Tired Knees

Managed a day away from work today and put it to good use. After yesterdays balmy weather I thought I would wait until midday, forgetting the dreaded 'arvo  sea breeze! To get into ride mode.

Any who, decided to take the hybrid for a jaunt over Cudgera Creek road. Surprise! Surprise to come! Set out into a Sou'West head wind and thought it would keep it up right though the ride, not to be!

The surprise was the condition of Cudgera Creek Road, so smooth you could of ridden fast on a road bike over the climb. Tweed Shire has resurfaced it unlike any I have seen over the last few years, this is a special year! The Tweed will be the host of the State Government's extra special international boys toys event in the Spring. So maybe the smooth surface was not really created for the local road user but they do get to benefit from the noise and chaos that will surround these quite areas on race days!

The ride went well with the ultra smooth, like new concrete, road. Not a bit of dust o loose gravel any where, not exactly the same on the descent into Burringbah where a few of the corners proved a little hairy!

Thinking the wind was still the same as when I left, I was protected in the tree cover, I decided to take advantage of a tail wind and take the Wooyung Road home. Wrong! It had swung to the East South East and was to be a cross wind all the way home. Should of taken the Moobal Road to Potty. Next time.

The knees were to really feel the effect of maintaining the cadence over the 20kms from the Old Pacific Highway through to Hastings as well as the front derailleur not functioning since the servo at Burringbah. Fix it later!

Only 43kms but included a little hill, some undulations, a near miss from a Qld registered 4x4 through one of the roundabouts in Pottsville and a malfunctioning front derailleur.

But the sun was shining all the way and what a road surface? It even looked like some good surf conditions on Hastings North side as I passed by.

Warm Wind

Today was a bit of fun with a work ride to Pottsville with a tail wind... I have been riding just not posting! Did a cruise from Tweed Heads on the Shogun a couple of days ago, just returning the hire car after a drive to Grafton to clean up Dad's shed for the last time, quite a sad experience.

Rode a few return trips to Chinderah for the fun of it. Rode a couple of loops for exercise, but I am still very wary of back to back rides on consecutive days. The knees are holding up but always noticeable after a ride, Will they never again not draw attention to themselves?

Of note the birds, especially the Magpies, are starting to get active! Prepare for Spring!

Chugga-Chug

Just a slow loop of 20km this evening. The sharp pain behind my left knee has dissipated to a mild general non definable ache so riding might start to get a bit more consistant again. But it is bearable when you get out of the saddle for a bit of a short climb. Also the sun doesn't feel as extreme today, maybe it's the Easterly Sea Breeze keeping the road temperature down if not the oppressive humidity.

Looping Daydream

Rode the loop on the cypress, this arvo. The only thing that came from it was the ability to daydream, hopefully I was concentrating when required! The main focus of the thoughts was not obvious just random thoughts... Such as when I recently rode over the Cudgera Creek Interchange there was a highway patrol vehicle sitting there doing the freeway radar bit... anyway as I approached I noticed the tinted side window being wound up... Why? was it just a coincidence?or, was it a privacy issue based on policy? or, a subconscious technique by the patrol(wo)man to avoid any personal interaction?

Or something along the lines of must clean the bike  etc or when will I drop the ride in for it's first service?

Other thoughts drifted to riding technique, like cornering and trying to ride in higher gears to prepare for the drop bar rides etc

So really a blah blah ride... but a pleasant wind down to the day's endeavors

Wabba-Solo

Rode off today without too many plans. I turned onto the road as a shower was passing over at about 12:30pm with the intention to ride a loop on the Cypress. As I rode down Kanes Rd the rain stopped but the clouds stayed around. As it wasn't raining and was quite cool still I thought a little climb of Cudgera Creek Road would be appropriate.... When I managed to put together a climb above 9 km/hr. It seemed a possibility to ride Wabba Rd through the Mooball Forest. I was a little unsure as it is a little isolated to ride solo, but what the heck! Just do it. After reading ChrisL's ride recent report, I thought conditions would be excellent it turned out that that is what it was like. Very short grass, dry gravel patches etc and few if any large rocks strewn on the track. The only obstacle was a fallen tree across the track, and that was easily negotiated.

[caption id="attachment_287" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Wabba-Solo elevation"][/caption]

The most common creature beside birds were Goanna's scurrying away as I rode past. I didn't see another vehicle from the time I left the freeway interchange at Pottsville until I got to the Pistol Range at Murwillumbah when a 1930's car went past towards Wardrop Valley. About 2 hours of complete solitude, bliss.
The ride was undertaken without sufficent water or any food... not something I want to repeat!

Occasionally toward the end of the ride the bike started to act up on a few of the changes down to the small ring as I was climbing Reserve Creek Road, but it was suffer-able.

The distance: 50 kilometers
Average Speed: 14 km/hr
Duration: 3 hours 30 mins

At last some precipitation!

Tonight saw the beginning of this years Early Summer storms. Even though there was no lightning and thunder, locally, the build-up was there and the rain has begun. Hopefully the tank will get a fresh supply if we get at least 25mm plus, that is. I have noticed the water carter about over the last week or so. Now also the mangoe tree will not set fruit for another year with the full tree of flowers getting wet! Also the possibility of a bush fire has been put on hold for another couple of weeks...

It looked like rain all day but we only had a light isolated shower last night showing on the roads during this mornings 50km ride. I have managed to sift one of the eight truckloads of Terranora soil for the NEW raised Vegie garden, so that only took me 4 days, lets see that's another 28 days left to go! and the dumped loads are only going to getting further and further away from where I want the soil to be so more and more wheelbarrow work to come as time goes by... I was desperatly in need of some upper-body workout so it's convenient really??? All up I rode about 65kms today riding to Hastings twice and Cabarita once to get some replacement tubes after todays puncture.

One thing I didn't say about this mornings ride2work was that during the 52k trip I saw only one other rider!

NSW Bike Week 2008

Just a reminder that next week is Bike Week in NSW

[caption id="attachment_269" align="aligncenter" width="250" caption="Bike Week 2008"][/caption]

ie 20th - 28th September

Strange Light

During yesterday's ride ChrisL and myself were chatting about Wireless Computers and how sometimes they go wacko for no apparent reason. We decided it must be some form of interference. Last night in the early twilight I was traveling on a quiet country gravel road and decided to turn on the strobe of the LED headlight. There being enough light and time to ponder, I noticed the speed indicator start to jump around rising up to 35 kms/hr and at the time I knew I was riding at about 9 kms/hr.

So lets do a test. Switch the light off and the speed goes back to normal. Turn the light on solid and there is no change. Switch to strobe and the speed goes wacko again.

I Repeated the test numerous times with the same results every-time. So if you want to cheat on your stats to yourself just switch on the strobe during a ride. Your average speed will be amazing and the distance you ride will be phenomenal.

Hells Hole Continued and some...

Getting there

OK let's see... After cruising up Cudgera Creek hitting the summit at 180 meters we coasted down to the Burringbar Service Station, I was cautious after having taken a corner very wide on a small descent on Kanes Road and nearly losing it before the ride had even gone 5 kms.  We then rode on to Mooball, ChrisL taking a comfort stop and me continuing, both of us knowing full well he would catch me on the next big rise, which he did and passed me to wait at the bottom. A repeat we would see throughout the ride, sorry Chris...

We took the stock road via the tunnel under the freeway bypassing Billinudgel proper, the second stretch of gravel and a new road for me. We were then on the Pocket Road a few kms of comparative flat before the climb and following decent into Main Arm, where ChrisL was once again waiting... Here I needed to get off the bike and de-numbing? my feet getting the circulation back. So sat by the side of the road and got some stretching in, for 10mins. Now across the undulations gradually climbing the last of the sealed road before the climb ChrisL had warned me about ok he said to ride like a slug just hang on and suck.

It was heavy going but I still felt good being out of the North Easterly, and managed to grind up towards the Manns Road intersection. Here google lets you down completely. Main Arm Road shows no sign of changing or you needing to turn off onto the Skyline Ridge Firetrail, Main Arm Road at street level just continues on until you reach the "T" intersection of Main Arm Road, Manns Road and Middle Ridge Road. I didn't make it! My forward speed dropped to 3 kms/hr and I basically stopped any forward movement!  I got off and began walking, after 100 meters the steep pinch reduced and I again managed to climb back into the saddle and get going again at 6 kms/hr.

At the top ChrisL was once again patiently waiting at the intersection only this time he had some company. A four day mountain bike riding Gold Coast High School excursion was congregating at the intersection. They were at the middle point of their third day between the Gold Coast and Lennox Head and were heading toward Mullum', with two four wheel drive support vehicles and trailers stacked with camping etc equipment.

Now ChrisL informed me that the next climb was to be incredibly steep, he had warned me previously! Little was I too realise just how steep. He had climbed it with a full touring load only weeks before so I was going to give it a go even though my weight equalled his combined with his touring load! the very first stage is a little cruel, it's mildly downhill for a short distance then bang! it just starts climbing. Being in the dense forest you have no way of seeing the summit but these same trees gave great cover from the strong Spring sunshine! This was to be a very short ride! I only made it about 200 meters into the climb and my legs gave out, and had to push the bike the rest of the way to the very summit! The gradient of Middle Ridge Road was way, way, way steeper than the previous climbing section on Main Arm Road, to the point where my feet were slipping slightly on the loose gravel as I walked and pushed the kilometer up the hill! ChrisL said later that he made it with surprising ease. I jokingly suggested it might of been because of all the enforced rest stops he had been having!

ChrisL was waiting at the next intersection, (this time I think the waiting was not so patiently, too much stand around time previously and our destination was so close, maybe?). OK here I definitely needed a rest, even though ChrisL was very eager to be off with me having finally arrived. I crouched with my head between my knees for a bit to try and get rid of my dizziness and had a nut and fruit energy bar. After about 5 minutes we were able to get back on the bikes and begin the short descent along the now named road/fire trail Middle Ridge Fire Trail, which was according to Google just the continuation of Middle Ridge Road, so a new mystery arises where does the, not recognised by Google, rest of Middle Ridge Road go?

ChrisL stopped us at an intersection and asked me where now? as there was no street signs of any sort! He said he had ridden down to the left and it was a dead end! Straight on was a creek but no falls at either end. I had left my map at home, error #1, I thought I would ring home and ask them to read it to me, error #2 even though there was mobile phone reception. Error #3 was not realising that all the roads had been given new names and Google didn't know much about anything here but still bullshited something close!

Anyway I managed to waste a good 30 minutes trying to solve the mystery. In the end ChrisL and myself felt it would be best to cover some ground he had not ridden previously to see if we could get through to our final destination.

As luck would have it, just as we mounted our bikes, along came a couple of bush walkers from Mullumbimby. I asked if they knew the way to Hells Hole and guess what?, that's were they were going!!!! Anyway it was to the left off the Middle Ridge Firetrail. So ride the descent along the gravel through the lush rain-forest of palms, vines, old trees covered by moss and lichens and the superb quiet!

We arrived at the bridge at the bottom and my memories flooded back. We had made it! Now it was a short walk to the right along the slowly flowing creek bed to the falls. The only change in 34 years was that the jumping tree spanning the pools was now collapsed into the creek with the roots end still high up the valley side. At least it might save someone having an accident jumping into the water filled pool below it. I did it when I was young but now that I am old and stupid I have different ideas!. The quite sounds of the small flow of water falling over the first stage of the falls was what entertained us while I soaked my feet and eat my sandwiches. The View out over the falls was stunning with the steep sides of the valley framing it on both sides! 

The return Trip

OK at 1:30pm we thought we should begin the return journey, back through UKI via Manns Road. The start was to be a walk/push on again off again ride back to the Middle Ridge Fire Trail, for me mostly walk and Push, for ChrisL mostly ride but still some walk/push. Along the Middle Ridge Fire Trail it was all ride, albeit slowly at times to the end of the trail and then the screaming descent down the loose gravel of Middle Ridge Road. Thank goodness for dry working brakes!

At Manns Road ChrisL gave me a precis of the road ahead, which I managed to ride all but for about 100 meters, my legs were sapped of all but the basic energy needs! Then it was the next fast descent over the gravel toward Uki and back onto sealed Roads. At Uki we were to part company. Again we had some luck the Uki Cafe was still just open, moments after we ordered they took the sign down! I said to ChrisL I was going to have a very sweet coffee for the sugar hit, I thought I was going to need it for the yet to come 35kms with 400 meters of climbing I still needed to do to get home.  We sat together having our drinks.

My three hills combined were about the same height as the single hill ChrisL was yet to climb on his way home through Mur'bah to the Gold Coast.

I made it to the base of the Smiths Road hill and only managed to get about 1/3 the way before the legs gave out. Not a good sign for the two hills to come. Anyway the walk was pleasant to the summit. The good news after that walk is that there was only slow riding to come. Making my way over the small Stokers Road hill to the Tweed Valley Way, climbed to the top of the Burringbah Range screamed down the descent into Burringbah, turned onto Cudgera Creek Road and the now seemingly very long grind up to Wabba Road and then down again toward the turn off to Kanes Road and home along very familiar roads. 

At the start of the descent into Cudgera Creek Valley it started to spit with rain and the sun was starting to set. So on came the lights but the rain was soothing to the skin rather than any form of annoyance.

All up for me it was a journey to be sure, but a very invigorating and personal limit stretching experience. I hope that my inabilities did not detract from the overall experience for ChrisL and that he made it home easily without the burden to slow his journey further.

Bring on the next one I say, but maybe ChrisL might just have second thoughts taking on the roll of riding partner in the future!

 

Ride length: 100kms (including walking and pushing)

Elevation Climbed: 1500 meters  (including walking and pushing)

Duration: 11 hours  (including rest stops, lunch and coffee breaks)

A wedding and so much more

September round up.

Possible trip to Hell's Hole on the 7th or 14th, yet to be confirmed and finalised.

Disbandment of the hopeful ride to Grafton for Fathers Day 2008.

Jeff from Cabarita Cycles is sick with the flu again, as is one of my both riding partners Mark and Mark.

I should be picking up my newly ordered black Giant Cypress (19" frame 2009 model)  Hybrid, from Cabarita bike shop in three weeks when they are going to be released by Giant in Australia.  A good bit of luck that I didn't win the bid I made on the 2008 Elwood SE, for only $200 more I'm getting a much better bike with all the services of a local bike shop, and no dodgy history tied to it.

Aside: Jeff and Lyndall are getting married on Sunday at the Hastings Point Headland. Should be good weather but maybe a little windy!

And hopefully complete the restore of the old steel frame dropbar road bike for commuting.

Anyway I'll get on my bike and cruise to work now, as this morning the NSW Teachers Federation is having a 2 hour stop work meeting so I can arrive a little later than usual this morning, yeah.

Spring has realllllly Sprung

Today's little cruise I saw 2 Echidnas on the sides of the Road. One even crossing the busy Clothiers Creek Road, I  waited and stood guard for traffic until it made this one made it's way to the other-side. I have been noticing Carpet Pythons but they are not yet very active, night time temps have still been in the low   teens. I also managed to ride Wattie Bishop Road at 40-43km/hr (realy good tail wind) but made up for it when I turned into the next open section with the headwind dropping me to 18km/hr.

Aside: I saw a 2008 19" Elwood SE, bought last January, on Ebay today and put a bid in but was outbid. I am pretty sure it was the Seller setting a reserve but I was not going to pay $250.00 (+) on a second hand hybrid which is a superseeded model, no warrantee and no known history. The winning bid was for $255, and I am sure it will not be ridden by the person who did win the bidding! All their Feedback Messages show they resell of most if not all of the items purchased!

I must Remember: There is no such thing as a free lunch!

Todays Trundle

Rode over Kanes road through to Cudgera Creek Road on to Burringbar-Mooball turning onto the Pottsville-Mooball Road and returned home via Kanes Road again.

 Just an enjoyable 42kms of sunny, although, cool ride over gravel and course aggregate bitumen.

There were a 'cupla' cars/4wd utes needing to get past but they were not aggressive nor did they seem to be in too much of a hurry for a Saturday afternoon. Just chugged up the 2.5k hill to the top of Cudgera Creek with ease. Later on the swift descent past the old Pottsville/Taggert quarry was fun and glanced at the speed on the descent and managed to see it hit 74km/hr for the short burst. fun! The ride returning over Kanes road was good, as I tried to not drop below 16k during the ascents and managed to pull it off. Felt very pleased with myself, even though I know it is really slow when compared to a serious and not so serious road riders pace. Oh well, each to their own goals!

Prelim

Did a bit of research on the Burringbar Tunnel over the last cupla' days. Came up with the Geochasers site where someone has placed a control point in the tunnel. I'll post some cryptic clues later in this post. and also stumbled upon a mapping site using Google Maps that also shows Terrain Maps Zeemaps Site Link it was good!

" 

Easy walk flat ground.The cache is a round plastic container. 

The usual small brick a brack plus log book. 

This cache is a link to the past. 

When you travel down this road you will come to 

a gate this is not the end, continue on through the gate. 

After you go past the banana plantation on your right 

go down the track until you come to another gate, 

go through this gate also. 

A big hint to others - yes several gates have to be passed through. 

The first gate made us hesitate as it looks like private property. 

Yes there is a big cream shed over in front of you but the track to follow 

in your car does continue through the gate. 

Go through that gate and follow the track!!! 

We backtracked and double checked we were in the right spot as we hesitate 

about crossing onto private property of any kind!!! 

Thanks for the cache - we thoroughly enjoyed it - 

the glow worms and bats were awesome to see! 

Found with gjdjb after 3 hours looking further south. 

Should have taken a map or looked further before going hunting. 

Had a good laugh when we finally found the correct road to take us there. 

What a great spot! 2 geocaching families (warren9981) had a ball finding this one. 

We didn't do our homework very thoroughly and tried gates at the end of a few other 

roads before finding the right one - which of course couldn't have been more obvious! 

And one we'd driven passed many times over the years! 

Filled in a very pleasant Saturday afternoon. Took tb tftc 

Quite an adventure!! First we searched for an hour to far south, 

and couldn´t find the right gate. 

So we tryed further north and everything fell in place. 

After the gate it became quite muddy the last 350m very muddy, 

not recomended after a lot of rain without a 4WD. 

After out adventure-walk with heaps of glowworms we found the cache right away 

This will take you to wp1 The rest is up to you. 

Please close all gates as you go through them. 

G1377T 

28.42888S 

153.42938E 

A TORCH WILL BE HELPFUL. 

GOOD LUCK 

Additional Hints ( Decrypt ) 

Decryption Key 

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M 

------------------------- 

N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z 

(letter above equals below, 

and vice versa) 

860 fyrrcref sebz bar gb gur bgure. Oruvaq n ebpx. Ercynpr nf lbh sbhaq vg cyrnfr 

860 Sleepers from one to the other. Behind a rock. Replace as you found it please. 

"

And also re-discovered the way to Hells hole waterfall on the same site which will be a journey all it's own, another time....

" 

Hells Hole 

An odd name for such a beautiful place. 

This is one of those hidden hideaways that not even many locals know about.Even on the hottest Summer day this hidden rainforest creek is cool and inviting. 

The "hole" is a few swimming spots along it linked by little waterfalls. 

Years ago you were able to drive down to the creek but now the fire-trail 

is gated and it's around 2km downhill walk to the cache. 

From Mullumbimby you would drive along Main Arm Road about 18km to 

Middle Ridge Road. (S28° 29.023, E153° 22.462) 

Or you could come from the West via Uki. 

The dirt road is kept in good condition but take care in the wet. 

Follow Middle Ridge Road road to the head of the 

Fire-trail at S28° 29.475, E153° 22.134 

where you will have to leave your car. ( 

If you have a Mountain Bike at this stage you will save yourself a walk!) 

About 1.3km along the trail, turn left at the junction 

and follow the road down the hill to the creek. 

Then you can just follow the arrow. 

"

Magpie Heven

Well todays sighting of local road kill resulted in a mixture of emotions... The sight of a male magpie dead on the side of the road outside the Hastings Point Sewerage Treatment Works. This is where all the attacks occurred during rides last spring. That dead male might be that aggressive bird! But, it could also be the fledgling that was being protected.

We will just need to wait and see! It's only a few more months to wait! That is until the dive bombing begins again!

All this on a cruise up to Kingscliff Post Office and Optometrist... about 37ks round trip!

Quick n' Quiet

Just got back from a figure eight loop through Pottsville, out to the top of
Cudgera Creek Rd, back down to Reserve creek Rd out along Kanes Rd and
back home along Round Mountain.

All the while thinking about the head-on car Accident I saw on Kyogle rd last night about 10pm.
I came upon it after most of the emergency crew were starting to
work on extracating the injured. I heard nothing about it in the news today.
Anyway it turned out that during my ride tonight I was only passed by one car though it did produced an empty tinny out
the drivers window.