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7:45am Sunday 22 Apr '07, "Tour de Austinmer" from Sutherland Leisure Centre south down Princes H'way to Lawrence Hargraves Drive, Stanwell Park, Coalcliff, Coledale, Austinmer, returning to Otford Pie Shop, Audley Weir, Sutherland - 92km – ETR 1:45pm
Reduce to 57km if you catch the train from Otford station to Sutherland and cycle 2km Sth to Sutherland Leisure Centre carpark
 *          Ride Organiser:     Phil Johnston  9498.3684 hm
*          Hardcopy these directions and bring on ride

*          Click on: Risk Warnings which warns of the dangers of cycling on public roads with motor cars, potholes and over bridges with vertical timber planks with gaps

*          Maintain your membership of Bicycle NSW for $20m Public Liability cover, in case you cause a nasty accident and seriously injure a cyclist, or 3rd party, who sues your arse to empty your pockets

Snap Shot:
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).  Assemble at centre of largish carpark immediately outside the swimming complex rollout 7:45am sharp Cycle down Princess H'way past Waterfall and left into Lawrence Hargraves Drive veering right at Stanwell Tops descending Lawrence Hargraves Drive crossing new bridge to Austinmer for 1st Nosh Stop. 
Retrace to the village setting of Otford Pie Shop for 2nd Nosh Stop, thence back thru the park to Audley Weir for brief Nosh Stop.  Thence up the hill and onto to Sutherland Leisure Centre carpark - 86km - ETR 1:35pm.
Nosh Stops:
 Austinmer Café                                                    from 9:45am       30 min
Otford Pie Shop                                                   from 11:15pm       20 min
Audley Weir                                                         from  1:00pm       15 min
Sag Stops:
Lawrence Hargraves Drive                                   from 8:35am        5 min

 

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, remaining on Princess H’way crossing George’s River Bridge and passing thru Sylvania and Gymea. 
Then -

    (a)      continue straight into The Grand Pde (when most of the traffic turns L into Arcadia Rd.)

    (b)      250m later veer L into Old Princess H'way which 250m later, after passing President Ave on LHS, becomes Rawson Ave.

    (c)      150m later L into carpark at Waratah Park and park down the bottom on RHS in front of the Swimming Centre. 

1st Leg: Sutherland via Princes H'way to Austinmer Cafe -  37km - 95 min

7:45am:

Left South along Rawson Ave for 1.1km;

Ahead South down Princes H'way for 21km;

Left after 22km immediately after passing Sambio Animal Gardens sign into Lawrence Hargraves Drive for 200m and take 1st Sag Stop (5 min);

Ahead due E for 3.1km to Bald Hill which is the juncture of Lawrence Hargraves Drive and Lady Wakehurst Drive Sign Post [25km];
Right 2.7km Sth descending from Stanwell Tops descending to Stanwell Park continuing along Lawrence Hargraves Drive passing thru Coalcliff, Clifton, Cape Horn, Scarborough, Wombarra, Coledale, arriving from 9:45am for 1st Nosh Stop (35 min) at Beachside Cafe, Austinmer.


2nd Leg: Austinmer Cafe to Otford Apple Pie Shop - 18km (agg 55.1km) 48 mins

10:20am Nth retracing up Lawrence Hargraves Drive to Otford Pie Shop arriving from 11:20pm for 2nd Nosh Stop (20 min).

If you are all tuckered out, you can catch the 2 hourly train service at quaint Otford station just 500m NNW of the pie shop at 11:57pm or 1:57pm arriving Sutherland station 30 mins later, and cycle 2km Sth to Sutherland Leisure Centre carpark.

3rd Leg: Otford Pie Shop to Audley Weir  - 32km (agg 87km)

11:40am Nth 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.  After 64km 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) at intersection of Bundeena Drive.  Continue NW another 9.8km for a 3rd Nosh Stop (15 min) from 1:10pm at Audley Kiosk 50m before Audley Weir - excellent coffee 'n maggot sacks.

4th Leg: Audley Weir to Sutherland - 5km (agg 92km)

1:25pm cycle over the weir and up steep early Farnell Ave to Princess H'way and R onto the H'way, shortly pass Loftus Oval on RHS.  2km after traffic lights at Rawson Ave turn R into Sutherland Leisure Centre - ETA 1:40pm.

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.

 

 

 

 

 

Bank Teller's rap-up of Tour de Bikie hangout 'n back - 93km - 8 cyclists

A rose amidst 5 prickly thorns.  Nerida (the scrawny one in above n below pics) had driven from Cronulla at Sparrow Fart to get a decent work-out in before Tour de Robertson.

 

 

Ned 'n Ann at Mt White.  Ann aka ToothFairy is resplendent in her Brand Spankers 8th "Sydney to Surfers Paradise ride" jersey where Ann and the 90 strong throng organised by Engadine rotary which comprised lots of Queenslanders, averaged 145km a day for 7 days - without a Rest Day.

Miner, BeanCounter, Pimpernel, Ned, Bank Teller 'n Lawyer at Mt White after 73 clicks on a steamy early Autumn day.

 

Bank Teller  1 Apr ' 07