Woodford Island Ride - Sunday 9th September
(Bloody Hell, what happened to September??)
Fourteen enthusiastic cyclists met at the park area in front of the Brushgrove Hotel for a gentle ride around Woodford Island. The weather was superb, clear skies and temperature in the mid to high twenties.
We headed off along South School Arm Road heading in a clockwise direction around the island. As there were a couple of new riders with us, we kept the pace down to a nice easy 20-22 Kms/Hr, just what you need for a quiet Sunday morning.
Everyone took the two hills on the island in their stride. Not sure of the elevation but I guess 20 metres maximum!.
After assuring everyone before the ride that the roads are very quiet, everyone living on the island must have decided to drive into Maclean as there was almost a constant stream of traffic. While we where having a rest and drink stop under a nice shady tree, two cyclists wearing Woodford Island Cycle Club jerseys rode past. I was totally unaware there was a cycle club on the island, we obviously need to make contact.
After about 1 hour we reached the half way point, Macfarlane Bridge across the south arm of the Clarence river leading into Maclean. This is the one part of this ride I had reservations about. This bridge is very narrow with timber decking although it does have a bitumen seal on top which turned out to be OK, not the cyclist’s nightmare most timber bridges are!
As our designated lunch stop was the Ferry Park café on the Pacific Highway, there was no choice but to cross the bridge. We all bunched up on the south side of the bridge waiting for an opportune time to start crossing when a large truck with a load of sugar cane started to cross. As he was only traveling at about 5 Ks/Hour, everyone thought Great! Lets tail gate him!
Only problem, after about 10 metres he found top gear and left us for dead! We got across the bridge OK but then had our next traffic problem, turning right into Cameron street. Again, everyone in Maclean decided they needed to drive somewhere at this exact time!
After navigating the intersection with losing anyone, we finally made it to Ferry Park for lunch and coffee. As an aside, Ferry Park is the only place open in Maclean on Sunday! There are a couple of very nice cafes in town but they do not open on Sunday; even the pub and RSL club don't have food on Sunday!
Having fueled up, we headed back to Macfarlan bridge ready for the next nail biting experience. Obviously every car owner in Maclean had got to where they wanted to go, as there was almost zero traffic this time.
We continued in a clockwise direction around the island. At the Bluff Pt/Lawrence ferry we made a slight detour across to Lawrence. Mark Riley suggested we stop at the local museum set up in the old transmitter building of ABC station 2NR. What a brilliant idea, I had no idea this place existed. Lots of old valve radio equipment and other stuff from the radio station plus lot’s of old photos and memorabilia form the area. And all for free!! Although I can report we all made a contribution to their donations box.
Henry had an unfortunate experience with a tic whilst parking his bike under a tree at the museum. Luckily he discovered it before it could bury itself into his skin
Back across the ferry and we continued south along Lawrence road. The rest of the trip was pretty uneventful and soon we where back at Brushgrove. I almost ran over a green tree snake crossing the road outside the Brushgrove pub. I stopped in the road and was frantically waving to everyone to be careful. One of our riders who shall remain nameless but has the initials BG and is married to Bob, must have though I was indicating the end of the ride. She merrily waved back and continued riding and almost ran over the poor snake. It got such a fright, it took off and sought shelter in one of the pub’s roadside signs.
Three of our newer riders, Wendy, Debbie and Ann were over the moon as 45 Kms was the longest they had ridden in a day before. From the feedback I have since received, everyone enjoyed the day. This certainly the ideal beginner’s ride, a nice easy 45 Kms, no hills to speak off and magnificent scenery all the way, sugar cane on one side of the road, the river on the other. The only downside(!) is it is an hour and a half drive north.
Ian Scott, Ride Leader
[photos being uploaded in due course... ie. asap... meantime they are all up at our Coffs BUG Flickr site.]
Fourteen enthusiastic cyclists met at the park area in front of the Brushgrove Hotel for a gentle ride around Woodford Island. The weather was superb, clear skies and temperature in the mid to high twenties.
We headed off along South School Arm Road heading in a clockwise direction around the island. As there were a couple of new riders with us, we kept the pace down to a nice easy 20-22 Kms/Hr, just what you need for a quiet Sunday morning.
Everyone took the two hills on the island in their stride. Not sure of the elevation but I guess 20 metres maximum!.
After assuring everyone before the ride that the roads are very quiet, everyone living on the island must have decided to drive into Maclean as there was almost a constant stream of traffic. While we where having a rest and drink stop under a nice shady tree, two cyclists wearing Woodford Island Cycle Club jerseys rode past. I was totally unaware there was a cycle club on the island, we obviously need to make contact.
After about 1 hour we reached the half way point, Macfarlane Bridge across the south arm of the Clarence river leading into Maclean. This is the one part of this ride I had reservations about. This bridge is very narrow with timber decking although it does have a bitumen seal on top which turned out to be OK, not the cyclist’s nightmare most timber bridges are!
As our designated lunch stop was the Ferry Park café on the Pacific Highway, there was no choice but to cross the bridge. We all bunched up on the south side of the bridge waiting for an opportune time to start crossing when a large truck with a load of sugar cane started to cross. As he was only traveling at about 5 Ks/Hour, everyone thought Great! Lets tail gate him!
Only problem, after about 10 metres he found top gear and left us for dead! We got across the bridge OK but then had our next traffic problem, turning right into Cameron street. Again, everyone in Maclean decided they needed to drive somewhere at this exact time!
After navigating the intersection with losing anyone, we finally made it to Ferry Park for lunch and coffee. As an aside, Ferry Park is the only place open in Maclean on Sunday! There are a couple of very nice cafes in town but they do not open on Sunday; even the pub and RSL club don't have food on Sunday!
Having fueled up, we headed back to Macfarlan bridge ready for the next nail biting experience. Obviously every car owner in Maclean had got to where they wanted to go, as there was almost zero traffic this time.
We continued in a clockwise direction around the island. At the Bluff Pt/Lawrence ferry we made a slight detour across to Lawrence. Mark Riley suggested we stop at the local museum set up in the old transmitter building of ABC station 2NR. What a brilliant idea, I had no idea this place existed. Lots of old valve radio equipment and other stuff from the radio station plus lot’s of old photos and memorabilia form the area. And all for free!! Although I can report we all made a contribution to their donations box.
Henry had an unfortunate experience with a tic whilst parking his bike under a tree at the museum. Luckily he discovered it before it could bury itself into his skin
Back across the ferry and we continued south along Lawrence road. The rest of the trip was pretty uneventful and soon we where back at Brushgrove. I almost ran over a green tree snake crossing the road outside the Brushgrove pub. I stopped in the road and was frantically waving to everyone to be careful. One of our riders who shall remain nameless but has the initials BG and is married to Bob, must have though I was indicating the end of the ride. She merrily waved back and continued riding and almost ran over the poor snake. It got such a fright, it took off and sought shelter in one of the pub’s roadside signs.
Three of our newer riders, Wendy, Debbie and Ann were over the moon as 45 Kms was the longest they had ridden in a day before. From the feedback I have since received, everyone enjoyed the day. This certainly the ideal beginner’s ride, a nice easy 45 Kms, no hills to speak off and magnificent scenery all the way, sugar cane on one side of the road, the river on the other. The only downside(!) is it is an hour and a half drive north.
Ian Scott, Ride Leader
[photos being uploaded in due course... ie. asap... meantime they are all up at our Coffs BUG Flickr site.]
Labels: BUG rides
posted by Coffs BUG member at
1:27 pm
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home