Last day on the Trail

 Another blue sky day, but very chilly air when Roxy and me went for our morning walk.  It looked promising for a good day out on the trail.

But first we had to pack up everything, load up Rosie, put Hennie on the rack and we said goodbye to Esk and drove north to Toogoolawah.

Last time when I rode the trail in 2017, the section between Moore and Toogoolawah wasn't opened so I had to bump through paddocks and then ride along the back roads.

So I thought I'd park at the Info centre there and ride 20km up towards Moore and back, which should get at least one tunnel to ride through.

And Plan A worked fine!  It didn't take long to drive the 18km and we were soon bumpy over the grassy track heading out of Toogoolawah.  The surface was nice fine gravel and so much smoother to ride up and there were even cemented causeways, which meant a smoother ride for both Roxy and me.  There were still a few of the dreaded grids to bump over - I know Roxy hates these as I get that look from her.  

The first part was through open cattle country - a couple of lone old gum trees in open paddocks, some empty or with small groups of various breeds of cattle.  I find this type of country so dismal as the creek gullies are so erodes and the road sides as full of weeds and prickles.  Lantana was taking over places and generally examples on environmental damage in any direction you care to look.  But at least the cockies can't complain as the dams had plenty of water and grass was long.  

There were a couple of places where the cattle were lounging along the trail and only slowly moved out of the way at the last moment.  I saw 3 cattle on the outside of their fence making the most of the shade from 3 trees as there wasn't much shade left in their paddock.  but enough of my whinging about the lack of good farming practices!

I did see a large flock of double-bar finches that always makes me happy and there were little family groups of red-back wrens to brighten the trail.  At one section about 5 or 6 pardalotes flew out of a bank of red earth and at another place where we stopped to read about the history of the Milk Train bridge, about half a dozen quail sprang up from the grass and surprised us!  I spotted a brightly coloured male Rufous Whistler singing in a gum tree and on another occasion I heard a pied butcherbird singing a version of their song I hadn't heard before.  But I didn't see any unusual or new birds along this trail.  Think I have to go much further west to find birds that I haven't seen before.

We got to Harelin just before lunch time and as I was planning on 20km out, we still had another 6 km to go, so on past the school we went.  There were a couple of really steep creek crossings and a hill or 2 to climb, but eventually we came to the main road crossing, so in a break between trucks and cars, we dashed across and rode on for half a km to clock up the 20km.  It was then that I noticed this rather threatening bank of blue black clouds looming up from the west.  Dang!!!  what does this mean?  

So we headed back to Harelin for a sandwich and a fruit juice before pedalling back to Toogoolawah.  The beauty of riding from north to south is the gentle slope that is not evident on the way up, but so nice to be able to crank things and glide back to the car.  

After a snack of an ice-cream, it was time drive back to Brisbane and just for a change I took the Mt Beppo road which looped around the other side of the dam back to Fernvale, then past Ipswich back into the city.  

so a rough pedal and one washed out day - meant a slightly smaller tour than planned, but it was nice to just riding out and about.  But I have decided that mountain bike trails are not my thing and I think Roxy would agree.

here's some photos from our last day on the trail...

Lunch in Coominya

 The sun was shining - though the wind was icy - when we headed off to the south.  As usual, the trail is a wide and wonderful path in the town but it immediately reverts to a gravelly two-wheel track, large pieces of gravel pinging out from under the tyres.   We had been thinking of getting to Lowood, but once on the rough path, I could see that the extra 12km (24km on return) would mean we would be getting back to Esk a little too late, so I decided that we would turn around at Coominya.

Going south meant that the trail generally was a slight downhill most of the way.  There was a bit a climb to get up to the top of the ridge of Mount Hallon.  But after that, I coasted most of the way into Coominya.  But I could see that there was going to be a bit of grind on the way back to Esk.

There were 4 non-bridges to cross various little creeks.  By non-bridge I mean there's the old railway bridge, but they are deemed unsafe as there is no floor over the bridges, so there's a steep track down to the creek bed and a very steep climb up the other side.  I remember really struggling with a loaded Hennie when I rode the complete length of the Trail in 2017.  So it was a little disappointing to see these bridges are still not made safe for cycling or walking.  I ditched Roxy out of her basket to lighten my load to get Hennie up the other side.  I kept thinking of all those old railway bridges I rode over on the Central Otago Rail Trail.  Maybe one day....

Roxy loves getting out onto the trail to trot along ahead of me as if she's showing me the way.  At first she gallops along, but once she starts to slow down, I stop and put her back into the basket.  Often she gets a tad cranky but today she seemed to take a lot more notice of what was happening.  

As expected, the return ride was a bit of a grind for sure, but eventually we were on top of that Mt Hallon ridge, which meant that it was basically downhill back into Esk.  It was good to actually have a good ride even though it had moments where I cursed the rough track.  I spied groups of little Red-backed wrens, which I don't see on the Island.  At one orchard the sound of rainbow lorikeets was almost deafening as they fussed in the small custard apple trees.  Of course there's the usual birds but there's always a few calls that I have no idea whose making them, nor able to see who's making them.

All in all, a fun day of being out on a bike with ya dog!  

Rained out! We're not impressed

 BOM site said there was going to be rain today, then this morning they poffled on about thunderstorms, but the radar showed the rain moving away.  

So I thought it could be a good time to leave, (not sure what Roxy thought) even tho it was now 10:30.  I thought we would just go up along the track for awhile as we weren't expecting to make it to Toogoolawah and back with the track so wet.

But as we went along, the clouds got darker, then there was thunder rumbling around, then it started to rain.  Now, if I'd been on my own, I probably would have just started swearing but would have continued on.  But I couldn't put Roxy through that.  I thought I saw the roof of a shelter ahead, but once I got closer I realised it was just the roof of a grader on the side of the track.  

so, as the rain started to come down heavier, we turned around and headed back to the nice dry motel room.  we arrived covered with mud, cold and wet.  

fingers crossed for some sunshine and balmy days ahead...  well at least till Friday night!  

big question is now - do I head to Toogoolawah tomorrow, or go south to Lowood!  sigh!

Rosie getting a wash

feeling confident

Esk Railway siding.  Roxy waiting for a ride!

no more photos because it was so wet and muddy and I needed to clean up so I could have a nice hot shower asap....

fingers crossed, thumbs held the sun might shine tomorrow.  Pleeeeeease!

actually here are some more photos!  the sun was shining in the late afternoon, so we went for a walk along the Heritage Trail.  Roxy loved trotting along and enjoying the sunshine as much as I did!

along the Rail Trail going south from Esk

some serious landcare plantings

fibre bombing 

Day 1 - Borallon to Lowood and return to Borallon

 It was easy to find our way to Borallon Carpark, which is right on the edge of the Rail Trail.

Once Hennie was off the car and stuff we needed for the day packed in the pannier, I locked Rosie and Roxy and me were on our way.

The valley was filled with mist and it was pretty chilly too.  I had forgotten how rough rail trails were.  The path was narrow, loose gravel and I was wondering if I had made a bit of a mistake.  But Roxy was taking it all in her stride.  She had a little run when I had to get off to walk down a steep creek crossing.  

But we soldiered on and the trail improved remarkably as we approached Fernvale.  Coffee and a vanilla slice and the arrival of the sun and blue skies lifted our spirits.

We continued onto Lowood on a much better path and although about the same distance it appeared much quicker than I thought.  The region seemed to have a lot more pride in the Trail, with a lot of native trees planted.  There were heaps of double-barred finches zipping around, as well as red-backed wrens flitting across the trail.  There were the usual noisy miners, willie wagtails and magpies strutting around and  crows complaining in the tall trees.

There was also a large colony of fruit bats chattering in the trees along the river.  

So all in all a pleasant experience on our first day and it was great to see Roxy was taking it all in her stride, even laying down in her basket.

Once we got back to the car, we packed up and drove up to Esk, where we will be staying for the next 3 nights.  The room is comfy with all we need, so time for bed!  Roxy is already snoring!

 

Brisbane Valley Rail Trail with Roxy - Introduction

 Covid has put a halt to any exciting overseas trips.  In fact hermit life has really set in and life on Macleay Island has been nice and quiet, but not that exciting for a cyclist who likes to tour.

With Covid basically under control, why not a little tour along the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail, which involves no crossing of any state borders.  Should be safe!

My first tour with Hennie was along this Rail Trail in July 2017, starting in Yarraman and riding down to Ipswich over 3 easy days.  But now I have Roxy and I've been curious if she would like to go on a tour.  She sits in a basket on the handlebar on Hennie and seems to enjoy our little trips around the island or over on the mainland.  But we haven't done a day after day tour...  

First barrier was finding pet-friendly accommodation, but eventually I was able to book into the Wivenhoe Motel in Esk, that offered me a pet friendly room and I would just base myself there. 

Hopefully the weather will be nice and sunny, but Roxy does have a raincoat and cap, plus her doggles to protect her eyes.  Fingers crossed she enjoys touring as much as I do!  

Stay tuned - we start our tour on Tuesday 4 May until Friday 7th.