Xmas Eve, Mon. 24 Dec '12 - 6th Annual "Tour de Old Bathurst Rd, Blaxland, Springwood, Yarramundi, Richmond" 

Turramurra station carpark rollout 6:20am via Browns Water Hole, (or park at Vimiera Rd carpark, Marsfield for 6:35am 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 back - 100km - ETR 1pm

(Avoid very steep 2.33km Old Bathurst Rd by catching our 7:55am 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 6:20am in Rohini Street carpark NE side of Turramurra station to Nth Vimiera Rd carpark - 4km - 10 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 6:30am.  Or park at Nth Vimiera Rd carpark, Marsfield for 6:35am roll-out.

1st Leg:  Start 6:45am Nth Vimiera Rd carpark to Blacktown station - 19.8km - 60 min (agg 32.2km)

Sth along Vimiera Rd for 800m	0.8
Right into Epping Rd for 900m	1.7
Right into Pembroke St for 300m	2.0
Right into Essex St for 400m	2.4
Left into Chester St for 200m	2.6
Right into Cambridge St and follow road under train line for 500m	3.1
Cross Beecroft Rd and Ahead up Kandy Ave for 450m	3.55
Ahead along Ray Rd for 1.9km	5.45
Right into Pennant Pde for 500m	5.95
Left into North Rocks Rd for 650m to Pennant Hills Rd traffic lights	6.6
Cross traffic lights and continue on North Rocks Rd for 1.6km	8.2
Veer right-ish onto Barclay Rd for 1.1km	9.3
Continue onto Bigger Dipper on Renown Rd for 900m (read Risk Warning below)	10.2
Continue straight onto Park Rd for 400m	10.6
Left onto Cook St for 650m	11.25
Right in Orchard St, Ahead into James St for 950m	12.20
Left into Railway St for 250m	12.45
Right onto Leamont Lane for 150m	12.6
Left into Old Northern Rd for 150m to traffic lights	12.75
Cross Windsor Rd into Seven Hills Rd (signs for Blacktown) for 3.3km	16.05
Right onto Abbott Rd for 50m	16.1
Continue onto Prospect Hwy for 300m	16.4
Right onto Lucas Rd for 1.7km	18.1
Ahead into Cardiff St for 300m	18.5
Right into Sarsfield St for 400m	18.9
Left into Sackville St for 200m to Sunnyholt Rd	19.1
Right onto bike path on West of Sunnyholt Rd for 400m to at traffic lights	19.5
Cross Sunnyholt Rd at lights, Ahead into Humphreys Lane for 300m to Blacktown Station	19.8

Arrive Blacktown station 7:45am for 10 min wait for train to Emu Plains departing at 7:55am arriving Emu Plains at 8:13am.

Two 2nd Leg options:

*        Hard 2nd Leg:  From Emu Plains station up mega precipitous Old Bathurst Rd to Blaxland station, thence Warrimoo and on to Springwood for Nosh Stop at Springwood Subway - 17km - 70 min (agg 40.8km)

             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.

Continue West passing Blaxland station and Warrimoo and Springwood.  Thence hug the Great Western H'way to Springwood arriving 9:25am for 1st Nosh Stop [30 min] at Springwood Subway on RHS of Macquarie Rd. 

3rd Leg:  Springwood to Richmond station alighting at either Seven Hills or Riverstone station - 26km - 70 min  (agg 66.8km)

9:55am re-trace 250m back down Macquarie Rd.

Left and follow signs NE to Richmond, along Hawkesbury Rd, Springwood Rd, thru Yarramundi passing Hawkesbury Heights Lookout on RHS after about 12km.  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:  Seven Hills station to Turramurra station -  25km - 70 min - ETR 1:01pm  (agg 91.8km)

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 - 22km - 75 min - ETR 12:50pm

Alight at Riverstone station at 11:33am  -

Scribe's wrap-up of Palm Beach, Wagstaffe, Woy Woy, Hornsby  -  86km  -  9 cyclists

We lost Matt aka Printer and his mate, Geoff, at Palm Beach.  Meanwhile Phil aka BankTeller,  Jane aka NeoLuddite, Terry aka Navigator, Scott aka PatternMaker, David aka CricketTragic and David aka TreeHugger boarded the Palm Beach ferry, where Terry and BankTeller got half fare with the Senior's Card.  Congrats to Ann who completed a creditworthy 66km.

Above 'n below pics from Mary Byles Lookout

Relaxing at the Woy Woy Fish Markets post ride

Scribe   15 Dec '12