Muggaccinos Pedlars Sunday Cyclists – The Bullsheet

Sunday 27 Jan, 7:55am “Northern Beaches and Back Roads” 

70km - ETR midday

Ride Leader:  Graeme Edwards 9476 3624 h after 5pm 

Ride contact:  Phil Johnston  9498.3684 hm or 9312.3319 wk

Hardcopy these ride directions and bring on Sunday

With other long-weekend diversions attracting some Muggs, gather at Turra’ station car-park from 7:45am, as Muggs link-up with another Bike North ride led by Graeme Edwards 9476.3624(h), titled “Northern Beaches and Back Roads” which rolls out of Turramurra at 7:55am. via Terrey Hills, Church Point to Mona Vale, then follows the coast to Manly for coffee.  However, Muggs will likely depart Graeme's contingent at Mona Vale to return via Powder Works Rd. to Turra' with an ETR midday.

Whippet ‘n Widget's rap-up of Sunday, 20 Jan, Cinque Montagnes - 98km

Five grand hills interspersed amongst unburnt valleys, 98km of marvelous, lumpy bumpy riding for 13 cyclists.  Cloudless skies ensured a warmish start, and the temp. just kept rising.  The Cancer Council would ‘ve been stoked with the 30+ stuff being sloshed on liberally, except for scrooge, Bank Teller, who contends it’s too expensive to waste.

The Turra' contingent rolled out slightly ahead of scheduled 6:45am. ‘cos at 6:40am Scribe, the photographer guru who had his camera on the wrong setting last Sunday, whereupon voila! "no pics last week", announced that he wanted to commence a few mins ahead of the Peloton to take individual happy snaps as they scaled Bobbin Head to Kalkari.  Tens seconds later Widget, ToothFairy and Caroline were on their bikes heading down Easton Rd, with Scribe still in a kafuffle struggling to get underway.

L to R at Kalkari at 7:20am - Ann, Steve, Widget, Rolf, Yamaha, Caroline is hidden by Whippet, BigGears and Navigator.

After a 5 min chin wag, Widget scampered off twds our 1^st scheduled Nosh Stop at GreenShades, leaving Brian still penciling the log/number crunching stuff which only he understands.

Alas, Luigi’s “Early Opener” was as deserted as a Ghost Town in an old black ‘n white, Wyatt Earp flick, ‘cause shortly after eight bells the lead scouts of Temperate, Yamaha & Whippet arrived at the Galston nursery [30.5km] to find the joint, under new management, closed 'til 8:30am.  Consensus had us roll onto the café at Berowra Waters.  However, Caroline preferring home-style creature comforts prior to cycling 40km with son, Jimbo, said her tar tahs.

As we were to subsequently learn it was Widget who led us on a merry chase over the ultra hilly “scenic route” to Berrilee, via Bayfield & Blacks Rd.  As the crow flies it might be a tad shorter than our normal sedate route further west thru Arcadia, but crows ain’t got to lug a push bike up a plethora of monster steep hills along Blacks Rd.  Hence, when we finally arrived at Berowra Waters café, our tongues were hanging out “like Lassie on heat”.  Fortunately, the joint was just opening.  With Muggs’ average age a little “longer in the tooth” than the petite, shapely waitress, we opted for the seating overlooking the water and away from a bellowing Triple M.  With a full English breakfast only $7.50, yummy coffees, pleasant service and a delightful blue water setting, we weren't in any hurry to leave. 

Approaching 10am after a slog from the punt, we bade farewell to Pacific Pete, ToothFairy, and PJ who had “people to see, places to go, things to do” stuff – that was the twaddle they spun to us on a warming morn’.  The rest of us hooked a left into OPH and pushed north into a gentle headwind to the ‘U’ turn at Brooklyn Rd, intent upon hurrying up the familiar 3.9km slog to our 2^nd Nosh at PitS.  With the temp seemingly approaching 30, Yamaha, Tony ‘n Rolf kept up a fearful pace.  A troika of distinctive orange & white Bike North jerseys was testimony to a fiercely contested climb, where the KOM was all hard work & NoPlay – excuse Whippet’s pun

Thereabouts, we all resuscitated under the majestic old pine trees while a zephyr from the Hawkesbury cooled things marginally.  Annie Oakley had developed a warm inner-glow, so cool drinks were the popular choice.  Besides no one had the energy to resuscitate her if she started to flag.

The Bimbadeen Bimbo from Bayview’s brain must’ve also over-heated, ‘cos Widget charged off on the home leg without her bidon bottle.  [How many times has Brenda done that?  If she wants to jettison an old bottle just tell us and we’ll stop salvaging it for her.]

At Bobbin Head Rd, an out-of-water Widget wasn’t looking flash.  Whereupon No Play & Whippet came to the rescue, accompanying her along the east side of the rail line thru the back streets of Wahroonga to Turra’.

The Scribe 'n The Whippet  - 21 Jan 2002