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Muggaccinos Pedlars Sunday Cyclists - The Bullsheet Sunday 14 Oct, 8:20am - Tour de Royal National Park - 86km – ETR 2:38pm * Ride contacts:
- Brian Willis 9807.6439 hm
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Directions from North Shore, either – Ø Homebush Bay Drive / Centenary Drive / Roberts Rd / Wiley Ave / King George's Rd / Princess H’way; or Ø Pacific Highway over Harbour Bridge onto Princess H’way at Broadway, Remain on Princess H’way crossing George’s River Bridge and passing thru Sylvania and Gymea. Then - (a) 250m after Princess H’way veers hard L at Kirrawee, turn R into President Ave. (b) 800m later L into Rawson Ave. (c) 100m later L into Waratah Park. |
At 8:30am, after 1km of pedaling S along Rawson Ave we enter Princess Highway at lights and almost 2km later pass Loftus Oval on LHS (familiar to ‘Gong riders as the initial morning tea spot). 100m onwards we L into Farnell Ave (some maps call it Sir Bertram Stevens Drive). After passing the toll booths the road changes to Audley Weir Rd and we shortly descend and cross Audley Weir. Whereupon we veer R (it becomes Sir Bertram Stevens Drive) and encounter our first, of several delightful treats, a wonderfully tough climb up Artillery Hill to Gibraltar Rock and along Flat Rock, passing Warumbul Rd on LHS [11km]).
Around 9:15am we pause for our 1st Sag Stop (5 min) [15km] some 50m after hooking L into Bundeena Drive. We then pedal 10.5km due E to our 1st Nosh Stop (35 min) at God’s Own Country, picturesque Bundeena Beach 9:40am approx [25km] with spectacular views NW twds Sydney Harbour.
Around 10:25am we experience a 2nd arduous climb, retracing up Bundeena Drive. Around 11:05am we pause for our 2nd Sag Stop (5 min) [36km] approx. 50m short of the intersection with Sir Bertram Stevens Drive.
After re-grouping we hook a L into Sir Bertram Stevens Drive and high tail it along ridge then down and passing bridge on R to McKell Av [46km] then becomes Lady Wakehurst Drive to our 2nd Nosh Stop (30 min), “Otford Apple Pie Shop” (another landmark for Gong riders), with fabulous views of the Blue Pacific - arriving around 12:20pm approx [57km].
At 12:50pm we cycle N back up Lady Wakehurst Drive, initial 300m along the coast and then into the wooded forest where it is up hill initially, then predominantly undulating. Around 1:28pm we pause for our 3rd Sag Stop (5 min) [68km] at McKell Ave bridge (Waterfall exit) on the LHS.
We then cycle 5km uphill to Waterfall, taking a 4th Sag Stop (5 min) [73km] around 2pm just prior to re-joining Princess H’way (Cnr. Kooraban St/Mc Kell Ave).
We then commence final 13km leg back on Princess H’way/Freeway thru Heathcote and Engadine onto Rawson Ave and Waratah Park. [86km] - ETR 2:38pm.
NB: The above route, which finishes with 13km on Princess H’way/Freeway is chosen as narrow Sir Bertram Stevens Drive down to/out of Audley can be dangerous in mid-arvo with many motorists returning from Bundeena, Wattamolla and Garie beaches.
Muggs’ annual sortie to Canberra for 150km Fitz’s and 90km Tharwa Challenges – only three weeks away
BN member, Caroline Smale, who knows how to hammer on a bike, is the latest inclusion on Muggs' Fitz's team entry. Full w'end details are available at hotlink “Annual Interstate Rides”. If you want to attend -
e-mail your name/address/phone to The Scribe johnstp@tpg.com.au ; and
phone Victor Lodge and book either there or Motel Monaro next door.
Scribe raps-up last Sunday's Tour de Macarthur - 93km
Lots of farms, horses, cows, sheep, goats and even alpacas
A lean crew of four (Big Gears Tony, Whippet, The Scribe and Terry The SnowMan) mustered on a fresh morn' outside the Campbelltown Swimming Centre on time at 8:20am, unawares of the blustery, windy conditions which were to develop as the day unfolded. We held back our departure until 8:42am in case ToothFairy, Papa Bear or Yamaha showed-up.
After 25km of pleasant rural pedalling N/W of Campbelltown, Bank Teller rec'd his first surprise. Our 1st Nosh Stop, Cobbitty Village Tea Rooms, which Muggs have visited since '96, had recently rec'd a face-lift under new management of Dot. And a new label Pepper Tree Café, Cobbitty. Dot, who‘s not unpleasant to the eye, brings a youthful exuberance and a fresh label to the joint, and we wished her well on the first Sunday under her stewardship.
An hour later, after The Navigator had successfully directed us to thru Orangeville, we ascended to the top of a long ridge, with a gale force wind from our RHS.
Upon reaching The Oaks, Sig's map noted a R along Burragorang Rd, but that would be straight into that howling westerly. Unanimous agreement evidenced us opt for the short-cut due S along Montpelier Drive, thereby knocking about 11km off our route. It also expedited us turning due East to take advantage of that blustering westerly. Hence, our last 6km along Barkers Lodge Rd into Historic Picton was at +40km p/h, with Whippet reaching 72km on the short downhill.
More surprises as Stone Quarry Creek Café (opposite the King George V Hotel), where Muggs had previously partaken many a pleasant repartee, is now a haberdashery store. The Mgr. directed us to La Strada 60m further N/E up Rememberance Drive, where apart from serving whopper meals and fine LaVazza coffee, the Spanish Senorita was a Real Babe.
Approaching 1pm, after some serious Protein Loading, we took-off for our 3rd leg to Menangle - wind assisted. Whereupon we reached the Menangle General Store in record time, so much so that we canned our scheduled Nosh Stop and hooked a L into Menangle Rd and high-tailed it the final 13km 4th leg back to our motors at Campbelltown, arriving twds 3pm.
Big Gears took out the Yellow Jersey, however, Whippet kept him honest. The Navigator was a solid 3rd, with Scribe still pondering why 5 weeks of hills offshore hasn't helped.
Attendance was low, but being only an hour's drive from Chatswood, our four finishers agreed that Tour de Macarthur should be re-scheduled for Autumn, as the rural, farm infested countryside, provides a delightful tonic - back to nature stuff.
Following Sunday, 21 Oct, 8:30am rollout from St Ives for Brunch at Sunrise Café Warriewood - 54km to 100km
100km ride: Rollout St Ives 8:30am Terrey Hills, Duffy’s Forest, West Head (1st Nosh Stop – pack nibbles), Church Point, Warriewood (2nd Nosh Stop Nautilus Café) - ETR St Ives 2:30pm.
54km ride: Skip the out/back sections to Terrey Hills and West Hd and cycle 27km from St Ives to Warriewood.
The Scribe 'n The Whippet - 9 Oct 2001
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