Muggaccinos Pedlars Sunday Cyclists  The Bullsheet

Sunday, 22 Dec, 6:45am from St Ives “Whale Beach Restaurant for Brekkie, Akuna Bay cafe for Brunch” - 87km - ETR 12:25pm

• Ride Leader  Phil Johnston - 9498.3684 hm

• The final section of our route to Whale Beach is different to previously, as after approaching Mona Vale, we cycle via Newport Arms/Clareville/Careel Bay to avoid a tight section of Barrenjoey Rd thru Bilgola Beach, so hardcopy this "Ride Direction", and spend 5 mins reviewing your UBD

• Cycle two abreast on single lane roads at own risk

• Keep well to LHS of the road and get off the road at Sag Stops

• Don't cross 3 lanes of traffic at lights at McCarrs Creek Rd back onto Mona Vale Rd.  Rather return along Larool Rd, or use the tunnel under Mona Vale Rd

1st Leg:  St Ives to Whale Beach - 41.9km - 105 min
By 6:45am cycle -

• E along Mona Vale Rd for 6.6km;

• L [opposite Forest Way - at Mona Vale Fruit Barn] into Myoora Rd and take a 1^st Sag Stop (3 min) - don't cluster at Sag Stop, rather spread thin to get well to LHS of Myoora Rd;

• Ahead along Myoora Rd for 300m;

• Ahead into Larool Rd for 2.9km

• R into Booralie Rd for 300m passing Terrey Hills shops and roundabout;

• L to McCarrs Creek Rd and take 2^nd Sag Stop (3 min) on LHS (Thai Restaurant is on RHS) - assemble left of white line, under tree;

• descend 2.2km into the park - to the V (dual entrances to the park);

• R fork and pedal 2.8km descending McCarrs Creek Rd to McCarrs Creek bridge;

• Ahead 5.5km along McCarrs Creek Rd to Church Point [20km] at 7:35am ^3rd Sag Stop (5 min) - Be ready to roll out promptly;

• East twds Mona Vale for 3½km - road becomes Pittwater Rd past Cabbage Tree Rd (on RHS) to Darley St - 500m short of Mona Vale shops;

• Left into Mona St for 850m;

• Right into Waterview St for 750m;

• Left into Crescent Rd for 1.6km of ‘whirly burly’ ‘roller coaster’;

• Left into Beaconsfield St for 400m;

• Right into Kalinya St for 220m;

• Right into Gladestone St for 200m;

• Left into King St for 450m;

• Left into Irrubel Rd for 750m;

• Right into Prince Alfred Ave for 1.6km;

• Right into Loombah St for 600m of “Killer Climb”;

• Left into Lower Plateau Rd for 1.600km;

• Left into Wandeen Rd for 800m;

• Right into Hudson Pde for 1.4km;

• Left into Riverview Rd for 1.9km;

• Right into Cabarita Rd/Patrick St for 1.7km;

• Left into Elvina St for 50m;

• Right into George St for 150m;

• Left into Barrenjoey Rd for 800m;

• SignPost  R into Whale Beach Rd and ascend/descend for 2.4km to The Strand Rd for 50m to Brekkie 1^st Nosh Stop (35 min) at 8:30am [38km] at -
  *    Whale Beach Restaurant 9974.4009 ph on the water’s edge or;
  *    cafe at top of Surf Rd - 50m before beach.

2nd Leg  Whale Beach to Akuna Bay Café - 25.7km - (agg 67.6km) - 106 min

9:05am we retrace our path -

• Sth along Whale Beach Rd for 2km;

• SignPost  L onto Barrenjoey Rd for 1.6km as we pass Avalon Golf Course on our RHS;

• L into The Serpentine for 3km adjunct into/out of Bilgola Beach which avoids a tight section of Barrenjoey Rd and provides a stunning view south from Bilgola Beach lookout 6^thSag Stop (10 min) at 9:15am;

• Ahead along The Serpentine down to/up from Bilgola Beach;

• L back onto Barrenjoey Rd for 2km passing Newport Beach and climb a short humdinger up Newport hill and take 7^thSag Stop (10 min) - lift your bike over the gutter and get off the busy 3 lane road;

• Ahead 1.5km and passing Bungan Beach on LHS, and approach Mona Vale;

• R back into Darley St for 700m (wait until it is safe to cross over to R lane);

• R into Pittwater Rd for 8.5km to Church Point [56.7km] (10:15am) to McCarrs Creek bridge [62km];

• R into West Head Rd for 1.5km to "T" intersection;

• L into Liberator General San Martin Drive for 2.8km to Akuna Bay for 2nd Nosh Stop (30 min) from 10:50am [64km].

3rd Leg:  Akuna Bay  to St Ives - 20.3km (agg 86.9km) - 61 min

At 11:20am commence final leg -

• West for 8.1km along Liberator General San Martin Drive passing Illawong Bay, Cottage Point Rd, park entrance toll-both to "V" juncture at McCarrs Creek Rd, 

• Ahead for 2.2km to the apex of McCarrs Creek Rd;

• R into Booralie Rd for 200m;

• L into Myoora Rd for 3.3km;

• R into Mona Vale Rd for 6.6km to St. Ives car-park – ETR 12:25pm – 83.9km.

NOTE:  After climbing to the apex of McCarrs Creek Rd, either take the tunnel under Mona Vale Rd or retrace along Larool Rd to Mona Vale Fruit Barn and R at lights onto Mona Vale Rd.  Do not enter Mona Vale Rd at lights, as motorists coming from the coast are doing 80+ clicks and aren't impeded by the traffic lights granting us access to Mona Vale Rd.

Whippet's rap-up of last Sunday, 15 Dec, “Hornsby to Woy Woy Bar-B-Q ride” - observations from the head of the Peloton – for a while!

Following saying our tah tahs to Publican who was taking stuff to our McKell Park Barbie, we rolled Nth up Jersey St; 'twas a tad after 7am.  The early pace evidenced tyro Waratah Vet, Andrew, up-front together with Muggs’ habitual pace-setters, No-Play, Navigator, Nurse Karen, Princess Caroline, Rocket Ros, 'n Whippet during the first section thru Mt. Ku’ring’gai.  Late starting Sputnik and Marcel were hot on their heels in pursuit.  Adam 'n Eve, Ellie-May 'n ToothFairy represented the 2nd Wave, with Scribe occupying the rear-gun.  Bazza 'n BackPacker were amongst the throng somewhere.

With Caroline maintaining a dynamo cadence, Whippet pondered “would the sleek super cat in pink panther garb 'make a break' from the chaps on the undulating ups and downs before the first climb to the Fire Tower Lookout at Water Lilies Nursery?”

As we passed thru the forest approaching Pie in the Sky, the devastation from the previous weekend’s bush-fires had patently been so intense there was little left at Ground Zero, except ash.  Remarkably amidst desolation all around, two familiar isolated properties on the LHS stood untouched with green gums protecting their perimeters.  Large white bed sheets were strewn between burnt-out trees with writing – “Thanks to the firies!” and “All hail the Firies!”   We had evidenced first hand the remarkable results of those Vols and Full Timers in saving homes where bushland all around had been decimated.

Later at Mt White several crew commented that they had felt disorientated during the familiar 3.9km descent from Pie in the Sky to Brooklyn Rd, purely 'cause the familiar verdant green gums were missing.  Truly, it was like cycling on the moon, a totally different descent where you were reticent to attack the corners 'cause it was first time over the circuit.  Such was the devastation from the bushfires.

Whippet, who’d tried to hang on to the swift flying front-runners was rendered the first casualty.  A puckered-out Brian eventually opting for the more moderate pace of Temperate Tony.  After being AWOL most of last Spring, the wily old fox, BigGears, had joined our ride at Cowan and was displaying a prudent cadence “on his first run back after a spell”.

Whippet and BigGears formed a troika after collecting Princess Caroline, who’d reported that she’d too “got blown out the back” over the Hawkesbury River climb.  Deploying her royal charm ‘n elegance, the Monaco Princess was happy to shoot the breeze with Temperate who was in a leisurely canter; in stark contrast to BigGears customary ‘modus operandi’ of 'grinding in the big chainring'.

We ultimately learnt after re-grouping at Mt White, that Yamaha & Navigator had pulled-away from Waratah, Sputnik ‘n Marcel during the final few clicks to the Bikie Hangout - our customary Mt White Nosh Stop.

Bank Teller fielded a 'phone call from an exasperated Waratah who'd hammered on in pursuit of Navigator 'n Yamaha, but pulled-up "lost" at the phone booth 75m short of the Village Store, where there is a Turn Right sign to the Hornsby/Newcastle Expressway.  Teller explained that Waratah was only 75m shy of the Nosh Stop, and suggested that if he was still confused, he should wait and Whippet and Co would be there any second.  To which Waratah exclaimed, "Gosh!  I can see 'em.  Sorry, I got to go!" And hurriedly hung up.  That staccato 'phone call was testimony to the ego and rivalry that drives many of the faster Muggs.  Whereas others such as Scribe will take devil-may-care risks hammering down seriously narrow gorges in Angel-Gear to recoup lost time!"

As the large field filed-in, Andrew sought-out the resident Muggs’ Mechanic to check-out his troublesome rear derailleur.  Upon inspection, Brian initially surmised that perhaps someone, anxious for an advantage at any price, had nobbled Waratah’s bike, 'cause the gear change was frightful.   However, after further investigation it was evident that “derelict owner maintenance” (a bone dry cable) had been the cause: the driver had struggled with several gear changes during the opening 35km assault.  The old adage “Fail to Prepare, and Prepare to Fail!” had come home to roost on hapless Andy as he couldn’t change his Triple from the middle chainring for the rest of the ride. 

More pics at Publicans_barbie_pics.htm

Navigator and No Play splendidly averaged 31 kph to Mt White at just under the 1 hr 8 min.  Our 2nd leg was 19.7km to Calga, down to Mooney Mooney Bridge and up to the Kariong Shell Garage.

Our final 17km leg took us down hill past Phegans Bay into Woy Woy where we jumped aboard an early train, all eager to arrive at Hawkesbury River station where Publican had a Banquet laid out for his royal guests - bangers, rissoles, shashliks, sliced spuds and lots of salad (for Ellie-May 'n Nurse Karen) fruit and bread, with Beverages to Boot.

Not having eaten for several hours, and upon a magical train ride around the picturesque Hawkesbury water’s edge, the scene was reminiscent of a bunch of infants attending a party at “far-off” grandmas, where upon arrival into the “party-room” we were all goggle-eyed at the fare we were about to demolish. 

Cycling, with the big cash outlay and regular out loadings of RedBacks to keep the treadley up there with the best technology, is a classic New Toys For Old Boys.  The fellowship and camaraderie flowing on to participants who slog-up lots of hills, and suicide slide sheer precipices, in an environment where there is nowhere to hide, is a platform for partying thereafter of the kind not experienced since we were all enthralled 'enfants'.  Albeit goggle-eyed kids weren't as adept at taking the Mickey out of their class mates at every opportunity.

With tummies a-bulging, ToothFairy, Waratah, Teller 'et al' re-mounted around 2:15pm for the 4th leg of 26km back to Hornsby.  With Kiwi Mike, Annie Get your Gun, Karen, Yamaha, and a few other 'party-ites' settling into the second bot of Vino.

One of the revelers, who'd prefer to remain anonymous, informed Teller that Tornado and other cyclists joined in, with the Christmas festivities finally finishing at the Brooklyn pub after five bells.

A marvelous Xmas Barbie, the brainchild and hard effort of Publican, had proven an outstanding success.  And a fitting finale for a colourful year of Muggs' metamorphosis.

The Scribe     20 December 2002