Xmas Eve, Sat. 24 Dec '11 - 5th Annual "Tour de Old Bathurst Rd, Blaxland, Springwood, Yarramundi, Richmond" 

Turramurra station carpark rollout 6:30am via Browns Water Hole, (or park at Vimiera Rd carpark, Marsfield for 6:45am rollout 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 Seven Hills and ride the below M2 alternate route, Browns Waterhole - 93km - ETR 1pm

(Avoid very steep 2.33km Old Bathurst Rd by catching our 7:58am train from Blacktown but not alighting at Emu Plains but remaining on for 3 more stops and alight at Blaxland station at 8:31am for 9km flattish ride to Springwood Nosh Stop 

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

Prologue:  Start 6:30am in Rohini Street carpark NE side of Turramurra station to Nth Vimiera Rd carpark - 4km - 8 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 6:40am.  Or park at Nth Vimiera Rd carpark, Marsfield for 6:45am roll-out.

1st Leg:  Start 6:45am Nth Vimiera Rd carpark to Blacktown station - 23.2km - 60 min

0.8	Sth along Vimiera Rd	0.8
0.9	Right into Epping Rd	1.7
1.5	Right into Pembroke St at lights	3.1
0.1	Right onto Ray Rd	3.2
1.5	Enter the roundabout	4.7
0.1	Exit the roundabout onto Midson Rd	4.8
0.5	Turn right onto Plympton Rd	5.3
0.9	Turn right to stay on Plympton Rd	6.2
0.1	Turn left onto North Rocks Rd	6.3
3.0	Continue onto Barclay Rd	9.3
1.5	Continue onto Renown Rd	10.8
1.0	Continue straight onto Park Rd	11.8
0.2	Turn left onto Cook St	12.0
0.8	Turn right onto Windsor Rd	12.8
0.5	Turn left onto Seven Hills Rd (signs for Blacktown)	13.3
5.7	Turn right onto Abbott Rd	19.0
0.1	Continue onto Prospect Hwy	19.1
0.5	Turn right onto Lucas Rd	19.6
1.7	Lucas Rd turns slightly right and becomes Sackville St	21.3
1.1	Continue onto Fifth Ave	22.4
0.1	Turn left onto Prince St	22.5
0.4	Exit the roundabout onto Prince St	22.9
0.3	Turn left onto George St to Blacktown station	23.2

Above is a section of the RTA map from Vimiera Rd to Old Windsor Rd

Arrive Blacktown station 7:40am for 15 min wait for train to Emu Plains departing at 7:55am arriving Emu Plains at 8:13am.

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 Aroma Cafe in Raymond Rd on LHS of Macquarie Rd or The Subway

             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.

*        Or 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 10:40am, or 11:10am or 11:40am for 41 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 1:01pm.

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 Palm Beach, Wagstaff, Woy Woy, Hornsby  -  86km  -  9 cyclists

Two above and one below pics on ferry to Wagstaff                                          

Pigging-out at the Woy Woy Seafood Markets après a fast-pace shortish 84km route