Nellie is now sporting new Shimano pedals and my new shoes have cleats on the bottom - and I am already sporting scabs on my elbow and knee (but that's another story!).
I really enjoy riding through the Boondall Wetlands, so I thought it was time to do that again.
I packed my thermos and container of nuts, screwed on my new Camzilla camera mount and away we went.
I didn't take any photos on the first part of my ride as I was just riding along the Norman Creek bikeway and the SE bikeway - I travel this way each day to work. But I practised clicking out and into the clips - need a lot more practice!
When I got to South Bank, I turned east (instead of west to work) and rode along the Kangaroo Pt cliffs then up the hill to get onto the Storey bridge.
The pedestrian underpass has steep steps at the end of it, with a little groove for bikes. And here's my latest Gripe!! I am definitely going to write a letter on this one! It is far too steep! Its OK for roadie bikes that have no weight at all, but for a tourer its almost impossible to get up. I struggled up the first set and while trying to get up the next one, Nellie baulked and would go no further except backwards again, crashing back down the steps, smacking my scabby knee with the pedal and bending the handle bars about 45 degrees plus bending my rear-vision mirror. Thankfully a woman came back to help me push Nellie up to the top and I was able to straighten the handle bars and mirror! I was too cranky to take a photo - dammit!!
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| Looking back to Storey Bridge |
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| Looking downstream Brisbane River |
By the time I got across the bridge I had totally calmed down and I stopped to take some photos of the River.
I cut through Fortitude Valley heading for Tenneriffe and got back onto the bike-way, which comes out near Newstead House. Check http://www.newsteadhouse.com.au/ for more info.
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| Newstead House |
Its then a boring and somewhat dangerous, ride along a very rough and narrow foot path, as only the crazy roadies actually are game enough to ride along busy Kingsford Smith Drive.
There was a cruise ship in town and I had to dodge excited pedestrians, dragging suitcases towards the ship.
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| Cruise ship |
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| spoonbills, ibis & egrets feeding |
It was great to be back on this bikeway. It was high tide and I came across a little inlet, crowded with ibis, spoonbills and egrets. A great place to stop and crack open my thermos and chew on some almonds.
I managed to get safely past the golf club without being pinged by a stray golf ball, then a quick 'sprint' along Nudgee road to the entrance of the Boondall Wetland bike way.
The first part is a board-walk over the mangroves. High tide and a good wet season, meant there was little sign of the black-winged stilts that often congregate here.
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| Through the open forest - my new shoes got muddy here |
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| No quails today |
It was also good to see quite a few people out on the bike way - even though quite scary dodging little kids on tiny bikes with trainer wheels.
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| Mangroves to Mountains sign |
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| Calopo creeper (weed) taking over |
It was a calming and easy ride - no hills, not too much traffic, no rain, no wind!
what more could a cyclist ask for?
Eventually I arrived in Sandgate and rode down to the Esplanade. I rode along the whole length to Brighton, but wasn't game enough to check out the old flat as I hadn't let Sandy or Betty know I was coming out!
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| high tide at Brighton |
I turned back and discovered that the wind was as usual blowing from the south-east and therefore in my face!
I wondered whether the local artist would have a sand sculpture for Easter - and yes there it was. quirky and as wonderful as ever .
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| Easter 2012 |
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| Easter Bunny's home? |
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| Card1 |
I was provided, I thank you God.
Have a happy day, don't be cross,
Remember Jesus died on one of them.
Apparently, so the story goes, on the third day he rose.
So each year we remember Jesus and a chocolate bearing bunny.
I will give my love a sweet smelling rose
So she may think of me as her honey.
Why the rose?
Well there is one growing over the neighbours fence
So it is the one I chose
For I forgot to buy an Easter Egg
What a rabbit
Have a happy Day
Rick."
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| Card 2 |
"On Good Friday, hot cross buns were supposed to be made of specially prepared dough, and marked with a cross.
According to tradition they are meant to keep for twelve months without going mouldy.
Some people still hang them up in the house as a protection against evil.
I hope your eater (sic) is wonderful for you, and every other day.
Rick"
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| Hot Cross Bun ornament |
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| Card 3 |
"Life is a bit like balancing rocks or a sand castle.
We may stand secure even in windy conditions.
Other time we may sway and possibly fall.
But we get back up maybe in a different position,
and smile and enjoy this wonderful life we live in.
Would you like to balance some stones and, or, write in the book.
Have a lovely day
Happy Easter
Rick"
Quite expansive - usually there is only one quirky card and the chair and book is a new feature. I think that he is getting famous!
I stopped at the Sandgate Swimming Pool, donned my cossie and went for a gentle swim of 20 laps - down memory lane. Its still a great pool and at 12:30, a nice quiet time - the pool was almost empty.
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| Seagulls & terns waiting for low tide |
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| colourful jewel beetle on rough bark |
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| Nellie waiting patiently outside of Coffee club |
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| back thru the Boondall Wetlands |
Back in the city, I stopped along the river to scoff an apple and finish my coffee. An old geezer came along - informed me that Brisbane is just a big country town, not like Sydney. He proceeded to advise me that he had won a silver medal in the Olympics - bike riding - but he doesn't do much more riding now. He poked and prodded Nellie with his umbrella, checking out the pedals, gears, puzzling over the light and computer. should have asked which Olympics, but didn't want to question him too closely.
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| almost home - back on the boring SE Bike way |
A great way to spend a Sunday - one I will probably do again one day.
Stats for the ride: In the saddle for 4:44hrs, 80.2km, 17kph average with a top of 38.2kph.
My computer has now clicked over 10,666km. I am impressed!
Although the computer records actual riding time, I had left home just before 9am and got back home at 16:40, so a full day which included riding, bird watching, swimming, snacking and generally toddling along as only a true tourer can!
It sounds like you had a diet-friendly Easter Sunday :) That pic of the Story Bridge is stunning!
ReplyDeleteheya! think the weather had a lot to do with it!
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