Muggaccinos.com     The Bullsheet

Sunday, 22 June '08 rollout Hornsby carpark 8:15am or St Ives carpark at 8:40am via Church Point to aboard 10:30am “Ferry from Palm Beach to  Wagstaffe Wharf, McMasters Beach, Woy Woy, Kariong, Mt White, PitS, Hornsby - 136km - ETR 3:45pm

Or return from Palm Beach with a Nosh Stop at Bayview Marina - 92km - ETR 1:40pm

Or aboard a train at Woy Woy -

*        back to Hornsby station from - 80.4km - ETR Hornsby 1:45pm

*        back to Hawkesbury River station and cycle via PitS to Hornsby - 107km - ETR 3:30pm

If you are delayed, you could opt to stay on flattish Barrenjoey Rd to Palm Beach Wharf, rather than taking Right past Avalon Rd up hilly Whale Beach Rd, reducing ride time by 12/15 mins.

*        The Old Pacific H'way just north of Australian Reptile Park (nee Old Sydney Town) will remain closed until this Dec while roadwork is being completed following a car with 4 passengers falling into a ravine following heavy rain a year ago. 
RTA street signs instruct all traffic to use the F3 which presumably includes cyclists, but the 450m 3 lane Mooney Mooney bridge (4½km SW of Kariong Shell Garage) is dangerous for cyclists because there is no cycle lane and trucks/some cars come down at a zillion km p/h to get up the other side which can be exceedingly scary for cyclists.  However, 2¼km SW on F3 (at the Old Pacific Highway over pass) cyclists can dismount and use stairs and a foot trail to carry their treadley up onto Old Pacific Highway which avoids the dreaded Mooney Mooney bridge.  The ascending track up to the Old Pac H'way starts 50m BEFORE the overpass at a large black-on-white pictorial sign about breakdown-tow-away.  There are two new pink steps early on the track. 
Old Pacific Highway then leads us to Mt. White to the chirpy sound of bellbirds crossing the quaint cement bridge also passing over Mooney Mooney Creek

*        Print out 137km Ride Description and 137km Summary Data  or 80km Ride Description and 80km Summary Data

*        No CityRail track work on train line between Wyong and Hornsby this Sunday

*        Ride Organiser:   Phil Johnston 9114.6689 hm or 0412 045.224

*        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

*        Cycling with Muggs is predicated upon notifying Bank Teller if you materially disagree with any clause(s) in Muggaccinos' "Ride Participants Liability Acknowledgment"

*        Peruse your UBD which will highlight that our route from Wagstaffe hugs the lower Central Coast before heading SW to Woy Woy and Kariong

*        Never cycle two abreast on a single lane road with an unbroken centre line, 'cause RTA deems those sections provide inadequate visibility for a motorist to overtake an vehicle ahead. 

*        Maintain your membership of Bicycle NSW for $20m Public Liability cover in case you cause a serious accident and a 3rd party sues you for riding negligence

Detailed route description is at 136km.

1st Leg:    Hornsby Jersey St carpark to St Ives carpark                             10.0km       26 min

2nd Leg:   St Ives to Church Point                                                              20.2km       48 min

3rd Leg:   Church Point to Palm Beach General Store                               18.6km       46 min

4th Leg:    Wagstaffe Wharf to Marie Byles Lookout, McMasters Beach       6.0km       16 min

5th Leg:    Marie Byles Lookout to Cnr Scenic Rd & Cullens Rd                   9.4km       24 min

6th Leg:    Cullens Rd to Kariong Shell Garage                                         27.0km       80 min

7th Leg:    Kariong Shell Garage to Road Warriors Cafe Mt White              9.8km       24 min

8th Leg:    Mt White to Pie in the Sky                                                         16.0km       40 min

9th Leg:    Pie in the Sky to Hornsby Jersey St carpark                              19.0km       48 min

Scribe's rap-up of abridged Cinque Montagnes - 11 cyclists, incl 3 first-timers and 2 'erstwhilers'

Six rolled out of Nth Turra' on a woolly o'cast morn' incl two first-timers in Andrew aka Manchester and Scott who rides with Harry aka KayakMan and erstwhile Richard aka HillMonster aptly labelled 'cause Rick can monster mountains.  Another former regular, whose been on a two year sabbatical bushwalking, John aka Auckland, started with PacificPete, Martin aka Architect and Greg aka ArchitectToo from Hornsby, together with another first-timer, Pete.  A not-so-special-morn' had jagged a better-than-expected contingent. 

Above 'n below snaps from inside Berowra Waters ferry

The weather started turning suss as we climbed out of Berowra Waters so we took refuge at Borcelli Cafe at Cnr. of Berowra Waters Rd and Old Pacific Highway, where were joined by Sig, Elfi and Ian who had done likewise.

Above 'n below snaps from outside Borcelli Cafe Berowra where we weren't the only to seek respite as the dampness started

The coffee, food and service were beaut at Borcelli Cafe, Berowra

After 30 mins with the NoseBag on, we stuck our noggins out the door to a "fine mist", whereupon unanimous support was exhibited for the short-cut home.

Scribe   15 June '08