Muggaccinos Pedlars Sunday Cyclists The Bullsheet

Good Friday 29 March, 8am - Tour de Royal National Park - 94km – ETR 2:05pm
*    Ride contacts:
     -    Brian Willis     9807.6439 hm
     -    Phil Johnston  9498.3684 hm
*    Hardcopy these directions and bring on Sunday

At sparrow fart on a Sunday morn' it is only 45 minutes drive from Chatswood to the Sutherland Leisure Centre at Waratah Park off Rawson Ave (approx 1km south of Sutherland shopping centre).  We assemble at the bottom RHS in largish carpark immediately outside the swimming complex at 7:50am to conquer the largest national park in Sydney, The Royal National Park – rollout 8am sharp. 

At 8:03am, 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 on a dog leg R and hook L to cross Audley Weir.  Whereupon we veer R (it becomes Sir Bertram Stevens Drive) and encounter our first, of several delightful treats, a wonderfully steep climb up Artillery Hill to Gibraltar Rock and along Flat Rock, passing Warumbul Rd on LHS [11km].

Around 8:40am we pause for our 1^st Sag Stop (5 min) [15.2km] 50m after hooking L into Bundeena Drive.  We then pedal 10.5km due E to our 1^st Nosh Stop (30 min) at God’s Own Country, picturesque Bundeena Beach 9:07am approx [30km] with spectacular views NW twds Sydney Harbour and two good cafés overlooking the water. 

Approaching 9:40am we experience a 2^nd arduous climb, retracing up Bundeena Drive.  Around 10:13am we pause for our 2^nd Sag Stop (5 min) [36.2km] 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 the ridge then down.  Around 10:45am we pass a bridge on R to McKell Ave [47km].  Our road becomes Lady Wakehurst Drive which takes us to our 2^nd Nosh Stop (40 min) “Otford Apple Pie Shop” (another landmark for Gong riders) with fabulous views of the Blue Pacific - arriving around 11:15pm approx [57.3km].

At 11:55am we cycle N back up Lady Wakehurst Drive, initial 300m along the coast with spectacular views of the Blue Pacific, and then into the wooded forest where it is up-hill initially, then predominantly undulating.  Around 12:30pm [67.4km] we pass McKell Ave bridge (Waterfall exit) on the LHS.  We then cycle a further 9.5km N along Sir Bertram Stevens Drive for a further fleeting 3^rd Sag Stop (5 min) [78.4km] approaching 1pm at intersection of Bundeena Drive.

We then continue NW another 9.8km for a 3^rd Nosh Stop (20 min) [88.1km] at the Audley Kiosk 50m before Audley Weir around 1.25pm - excellent coffee 'n maggot sacks.

Around 1:45pm we cycle over the weir and up precipitous Farnell Ave to Princess H'way and R onto the H'way, shortly passing Loftus Oval on RHS and after 2km cross traffic lights into Rawson Ave.  1 km later we R into Sutherland Leisure Centre after 95km - ETR 2:05pm.

CARE: Please keep well to the LHS along the final legs from Bundeena to Audley Weir and up to Princess H'way.  If a cue of cars is behind you, pull over to side of road and allow 'em to pass.

Bank Teller's rap-up of Sunday, 24 March, "Quatre Montagnes Plus" - 87km

On another glorious Autumn morn', notwithstanding the sun not being in any hurry to rise, 8 crew mustered at Turra' to rollout only 3 mins after the advertised rollout time of 7:15am.

After about 6 mins we met up with Hoss, Hefty, a lean/mean Steve Gunns and the rest of the Cyclops crew on Bobbin Head road on their way to Round Cnr Dural.  Ipso facto it was a hard fought slog both down to and out of Bobbin Head.   Everyone went gangbusters on the 3.5km climb from The Bridge, and nearly everyone went past Scribe.  However, The Pencilar learnt from dispatches that Yamaha was the first rider, from either group, to Kalkari.  Although Cyclops didn't stop for a breather, rather hammering on.

On our arduous leg to GreenShades, we included the 6km out/back adjuncts at Somerville Rd and Crosslands Rd (the later [where we turned back at the Toadstool] was to see the non taxpayers' 5 acre lots, and their Mercs 'n Porsches out front).  Reckon the ATO could enjoy a field day down Crosslands Rd.

From L to R at GreenShades Nursery: Julia, Scribe, Princess Monaco, Whippet, BigGears, Dynamo aka David, Yamaha "eating his fingers", Navigator, Publican 'n Rocket Ros

After a few pooh-poohed the Mid-Dural Rd/Wylds Rd extra leg, we cycled directly N to the Berowra Punt, where Caroline turned back for Squaw Chores.

Approaching 1pm the Turra' brigade returned after 87km and four solid climbs.  Whippet, Yamaha 'n Julia still had to cycle home via Browns Water Hole and places further.  The rest of us retreated to our jalopies more than happy for our four-wheelers to provide any further grunt req'd to get us home.

Easter Sunday, 31 March, 7am from St Ives “Whale Beach Restaurant for Brekkie” – 74 kms

6:50am St Ives car park Mona Vale Rd [opposite Pattisons Patisserie and Stanley St.] for 7am rollout.  L at Mona Vale Fruit Barn twds McCarrs Creek Rd, past Church Point.  L onto Darley St Mona Vale and L onto Barrenjoey Rd thru Newport, Bilgola, Avalon for Brekkie 1st Nosh Stop at 8:30am [37km] at Whale Beach on the water’s edge [formerly de Beers]. Return via same route to St Ives, but including 3km diversion thru The Serpentine to Bilgola Beach with 2nd Nosh Stop at Church Point [ETR St Ives 11:55am].

The Scribe 'n The Whippet  -  24 March 2002