BRIBIE BUG BLOG: BLACKBUTT TO LINVILLE AND MOORE (1) COLINTON TO TOOGOOLAWAH (2)

MAY 4/5: Cycling Blackbutt to Linville and Moore, then Colinton to Toogoolawah

On Friday Bob S, Ted B and Harry F went up during the day and Kerry D and Adele F after work. The Fieldings had their little caravan, while the others booked into the Linville Pub (which was quite an experience in itself).

Old photo of Linville Pub. It has now an orange sign.

After Bar-B-Q dinner, we watched the footy on the “big telly" at the pub, huddled around a little gas heater: a lot cooler evening than it would have been on Bribie.

Saturday morning Dave G joined us for egg and bacon breaky. 8am was load up time (joined by Robert H, Barbara and Kees P) with some cars remaining at Linville while all bikes and riders were transported up to Blackbutt, to be joined there by Isabel C. 9am departed on our ride to Benarkin (Bob S found three hiking friends) and then down the mountain towards Linville. For details of the terrain and history, refer to David J’s Blog from the March 30 trip. This is my favourite bike ride, mostly gradual down hill. The terrain is a coarse gravel and sand, and our road bikes did fine, although wider tyres would obviously make things a little easier. There are some steep and rough river crossings, (feet dry) where most of us got off and walked, but some more mountain bike types did enjoy the added adrenalin of attempting to ride through these as well. We stopped half way down for snacks and toilet stop.

Arriving at Linville shortly after noon, Isabel and Harry decided they hadn’t had enough work out yet, so refilled water bottles and turned around and rode back up to Blackbutt in a further 3 hours. Kerry drove the drivers up to Blackbutt to collect cars while Bob, Adele and Barbara rode on to Moore. This part of the ride was quite challenging with some hilly sections on mostly grass surface, after mid-day and on the hottest May day in the area. We were very glad of our water bottles. Drivers and riders met up at Moore for coffee and picnic lunch and time to review and discuss the ride. Some had comfy picnic chairs in which to relax, while others used the picnic benches!

Robert, Kees, Barbara and Isabel returned home while the others headed back to Linville (Kerry and Bob riding) for afternoon naps. Adele found a river crossing where she could relax in the cool refreshing water. Her sister Corinne and mother Norma (from Sydney) had chosen this afternoon to explore the area and squeeze in a visit.

Adele cooling off

Richard and Sandra A arrived late afternoon and set up their tent.

Bar-B-Q dinner was shared, before Dave headed back to Bribie, and others re-visited the Linville Pub for socializing and Snooker, joining up with Bob’s three friends who had walked the rail trail. Some turned in at 8.30 while others made the most of there being no worry about having to drive home, and locals were available to escort one to their camping site.

On Sunday, sustained by another egg and bacon breaky, we headed off 8.30am for Colinton BP station, where we unloaded the bikes in the rest area, and drove all cars to Toogoolawah, bringing the drivers back in Kerry’s car. 9.20am departure for approximately 24 km on a little used back road between Colinton and Toogoolawah. Ted decided to be our vehicle back up rather than to wreck his knees. There were several hills, (not mountains) but enough to give us quite a good work out and downhill speeds in excess of 50km/hr were recorded. There is one sign posted turn to the right (easy to miss), to Toogoolawah (not left to Harlin), 4km of gravel road, and approx. 18 km of single lane, little used and tar sealed country road through farmland and over two low level bridges, bringing us into Toogoolawah near the Showground. Arrived Toogoolawah Station just after noon, for shared picnic lunch before we finally had to say good-bye and head home. Harry delivered Kerry and Adele back to Kerry’s car at Colinton and returned to Linville to hitch up the caravan and return home.