Wild Weather - End of2007

Why they cant give detailed info about the SE Queensland LOW. It is just so scattered and has no definable center.



I feel sorry for Norfolk & Lord Howe Island people under it!

xmas or excess

Nothing really worth recording of late, with all the short night rides I've been doing.

But the night riding can be a little boring when riding over the same ground, as your available field of view is really restricted. You do tend to rely more on your hearing though. 

The ride on Xmas Eve' was pleasant punctuated by a short sharp downpour. The ride included a greeting from a solo reveller staggering along through Pottsville clutching a long neck in each hand. The greeting, though anticipated, consisted of an inebriated "Wadch where ya ridin' ya @#$  arse$#**(^!" and after i  had passed the sound of breaking glass behind me. And that was only at 8:00pm! I was right to take an early ride that night.

Midnight Brown

Towards the end of last-nights cruise, looping through Duranbah and Clothiers Creek, I got off the bike for a nature call at the intersection of Wattie Bishop and Round Mountain Roads. Getting back into the saddle I slowly rounded the corner and stretched across the road 2 meters in front of me was a 4 foot brown snake lit up by my lights. Jambing the brakes on set my heart racing. I quietly waited for it to decide where it was going to head off to. It waved its head around sensing the new state of affairs. Then it began to slowly turn away from the light and  move to the edge of the road. When it had got off the bitumen I quickly mounted and peddled by it as quickly as possible.

It was to give me a uneasy time for the rest of the ride along Kanes Road and back up-to Hastings Point. I was continually swinging the handle bars from side to side round corners to try to see the whole road ahead. I really must get better lighting if I am to continue to ride at night!  At least I got in some small hills and 65km.

Quiet Km's

Over the last couple of nights I have managed to clock up 92 km of very pleasant dawdling along at about 20-25 km/hr. The traffic has been very sparse and only one peasant driver left the high beam on as they approached me along Cudgera Creek Road when I was returning from my gravel traverse. I only rode about 5km's along the gravel as I had not taken a spare or repair kit with me and didn't feel like a 20k walk home if i did get myself a puncture. The wind is notable by it's absence and the cool night air allows the perspiration to evaporate and cool you without getting chilled. I must take some clear safety glasses on my next outing as the bugs can get a bit tiresome. I cant complain, at least I am getting in a few hours riding, seeing as I still can not ride during the day for the moment.

Stranger Things

Well of late I have not made many entries. So many reasons the storms mean more urgent work, the trip to Sydney to see my 89 year old mum for her birthday etc... now I find out after 50 years of living in the sun I am allergic to over exposure... Raised welts and an itch that drives you mad. So the doc says stay out of the sun for two weeks.... It looks like I am going to have to get hold of some really good lighting and then start riding at night, with some luck maybe it will just go away (i'll have to wait and see) I even thought of moving to Tassie but maybe that's a little too extreme.

Another Place - in the city

I have just returned from a trip to Sydney (by myself).... Took the treadly with me... On the rides I took, only 90k in total distance,  the experience that stood out the most was "the wave"as per my habit I would raise my hand when passing but the fellow rider reactions were quite varied. With not one of them returning a wave. After the first few passings I decided to do a bit of a study as to the reactions of the other riders. 

The most common and usual eyes not moving from their head down forward stare was the most common, it's possible they were at one of the only places they could really feel alone with so many cars and people every where all the time. They are excused and deserve my pity. Then there was the blank stare back in disbelief  at being communicated with, followed by what turned into a look of total disgust, again hard to say but on the Peninsula in Sydney with so many BMW's and Alfa's...... 

Then there was the diametrically opposite end of the spectrum. Exemplified by the shocked, surprised look of disbelief on their faces and the staggered jerk of the front wheel seeming to say  "What! you are acknowledging my presence? It can only mean that you know me but I can't seem to  place you!"  ya gotta luv the city...

The only other thing I noticed worth a mention was discovering (like the way Captain Cook discovered things that were already there) all the shared road space where bikes actually have right of way! This came as quite a shock!  Cars actually giving way to bikes! and so many 50km/hr streets made you "feel safe" even although I am sure it was a false sense of security.

Mon-Tues day

Monday after riding down to check the post box at Cabba I checked the state of parts delivery at "Cabarita Beach Cycles -- o266761519" they had arrived so when I returned home I doubled the Giant with the old Peak MTB to get the service done by Jeff. I then decided to do the circuit on the old bike, stopping in at Hastings Point Headland to watch the whales on their way past returning to the Southern Ocean.

There were a at least 4 and they were quite close to shore and very energetic. I hung chatting with a local for a ½ hour or so then started back on the road finishing the 20k in a slow and steady flow.

Tuesday after checking the PO I found out the bike would be ready in a couple of hours. I road the Malvern Star down to double the Giant home a little later.

Then after getting home I took the now smooth gear change Giant for a quick circuit. 

Of note today and yesterday I monitored the Magpie and its approaches.

When there was 2 riders side by side it did not come close at all, When I was doubling the extra bike it approached but did not swoop closely.

But when I was just a single rider it swooped and clacked, making contact with the helmet up to 8 times .

It seems this Magpie might get a bit confused when there is more than one target.

All passes were made with no attempt to scare the bird off not even turning the head or raising the arm nor making any reaction to strikes when they came.

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The Primary Site of Tweed Coast Treadly - URL
Just until I get a good 3 column template organised for here...

Mooball State Forest - Cruise

Will do a cruise through the forest tomorrow via Cudgera Creek Road and see what the fires did if anything. (hardly any sign of a fire at all to be seen) Also check out any of the changes to the fire trails since the dry period earlier in the year ended(still very much the same). Tomorrow looks good with the forecasted temperature between 15°C-27°C (only got slightly above this) and the wind from the east nor'easter at blowing at 14-20km/hr.

I've updated this post, after the ride was completed. 

I hope the mozzies are less in the forest than they are at home, I'll still be taking the "RID" as I am a bit of a sook when it comes to mozzies.....(not a problem not even when we walked around the creek at the bottom of Palmvale Spur Road)



Sunday dawned dry with  lots of scattered cloud. The wind was lightly blowing from the South very early, during the ride it swung to the East NorEast and strengthened but was not noticable until we left the forest and started on our seperate ways home.

Chris from Life Cyclearrived first having already completed the 61kms(48kms after edit) down the coast (phew!) from his place. He and I set off towards Marks instead of waiting we met just before the turn off to Kanes Rd, so good timing all round.The days cruising then started with all of us turning into Kanes Rd then on to Cudgera Creek Rd and we were all keeping up as we crested the ridge to the turn off to Wabba Rd, (even the old bloke ME though I think the others were taking some pity on me) . This was the most arduous section of the ride where at one point we all had to get off and walk for about 30 meters, it was just too rough a surface, (long grass mixed with lots of 100mm diameter rocks interspersed with small spots of loose gravel)  for the steepness others of better skill and determination may of been able to ride it, with some luck.

Heading into the forest along the lightly grassed gravel fireroads which was quite easy after the previous short climb/walk. We continued to just cruise along the spurs and saddles as they presented themselves in the shadow of the forest so stayed cool even when the sun came shining through the dispersing cloud.

Mark was the first to leave the group. He left via gated "Private Property Keep-Out" end of the Palmvale Spur Road exit of the Mooball National Park, he had work to do that afternoon. (he still would have to ride Palmvale Road then over the hill to Reserve Creek Road, then via Buglers Quarry Road(?) on his way home to Clothiers Creek Road. heh!heh!) 

After Mark was out of sight we, Chris and I, doubled back upwards to the top end of the Palm Vale Spur Road, As it turned out it was an easier ride than I had at first thought when coasting so far down it. We just kept peddling in low gear all the way to the top..... Chris doing a repair to a loose light fitting halph way up, allowed me falsely, to arrive at the top first.

Then it was just a matter of taking the gravel road all the way "down" to Quarry Road and the Reserve Creek Intersection. Here was where Chris  and I separated he going home to the Gold Coast via Tomewin (another 300m climbing and ~50k), me via Reserve Creek and Round Mountain home (170m climb), The ride for me ended with nothing left of my 2litres of water and jelly legs and 2hours over the time i had allowed that is 3:00pm.

After beginning the climb on Cudgera Creek Rd we didn't see another car or truck until we got to back down out of the National Park onto Wardrop Valley Road. And it wasn't until nearing the end of my ride that I was disturbed by a local hoon in dad's 4-wheel drive blowing his horn and skimming past on an otherwise empty road. Boys will be...!

National Ride to Work day - Roundup

The inaugural National Ride to Work Day has exceeded our expectations in terms of registration numbers, media interest and senior management endorsement. We've been bowled over by the huge effort people like you have made to make this day really count.

The official stats are:
Over 3000 workplace coordinators
More than 70 community breakfasts around Australia
More than 30,000 registrations so far - stay tuned for final figures!
Up to 90,000 participants Australia-wide - based on 2/3 of participants not taking the final step and registering

Do you know participants in your organisation who rode to work today but didn't register? Can you help us by encouraging them to sign up? Registrations are open until 5pm, 24 October 2007. All registrants will still be eligible to win one of the 14 TREK bikes, and they'll increase your chances of winning a prize in the TravelSmart Workplace Challenge.

At this stage, we encourage you to send people directly to the registration page https://ride2work.bv.com.au/home.

Thanks for helping us to build the foundations for an ever bigger event in 2008. We'd like you to be among the first to know that National Ride to Work Day 2008 will be on Wednesday 15 October. Put it in your calendars now and get it into your organisation's calendar for next year.

Many thanks for your part in the success of the inaugural national event.

National Ride to Work Day Team

Cabarita Beach Cycles - Semi-Final

All's well! When I went for my bike ride today, (after the dentist etc see earlier post if you are really that interested) I called back into the "Cabarita Beach Cycles" Shop, just to see how it was going, Humphery was finished. Yeah! So I doubled the repaired bike the 4.6kms home and then decided that i should take it out for a spin, (about 30kms) Anyway jumped on and it felt a little cramped after my everyday bike. But I got used to after a few k's. I rode to Cabba and got attacked by the Magpie then rode over Clothiers Creek Rd to the freeway and then down to pottsville-cudgera creek turnoff, chatted with a motorcycle cop on the overpass using his radar gun trying to catch speeding motorists travelling north, then onto Kanes Rd and home. It went well and will be a good second/spare hybrid bike when required. But the price was a little more than I wanted to spend ($170)  as he had to replace both front and rear brake calipers. The derailleur worked smoothly and the chain and cluster didn't show as much wear as my usual bike does but the rear tyre may have a very slow leak. 



So removal of the black mark is complete!!! and everyone should give Jeff at Cabba Cycles a go!

Cabarita Beach Cycles - Update

The promised turn around time on the repair has come and gone. When I dropped the bike in yesterday morning I was assured it would be ready later that afternoon. As I had some things to do I thought leaving it until the morning after my, what seems to be perpetually booked, visit to the Dentist at 9:30am would be cool. Not to be when I got to the shop he said "sorry! got busy yesterday" "it will be ready at 3:00pm today".

He had not started on it.... a tiny black mark.

Hope he can fulfill his second completion schedule. I don't need the bike desperately, though it would be nice to not waste the time checking to see if it is ready to be picked-up.

At least he says he has ordered the chain and cluster for the Giant.

I will upload a picture of the results on the old Malvern Star - Bogart. I'm thinking of nicknaming it Humphrey

Big Brown

Today I transported the old Malvern Star Hybrid to the New Cabba bike repair shop. To get it road-worthy (approx$150 for new cables, degrease and lube, brake pads and a new rear derailleur with a re-truing(?) of the rear wheel) when I get it back I will get main use bike overhauled, but the parts will take a few days to get delivered. A rear cluster and chain.

After pushing the Malvern Star alongside as I rode my bike, (getting off when I got to the Magpie attack point then walking and surprise surprise it didn't attack!phew! when i was walking with bikes on either-side and hands full). I rode with the wind up to kingscliff and around to Chinderah Metal Recyclers to see if they had some 150mm steel rings I could use on a project I am working on, of course they didn't but did have some pipe I could use but their cutoff saw was faulty so.....

I then decided to agonise with the wind and traffic down the freeway to home. After the continuous slog I was finally in the home stretch on Round Mountain Road on what I describe as the "Turf Farm Hill" up from the Dooley's. As I approached it's crest a Pied Currawong dove down to the road surface about 4 meters ahead. As it came to about 150mm from the ground a 2 meter Brown Snake doubled back on itself striking out at the bird attacking it's tail.

Thanks to the Currawong, who flew off with no bite or other ill effects, I had seen the snake with enough time to slow down and avoid us crossing paths.....  another day...

Todays weather brought to you by....

Well the National Ride to work day would of had a nice or nasty start. The wind has been strong most of the day and wont slow up this afternoon for their return journey. Also the showers were nice.



Well our breakfast was nice and there were no traffic incidents at all, so a good morning all in all. We look forward to next year when we can do it all again. By then I might have to get a more comfortable saddle to handle the rough terrain on the way to work , and also organise champagne and strawberrys instead of this years toast and tea

Ride-to-Work Day

Well tomorrows the big day....


and we will see if there is anything happening in the Tweed Coast area.

My work place has decided to turn it into a big structured affair!

Me, Myself and I will leave our bikes on the verandah tonight so that we can peddle the 12 meters to work, park the bikes in the designated one off secure parking spots arranged for this special day, then walk back to the verandah to get involved in the big breakfast I have planned for us ride-2-work newbees who made this special effort on this special day....

Maybe I'll have 2 slices of toast instead of just the usual cup-o-tea.

Sorry I needed that!

Something to...

Well it's been a while since my last.... blah-blah....

Anyway I haven't bothered to post until there is something new besides the weather, wet and stormy of late. So here goes...

A new Bicycle Shop has opened locally in Cabarita. A 9-5 weekday supply and repair store stocking Huffy and Giant amongst other brands all at reasonable opening store prices. I'll get some parts and servicing done on my bike in the coming weeks, The drive chain is stretched and the rear cluster needs replacing from wear and tear. (mainly it's lack of maintenance after riding some of the local dusty roads but mainly it is slackness on my part and some small part due to the kms we have travelled since we met last February)

In other news my daughter has returned from Japan. Which is very nice listening to her regale stories of her first OS trip!

And lastly I have finally got permission to access the Moobal Forest from Cudgera Creek Road and so will be able to complete some cruising circuits through the forest and Wardrop Valley in the coming months. But will wait for company. In amongst the hills and bush fire trails, being so far from aid and the closeness to some slithering sun loving reptiles could result in.... anyway I asked about taking another rider or two with me and that's cool.

While I'm here might as well say today's ride saw a wallaby, a goanna, and a live brown snake (cudgera creek road hill) and yes, you guessed it... the swooping attack of the nesting Magpie(s) resident on Round Mountain Road near the Hastings Point Sewer Works.

I'm not sure but it seemed like it was 2 separate birds as the attack was sustained over a distance of at least 250 meters. With me getting a weary arm from waving it about above my head as "the bird?" performed its ritual drop out of the sky, wings beating into a stall and then lunging at the helmet with it's beak. Ah Spring!

A ride before the NSW Labor Day Weekend

Well I managed to get 1 1/2 hours sleep last night. As parents we had to get up at 3:00am to pt Kaydee on her bus to begin her trip to Japan with her school. That is another story, but we got back at 5:00am so I thought here is an opportunity to see what an early morning ride was like, I usually do not see the sun rise after I wake up but often see it rise on the way home from a job before I do go to bed!  

Okay so I thought as I am new to the traffic I would go the Kingscliff Bike Path to Chinderah and then would travel the freeway and Tweed Valley Way to Cudgera Creek Road up to Duranbah the opposite way the the traffic (I thought wrong).  It was all okay upto the Tweed Valley Way then the idiots arrived, two lanes available to south bound traffic but they couldn't be bothered using the inside lane so there was a lot of hairy moments with trucks and cars zipping past at 100kph just inches away. I gave a sigh of relief when I started on the hills. Passed a fellow morning rider going the other way as I neared Tropical Fruit World,  we passed again at the Condong Sugar Mill after descending Clothiers Creek Road through Nunderi on the way the Reserve Creek Road.

As I approached the crest of Reserve Creek Road there were 2 recently squashed Red Belly Black snakes (I estimate about 900mm long) about 500 meters apart. The only other signs of non-human life were the usual farm animals and birds. Also I eat the bran muffin I had been carrying, as I had not had breakfast yet and was starting to "feel a might peckish".

I decided that instead of heading straight home I would incorporate the Kanes Road circuit. So this rounded off a 80km ride (if you take all the bike path twists and turns into account)

The things that made up for the scary "Worker" traffic was the cool morning temperatures and light winds.

Missed Chance

Today was to see me up early and go for a  group ride with a few blokes from around here ( I had organised loosely with Cameron during the week), the Tweed Coast, but I woke at 5:30am and that was 1 ½ hours too early so I closed my eyes for a short nap until 7:00am but slept through until 8:15am Darn! So of course I missed out. There is always next Saturday.

Missing out, I organised with another riding mate to go for a cruise around the circuit later anyway. I rode the 7.5kms to his place and got him organised, he was trying to find his shorts, sunnies, water bottle and shoes (he had just moved his kit, with assistance from his better half, to a unused bird aviary and out of the laundry. So, of course, he could not locate anything in it's new location 20 mins. later....).

We started out as a few drops of rain began to fall, it was ALL OK as it was just spitting and did not even wet the road surface. The rain held off long enough to get all the way round the circuit until we got to Hastings Point Headland where there was not one hut two separate weddings taking place. It is meant to be good-luck if it rains on your wedding day. So at least they have that. The clouds closed in and it even hailed for a bit while it was raining. Must be really lucky? I got home before it got heavy. But it looks like the Mango Season around here will be a failure again this year with the flowers getting wet  they will begin to rot before they set fruit.

So a cruise of 29.6 km and this is possibly the only time I will get on the bike this weekend with the Yoga and Meditation Seminar in Murwillumbah lasting all day tomorrow. Also I must get the lawns mowed this weekend. Which takes up to 6 hours and that is using a ride-on as well.

And a top up of the tanks water level.

The day after

Just rode the circuit today.  A lot cooler today. and a full reversal of wind direction.

MURWILLUMBAH   1500 ESE/015 24 



Standard 18.5km  all done in a circle.

When you ride a circuit you will have only at most a quarter of the circle with a tail wind. The rest will be cross and head winds.

A Hot September Mur'bah Loop

Rode Round Mountain, Reserve Creek and the Tweed Valley Way to Murwillumbah. Had a quick chat with a couple of touring foreign tourists (no English maybe?) riding into Mur'bah to book a Yoga and meditation seminar for this Sunday.

The ride over Reserve Creek didn't take too much out of me even with the heat and thin Queensland bushfire smoke hanging in the air. With the wind from the West I thought that a push over Burringbah Range and a slow ride along the coast from Wooyung with a cross wind would round off the ride. But the reflected road heat and the sun beating on my back  all the wy up the range ( I found very little shade on the way up the range) was a bit too much for me. I managed to get over the crest but felt the last 500 metres with my left foot noticeably painful I decided to push on to the Mooball Victory Hotel for a schooner of soda water and a 15 minute rest stop.

The only road kill was 2 green tree snakes (about 600mm) on the Round Mountain gravel road section and a very large bandicoot near South Mur'bah.

The length of the ride was only 64km but the sun, heat and smoke took their toll. Along the Wooyung to Pottsville Stretch of road. It was head down and grind non-stop for 10km along the flat road against the now freshening seabreeze, dropping to 16km/hr at one point until I stood in the saddle to relieve the dedicates and managed to increase the momentum and wake me up a little.

I continued on, struggling. I basically just headed home using up what little energy I had managed to save in reserve in the attacks from the Sun, Smoke and Wind. 

The BOM said

MURWILLUMBAH   1500 WNW/022 31

 It took 4hours including stops and the average HR was 149bpm, also including Mur'bah stop and rest at Mooball. 



One good?? thing to come out was that I hit a top speed of 69kmph down the Fernvale Hill(?) and a minimum of 6kmph on one of the last pinches of  the Burringbah Range climb.

Road Kill

Today's ride required swerving around 3 lots of road kill. Sadly 2 fairly large carpet pythons had been squashed and killed by vehicles along different parts of Round Mountain Road near the Sewerage Treatment Plant. And to me, a not too sad, death of a ferrell rabbit/hare (it was hard to tell except that the fur's colour was light brown and the ears were long)

Distance: ~20km along the usual loop with a chat on the way home at the top of Hastings Point Headland with a couple of local house builders who were checking the surf after work. A strong Southerly with a small South ground swell. These waves will probably be flattened as the wind swings to the NE over the next couple-a-days.

Clear Night

Just went outside in the balmy evening (how quaint) and looked towards the dark night sky. It's been a while but tonight the sky is crystal clear, not even a pale ring around the Waxing Crescent (increasing quarter) Moon. There is the slightest hint of a westerly breeze whispering through the nearby tree's branches and leaves keeping the temperature above 22 C but unusually no other sounds- no ocean, no cars or any sounds of the usual night life. Just peace and quiet. A sign of more of the same to come I suppose before the onset of the late Spring afternoon and evening thunderstorms with all the associated night life of mosquitoes, beetles, crickets and of course the onslaught of the bogon moths and the creatures that eat them.

Windy Windup

Todays ride was to start off as an easy cruise over to Burringbar servo via Cudgera Creek Road. It turned into a little bit more....

With the heat and lack of wind on the ride up Cudgera Creek I took my helmet and sunnies off, it helped as there was a lot of shade along the winding gravel road, the descent was good except for one corner I tried to take at 30kph, a little fast, and I needed to use the whole width of the road as the front end steadily drifted toward the ditch along the side of the road. Unusually getting my Heart Rate up on a descent!

I rode on from the servo to Mooball and just kept going... over the old Pacific Highway undulations until I got to the Billinudgel and/or Ocean Shores Northern  Freeway Entrance/Exit. It was then I decided (why?) I might do a fight back against the wind to the Cudgera Creek Road/Pottsville turnoff along the freeway and ride back over Kanes Rd all up a hot and windy 47kms. lasting 2 1/2 hrs with Average HR 152 bpm. Used the Camelpak today but I can see that it will take a bit of getting used to the idea of drinking smaller amounts more often.

Here's the wind during the ride.

Doing the Circuit - with a twist

Rode the training loop Pottsville via Kanes Road and back today.

I started out riding towards Hastings but looking down I noticed I had left my water bottle at home which I had only just filled, so I turned around at 580 metres and went back inside to get it. As I was going back out through the gate a rider cruised southward past me. I thought here's an opportunity to turn a sole ride into something different.

I slowly chased him down and caught him just before the turf farm hill. We exchanged pleasantries and decided to travel the look to Pottsville together. He, Cameron, on his way home, me  on the first part of the loop.

Rode a just over cruising pace, nice ride. After the Pottsville Forge hill Cameron suggested he show me the way through the Pottsville Environment Center from Sea Breeze estate , avoiding the Pottsville main Road. It comes out just north of the Bowls club over a gravel with crusher dust topped track. Here is where I left Cameron and I rode on. Deviating up onto the Hastings headland to make sure i got the 20kms up then home via Round Mountain Road. I did not see anyone else except Sunday Car drivers along the Coast road.

Ride Stats

• Distance; 20.06km


• HR avg: 159 bpm


• HR max: 178 bpm (cresting Kanes Rd hill - backing off a bit)


• Avg: 21.9 kph


• Wind: light NE

That Bad Tooth

I have decided that an MIA post is appropriate here. To get the Tsunami Warning off the Front page and to let my reader (sic) know that I am not dead yet.
Well the tooth is gone now but not it's effects. Noel, my dentist but we can't show you his face on television,  used his drill today (that is Friday over a week ago) to find out the state of the tooth. With no Anesthetic he ground down through a pre-existing filling into the dentine. No pain! I hardly felt anything at all (rubbing knuckles along the ground for effect), where as I  should of been writhing in complete agony like the wuss I am at the Dentist's. OK only left with  2 choices...

1. Root canal  therapy on the 4 nerve root stems of this particular tooth, taken over 6-8 months of visits with a fiscal payment to match and yet no guarantee of success can be given.

or

2. A week of pain and permanent disfigurement having the tooth extracted.

Only 1 of these options has a semi-guaranteed successful outcome (more like a warranty ), the extraction. Except he did quietly mention that the tooth next to it may have dramas, and something else in the way of complications a possible 'dry socket' and all it's associated dramas.
So be it! Begone! I sat in the chair for a bit of  tug-o-war with Noel being held down by the dental nurse with the strength of Hercules and hands as gentle as any mothers.

Now having done "nothing in the way of exertion" for at least 48hours so no riding working ahem!, until Sunday Night, if everything goes as it should, ie no bleeding and no "complications" I hoped by the end of 7days that all would be well. That was yesterday. So the (self-made) prognosis is good! I have managed to get onto the saddle a few times now, usually late in the arvo when it has been cooler and I think might keep the exertion level down! But the HR tends to be higher than usual, up around 150 bpm and peaking up at 177 bpm on my usual training circuit. 

I have still used my time productively though without performing the usual Spring House and Garden tasks make "physical exertion" a hard thing to avoid.  Sitting down programing and TV watching have been of varied interest during the four days of Antibiotics and strong pain relief and suckable non-sticky food.

I will now try to not mention my teeth again until something NEW rears it's ugly head, Ah! the pleasures of getting older something for the youthful reader to look forward too.

"Look after your teeth. You only get one chance!" said my mum when I was young, makes me think I should of listened closer and those quick and frequent overnight and longer short excursions should of always involved taking a bit of paste and a brush in my wallet. Ahhhhh....., past mistakes!

Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning issued today

AN EARTHQUAKE HAS OCCURRED WITH THESE PRELIMINARY PARAMETERS

AEST: Wednesday, September 12, 2007 at 09:10:26 PM

ORIGIN TIME -  1110Z 12 SEP 2007
COORDINATES -   4.5 SOUTH  101.3 EAST
LOCATION    -  SOUTHERN SUMATERA  INDONESIA
MAGNITUDE   -  8.2

SEA LEVEL READINGS INDICATE A TSUNAMI WAS GENERATED. IT MAY ALREADY HAVE BEEN DESTRUCTIVE ALONG SOME COASTS.

Source: http://www.prh.noaa.gov/ptwc/

I hope it is a false alarm or if not that it is limited in its damaging effects to this suffering area of the world.
... AN INDIAN-OCEAN-WIDE TSUNAMI WATCH IS IN EFFECT ...

A TSUNAMI WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR

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The above link doesn't seem to be working try
http://www.jma.go.jp/en/distant_tsunami/WEIO40/index.html

Wet Days - A Damp Spring

This afternoon saw me visit my local bike shop while waiting for "grub" to finish her Karate Training session, and I got myself an XL rain jacket and some guards for the hybrid, now I no longer have any excuses.

Neither Rain nor sleet... etc.. etc
So tomorrow will see me finally get back on the saddle.

If I can get some kilometre's in I might even fill my Fathers Day present, (2lt Camelbak), on special down from $79 to $45 at A-Mart Sports before dad's day.

The tank is full again at least and the water couldn't be cleaner!

So much not to do with 2 wheels

Today started unusually, I was up and on site before 8:30am, extraordinary. Used our "Fire Permit" on Sunday afternoon to get rid of all the debris from the Strange August weather we have had. It required me or somebody else, but I couldn't find them when I was looking for them, to watch the fire all night, yes all night! to ensure no embers escaped into the surrounding bushland. So not much in the way of sleep and this was added to the throbbing pain I was in from the inflamed Molar. (It started to become noticeable on Friday night while I was "chewing" some nicotine gum and steadily got worse throughout the weekend of course while the dentist was unavailable). Thankfully, the dentist could fit me in for an emergency appointment at 3:00pm, so working was the smart thing to do to keep my mind off the pain until I could see him.

I was willing to get it pulled. He has other ideas. Take the antibiotics until next week and see if it starts to get better. Sorry, but I've been here before, It will be painful and promising results can only be given a 50/50 chance of success. Ah but I won't get another chance to save the tooth, I have decided not to get root canal therapy on this tooth... If I did it would be 4 teeth getting root canal therapy in the last 18mths..... Shit! I don't need this at the moment!....

Quick Xircuit

Well I did manage to get in a quick 20k this arvo between the grading and tonight's presentation. The wind was the lightest for any ride I've had in weeks. So different!

And it was also the most I have perspired as well.

Only notables on the ride was the road kills:

2 wallaby's, 1 echidna and 1 ring tail opossum.

I don't know how they keep breeding with so many deaths, the limit must become critical one day and tip them into extinction in this area. Speed kills!

Today, if I had time, it seems I could of had a couple of chats 1 with a bloke on a recumbent-tri and another bloke on a road bike having a rest at the top of the Pottsville forge hill, but as I only had 45mins it was a friendly gid'day and off again.

Grubs grading weekend begins

Well tonight "grub" begins her 2 days of San Dan-ho grading. Which will include a presentation dinner, Ho!Hum! :( I will still be there for her if she needs me. So this weekend even though it's "Dad's Day" it will be grub's day, that's the way it goes being a parent.

Today I worked at Cabba, and so rode the treadly. I then rode Clothiers Creek Road to the freeway and pushed it down to Pottsville/Cudgera Creek turn-off. Continuing the push along Kanes road all the way home, a push, for me that is, of 20kms after the 5km cruise to Cabba.

Today's fauna contact was of a white kite (bird), I don't know what type it was, but it wont last long if it continues to hunt on the freeway!

The day afteR

Well I suppose it was inevitable. The night after a perfectly clear night we get a cloudy beginning to the Full Lunar Eclipse. After a few hours of watching the moon through light cloud, the clouds dispersed and the totality was viewed in a completely clear sky (Took some shots with the SLR and will post them if they turn out). It was good viewing with a mild night and a few flying foxes screeching in the flowering swamp mahoganies, adding to the effect as we sat chatting in the back yard watching just another astronomical phenomena.

Today's wildlife brushes included a scrub turkey scuttling across the road near the top of Cudgera Creek Road on the way home from a ride and a family of yellow tailed black cockatoos, 12 in all, coming in to roost just across the road in a tree sticking above the canopy before sunset. Quite a noisy affair, the dominant bird seemed to be calling the other members in to roost and these were answering before they flew in.

Backup

Been busy, work, and storm damage. Also a bit slack during the rainy days when I did have some spare time. Spent a lot of hours with the rake and picking up the wind debris as the dry season is still coming. All the rain has been good to break the drought but the sugar cane fields look even more damaged, after the dry and the frost came the wind and rain, a lot of the crop doesn't look like it will get harvested.

I still rode a few simple 20km loops through potty etc, the short break has been good allowing a stubbed toe to heal etc.



Above is my own creation of a scrub turkeys nest

Pike-Out while on vigil

After my selfish use of a full day last Friday I thought I should give my family a day so we had a family day last Saturday, run the dogs and Kaydee down the track etc. I also was keeping a close eye on the weather, as the water tank only had 6 inches left (less than a weeks supply before the dregs begin to thicken the water and crap out the tap washers filling the drinking water filters etc), and this is the only house water we have. We do have a ground water spear pump with a continuous supply from the more than +56 meters of fine white sand beneath us. The water is not saline but very acidic, and it's only good use is emergency garden watering and house cleaning. Enough of that.
With the prospect of "some rain" over Sunday. I stayed off the treadly
to make sure any rain we got made it into our tank, the gutters can get blocked at the run off to the tank as well as at the sieve on the top of the tank. If we get a burst of rain after a long dry any and all debris will find its way to these points. The reason: it is next to impossible to completely clean the gutters and the entire surface area of the roof of every single leaf and stick. This problem is most noticeable during the storm season when the rain usually comes with high winds. I did not want to lose a drop of water with the tank being so low, Joy-ann and I had already decided to ring for the delivery of 1000 gallons on the Monday, giving in as it were.

So Sunday was spent going out in the showers removing any build-up of debris as the light rain was falling, it was windy. Joy-ann and Kaydee had gone up the coast to South Tweed. By 3:00pm there was already another 30 cm in the tank, but the rain got heavier and by 10:00pm the tank was ½ filled, I had also managed to get a sack of "dynamic lifter" spread around the fruit trees, so it was a good call to stay home.... or was it.

As it turned out the rain didn't stop overnight and continued throughout Monday, showering on and off. This meant performing the same vigil, during the times I was waiting to clear the gutters I wrote a couple of scripts for this "Wordpress blogger" to allow easier image manipulation, more on that later.

By 4:00pm on Monday 67mm of rain had fallen on the roof and the tank was finally overflowing and it could stop raining now. So I thought I'll be able to ride to my next dentist appointment tomorrow at 10:30am and went to bed for the first time in a month not hoping for rain tomorrow.

How things can change! By the morning the rain had bucketed down all night the wind was building quickly and around 8:00am it was up to 60km with gusts stronger, I wasn't even sure I would be able to make it to Sextons Hill in a car let alone with me as the motor. So I "piked out" on the ride to the dentist and drove, slowly, to the dental surgery. As it was I needed to stop and pull large fallen branches from the road on the way to the freeway and only felt safe driving at 80km/hr on the freeway only the b-double trucks were ignoring the conditions.

If I had ridden my bike I reckon I would of broken my "on the flat speed record" with the tail wind. Unfortunately I might of not been able to turn the crank when I was heading into it's teeth.

Tomorrows another day!

Here is an example of what I was taking about, (thanks Chris for making this beautiful photograph public, it links to your recent crazyguyonabike Scotland tour journal ps:let me know if you want it removed)

Here is the idea of one of the "wordpress plugins": Upload an image from another website and use it to link to that site with a click of a button rather than lots of coding, downloading and uploading etc

The other "wordpress plugin": is used to download dynamic wind data from the BOM and create a graph, upload it and attach it to the post as in the graph above.

Baby Tooth - my first ever metric ton

Stage 1: Home to Burringbar Servo

Started off with the usual run along Kanes Road through to Cudgera Creek Road. When I reached the end of the asphalt "surprise, surprise" the council had finished its restore of the road, the surface was very smooth gravel all the way up to the top at Wabba Road turnoff, all the loose stones had been rolled into the dampened clay which only two days ago was loose stones and dust. The trip up was a pleasure as there was no need to pick your line or hold your breath after a vehicle has passed, though of course as is usual, no-one went past in either direction on the ascent or the descent. During this part of the ride I realised that I had forgotten to apply any sunscreen before I left. I also had none with me, (Doh! all prepared!) and if I was going to attempt the 100 I was going to need some. So at the Burringbar Servo I popped in and bought the last tube of sunscreen on the shelf at an inflated small rural general store price, (they are selling up to move to Frazier Island), applied it and got back on the bike ready for the Burringbar range

Stage 2: Burringbar Servo to Uki

This was just as easy as the Cudgera Creek assault, though the traffic was quite heavy. I managed to stay away from the granny. The only surprise was the slow descent as the North wind was trying it's best to blow me back over the range to Burringbar. I didn't even need to brake to take the Stokers turnoff!. As it turned out the wind was still a headwind but at a reduced strength through to Uki.

The hill over to Uki seems very mellow, but for me there was a sting in the tail, there seems to be a few false flats and the last kick right at the top meant I was "forced" to drop into my granny gear I had over peddled on the last few rises and had not ridden this road before ( I have driven it quite a few times, though, so I should have not needed an excuse). The wind on the descent meant I did not get to break my "land speed record" only got up to ~65km/hr . I needed water desperately now, the ascent, the sun shining and the very warm north wind was drying me out, so headed to the main street "Uki Cafe", for a bottle of water and coffee, not sure why I got a coffee, maybe for a sit down on a broad seat and rest while I drank it. So I got back on the bike after a 20min coffee break. I am starting to feel that my "but" is getting a little chaffed at this time, even with the new Netti shorts maybe it's the temperature?

Stage3: Uki to Nunderi

Getting back on the Elwood, with a refilled water bottle was no biggie. I then proceeded to peddle straight into the Northerly, luckily the valley is partially protected from it until you reach the sugar cane fields outside Murwillumbah. Glancing at all the weed floating in the river I noticed what i thought was a long neck tortoise on a log sticking out though the water weed choked surface. It needed a second glance to confirm that it was a tortoise after all with a shell about 250mm diameter sunning itself. It's winter hibernation is obviously over. All from at least 60 meters away. Not bad for an old "fella" who needs glasses to see clearly.

This small brush with nature started a few thought steams, one was that I had only noticed (sight and scent) a few cases of road kill so far, much less than I normally see, but that is not to say they were not there! The other thought, "Where were all the magpies?", there had not one swooping incident so far.

Towards the end of this windy leg I started to pine for the hills I had left behind so I decided to take the Clothiers Creek Road/Farrants Hill Road route to Kingscliff to do the small job I had booked in for today, even though it might of made the 100km a little short and so it might require some side tracks to make the distance up. Ah well, worry about that when the time comes and I know more accurately.

Stage 4: Nunderi to Kingscliff

Finally getting through Mur'bah, I travelled down the Tweed Valley Way toward the Condong Sugar mill, once again against the wind after the relief of the little inclines through Mur'bah, the strong smell of the crush being brewed into molasses struck my nostrils quite a distance before I reached the mill, once again because of the constant Northerly. As I travelled up Clothiers Creek Road nature called and I pulled over near the creek and ducked into a cane paddock to relieve myself, need to know information. Here I removed my shoes because my left foot seemed to be cooking and let my toes breath for 10 minutes or so. Then put the socks and shoes on looking for a spot without "farmers friends". Now to hit the Nunderi climb, and near schools out time, I will need to watch out for the "crazy mum's" trying to get home before the kids. A lot of cars on this road today. Also there were quite a lot of dead native animals, more noticeable with their absence on the earlier legs, possums in a pile looked very much like a dumping though. The bandicoot freshly killed as was the echidna.

Made it up to Farrants without the help of granny but did notice the legs were not what they were when I started out this morning.... I hope I will be able to complete the 100km.

The legs became more noticeably weaker as I travelled past Duranbah Primary school, I had free spun when the gear change was a bit sloppy when I dropped down a gear. I lost all power until I reached the crest and as it turned out would never get it back unless I climbed out of the saddle from here on and all the rest of the way to Kingscliff. I hoped I would gain some respite at the job I was to do and grab back some of the my lost hill climbing ability, as there are few hills after Kingscliff and the wind will be from my tail it might just give me the edge to finish the ride.

Stage 5: Kingscliff to Pottsville

Arriving in Kingscliff once again saw me finishing the last of my water bottle which I had refilled at Uki. One of the agents was walking out to pick up his lunch and I asked him if he would bring back a water bottle for me. He said OK! and I passed him the cash and started to perform my tasks. Unusually, I was not perspiring, the wind on what was mainly a descent from the school had dried me out and my mild dehydration was saving everyone around me.

He returned just as I was finishing up and so I decanted the water and prepared to get back on the bike. Swinging my leg over the saddle and placing my but on it was a bit of a shock, the chaffing was very noticeable.

The trip through Salt and Casuarina was very uneventful, although a couple of workers were riding their bikes home from Salt, without helmets and in their work clothes, riding less than a meter away completely ignoring me. I felt a little sad really that they fear human contact with strangers!

Riding into Cabba' was the only traffic incident on the trip. Just past the pedestrian crossing there is a sign indicating that U-Turns are not permitted. A car directly in front of me saw a break in the traffic as they approached the end of the median strip and swung the steering wheel as they applied the brakes to do just that perform a U-Turn. I managed to zig-zag past them but still loudly gasped a four letter expletive that turned a few heads. My HRM went ballistic. No harm done! Just another driver breaking the road laws, what else is new. Edit: I just remember another other scary incident on the ride. Between Uki and Murwillumbah a Hills Transport semi-trailer decided that it could slip past me sharing my lane through a tight 80km/h tight section the blow-by rocked me a bit. Lucky it wasn't a b-double!

As I rode up the last mini hill my legs went rubbery and I had to actually turn flat-on to the incline to get into my granny 1-1 otherwise it would of had to of been a dead stop, which is very reminiscent of a long ago past, luckily I had decided to take the parallel side road over the headland in front of Charlie Ferrick's house. The rest of the trip to the Outlaws was totally uneventful, although I still needed 2.5km to have ridden 100k at Potty (I thought Joy-ann had the Wagon and I doubted after I had had afternoon tea that I would of been able to sit back on the saddle with the sit bones complaining so much when I got off) so I rode around the suburban streets until it ticked over.

Clean-up: Potty to Home.

I was wrong about the car Joy-ann had brought, it was my Matiz so it was back on the bike and weakly pedal the 8km home, with much of it standing off the saddle. All against a weakening North wind and the sun setting behind the hills of Koala Beach for the very much desired hot shower and a huge mug of soda-water with a big squeeze of fresh lemon juice, my favourite drink.

These two images are of the wind during the ride as reported by the BOM



Here is the Route - a plan view and elevation

Distance: 108km and some meters

Duration: 6hours 50mins (including breaks ~60mins)

HR avg: 135

I will possibly update any after effects that might arise.

If you think this is all a little over the top just think back, if you still can, to your first metric ton!

Update: Well Saturday morning showed itself but didn't seem that much different to usual, although, I was a little more thirsty when I awoke and I hadn't need a middle of the night call of nature.

This will hopefully lead to the goal of a 3day bike trip planned to culminate in Copmanhurst to see my father by bicycle, that is, before he dies, he's 87 now and always in and out of Grafton and Lismore hospital. I've sussed out the route on Google Maps and what will be required is a very hilly +90km leg from here through Mur'bah, Uki and possibly Blue Knob on and over to Kyogle, the second leg is a shorter sub 80km flatish ride down to Casino, then the last long 95km of rolling hills leg on the Summerland Way through Whiporie and Junction Hill turning off to Whiteman Creek, a total by car of 250km. This "I CAN ACHIEVE", and with the need for northerly tail winds it must be a Spring Ride, before the temperature in these regions get into the high 30's but after the winter South Westerlies have finished, I think I will need a Camel-Pack for this trip, hopefully for fathers day. I somehow think another 12mths will pass before I am ready! Dang'it!

D.N.R.T.

Today was spent out of the saddle, another dentist visit but an afternoon of working at various locations and picking up my daughter , Kaydee, from her school in Terranora and doing a "mum's taxi" to take her to her karate session at the Tweed Dojo, returning home 3½ hours later (2:30pm-6:00pm).

And do you know what? (Who am I talking to? Dear Diary!) I really missed getting into the saddle today, I was thinking "I could be riding while I'm sitting here" and when there was a delay between appointments of an hour, "I could of a looped Kanes Road! Bloody Work!"... it wasn't to be.

I suppose I could of gone for a night ride to sate my appetite, but the last time I did that it wasn't very successful. As my lighting should be considered Emergency Use Only, a battery powered K-Mart special, better used as a torch when I'm looking for something than to ride along country roads with 4wd Toyota utes returning from work or a few too many after work....

Tomorrow

Strange days!

Today's fill in ride was the usual training loop. There was more to this common ritualistic ride than a cursory glance could show, strange sensations, weird feelings. Upside-down, inside-out, topsy-turvey are just a few of the words that come to mind to describe this ride...


The fact that there were dribbles of water on the outside of my safety-glasses, non-drying moisture on my back, a cool wind in my face, eyes wide open instead of half shut against the glare, no-dust or insects, no birds swooping..... all because of a little "precipitation". Yeah-ha! Not much, though, enough to enjoy this "long ago forgotten experience".

I will need to remember the feeling as I ride through those Sunny October and November +33 Celsius days waiting, or is it hoping, for a short sharp storm to bring a temporary relief from the heat and increasing humidity, (I have a friend, I know there is no need to say it! on Towners Road who escapes the summer heat by moving to the NSW South Coast every year for 4-5 months, to his little patch of summer paradise called Potato Point ).

Enjoyed a side trip up to Hastings Headland and also to check on one of my clients, where he proudly showed me his latest surf trip photos from a surf camp in southern Sumatra, Those were the days! (of a past youth with few responsibilities or the increasing present rigours of a life well spent).

OK data time

Avg. HR: 147 (including stops)

Distance: 19.5

Duration: 1:03hrs (including stops)

Penance Ride

Today I decided "I needed to undergo some self-flagellation and pay for the enjoyment of yesterdays ride", as there was a stiff SE breeze blowing I would do a ride along the exposed freeway. A length of maybe 25km (I thought!), but it turned into just over 40km.

Rode with Joy-ann to the Cabba Post Office, then left her there and rode off along Clothiers Creek Road to the Freeway. As I approached the overpass I sussed out which way the wind was blowing and turned onto the freeway with the wind at my tail, rode at about 39km/h until I reached the northern end of the Tweed Valley Way turnoff, here is where I reversed direction, crossing with the flyover to the other side of the freeway.

Now the penalty begins, I headed off into the headwind all the way to the Pottsville - Cudgera Creek turnoff. Into the wind I managed to keep my speed above 26km/h even though the HR Monitor didn't seem to want to let me into the "Zone", maybe I am getting fitter though I am unable to push any harder against the wind with the equipment I have, I don't know and don't care really!

After the wind push I thought I would reward myself, selfish as it was, by taking Kanes Road rather than the Coastal Bike Path even though the wind on the path would of been a tail wind. I don't understand it, but hills (albeit, little) seem to give me more satisfaction, especially the second and later re-runs.

I was hoping for a bit of rain, even though there was none, the overcast conditions were beautiful. Something I haven't had for a couple of months. The internal furnace was set on low and stayed that way. Even the "but" stayed cool and comfortable.

Anyway what started as a little bit of self inflicted penance turned out to be an enjoyable sojourn. I must do it again, I just need a way of getting all the traffic to piss-off.

A quick edit: We got about 1mm of showers, tonight, before 8:00pm. Not even enough to wet the ground! Hope for more tomorrow???

Spring is really here!

Started today with plan to attack Cudgera Creek Road over and back to do a bit of avoid the wind riding. But as I was beginning the descent into Burringbah I was held up by road works, the road was a slurry of gravel, and I didn't wish to grind my way back up through it and decided to take the Mooball-Pottsville Road which is now called "The Tweed Coast Way" isn't that quaint! It also looks as though the council is extending the tar up towards the summit of Cudgera Creek Road on the South Western side! Ah, more progress we don't need!
Why do I say Spring has arrived? Another magpie attack this time along along Kanes Road and a couple of Plovers with a chick just past Wilman Road. I will need to remember this as they will start to swoop now that they are on the move from the nest. Also at home one of the Carpet Pythons has emerged from the roof, done its smelly old rat loaded spring shit from the rafters and is curled up on the same verandah rafters, nice!, which will keeping the dogs amused for a while.

It was a pleasant ride today, not noticing the quite strong sea breeze that had come up. I can say with total honesty that when it's windy I definitely like hills, any hills!

Walking the Dog

This arvo. after I had finished splitting a few logs for this weeks heating fire, Joy-ann, Kaydee and myself decided to go for a walk down the track with the dogs, (Heath Road on the maps) as the weather was quite warm, about 27c with light NE winds, It usually has too many mozzies and sandflies to stroll amongst the Melaluca, Casurina and Swamp Mahogany bordering the banks of Crysties Creek, but at the end of winter and so much dry weather the insect population is in decline, thankfully for us but maybe not the wildlife.

We spotted a little kingfisher's flashing wings darting along the creek barely clearing the waters surface chasing what insects it could find. A pleasant encounter.
On the return, before the dogs decided to ignore a call to return to us and bounding off, we were surprised by a Sea Eagle, with over 1.5 metre wingspan rise from a branch just 5metres away from us for a higher perch and just sit there turning it's head to watch us as we oo'd and ah'd. It must of been fishing for the occasional mullet bursting out of the tidal water, and trying to avoid the Sunday crowds at Hastings Point.

As the dogs could be gone for a while, chasing down the scents of some old marsupial tracks, the wallaby's and koalas aren't silly enough to be surprised by a couple of bungling house dogs, even though there were a hell of a lot of tracks and droppings around the drying puddles in the swamp along the banks of the creek.

I walked the 1km quickly home to get the MTB so I could attract the dogs back to the track with the noisy promise of a bit of a run beside the bike. Which worked quite well, they heard me return and trotted back panting happily.

So, as it turned out, I got another couple of km of bicycle riding in this afternoon :)

Sunday Lunch with the Outlaws

Did a quick ride round Kanes Rd to Pottsville Waters for a "Sunday Roast" with the outlaws. After a quick dinner got back on the bike for a time trial sprint home along the Pottsville ---> Hastings Point Bike Path, after Koala Beach intersection up to the Service Station I don't mind the path as it is bitumen which lacks the bump, bump, bump, bump of the badly constructed concrete elsewhere, thankfully!

Then along Round Mountain Road where near the Sewerage Works a couple of magpies started a staffing run. I think my Ice-cream bucket type helmet kept them a couple of meters above my head.

It's rather strange behaviour because we have, for a good 15 years, had magpies nesting in trees on our property and the only creatures/things they have dive bombed have been the pet dogs not people on the road, on the mower, on bikes etc...

Why is it so? I do not know! Maybe it's because nobody but the dogs attempt to cause them any harm. No rocks or sticks thrown at them no yelling etc...

Distance: 24km (mostly cruising)

Slow trip to the Tweed Dojo

Today I set out a bit after 10:00am. along Round Mountain Road still not having made a decision as to the route I would take to get to the Ryukyu-kai Tweed Dojo as my daughter was training for her Junior Sandan-Ho today. A decision would be made as I peddled towards the freeway, the wind, the traffic and my general feeling of well-being. If all things fell the right way up I would Take the Not so Short way or else the Freeway (flat and boring but quickly over).

OK to cut a long story short I went via Reserve Creek Road over the Range all the way to Mur'bah then along Tweed Valley Way to Tumbulgum, (thankfully the wind stayed mellow, but I was glad I had applied the Sunscreen before I left!) then over the bridge and up the hill to Terranora, during the ascent an old couple in a toyota 4wd pulled up along side as I was still grinding out the ascent and decided to ask some questions, no hello or anything just something started like do you know if such and such lives around ... I cut her off with a panted sorry I can't talk right now! Sorry my foot! my heart rate was at 162 and my legs were not screaming but I sure didn't need to answer some inane question at the time. Any way it made me smile at their total misreading of the situation, any other time they would of been the 4wd that sqeezes past on my side of the road between the double undivided lines and me, just so they don't break the one law that they do know. After reaching the top I was overtaken by two road racers, one of which had the courtesy to say gid'day the other just seemed to enjoy the thought they were travelling faster than someone else, albiet downhill and the bike they were overtaking had a lower top speed, nothing to do with the rider, just the way it is when comparing a Hybrid and a Road bike,  I enjoy my riding even though I watch others dissapear into the distance after they have passed by more energy in less time == what I want out of bicycle riding not how far I can say I have gone in the shortest time, if that's what I was after I would get a motor bike.

Refocus!!!! After reaching the top of Terranora Road and started the descent towards Sextons Hill around the SS's, as the locals call them, I turned off onto Frazier Drive thn at the bottom turning onto Liesure Drive until I reached Greenway drive and onto the the dojo. A total trip distance of just over 43km.



So this weeks cumulative km: 245km

Rounder

Did a loop of Round Mountain road Kanes road Reserve Creek road back onto Round Mountain road and along Kanes road again onto Cudgera Creek road down to Pottsville and through to Black Rocks and back up the coast road to Hastings point, where I bought a sympathy card. On the ride I had received a phone call with some sad news. One of my oldest friends father passed away this week, his funeral will be on Monday next week. Hence the card. Then at the Hastings Point Top Shop I got a call from Cabba professionals Real estate about the backup not working. So then I rode up to Cabba and fixed their drama. Then it was a coast home with the wind behind me until I got home. A trip of 42km all up. Thus my week so far even with yesterday off the saddle is 202km and still 2 days to go.

Riding to my HR is rather annoying at times, sometimes I want to go slower and some others I feel like pushing harder but that infernal beep beep beep beep beep.... when you step outside the Zone!!!

Used a Brush Hook today

Today I decided to do a bit of pre-spring land maintenance instead of getting on the treadly.

I Sharpened the old brush hook and got stuck into a patch of lantana which was starting to encroach onto the lawns from it's imprisonment underneath a Sally Wattle which had been killed by the Country energy line clearing crew early last year, and had begun to slide towards its inevitable horizontal resting place.

It took about 4hours to slash it and dig out the roots. Then collect all the waste into 3 big trailer loads to clean it up. Some work still to do but it felt good to get back to a bit of hands on hard work again after so many years. An look ma no blisters but heaps of scratches!

Now the old sally wattle will be able to fall into the clearing and I will then be able to cut it up for next years fire wood with a lot less effort!

Kings Forest Discovery

Rode to the Post Office at Bogangar with Joy-ann. Then up the Bike Path to Casurina and along the Coast Road to Depot Road then along to the end where the Gate was open and unlocked so I couldn't read the "Trespassers will be Prosecuted" sign continued in the general direction of Duranbah Road which I had seen previously on the maps...

Then along Eviron through to Nunderie via Norths Lane over to the Freeway and down to Cudgera Creek Road Kanes Road and home along Round Mountain Rd.

50km

took a while longer than usual ~3hrs

Cumulative this week: 160km

Dentist Trip

A 44km round trip to Noel Allen's "The Dentist on top of Sextons Hill".

Again with the bloody wind! It seemed to be a solid wall coming toward me along the freeway though not as strong as previous days, Oh, Well! 1hr and 5mins to do the 21km, I didn't want to be too sweaty for the chair so arrived 10mins early, but went in straight away, Noel turned the fan on, thankfully! (as much for his benefit as mine). On the way home via the coast route I stopped for lunch at the 'Saltbar' with Joy-ann who was on her way home from Tweed City and her dentist visit just before my appointment. But as usual something had to go wrong - they were doing renovations so settled for a shared toasted avocado, chicken and tomato sandwich with a cup of coffee.

Then home before the anaesthetic wore off!!!! Ouch!

Round trip: 44.5km

Trip time: 1hr 52mins

Avg. HR: 137 beats/minute

63km

Todays ride was a test of the new shorts but also turned into a test of mental stamina, friggin' wind! I rode to Kingscliff up Clothiers creek road hill onto Farrants Road and Eviron Road Duranbah Road Cudgen Road into Turnock Street around to the freeway via Marine Parade and along the freeway to Pottsville exit non stop peddling bloody wind! Then rode west along Cudgera Creek Road for a few km(not shown on the map) and then back to Reserve Creek Road onto Kanes Road , towards the end of which a couple of guys on new MTB's flashed past without so much as a hello, but I caught them on the last uphill to Round Mountain Road without even trying, I still ride to my Heart Rate Monitor (if it ain't above 160beats/min, keep peddling!) I'm not in a competition with some wankers and I cruised home to my place ahead of them anyway!

Damaged Rubber

Well today's ride was a little tentative. With the tyre needing to be pumped again this morning, maybe a slow leak from a bad puncture repair? Also after yesterdays complaining bum!!

I decided to go around 30km using in and out short stints from the standard training route. To keep it simple, set off and rode through to Pottsville and down to Black Rocks and then along the quarry access road as far as the gate and then it happened. I noticed that the stones of the gravel road were starting to touch the rim of the rear wheel with light thuds. I rang Joy-ann and said I will need a lift as I had no repair kit or pump with me (I know!) . After the call i started to peddle along the Coast rode hoping I would get at least to the bridge before the tyre bottomed out, not to be, I got to about 1.5km and had to walk it to the community hall and wait for my ride to arrive.

This arvo back to the LBS and get a new tube and yes the shorts were in! Later I went for a dog run down Heath Street on the MTB and yes it felt much better! Sigh!Sigh!!!!!

All up todays ride was only about 21km with a 2km walk at the end.....

Over the Hill to Loders Road

General Information

This Ride was started with the wrong attitude. I'll go for the ride to do some work at the half way point. Ready to get on the Bike and swelch scwelch as I was wheelinf it through the garage. The rear was Flat must of been yesterdays ride over cudgera Creek Road gravel. Well it was a good opportunity to change the rear tyre as well. The first flat of the year, first in 6000 kms. Fixed and pumped to 75psi, but, I was behind schedule already, I don't like this riding with restrictions! So I went the easy way to start, but it turned out very much harder with a strong headwind and high winter temperature of 29C.

Anyway the temperature produced perspiration and that created chaffed sit bone area. later to cause powerful pain (can't wait for the shorts to arrive).

Start along round Mountain rd through Cabba. onto the Bike path up through Casuarina and Salt Developments (the in-between section looks as though will become another barren section, the wood chippers are working constantly.) then around the foreshore to Marine Parade. At Turnock Street I did an hours PC work at Professionals. This took an hour, but the perspiration continued. At the LBS next to the real estate's I bought some new foam helmet spacers, the old ones were rotting with age and use.

Then when I got back on the bike the wind was even stronger but had shifted a little to the WNW so once again it was a head wind. By the time I started to ride Southwards the wind had shifted in the Tweed Valley to the West and was a strong Cross wind which felt like a head wind and the chaffing was becoming noticeable over the course blue metal topping of the Tweed Valley Way to Duranbah Road. after going past tropical fruit world my bum was starting to try to tell my brain what I should be doing. like not take that route go the short way go the short way, in fact all the way back to Bogangar it was like the donkey in Shrek 2, "are we there yet!". Any way got home and was glad to be home. The weather report says the temperature should return to "NORMAL" after today



Specific Information

Avg HR: 143 b/m

Avg Speed: 16km/hr

Fun Factor: low.

Distance: 55.5km

5 Days Cumulative: 167.4km

Cudgera Creek Road Double Up

The ride today was in beautiful Winter weather NNW lightly blowing, temperature in the low to mid 20C's. Anyway to cut a long story short it was Home to Kanes Rd then to Reserve Creek Rd onto Cudgera Creek Rd for the climb to Burringbah and Back along the same route Home.

HR avg: 143

Speed avg: 21km/h

Time: 2hrs, I stopped to talk to Pam Johansen on Cabbage Gum Rd about accessing the Forest, and finally I am allowed some access... she thinks it will come out on Charltons Rd off Reserve Creek Rd or Blacks Lane in Palmvale

Cabba Shops Cruise

A cruisy jaunt to the Cabba Post Office with the wife.

Length less than 9km. and no time limit ie ~45mins.

Quick Trip

Just a quick trip along Round Mountain Road onto Kanes Road, Cudgera Road then a drag along the Freeway to Clothiers Creek Road. Turning into the wind on Wattie Bishop Road. To my shock and horror Tweed shire Council is about to clear fell "all the trees" along Round Mountain Road for a couple of km. Interesting as there are no trees on the private land right up to the fence lines there will be no shade on that ride any more! I decided to stir so rang council and got Russell Gorry (?), who said they were only clearing the Camphors and Sally Wattles we will see! But then it will be too late! Don't you just love DEVILpment!

Anyway that was today's ride so I am looking forward to the middle of summer and no shade through that section of my rides now, no birds, no insects or shade! ah well the price of progress..... We have a really warped idea of what progress is in our culture, don't we?

A Trip to the Tip

Today after a Training circuit. Joy-ann, kaydee and myself went up to Bills BRS to get the extension gooseneck for joys bike, But Bill didn't have one. suggested a higher pair of bars but J-A said NO!. on the quiet trip home J-A said how about the tip shop?

OK lets Go!

While looking through the bikes I noticed a much unloved Malvern Star Hybrid.

• 21 speed


• 20" Alloy Frame


• Suspension Seat Post


• 700 wheels with good tyres and tubes (still up about 15psi)


• complete brakes


• but


• badly damaged rear de-railer (oh well!)


• a very sun damaged sprung saddle


• most cables were OK


• break pads worn


• good pneumatic front forks

Looked good for emergency repair parts and some transfers to the MTB, thought I would ask how much - Well the Attendant said, ..."hese are much better than those (little kids K-Mart Specials) and so will cost more and they usually cost $10..", Here it come i thought... and then he said "Let's say $15" then I said "Done!" wheeled it to the car, undid all the quick release connectors and put it in the little Daewoo Matiz I drive, but that's another story. Not bad for $15, 2 spare tyres, 2 spare tubes, suspension saddle post, good Shimano selector and break lever units good, 2 near new hand grips, 4 good v-brake arms and front forks and nothing wrong with the frame or the adjustable gooseneck, Yes, all up a good score.

Got home and pulled the saddle post out and put it on the MTB and went for ride down Heath Road, a sand and gravel track right next to my home round trip about 5.5kms with the dogs racing along beside me. Nice!

Flat Ride to Check the Tune up

Started out from home to No wind. Went out along Round Mountain Road to Wattie Bishop Road through to Clothiers Creek Road on to the Freeway up to Chinderah through Wommin Bay Drive onto Marine Parade at Kingscliff. Here I went to Professionals to do a little work. Then rode home via Salt and Casuarina through Bogangar along the Coast Road back to Round Mountain Road and Home!

After the ride I drove back up to BRS, Bill's, again bought a set of front forks for the old "PEAK" MTB ... an Itasia Saddle for the Giant Hybrid and a set of handlebar extensions to see if the numb bum and tingle hands will ease up a bit. And all i went there for was a new taller Goose-neck for Joy-Ann's bike! ah well nice to get a few presents for oneself.

Bike Maintenance Arvo

Well today I was finally able to take the Giant Elwood in for its FREE 3mth maintenance check. A bit late really, but, Bill was OK about it. All the bearings repacked etc. Brakes re-centred.

Bill said the chain and rear sprockets were close to needing replacement.

How could that be? I had managed to clock-up over 7,000kms since I bought it new in early February 2007. (see below XXXX) Doesn't seem like it was possible but after adding up all the trips. A minimum of 20kms/day with only a couple of days off when I "Had to Work" and many of them 40-60kms trips and days with multiples. Aside: It's been strange that even during the wettest part of the year here. We have not had any of those days where it rained solidly all day. Maybe it's the "Climate Change" or just an unusual year.

I looked at getting a new saddle today and it looks as though i might of found one. It will allow me to adjust it back a further 3.5cm. I might not need the full 3.5cm but would like to see what 2.5cm might do for my cadence.

Speaking of cadence I also looked at the possibility of altering the rear gear ratios from 132-12 to 132-11 which will give me a little more top end speed. I cant get the Elwood to pull past 36km on a flat wind free run, (I can push it to 40km for a spurt but can't keep it up for long) and a slightly higher top speed might allow me to feel safer in those tight sections where the traffic gets a little hairy.

Note XXXX: No Punctures, crashes or either tyre worn-out . Just general wear and tear, a few spots of corrosion on both alloy and steel parts but spokes and rims are ok!

Reserve Creek Road - Duranbah Hill loop

Today started early by my standards. 8:00am and I needed a beanie under my helmet. decided to ride Round Mountain Rd on to Reserve Creek Road over to Keil Vale then cross through the Sugar Cane Fields over to Clothiers Creek Road, Nunderi. Rode up the hill to Farrants Road over to Everon and up through to Duranbah School and Tropical Fruit World.

On the Fly decision to go towards Kingscliff and the Coast Road via Plantation Road and then ride to Norries Headland and back home.

Ride Time: 2hr 50min

Ride Distance: 60km

Avg HR: 140bps

Weather: Cool, 15C with a little Southerly Breeze, increasing through the ride.

Training Circuit Ride

Well this is my Training or Standard 1hr Ride, 20km ride. I use it to see how lazy i am being, also it is a simple undulating ride with little traffic over bitumen roads and bike paths. Occasionally my daughter Kaydee will allow me the privilege of accompanying me, usually that turns into a cruise and a stop for an ice-block and a scan over the ocean from Hastings Point headland.

I will plot the route and add comments about possible changes etc as i do the loop.
 

Burringbar Hill - in the old Mooball State Forest

Yesterday Mark Roberts and myself went for a bit of an exploration ride into the old Mooball State Forest. In all it was only a 15km ride. Short in distance but long in hours and endurance. To start Mark came around in his work van to collect me and my bike for a drive to the top of Burringbar Range on the old Pacific Highway or, as it's now called, the Tweed Valley Way. Why? Because we didn't really know how long or difficult the ride was going to be.

As it turned out we still did ride up the range at the end of the trek.



We turned onto the gravel Cooradilla Road for about 2.5km until we got to the gated entrance on Barambali Road to the Forest, and continued the upward climb along the gravel for another 1.5km (approx.). Here we saw a small fork in the road to the right/south just as Barambali Rd starts to wind back down the hill. Taking the lesser used path we rode for a couple of hundred metres and discussed the likely destination of the path. As it looked to be continuing upwards we said go for it!

As it turned out it wasn't long before we were forced to push the bikes up the steep rut and root filled track. At different times we could remount and ride for a few hundred meters until we were forced to get off again and push. We couldn't get enough traction on the rear wheel or steer where we needed to with all the loose leaves, sticks and rocks. As we had decided to find out where it went we needed to keep the bikes with us so just walking was not an option. After about 45mins of this we came to a really steep and rutted section where even pushing the bike was too hard, (your feet were slipping out from under you), Not wanting to risk a twisted ankle I decided it best to carry the bike on my shoulder and as it turned out it was the easiest and safest option to finally get to the Top of the Burringbar Hill, or that's what it said on the Geographical Marker on the crown of the hill.

It is obvious that surveyors no longer need to use these permanent marks of latitude, longitude and elevation. At the top where it should have been cleared it was completely overgrown with about 4-5 +years of forest re-growth. The views through the canopy were still spectacular for a full 360 degrees. We scrambled around the top of the hill looking for any tracks that might of led away besides the one we had arrived on, there were none, so the only thing to do was return the way we had come!

We were a little concerned at riding down but decided to give it a go anyway, Mark on his wife's Malvern Star Hybrid and me on my Giant Elwood, also a Hybrid, i.e. no mountain bikes here.... Well we needed to stop a few times to navigate fallen logs etc but managed to ride the whole 2.5kms "wow!" back down to the fork and even got off the brakes a few times as well to get a bit of thrill happening.

No accidents on the descent only some stick scratches around the shins!

At the fork we talked about which way to go either back towards Cooradilla Road and the further along the main track and deeper into the forest or follow the so far, to us, unknown Barambali Rd fire trail towards Cudgera Creek and Palm Vale. Well the more likely quiet route along the gated Barambali fire trail was the way to go.

Downhill through some really cool rainforest along a car track covered with short grass, interspersed with peeps through the trees over the valleys to the West, possibly Wardrop Valley and Fernvale, after about 2kms of cruising we came to an uphill which seemed to curve back around the Burringbar Hill we had just been up. The ride went on for a couple of kilometres more the same with just the direction of the outlook changing until we could start to see Cabarita through to Pottsville again. Here the trail forked again, the trail to the left had a large log dragged across it, and no signs. This time we decided to stick to the main path. Eventually we came to another Y-intersection and the name of the right fork was "Wabba Road". I remembered seeing this on Goggle Maps and that it led to the Top of Cudgera Creek Road. Mark and I decided to take it. Just to see exactly where it came out, as there is no Sign on Cudgera Creek Road to indicate exactly which track it is!

After doing a further 3kms we came to a gate at the end of Wabba Road, but no signs to say no trespassing or keep out so we continued on. We eventually came out on Cudgera Creek Road and checked the time 3hours to do 8.8kms. This decided for us which way we to head next. Marks handlebars had started to come loose and my allan keys didn't fit the Malvern Star. So decided to get to Burringbar Service Station and see if they had an allan key. They didn't but as we were leaving we say another bike rider who had one and Mark was able to again pull and push on his bars. We road the last 3.3kms up to the top of Burringbar Range along the Tweed Valley way and the only incident we had was my chain came off the centre cogs as the de-railer may have gotten some dust in it.

All up it was a very pleasant way to spend a WINTERS SUNDAY. Though there was always the treat of rain it never eventuated. And there were no major calamities.

No Ride Today

Well didn't even get close to the bike today
Work got in the way 20 plus phone calls an a couple of pc builds maybe tomorrow

Todays Palm Vale Ride

Ok this was more of a discovery and chat ride with anyone I met along the way trying to find a way up to the Mooball Forest... No Luck again but at least I can tick off the Access Routes I cant go up.

Cudgera Creek Road

Just a Post to Test Route Entry. And do a plot of Cudgera creek Road over to Burringbar From Round Mountain Road. Taking about 45mins

31.8 kms return trip