Easter Sunday Pedal to Brighton

Easter Sunday:  The sky was a beautiful blue - time for another bike ride.

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!!

Looking back to Storey Bridge

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.

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.

Cruise ship

spoonbills, ibis & egrets feeding

Then a dash along Nudgee Road to Schulz Canal and down onto the bike way heading for Nudgee beach and the Boondall wetlands.

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.

Through the open forest - my new shoes got muddy here

 It was nice and green, though the grass land was starting to die back with the approach of winter just over the horizon. 

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.

Mangroves to Mountains sign

Calopo creeper (weed) taking over

but ever onwards - although it is nice and green, it is a bit sad to see the weeds within this reserve getting out of control - most obvious is the Calopo creeper that is beginning to smother some of the paper-barks.








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!

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 .  

Easter 2012

 

Easter Bunny's home?

Card1

  "On Good Friday I went fishing for cod,
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."

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"
 

Hot Cross Bun ornament

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.

Seagulls & terns waiting for low tide 

I decided to check out the Coffee Club in Sandgate, as all the eateries along the front are seafood and burgers & chips - all totally overloaded with carbs!  I scoffed down a big omelette with mushrooms and was fuelled up ready for my return home.  Noticed that Hippy Chic is no longer!...

colourful jewel beetle on rough bark

Nellie waiting patiently outside of Coffee club

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.

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! 

Heading south to Ikea

This time I decided to go south to see how far the bike path goes - or how steep!

Quiet little Norman Creek

I headed out along Birdwood Road over Norman Creek, under the Motorway and  through the traffic lights and onto the path alongside Bapaume Road. 

Not going to Erica's today

Bapaume Road, boring!

  Instead of heading right towards Erica's I continued south onto the bike path that hugs the Motorway.





  I was pleasantly surprised that the ridge alongside the Toohey State Forest wasn't too steep and it was great to be riding with the bush on one side at least - slightly spoilt by the busy motorway on the other side.  But on a Sunday morning, the traffic wasn't too bad.

Toohey Forest to the right, Motorway to the left

I didn't check the distance this bike way goes, but it follows along the Motorway for quite a way.  Its got a boring fenced in feeling - with a closed fence sometimes on the motorway side, or on both sides, or high closed fence to protect the suburbs from the noise of the motorway.

Riding along on my push-bike, honey

still riding!

getting that fenced in feeling

There weren't too many people on bike way, which is always a bonus.  Had Etrek strapped on board and somewhere around Mt Gravatt, it got stuck and I didn't notice it until I was down to Eight Mile Plains.  Thankfully, I did the 'switch off switch on' trick and it found me again. 




 

out onto the streets, Banksia country

I stopped for a small cup of coffee and a few nuts in a empty carpark.  At first I didn't realise that it was opposite one of those Hallelujah churches and it soon began to fill up with happy clappers, so I thought I had better get on my bike before I got ushered into the church!

Carpark coffee spot

Riding with Mr Big!

Not much further on, the bike path totally vanished so I had no choice but to ride along Logan road towards Springwood.  Well, now that I am this far south, I might as well get a taste of Sweden and ride onto Ikea. 

It didn't seem too long before I could see the blue and yellow building coming into sight, so I did a ride through the car park, but wasn't game to go inside.  I can always find something in there but can't carry that much on my bike.

            

Taste of Sweden in sight

Damn this diet, no dammsugare today

But I did need a new day pack, so went into Anaconda instead and found a few things there - including a day pack, so was able to carry my new knicks in the pack!

It was only 16km down there, so I turned around and headed home.  The wind was now blowing quite strongly, but from behind!  Beauty!  I finished off my coffee & nuts in a little park, then rode back to Kessels Road, turned right and dropped into the Hibiscus Sports centre and changed into my togs and went for a swim.  This time, I was able to make the 20 laps with not too much effort - yes, very slowly but I made it!

After getting back into bike gear, I pedalled east and picked up some salad stuff and dropped in to have lunch with Matias.

So a bit of a boring ride - I think that's enough suburban riding.  I think in future I will check out some rides out of town.  Rosie can be called in to transport us to a starting point a bit more exciting.  Stay tuned!

Checking out Kangaroo Point - 11 March 2012

riding over the highway just before South Bank

In the past I have ridden over the Storey bridge.  I wondered what was under it.

It was a nice warm day - not humid like last week.  This time, I didn't set up a route on my Etrek, just had it on Map to see where I was.  I rode down to Woolloongabba along Logan Road, cutting past all the antique shops and up onto bike way to get to South Bank.

Under Cptn Cook Bridge, the Brisbane River tamed

Turned left and rode under Captain Cook bridge. I paused to remember where the water levels were during the flood last year.  Looking a bit different now!

Kangaroo Pt cliffs bikeway

Its a nice short ride to get under the Storey bridge, along a comfortable bike path, mostly separated from those dreaded pedestrians!

Under Storey Bridge

The path continued on, the river on one side and little boxes of apartments or should I say big boxes.  All pretty boring and predictable.  I passed a couple of ferry terminals before the path petered out and I was faced with riding through suburbs again.

At the mouth of Norman Creek

I found the mouth of Norman Creek.  This is the little drain out the back of my place, it grows as it runs down to the Brisbane River.

I decided to try and get back near the river and as I did, there was a cat ferry pulling into a terminal, so I hopped aboard and crossed over back to New Farm.  This was old territory for me, so I thought I would ride out to Newstead House to check out the new river side bike way past the Powerhouse.  Very pleasant, tho the nouveau riche seem to be a bit uppity when boring bike riders use their promenade!!

I found a nice comfortable old garden bench to sit and drink my coffee and scoff my cake, before riding around the grounds of Newstead House, then turning back on my

Newstead House

tracks.

Storey bridge from the north side

The ride back to the Storey Bridge was uneventful, tho without the floating bike-way, a bit boring riding along more streets.  I crossed over the Bridge and instead of going back to the SE Bike-way, I rode along Shafton to Latrobe road and back to Logan Road.

Did a detour into the Langlands Park swimming pool and got into the pool - first time for 18 months and managed to swim 10 laps - tho those first 2 were a tad scary!  didn't know if I would actually make first lap, but eventually got my breathing working and cruised along.  Very nice!

so an easy ride, a nice swim and home again by lunch time, not a bad way to spend a Sunday morning.

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! 

22 Feb 12 - 9999 to 10,000 km on the clock

Just a quick report! - was pretty proud of myself when my bike computer clocked over to 10,000km. 

I bought Dame Nellie Mongoose in May 2009 and bought a computer then.  But it was knicked off my bike at the Sandgate Railway Station in December 2009. 

9999km at entrance to Buranda Bikeway

So this computer is its replacement.  At that time I was riding about 100km per week, so I have already passed the 10,000km, but I had no proof!

Now I have!!

 And now 1 km later, 10,000km on bridge over the Clem 7 Tunnel.

I was worried that the computer would click back to 0000, hence the photos taken at 9999!

The bridge over the Clem 7 Tunnel entrance on Ipswich Road

I've decided to make one blog that I will update irregularly - whenever I have taken Nellie (my bike) for a bit of a ride that I want to share, instead of making a new blog spot for each trip.

I have added the addresses of my two previous blogs in the Page section of this blog, so you can go back into my past rides all from the one site!

Comments are welcome!