www.Muggaccinos.com   The Bullsheet

Sunday, 20 July, 8:45am - Tour de Royal National Park - 94km – ETR 2:50pm
*    Ride Leader:     Brian Willis  9807.6439 hm
*    Hardcopy these directions and bring on Sunday

At sparrow fart on a Sunday morn' it is only 45 minutes drive from Chatswood [38km] 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 8:35am to conquer the largest national park in Sydney, The Royal National Park – rollout 8:45am sharp. 

1st Leg: Sutherland to Bundeena Beach 25.2km

At 8:48am, after 600m of pedaling S along Rawson Ave we enter Princess Highway at lights and 1km 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 [5km].  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 [7km] and along Flat Rock, passing Warumbul Rd on LHS [11km].

Around 9:25am we pause for our 1st Sag Stop (5 min) [15km] 50m after hooking L into Bundeena Drive.  Pedal 10.2km due E to our 1st Nosh Stop (30 min) at God’s Own Country, picturesque Bundeena Beach 9:50am approx [25.5km] with spectacular views NW twds Sydney Harbour and two good cafés overlooking the water. 

2nd Leg: Bundeena Beach to Otford Pie Shop - 31.3km (agg 56.5km)

Approaching 10:20am 2^nd arduous climb, retracing up Bundeena Drive.  Around 10:55am 2nd 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 after passing Garie Beach turn-off [41km] down.  Around 11:30am we pass a bridge on R to McKell Ave [47km].  Road becomes Lady Wakehurst Drive which takes us 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 12pm approx [57.3km].

3rd Leg: Otford Pie Shop to Audley Weir  - 30.8km (agg 88.3km)

12:30pm 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 1:15pm [67.4km] we pass McKell Ave bridge (Waterfall exit) on the LHS.  Cycle a further 9.5km N along Sir Bertram Stevens Drive for a further fleeting 3rd Sag Stop (3 min) [78.4km] approaching 1:42pm at intersection of Bundeena Drive.

Continue NW another 9.8km for a 3rd Nosh Stop (20 min) [88km] at Audley Kiosk 50m before Audley Weir around 2.10pm - excellent coffee 'n maggot sacks.

4th Leg: Audley Weir to Sutherland - 6.7km (agg 94km)

2:30pm 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.  2km after traffic lights at Rawson Ave turn R into Sutherland Leisure Centre - 94km - ETR 2:50pm.

CARE: Keep well to 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.

Whippet’s rap-up of Sunday 13th July Tour de Harley Hangout via Brooklyn – 108km, subtitled, “The Red Herring Conspiracy - Don’t jump on a leaky boat”
Our scheduled Patonga Ferry Boat ride was cancelled at the 11th second after we arrived at the Brooklyn wharf only to find the old wooden tub “on dry dock”.   After a quick parle with the assembled 9, Whippet substituted the climb to Mt White, where a leaner contingent of 4 headed north. 

But I’m getting ahead of myself, a few hours earlier our Turra’ Rohini St carpark was a quiet affair. With the Scribe AWL, and several of the gang mountain biking, Arno jumped into Teller’s shoes and signed-on a small, elite crew.  Though Annie Oakley and Princes Caroline were away climbing a hill or two in the French Alps, we attracted Goulburn rider Michael Bentley, in town for the weekend, who turned-up at the Turra start to participate in our scheduled ride and cruise.

Sadly, the route times allowed for the Brooklyn leg had been pruned beyond a social canter, so this Muggs’ ride was now a high speed race to catch our anticipated ferry.  It was a case of “drive those pedals down, up, down, and up some more” rendering the first familiar climb to Kalkari seem a little hill.  Marcel took out the KOM, escorted in by Arno, Michael and Koala Bear.

Whippet had opted to start from Hornsby with daughter Jan, along with Pacific Pete Malvern Star and Fiery Mark, who were all content with a soft 'spin and warm up' start.

As alluded to above, approaching eleven bells our small contingent of nine fronted-up to the Brooklyn ticket office, only to be told that the sub-standard, leaky old boat was in for repairs.  Was it due to rough seas?  Nerr!  Alas, nobody had told the FerryMan that it was Muggs' Sunday ride!  We quickly opted to substitute Mt White, where the leather bike brigade hangs out.  Sarah & Gene had more pressing matters to attend, Whippet opted to return to Hornsby along with Mark, and Rolf.  

With the Mini Minor making a comeback, they were out in force with a car rally parked at PitS; three abreast blocking off the drive way so that it was impossible to squeeze a bike between.  We managed to snavel a table at the verdant grassy knoll which was packed to the rafters with the new bread on this sunny day.  It was a peaceful retreat with no Arrogant Bastard, who on the previous Sunday at the Septic Tank table setting at Yarramalong Manor, had frog-marched Marcel’s remaining French Fries into the compost bin.  Whereupon, a few of the young colts were up-set having to continue the ride on an empty tank.

Not the scheduled ride, but a lot of fun and a good hit-out for our pending ride to the Royal National Park this Sunday. 

The Scribe     13 July 2003