Xmas Eve, Thurs 24 Dec '09 - Annual "Tour de Old Bathurst Rd, Blaxland, Springwood, Yarramundi, Richmond"  Remain on train to Blaxland if you don't like scaling a very steep, albeit shortish, hill

(i)         Turramurra station carpark rollout 6:30am via Browns Water Hole, (or park at Vimiera Rd carpark, Marsfield for 6:40am pick-up), Epping Rd, M2 to Blacktown station to catch 7:58am train arriving 8:16am at Emu Plains station, then ride to N/E up Old Bathurst Rd, Blaxland, Springwood, NE  along Hawkesbury Rd, Springwood Rd, thru Yarramundi to Richmond to catch train to Riverstone or Seven Hills and ride M2, Browns Waterhole - 93km - ETR 1pm

(i)(a)     Avoid very steep 2.33km Old Bathurst Rd by catching 8am train from Blacktown (don't alight at Emu Plains) for 3 more stops and alighting at Blaxland station for 9km flattish ride to Springwood Nosh Stop; or 

ii)         Dural by 6:45am via Old Northern Rd, Seven Hills Rd to meet Turra' starters at Seven Hills station for 7:39am train or Blacktown station for 7:44am train.  Eventually returning to Riverstone station to cycle via Annangrove Rd – 88km - ETR 12:30pm

Separate Turra' and Dural start routes meet at Blacktown station for 7:55am train on the Western Line arriving Emu Plains at 8:02am. 

If you are skipping the Old Bathurst Rd KOM Climb alight at Blaxland at 8:33am.

If you want a longer route, ride back from Windsor for 120km route

Print explicit street directions for both start spots at URL for Distance by clicking on 92.8km or 91km

1st leg:  Start 6:30am in Rohini Street carpark NE side of Turramurra station to Blacktown station - 23km - 60 min
Cycle 200m up Rohini St to Pac H'way, R for 100m, L down Kissing Point Rd, to Browns Water Hole and Vimiera Rd entrance by 6:35am.  Or park at Vimiera Rd carpark, Marsfield for 6:40am pick-up.
Ride West along Epping Rd for 1km to Epping street front shopping centre onto M2 for 14.4km, 1.4km along Abbott Rd passing Johnson Ave on RHS where road ahead becomes Prospect H'way,

Right after 450m off Prospect H'way at traffic lights into Lucas Rd for off-road Sag Stop [5 min] at Children Crossing sign outside Seven Hills Primary School immediately on LHS or Left into Morris St 400m later and walk back on footpath twds Cnr so subsequent cyclists can see the Right turn into Lucas Rd;

Ahead on Lucas Rd for 2.2km; 

Ahead into Sackville Rd for 1.4km;

Left into Sunnyholt Rd for 800m;

Right into George St for 200m to Blacktown station arriving 7:45am for 12 min wait for train to Emu Plains departing at 7:58am arriving Emu Plains at 8:16am.

1st leg (alternate):  Start 6:45am Porter Scenic Lookout carpark before Dural Country Club  to Blacktown station -  60 min -  23km

Right down Old Northern Rd for 11.5km

Right into Seven Hills Rd for 6.5km

Ahead into Prospect Highway for 450m;

Right after 450m into Lucas Ave for off-road Sag Stop [5 min] outside Seven Hills Primary School

Ahead Morris St Cnr along Lucas Ave for 2.2km; 

Ahead into Sackville Rd for 1.5km;

Left into Prince Rd for 800m;

Right George St for 200m to Blacktown station arriving 7:45am for 13 min wait for train to Emu Plains departing at 7:58am arriving Emu Plains at 8:16am.

Two 2nd Leg options:
Hard 2nd Leg:  17km from Emu Plains station up mega precipitous Old Bathurst Rd to Blaxland station, thence Warrimoo and on to Springwood for Nosh Stop at delightful Aroma Cafe in Raymond Rd on LHS of Macquarie Rd

Alight train at Emu Plains station at 8:16am on southern side and take path under rail line entering Old Bathurst Rd from Mackellar St for a level 2km stretch to a short but really steep KOM Climb starting 15m past traffic lights at Bus Stop sign and ending 2.05km later at Bowaga Ave.

Easy 2nd Leg: Blaxland station thru Warrimoo and on to Springwood for Nosh Stop at Aroma Cafe in Raymond Rd on LHS of Macquarie Rd - 9km
Alight train three stations later at Blaxland station at 8.16am and wait for cyclists in Wilson Way (300m after we turn Right from Old Bathurst Rd) on our route to Warrimoo and Springwood.  Thence on roads which hug the Great Western H'way to Springwood arriving 9am for 1st Nosh Stop [30 min] at Aroma Cafe 300m down Raymond Rd on LHS of Macquarie Rd after 41.2km. 

3rd Leg:  26km from Springwood to Richmond station alighting at either Seven Hills or Riverstone station - 70 min

9:30am re-trace 250m back down Macquarie Rd;

Left following signs NE to Richmond, along Hawkesbury Rd, Springwood Rd, thru Yarramundi pulling-up at Hawkesbury Heights Lookout on RHS after about 12km for 5 min Sag Stop whilst gawking at the awesome view.  Thence descend from the Hawkesbury Heights Lookout to Richmond to catch train half hourly service at 10:42am, or 11:12am or 11:42am for 39 min trip to Seven Hills station arriving 11:21am, 11:51am or 12:21pm. 

4th Leg:  25km from Seven Hills station to Turramurra station - 70 min - ETR 12:50pm

Alight at Seven Hills station at 11:51am  -

Left into Terminus Rd for 300m

Left into Prospect Highway for 700m (care two lanes but no shoulder, so try and cycle with another cyclist beside you to occupy the entire lane);

Right into Abbott Rd/M2 for 15.6km being careful as some traffic roars up Seven Hills Rd;

Left at Light Tower into Browns Waterhole for 1.45km;

Ahead up Kissing Point Red for 3.7km with a 65m section just before the apex which is killer;

Right onto Pacific Highway for 200m; and

Left into Rohini St for 250m to carpark - ETR 1pm.

4th Leg (alternate):  Riverstone station to Dural - 23.7km - 65 min - ETR 12:30pm

Alight at Riverstone station at 11:33am  -

Scribe's wrap-up of  Perimeter Tour of Greater Sydney - 126km - 10 cyclists

Above pics snapped at The Bridge Cafe, Windsor where Arno aka The Kaiser, Bazza and Matt aka Printer cycled from Hornsby, together with Martin aka Architect who had to "bail-out' due to a 'tyre eruption' on Cattai Ridge which could have been nasty if it blew on the descent, yet another reason to take descents cautiously.

Above 'n below snaps at Yarramundi Lookout après scaling from the Castlereagh lowlands

Below pics of 'cyclists on bikes leaving Yarramundi Lookout