River Loop, Brisbane

The weather looked threatening, but I had planned to go for this ride to give my GPS eTrek30 a go.  It took me nearly an hour to set up the track on eTrek, but eventually I headed off - thermos of coffee & a generous slice of almond & lemon cake in my pannier.

glimpse of Brisbane city, Logan Rd

bike path, past PA hospital

set up the camera on the tripod, eTrek on the handlebars, i-got-U tied on too, so all gadgets blinking and happy - sorta.  A few kms along, I realised I hadn't reset my trip computer, but with all the other knick-knacks - no worries.

I headed down Logan Rd to Stone's Corner, then left into O'Keefe Rd and got onto the bike path that goes past the Princess Alexandria hospital.  Then the climb up Gladstone St to Dornoch Tce - the highest point on the ride - apparently.

climbing up Gladstone St

A nice downhill slope took me down into West End and eventually found the Brisbane River.  I turned right and rode along a shady fairly deserted road to the Cultural centre and onto

cruising down Dornoch

South Bank.  It was 9am by now and there weren't many people out and about yet.  thankfully!

Shady riverbank, St Brisbane

John Oxely bridge

South Bank without pedestrians

Goodwill Bridge

So over the Goodwill bridge - then left and onto the Bicentennial Bike-way, which is now totally completed after being damaged by the Brisbane floods last year.  It is a really gentle ride along here and there weren't many people around - probably due to the weather.  (It was pretty hot and humid, looking like it would pour at any minute).

Under the motor way

I continued along the road leading to the Uni of Qld grounds, riding along with glimpses of the Brisbane River, sliding past - a pale brown, slicky river. 

Bicentennial Bike Way

I was now into unknown territory and was beginning to curse the Brisbane hilly suburbs.  Eventually I came to the William Taylor bridge and was relieved to see a dedicated bike/pedestrian bridge over the River.  The railway bridge also crosses here and there was a general tangle of steel struts - not at all beautiful...

Up and down in St Lucia

Riding past Golf Course

William Taylor Bike Bridge

so now I was back on the southern side of the river, more suburbs than parks.  I found a shady spot in Faulkner park and cracked out the coffee & cake and sat back for a rest.  I was well over half way now, but expected more hills ahead.

Bark Canoe - bronzed

Refuelled and back on the road again, I rode through the Brisbane Tennis area and onto busy Fairfield road.  Now the dilemma...  should I continue and go straight home or should I continue along the Loop trail.  I decided to continue along the trail and turned into Cook st and headed back towards the river.  It had been trying to rain, big wet splashes of rain, almost drenched in a few spots.  I put the camera away and rode on until I came to the South Brisbane cemetery.

It was here that I decided to turn east because I imaged Cornwall street should be just over the ridge!  and what a ridge!!  Granny gear almost got me to the top, but the way was cut by busy Fairfield street, so I had to stop!  so walked over the intersection and up the last little bit to discover I had been a tad hasty and should have ridden around the cemetery.  Never mind,  a short walk back along a narrow footpath to traffic lights and once I crossed the road there, I was back where I began.

I now had to get home, but thought I would see if the markets were on at Stone's corner - but lucked out there.  So I rode down to the Norman Park bike-way and rode home.

Norman Creek bikeway - under Juliette St

It was a pretty ride, with many shady parks and bike-ways.   I rode past plenty of opportunities to stop and have coffee, but I was feeling independent today!  I think that if the weather had been cooler and sunnier, there would have been more traffic - especially pedestrians. 

Stats for the ride:  46.3km - riding time 2.56hrs - avg speed 15.8kph and max 45.5kph.  total elevation riding 673m - some of it short but steep.  from the eTrek...  which beeped at me several times during the ride, so I knew I was on the right track!