Sandra Rides in San Francisco on 8 October 2012

 It was the last day of my holiday in San Francisco and my bottom had not been on a bike for the duration. Friend and host, Tim Singleton, himself a very keen cyclist, who clocks up a few hundred cycling miles (it's miles in San Fran, not kilometres) per week suggested that I may like to join him on a ride.

It was a public holiday (Columbus Day) which meant we didn't have to encounter too much traffic on the roads. The majority of roads in San Francisco have a bike lane which separates cyclists from cars, even so it can be a bit daunting riding alongside cars in busy traffic. I had to be especially careful and remember that I had to cycle on the right-hand side of the road and not the left. We travelled along Ocean Avenue to Sloat Avenue and then onto the Great Highway which is a walking/cycling track and so no traffic (sign of relief from Sandra). A good track with the ocean in view, rolling surf and wet suited surfers. This rather funky neighbourhood is popular with the young surfer and hippie 'in-crowd'.

We ran out of track eventually and back on the road for a short time until we came to Golden Gate Park. The roads in the park were closed to traffic because of the public holiday and the fact that there was a huge clean-up in progress after the three day music event in the park, the 'Hardly Strictly Blue Grass' music festival. We were three of the 750,000 people in attendance. This three-day free festival brings together over 90 leading and emerging musical groups gearing up to stomp, pick, twang, whistle, fiddle and sing their way into the welcoming ears of the thousands of attendees. There were six stages to choose from and the likes of Emmy Lou Harris, Elvis Costello, The Chieftains, Tribute Band to Warren Helman (the founder of this yearly event who passed away last year) and many more. The Blue Angels, the Navy's elite demonstration air show team, regularly roared overhead in formation as part of Fleet Week celebrations.

Grooving in Golden Gate Park

We passed Murphy's Windmill and a picturesque waterfall amidst the flora of the park. The route was pretty steep in places, after the flat terrain of Bribie Island. Sandra found this aspect of the ride quite challenging.

Murphy's Windmill

Eventually we left the park and found our way to the Vela Rouge Cafe, great little coffee shop with a bike theme (see photos). There was a hugely long limo parked outside that had seen better days. Apparently, the owner lives in the limo and regularly gets moved on by the police. The cost of moving it must be horrendous, surely he must only get about one mile to the gallon.

Vela Rouge Cafe

Sandra outside the cafe. (Note the bike racks)

Tim and Sandra outside the cafe

The Limo (Home to Somebody)

Thus refreshed we retraced bike wheels to home, a return trip of 17.34 miles (apx 27 kilometres) which doesn't sound too taxing – but it must be observed that the majority of this ride was pretty hilly.

A most enjoyable ride.

Riding the Alps - aka Woodford to Kilcoy

26-27/9/2012

Peter and Ute, Kees and Barbara, Fiona, Adele and Harry met at 9am in front of the Woodford Police Station to begin our bicycle ride to Kilcoy. For us “Bribie-ites”, these hills were like riding the Alps.  Some of us rode up all the hills (Harry earned the polka dot jersey) while others mastered some of them.  Bleats of “Alp, Alp” (get it? Help! help!) could be heard as we worked hard to conquer the crests then enjoy the inevitable down hill runs. Our route took us through Villeneuve.  A local artist had a display of wood carved objects planned to coincide with our visit.  Mount Archer and the upper reaches of Lake Somerset, fed by the Stanley River, provided wonderful scenery for our ride and morning tea, as well as home for many birds, including ducks and elegant black swans. 

Ready to Go - Looking Sparky in front of Woodford Police Station

Wood Carvings at Villeneuve

Lake Somerset

After a very pleasant 2.5 hour ride, we arrived at our destination and checked in to The Exchange Hotel at Kilcoy.  This is an “Old Queenslander”, with the feeling that she has provided many years of rest and refreshments, dating back to the pioneer days.  Perusal of the town concluded with a delicious lunch at The Low Flying Duck.  The “Repco-Man” was very gracious as he fixed Fiona’s bike’s brakes. Many thanks. Afternoon naps and further explorations of the town, followed by Happy Hour and dinner at the pub, prepared us for the real focus of the trip – The Card Game!  It was neck-and-neck as the combatants jostled for pole position at both ends of the pack.  The packaging from our late night cheese cake desert (is it really only 9:30pm?) provided the material for recording this trip log (aka blog).

Harry, Fiona, Adele and Ute on balcony at Exchange Hotel

  

Not exactly a restful night’s sleep as we were serenaded by lorries, local hoons’ stereo systems and flocks of Rosellas, but Thursday dawned bright and clear.  After a hearty breakfast, we were packed and set off for the return journey to Woodford, but not before taking the scenic route through the park, around the small lagoons and along side the river. We were pleased to leave the smoke behind us, from the burn off, as we retraced our route heading east this time.  The hills were still there, but we felt we were handling them better, with Fiona’s brakes no longer binding, and others of us using our gear changing more effectively.  Interesting sites included a deer with large antlers, a rustic “out-house” and a microwave mail box.  

We were thankful to have encountered some very courteous drivers who slowed considerably when passing, thus minimizing the dust from the gravel shoulders of the road.  We returned to our cars by noon and enjoyed a coffee or refreshing cool drink from a local establishment. Then it was time to say our farewells and bring our adventure to an end.  Many thanks to Peter for his organization and planning for this wonderful BUG trip. 

Harry, Barbara, Kees, Fiona, Adele, Peter

Submitted by:

Adele

BRIAN'S BOOT CAMP

15th September 2012 - 8:15am

In attendance:

Bob Stutter, Brian Riley, John Price, Kerry Drury, Fiona Cayford, Harry and Adele Fielding, Dave Gale, Selwyn Nalder, Joyce Newell (welcomed back from overseas),  Peter Crawford, Kim Bennie, Macca (and Sandra Allen for a cuppa)

12 intrepid cyclists were lined up to begin the infamous "Brian's Boot Camp".  Despite the fact that a whole week had passed since some of us had seen each other and we really did have to catch up with the latest gossip, Brian's Rule eventually had us following directions as we circled the track 14 times in the proper formations.  Girls and Boys separate - for the most part, leader falling out to the end each circuit.   There were winners (Bob and Kerry) who later received a free coffee (thanks Brian) and buttered loaf.   A second route four times round had us all mixed up together.  Thanks to our flag holders who warned the incoming traffic of the need to give way to the cyclists.  Then it was to head for the dump, via a hard and dry, but crevassed route.  This was fun and challenging, bringing us out onto  Bestman Rd, where it played havoc with some of our heads to be doing the normal route in reverse!  Nevertheless, our noses found their way to the coffee shop where we were joined by some non-riders to evaluate and reflect on our prowess as well as to plan a Whale Watch Cruise for next Saturday.  Coffee and photographs over, we went our separate ways to find home.  However, an enhusiasic group of four were still up for more and so cycled up the Passage in search of dolphins (alas none today), and visited the Marina Markets before really heading for home.   All agreed we had had a very interesting and novel ride for this Saturday morning.

SCARBOROUGH TO SANDGATE

14th SEPTEMBER 2012

Present:

Ute Crawford

Peter Crawford

Lauren Tucker

Tom Fryer

Sandra Allan ) Leaders

Richard Allan)

Today's ride started from opposite Morgan's Seafood Restaurant at Scarborough, a good location with plenty of parking and picnic area with tables for lunch later.

A fine day with blue skies and sunshine but a southerly wind blew which made our ride a little more challenging. Our first stop was at Woody Point where we stopped for a welcome cup of coffee before riding on to the Ted Smout Bridge.  As well as the three traffic lanes on the bridge, there is also a 4.5 metre wide shared pedestrian and cycle path.  A great riding surface with two lanes, one for walkers and the other for cyclists. A good location for a short 3 k burn out! Richard kept assuring us that when we reached Sandgate and turned around, the southerly would be blowing us back to Scarborough making the ride very easy. Alas, just when we got to Sandgate the wind changed to a north-easterly. You can never trust a Scot!

In all we clocked up a total round trip of 44 kilometres. We enjoyed a picnic lunch before hitting the road for home. A good day.

Coffee at Woody Point

At Sandgate, Ted Smout Bridge in background

SUPER TUESDAY

The Bribie BUG supported Super Tuesday on the 4^th September 2012 wih six members counting at various locations. Thanks to Peter Crawford, Ute Crawford, Bob Stutter, John Price, Richard Allan and Sandra Allan for participating and raising $300 for our club.

Super Tuesday is an annual bike commute count that has been running since 2007.
It provides participating councils with reliable annual figures of bicycle commuters and their movements on roads and bike paths.
The event aims to answer two questions:

How many riders are there?

Which routes are riders using?


Super Tuesday is held on the first Tuesday in March from 7am – 9am for Victoria, New South Wales, Western Australia, ACT, South Australia and Tasmania. Super Tuesday is also held in September in Queensland, Northern Territory and north coast New South Wales to avoid the wet season in March.


The count is conducted by volunteers who record rider movements on a count sheet then entered online. Bicycle Network then verifies and analyses the data and submit their findings and recommendations to councils in a written report.

Benefits for Councils

Super Tuesday data is accurate, relevant, up-to-date and for those councils who participate in Super Tuesday for consecutive years – cumulative, making the Super Tuesday data an important tool for councils, who are responsible for providing bike riding facilities for their constituents.

Click here for more information for Councils and local government.

Benefits for Riders

By establishing a regular and consistent measure of bike riding, we can show how many people are riding and where they are riding. This strengthens the case for further investment in better bicycle facilities.

Help get better bicycle facilities by volunteering to be a Super Tuesday counter. Your contribution can also turn into support for your bike group or school. During registration, every Super Tuesday counter has an opportunity to nominate a Bicycle User Group or community group to receive $50-. (If a counter does not nominate a BUG or community group, their funds will go to the governing bicycle network organisation.)

Click here for more information for Counters.

Benefits for Supporting Organisations

Super Tuesday is a simple and easy way to fundraise for your organisation. We invite Bicycle User Groups, bicycle clubs and community groups to register as supporting organisations and encourage their members to register as Super Tuesday counters.

Click here for more information about Supporting Organisations.

Adventure Ride from Woorim Beach to Camp Site P

Present:

Riders:

Bob Stutter (Leader)

Lauren Tucker

Adele Fielding

Louise Beckingsale

Sandra Allan

Richard Allan

Support Vehicles

Dave Vale

Keith Tucker (with Jacinta Lilly Tucker, aged 4)

On Saturday 1^st September we cycled Woorim Beach for 21 kilometres starting at 3 p.m on a low tide. It took us approximately an hour and a half to reach camp site P (about 5 kilometres short of Caloundra) stopping here and there for drinks and short rests, a fairly easy ride, bright sunshine, blue skies, a cool tail wind blew behind us helping our progress.

On arrival to the camp site, Dave and Keith had settled in, Keith having already erected their tent. While the rest of us chose a tent location and began to build our home for the night, Laurel put the kettle on and we were very soon having a welcome cuppa. Tents erected, we assembled at the designated eating spot for happy hour which was followed by dinner. Cooking facilities were provided by Dave and Keith and we did not go hungry. A convivial evening followed until sleeping bags beckoned by those lucky enough to have a beckoning sleeping bag.

Disaster Number One became apparent at the Allans' quarters. Their borrowed blow up mattress had deflated. 'Perhaps I didn't insert the pump properly', said Richard hopefully as he set it up again. Disaster Number Two: Sandra was so busy packing esky and ensuring that bellies would be filled that she forgot some vital equipment. No pillows, sheets or doonas! Towels became the sheets and a borrowed car rug became our doona. Before long the mattress had deflated once again. An extremely cold night ensued (8/9 degrees) sleeping on the cold ground with not much in the way of warmth. Richard wrapped a towel around his head at one point and as dawn slowly broke Sandra very much felt as though Yasser Arafat had reincarnated and was lying next to her.

Bob (aka Lawrence of Arabia, so named because of bandana wreathed head and face) our next door neighbour, greeted us through our paper thin walls:

Lawrence: 'You two awake yet?'

Yasser: 'Bugger off, my first doze since going to bed.'

Lawrence: 'Bloody cold night, I woke up every hour.'

Yasser: 'Half your luck, you actually woke from sleep? I had no sleep to wake from. My toes are dropping off and can't move my fingers.'

And so the banter went on. At least we were laughing!

A welcomed cuppa helped to thaw our extremities and a hearty breakfast of eggs and bacon eased the pain somewhat.

Some energetic people went for a beach walk, they admitted to thumbing a lift back to camp though. Some less energetic people took chairs and books to the beach to continue the thaw in the sunshine, some threw a line in the sea, others made sand castles.

We had an early lunch (as if we needed more food) ready to be on the beach at 1.30 as soon as the sand was hard enough to ride home. One of our number who was very sleep deprived and suffering from neck and back pain hitched a ride with Dave. The rest managed the ride backed up by Keith in the 4WD and a sleeping Jacinta somewhere behind us.

A strong south easterly gusting up to 30 k.p.h was in our face for the ride home. It took us approximately two hours to traverse the 21 kilometres and reach the exit at Fifth Avenue. Could be well described as 'hard yakka'. Our rendezvous was the coffee shop at Woorim where coffees and hot chocolates went down very well. After refreshments and a rest, yes, we had to get on that blessed saddle again to ride home.

The Good News: Between 750 and 1000 calories per hour are burned when cycling dependent on speed, hills, weather conditions. Due to the strong wind and effort required, I am sure the 1000 calories plus per hour would be a fairly accurate estimate.

All in all a good weekend and a challenging ride, at least, on the homeward journey.  Thanks to Bob for organising this ride.

Recommendation: We all agreed that if/when we do this ride again, it would be desirable to start the ride on a suitable day with low tide in the morning.

En route to the camp site

Sandra, on arrival to camp

Leaving camp on Sunday

Homeward Bound

Laurel, Adele and Louise in camp kitchen

Jacinta looking after Lily

Richard and Bob

The Allans Cycling Adventure in Loire Valley

After three weeks of travelling through Scotland and England, a week in France was to be our final week before returning home to Australia.  We took the Eurostar train from London’s St Pancras station and about two hours later arrived in the Gare de Nord in Paris.  After locating our hotel and checking in, some lunch and a look around the locale it was time to prepare to meet our San Franciscan friends who were also holidaying in Paris.  A pleasant evening followed with dinner at a very nice restaurant close to their apartment.

Although we would have liked to have had a lie in after our late night, our wakeup call interrupted our slumber.  We stumbled from bed and took the Metro to Austerlitz and then the main line train to Amboise, a two hour journey, so time to relax on the train.  Although it was raining on arrival, the pleasant family run hotel fortunately was situated quite close to the station so that meant that we didn’t get too wet.   A free day today to look around the town and meet a representative from Discover France who delivered our bicycles and gave us our maps for the three day cycling adventure. 

The town of Amboise which lies on the south bank of the Loire below the remains of its castle appears most picturesque when seen from the bridge on the north bank of the river.  The Royal Castle in Amboise was built in the 15^th and 16^th centuries.  It is steeped in history and the outstanding collection of Gothic and Renaissance furniture illustrates life in days gone by.  The Chateau is entered by a ramp which opens onto the terrace overlooking the river.  From there is a magnificent view of the Loire flowing lazily through the rich green valley. 

DAY 2 – First day of cycling

After a hearty breakfast we got on our way and accustomed ourselves to our hybrid bikes, comfortable with good suspension.  The bikes were equipped with panniers, a tool kit and spare tubes and included a rack on the handlebars for the map to sit in for ease of reading while cycling.  We have an option of a short ride of 30 k or a long option of 49.  We opt for the long option today.  Our ride took us through the forests and alleys of the Amboise countryside which included quiet country lanes that passed agricultural fields and vines, very pretty.  Well, we needed that spare tube because after a photograph stop, Richard’s bike emitted a low hiss – yes, a flat in the middle of nowhere.  Tyre changed and pumped up and we were on our way again.  We found the French motorists very considerate of cyclists and would slow behind us before overtaking giving us plenty of space.  Our route takes us to Chenonceau where there is a chateau which is built on the River Cher.  After securing our bikes we took the informative audio tour through the chateau.   We then walked through the magnificent gardens including 16^th century farm and buildings where the outstanding flower arrangements are prepared for each room of the chateau.  We also visited the maze – quite amazing - we found our way out!  Other villages we passed through were Montrichard, Souvigny, St Regal.  We stopped here and there to take in the scenery, a rest or a coffee stop.  This ride was a circular route which led us back to the same hotel in Amboise.  Time for a welcome shower and relaxation before dinner.   We survived the first day with no dramas other than the flat tyre, forgetting our water bottles, a grazed knee and starting off in the wrong direction.  Things can only improve tomorrow!           

                                                         RICHARD AT MONTRICHARD

CHANGING THE TYRE

DAY 3

We leave Amboise today and today's ride will finish at Blois.  Our small suitcases will be transported to our next hotel and should be there on our arrival later today.  Today’s route takes us through several old villages.  The short option goes directly to Blois on flat easy roads.  We opt for that route today.  Again there is a chateau to visit but we feel chateau-ed out so give today’s chateau option a miss.  We stop in the small village of Cangey around lunch time where we found a very nice patisserie so we have coffee and a yummy cake before going on.  Other places were Limeray (are we in Ireland or France), Monteaux, Onzain, Chaumont eventually arriving in Blois.  Renaissance architecture combined with gothic buildings are numerous in this town which is situated midway between Tours and Orleans.  Tonight’s stop is the Mercure Hotel which is in the centre of town.  After a shower and a rest we have a wander around the town and select a restaurant for dinner tonight.  Bodies are holding up well but pretty tired at the end of a day on the road.







           THE FRENCH COUNTRYSIDE
         
      
      

DAY 4

Last day. in the Loire.  Again we opt not to visit the suggested chateau.  We cycle to Villesavin where there is a castle; although we don’t visit inside we do have a look around the grounds which are very picturesque.  Then it was on to the village of Bracieux where we stopped for coffee.  Today we lost our way quite significantly.  We back tracked to where we thought we’d gone wrong eventually asking advice from a French lady at her farm shop.  With our little French and her broken English we were able to ask if she could help us find our way back onto a land mark on the map.  She very kindly drove her car slowly in front of us so that we were able to follow (about 10 minutes) and put us on the right road.  We thought the map was very ambiguous in places and not detailed enough.  Although we had decided on the shorter 50 k option, we, in fact, ended up doing around 70 k which was longer than the long option.  Oh well, we got to see more places that weren't on the suggested route.

An early start tomorrow for our train trip back to Paris.  We were given a packed breakfast to eat on the train.  We have two more days to explore Paris.  We visited many Paris attractions such as the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Champs Elysee, Sacre Coeur, Left and Right Banks of the River, Opera and  more.  We mostly enjoyed the cycle tour of the Loire and would like to revisit somewhere else in France or Europe for more cycle experiences.   Any BUG members interested; contact us.