimes crowded with locals.
Alternatively, the tranquil "all-stops"
[Tuggerah,
Ourimbah, Lisarow, Niagara Park, including Cowan etc. – 15 stops]
departs Wyong at 2.45pm returning to Hornsby at 3.55pm.
If you miss it, the next express is 3.37pm with an all-stops
at 3.55pm. $6.40 fare, and an
almost passenger free ride on the Sunday, 29 April, "Somersby Bellbird Ride" - only three hills ¨ 127km from Hornsby; or ¨ 97km from Cowan ¨ Ride contacts: Phil Johnston 9498.3684 hm or 9312.3319 wk. Brian Willis 9807.6439 hm ¨ Please hardcopy these instructions and bring on Sunday. Park in Hornsby train station car park [100 metres north of Railway Hotel - NW of rail line] by 7:20am for a 7:30am rollout. Or pick up the caravan around 8:05am at Cowan train station. The Bikie Hangout at Mt White [36km] is our first Nosh Stop around 9:15am. Around 9:40am we roll on to/past the MidCoast Petroleum, Peats Ridge [55.5km]. About 2km after departing the familiar gas station, rather than taking a left to Central Mangrove, we veer right remaining on Peats Ridge Rd and head due east then south/east twds the coast to Somersby, then Somersby Downs, to the pleasant dulcet tones of "pinging", Bellbirds. After 66km we take the off-ramp [at sign to Somersby/Gosford] and shortly thereafter pull in at Somersby General Store (4372.1269ph) for a 2nd Nosh Stop, around 10:50am. Six clicks further on [74km] we turn right to Gizzaroll and continue down hill to the bridge over Mooney Mooney creek and then commence a steady climb where, at the Calga Interchange, after 85km we turn left (at sign to Brooklyn) and continue along the Scenic Route - 7km later returning to Mt White Village Store [92km] around 12:20pm for our 3rd Nosh Stop – 15 min. Around 12:30pm we head for Pie in the Sky descending to Brooklyn Bridge over Hawkesbury River and passing Brooklyn Rd [104km] take our 4th Nosh Stop around 1:20pm at Pie in the Sky [107.6km]. Around 1:45pm we commence the final 19.2km leg to Hornsby passing Cowan [111.6km] returning to Hornsby [127 km] around 2:50 pm. Shorter options: (a) Continue NE from Somersby to the Shell Garage at Kariong and then turn right for 12km 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 depart from Woy Woy at 1:02 pm, 2:02 pm and 3:02 pm. (b) If you fade fast twds the end, climb aboard an Old Rattler at Hawkesbury River Station in Brooklyn [109 km] at 2:40 pm; 3:30 pm or at Cowan [112 km] 2:52 pm, 3:42 pm. (c) Turnaround at Mt White for a 72km round trip from Hornsby. The Scribe’s rap-up of Sunday, 22 April - Tour de Windsor – 101km The Gods were kind to two trusting souls, Suicide Blonde and Dirty Cheat, who ignored o’night showers and the forecast of more, to cycle to Windsor via the M2. Marea scored a puncture 200m short of Windsor, so after hobbling into Macquarie St we settled into the Cicada Blue Café next door to where the former “The Landing Café” used to be. Can recommend Cicada Blue’s poached eggs and bacon @ $8.50 - coffee was divine. After being blessed with intermittent sunshine along the M2 and thru Riverstone, we suffered a shower whilst at the Café. Covering our options we enquired where Windsor station was in case we opted to catch a train back to Marayong Station. Fortunately, sunshine returned so we opted to omit the 37km northern Sackville loop and returned due East, on the "Dural Route" via Pitt Town, Cattai Ridge Rd and Old Northern Rd, with GreenShades Nursery Café our next Nosh Stop after 75.5km at 12:50pm. Luighi made us most welcome and the coffee was again divine. At 2:20pm we rolled back into Turra’ car-park with 101km on the dial, well pleased that the Gods had been indulgent. Alas, it started to sprinkle. Update
on Muggs visit to the Lower Hunter on
this Queen’s B’day Long W’end – Friday 8 – Monday 11 June Two Bullsheets ago mentioned The Scribe was organising a cycling holiday in the Lower Hunter this June long w'end - staying at a pub in Cessnock. [In last five years Muggs have visited the Lower Hunter thrice, Mudgee and Bundanoon]. Marea E, aka Suicide Blonde has informed that three of her cohorts would like to join us, and as Marea works for the Smiling Rotund Padre, McWilliams Wines, she may be able to arrange a group tasting at Mount Pleasant Winery - say mid-arvo on Sat 9 June after a 50/75km ride. We've stayed at The Neath Hotel a few times previously, so time for a change. Alas, The Kearsley Hotel is fully booked. The Bellbird Hotel (4990.1094 refer Tony) - 3km SW of Cessnock - has approx 5 twin/double rooms available. As it is a long w'end you must stay a min of 2 nights @ $160 per room for 2 nights incl cooked breakfast. This works out at $40 p/h p/n. If you stay three nights - Fri, Sat & Sun, which most of us would, it costs $120 in toto per head with cooked breakfast each morn'. Next Bullsheet will list two nearby B & Bs (for the toffs). Could you drop PJ an e-mail johnstp@tpg.com.au
or johnstph@cba.com.au
if you may be interested the Lower
Hunter this June. As with
previous June Junkets, The Scribe
- 23 April 2001 |
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