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...!