Fried, green mamas at the Whiste Stop Cafe

It was a really refreshing ride on Sunday. Thanks to Bron for pulling me into line regarding the weather. I looked out at the rain and thought "nope not today" but she was straight on BOM checking the radar and assured me it was a passing shower. It meant that the air was blissfully cool which was good cos I had a bit of a hangover.

Riders: Cara, Bron, Cate, Celia, Emma
Feeble Excuses: Kirsty(tired), Michelle (bike not good in the wet)

 ahaha ok ok I know you both went out today

We did the Dornoch Tce/Corso/Indro Bridge/St Lucia/Green Bridge/Gladstone Road route and stopped at the Whistle Stop cafe for a very much needed coffee.

Getting good use out of my fish eye!

Kirsty makes it BIG

 

44 kms on Saturday, up to Shaw Park well actually I think it is Mercer Park with the nice duckies quacking away. I managed to avoid oncoming trucks which was an improvement on last time. Also: I didn't fall off trying to get on the saddle as much but did have a bit of a wardrobe malfunction involving catching the undercarriage padding on the saddle. I didn't look behind me.

On the way back 2 hills got the better of Kirsty: Waterford Street and Greene Street. The challenge is there now. My predictions? Next time I think you'll smash Waterford. Greene Street the time after.

A well earned pit stop:

Bron and Michelle hear sparrow farting no no wait I think it was that bloody storm bird.

Yes, Michelle and Bron actually went through with it and met up at 5am this morning for a quick St. Lucia loop which took about 50 minutes at a leisurely pace. I must admit, I am tempted to try starting at 5 as the summer approaches. Not long after 5 this morning I was lying awake listening to a storm bird with an increasing sense of urgency. Here's some pics!

 

5am and not too shabby:

 

Look! Sunrise!

West End to Shaw Park

Riders: Jacqui W, Celia and Cara
Distance: 44.6km!!!!!


This was the route today - well the bit north of Northey Street:

 I really hate these self portraits! Anyway this is us just after point 18 on the map at the entrance to Kedron Brook bikeway.

We looked at the whole ride in 3 parts: the first being from West End to Enoggera Creek, the second being the back streets of the Northern Suburbs and the third being along Kedron Brook Bikeway.

Eagle eyes amongst you will notice a little detour from the original plan right at the end. I was glad we did that as we were able to sit and have our snacks at a nice little duck pond in Shaw/Mercer Park.

The ride itself was easier than I anticipated. I guess thinking about it for so long, I'd built it up in my mind to be bigger than it was so this was a real relief. Also, being quite cool and overcast was a bonus. We probably didn't really head off till 6.10 and arrived at the entrance to Kedron Brook an hour later. It was a good ride. The street section is well signposted and it's good fun checking out the houses and gardens which all seem to be massive compared to West End. There are some hills but the good thing is that most of them are on the way there. The bikeway is relatively flat and the scenery is great. Loads of wildlife and greenery AND a territorial magpie. Celia was out in front when a rider passed us coming from the other way and he warned me and Jacqui about the magpie so I sort of suggested we allow Celia to keep the lead heheh. Sure enough she managed to keep the magpie occupied while we rode along behind in relative comfort. When I eventually came clean and fessed up, I agreed to be the guinea pig on the way home but there was no sign of any magpies at all. Oh well!

Sadly we missed Kirsty, Michelle and Cate who were riding to Northey Street. There was a vague plan to hook up with them at Northey Street for a coffee but our timings were out.

We made it to Northey Street by about 9am and had coffee and Celia did some shopping. Nice looking ciabatta and some organic lamb. Home by 10am.

Cate's big ride in Cleveland today:

Check it out! Cate's been busy this morning.

From Cate:

I liked the adventure of heading out into this only vaguely known place, picturesque for most of the ride-- lots of maggies out, hot and dry and hard to find the way around - empathized with your first Indooroopilly trial - lost, checking maps, hot, time getting on etc and went through my water but Yeah I'm am still standing to tell the tale and starving... and feel a great sense of achievement because I cracked the 30km milestone!!!!

Fab.

Kirsty's triumphant return

Here are some pics from yesterday's ride - all looking very smiley and lovely!
Bron and Emma:

Kirsty:

Michelle:

Try this!

This morning I headed off from school (complete with sunscreen and shoulders covered this time) towards the Go Between Bridge and cycled our usual path towards the Green Bridge but instead of turning right onto the bridge I kept going and joined up with our Indooroopilly Bridge route. It seemed easier and faster going this way round! I don't know if that was because I knew where I was going but I was faster as well. I found a bike path that we missed which ran alongside one of the roads - Highland Terrace I think. The whole route took me 1 hour 45mins. The bike path leading from the Corso to Gladstone Road really took it out of me, though! It's a short-ish one but it is steep. Managed to stay on but was breathing very heavily by the time I reached the top. Definitely a good one for hill practice! Gladstone road getting easier.

Thanks to Katina for the cheer she gave me from her car at the top of Ganges Street. I flew down the hill feeling like Wonder Woman!

31.51kms - a very nice practice for Sunday morning for the ride up to Kedron Brook. If you are keen for that one, contact me by Saturday. I'm thinking about leaving at 6am just cos I'll probably be awake but if you want to come and 6am is just too horrible to contemplate, let me know! Kirsty is thinking of a Northey Street ride on Sunday morning including coffee at the market so if you take that option, I may see you there on my way back.