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North Coast break

Rides, Trips 10/04/2014 Comments: 4

A window opened for a mid-week break recently & so the Tardis was packed for a “beach trip” to somewhere north of Sydney. Ralph & Peregrine came along too, for some days of caravan park stops & local rides & beach visits. With Bromptons loaded into our VW T5 Campervan we didn’t last long before needing to stop for lunch.

Hawks Nest turned out to be the first nights caravan park, just beside the ocean beach.

Next day saw us out on the Bromptons for some cruising around the coastal area (no pics I’m sorry, but there just might be a video soon?). The afternoon activity just had to be the beach & Mrs Aussie managed to fit in an ocean dip & a beach walk – as well as chatting to a local resident.

Another night & it was decision time: stay put for some more nights or move on? One of our caravan park criteria had been overlooked here; decent 3G & so it was an easy choice – Forster here we come! We like the elevated section of the park, with views over the town, park, river & inner beach.

The sunset kept us occupied with our wine, while waiting for the restaurant meals.

This park neighbour had done a commendable job on a VW T2 restoration/conversion.

Our ride for the day on Ralph & Peregrine took us around & out of town.

We couldn’t complain about the weather as we’d just missed a wind storm the day before arriving at Hawks Nest but for us it had been sunshine all the way – until late on our final afternoon & some rain came down. We relaxed under the awning of the Tardis & were joined by this damp Noisy Miner.

Pulling out from the caravan park, we stopped for a coffee at the local surf club & nestled our little/big Tardis amongst some fellow travellers.

Our journey home included a detour inland via Dungog – & we came across a vintage tractor exhibition getting started for the weekend! Over 50 tractors went past my hastily pointed iPhone lens, although my processing of the videos is rather tractor-paced? – but I did manage to get a pic of one of the traction engines chuffing along.

Until the next trip… (over Easter?)

Meander videos

My Brompton, Rides, Trips 13/03/2014 Comments: 2

Just when I thought I was on top of the GoPro-to-YouTube thing, now that I’ve got a better idea on whipping up a video via iMovie on the iPad, & while I was still wondering how I’d cope with quite some number of ride video clips – came the offer from Mrs Aussie to turn Producer & process the video from our weekend away on the “Leisure Coast Brompton Meander” (as blogged previously).

Wow! With barely a moments hesitation I agreed. Who am I to pass up an offer from an accomplished movie-maker? (Perhaps my bias here but I have seen Mrs Aussie knock out some lovely videos during her Graphic Design course studies?)

Before you launch into watching the videos I should caution that our “Team Aussie” undertaking is still a learning experience, but that I (hopefully) expect to do better next time (ie my portion of the project will undoubtedly set you wondering, how one person can get so much wobbly video, have so much slippage of the GoPro mounts, forget so often to start/stop videoing & lose so many opportunities for decent filming – along with miscalculating how long a couple of GoPro batteries will last).

Without further ado/excuses, here’s our 2 videos from the “Brompton Meander from Kiama to Thirroul”
Brompton Meander Day 1
Brompton Meander Day 2

Some hills

My Brompton, Rides, Trips 27/02/2014 Comments: 2

It was a lovely few days away, for our trip to the “Leisure Coast Brompton Meander” put on by Cheeky Transport (one of Sydney’s Brompton dealers). Our invite was for cycling the coast between Kiama & Thirroul (the direction to be decided prior, to ensure a tailwind?) over two days.

Not a demanding ride, sure to be pleasurable with an unknown number of fellow Bromptoneers, & so we headed for Shellharbour, the scheduled overnight stop. Our plan was to arrive early in the Tardis (our VW T5 Campervan), settle into a caravan/tourist park & catch a train Saturday morning to whichever start-point was decided. The Tardis would remain on-site as our base for the mid-ride evening stop & for our return on Sunday evening from the ride completion point (via train).

Southerly winds were expected & so Saturday morning saw us ride Ralph & Peregrine to Dunmore station & catch a train to Kiama. Adam & Nick from Cheeky shepherded us to the official start-point, where pleasantries were exchanged between the 10 participants (9 Brompton riders & 1 Bike Friday pilot) & pics were obtained. Here I’ve managed to snap Peter (BF), Dennis, Mrs Aussie, Nari, Nick, Patrick, Clive, Clare & Adam.

Adam handed out maps & “emergency food packs” (thanks Jennifer) & then we were off. Having cycled parts of the Sunday portion, Adam’s course description of “cyclepaths, tracks, quiet roads & some hills” seemed innocuous. With hindsight, I now know that the “some hills” could have been expressed differently. With my heart condition (reduced capacity & limited blood oxygen supply) making me “slow up hills” & really needing Ralph’s Alfine 11-speed super-low first gear to get me there, I even succumbed to walking on a couple of the climbs out of Kiama. (Pic showing the group patiently waiting again!?)

“Keeping the ocean on our right” we proceeded to Shellharbour for our lunch-stop. Along the way we enjoyed the cycling (mostly), views (always) & any “pic stops” (every time). The ride distance had been only half of what Sunday would bring but with those “some hills” included, it was time for Mrs Aussie & I to relax with a well-earned pizza & excellent red wine.

A few hardy riders undertook the Saturday afternoon ride to Bass Point Reserve, along some “unsealed road” that seemed more like “under construction”? Others (such as us) were happy to relax & recover.

Sunday was to be twice the distance from Saturday but expected to be more coastal cyclepath & less of those “some hills”? There were regular stops, such as this pause for a pic where Lake Illawarra meets the sea.

Our next stop was to be lunch at a cafe near Port Kembla but the size of the crowd pushed us to lightening our “emergency supplies” load instead, while relaxing about the Pyramids (ie WWII-era anti-tank devices?)

Yes, we still had a lunch stop! A boutique brewery in Wollongong served some great food, such as these sandwiches.

Resuming our ride after lunch was a bit tough but Adam arranged to steady our pace & picked up a passenger & included some off-road sections (ta Adam for the trail pic).

We continued along seemingly endless coastal cyclepath (forgoing many very enticing coffee stops?) until reaching the Thirroul surf-club, whereupon some hit the beach while others devoured ice creams.

Finally, the last leg awaited: a train to Sydney or, for us, a train back to Dunmore. All we had to do now was to tackle the last hill & ride down into Shellharbour Village & into our Tourist Park. Here is depicted a scene of bliss – a base camp cuppa after 76km of riding over 2 days!?

Are there any lessons from our jaunt? Definitely!
Adam’s local knowledge of the area is immense!
Mrs Aussie on Peregrine with standard 6-speed gearing is unstoppable!
GoPro batteries need to be conserved & charged overnight!
“Dunmore (SP1)” as a station description means you must get into the last carriage!
Don’t pass up the chance to do it all again!

Park touring

Rides, Trips 26/02/2014 Comments: 4

Blogging is a funny activity. Different or unusual sights will usually generate some immediate thought on what I may post but I need to keep reminding myself that regular happenings can still be worth considering. Take the latest outing: a few days away in the Tardis for an extended bike ride & I decided to Tweet a pic of the Tardis with Bromptons at the ready.

Lo & behold, some considerate readers responded with comments on the Tourist Park setup. Hmmm… another “taken for granted” event that deserves more? Hence my little video attempt on touring the park on a Brompton. (Apologies for wobbles, etc – this GoPro lark is another one of those, “How hard can it be?” ponderings that will/may take some time to overcome.)

YouTube video link to my Tourist Park tour

Back on track

Rides, Trips 25/10/2013 Comments: 2

One month?! We’ve been back from the UK for a month & hadn’t take the Tardis (our VW T5 Campervan) for a trip out of Sydney! With a wedding anniversary coming up, what better way to celebrate than to load the Bromptons, Ralph & Robinson, into the Tardis & head back to Toowoon Bay (the site for our first “shake-down” trip in the Tardis) for a couple of days? The Sydney bush fires were making things rather smoky & somewhat dodgy for what roads may be open but arriving on the coast to a cool sea breeze was a good start.

Cruising along the lakefront cycle paths from The Entrance to Chittaway Bay has gotten even better since we were here last, with a lot more concrete pathway & less need to resort to local roads to link the sections of path. The various bridges over creeks & watercourses have come in for some attention although the wooden planks on 2 larger bridges may be still akin to cobblestones? Here’s Ralph resting on one of the good bridges.

A beach walk is mandatory for a trip to the coast – as is a coffee stop at a Surf Lifesaving Club.

Lots of eating places around (aside from the gourmet cook that operates out of the Tardis?) but returning to the local Pizza Kitchen was a must. This time our Mains were pasta – but we shared a pizza dessert.

Local riding

My Brompton, Rides 15/10/2013 Leave a comment

Away in the UK there were abundant opportunities to photograph sights & rides for suitable blog postings. Back in Australia I expected that this would continue but now I’m reminded why I hadn’t done much before the trip: it seems hard to remember to view the regular happenings with the same mindset?

Take the regular rides for example; I can get through the whole ride without even thinking about the camera! Afterwards I remember that I’ve missed out capturing sights that may have been worthy but it seems the familiarity is working against me? I shall have to try harder! (& keep reminding myself somehow?)

Today I had some success – & remembered to make use of my very recent iPhone upgrade. Not on an extended ride through National or recreational parks but instead, back into regular rides for practice sessions on a recent sporting interest… (for the uninitiated, that’s my local Lawn Bowling Club)

Scottish outings

Misc, Rides, Trips 28/09/2013 Comments: 2

Our Edinburgh stay provided plenty of shopping time (coinciding with some pesky showers?) but we still got in some sight-seeing, rides & drives to local towns & villages. St Monans on the coast gave a good example of what happens at low tide but was still fascinating to see its multiple layers of sea defenses; the historic harbour walls supplemented with extras over time?

Nice use of an old slipway?

A very considerate local painter?

Our last ride for this UK trip took in another of the former railways. Once again, good integration of the old infrastructure for its new uses.

Finally, the last drive of Kanga took us from Edinburgh to Glasgow airport & to the rental car return lanes. Ta Kanga, you were great.

Next stop Dubai, so long UK.

Speedy trips

Misc, Rides, Trips 08/09/2013 Leave a comment

Along the York-Selby Cycle Route we again came across delightful sculptures & displays. One was probably the largest I’ve seen – but there again, what else would suit this mighty former rail bridge?

There was also a scale model of the solar system, spread along the route. While my speed on the bike isn’t great, it seems that I was still traveling about 10 times the speed of light?

A slower method of travel is surely on the canal boats & many of them are seen with bikes carried on top. Bromptons would seem the ideal companions & they would hardly need to be carried atop like this pair of folders?

Canal views

Misc, Rides, Trips 23/08/2013 Comments: 2

We took a couple of excursions along the Kennet & Avon Canal. They weren’t very far but we took in some of the cycleway & some towpath & had good views of the countryside, the canal-boats, the rail-way & lots & lots of locks.

While riding from Bath towards Bristol (didn’t make it all the way) we came across this very serious engine driver & his train.

Another visit was to the Caen Hill Flight of locks, where we walked up & down more than 20 locks & watched the canal-boats during their 6-7 hour journey through the locks.
From near mid-way, looking up…

…& looking down

So long London

Rides, Trips 14/08/2013 1 Comment

Spending time in London is always entertaining, somewhat addictive & definitely wearying. Whatever time you schedule will not be enough & so it was for this nine-day stay. Our activities comprised RideLondon cycling & the Brompton factory visit (blog posts on both) & also more cycling, museum visits, city walks & shopping. Rather than write lots, here’s some pics & observations –

The Waterloo train station bike rack was a mystery. Where were the owners? where & when did the bikes get used? was it a half-way stage before the owners jumped onto BorisBikes?

The BorisBikes rental system covers the central London area & has many, many docking stations. We didn’t use it but seems an impressive setup & good for regular transport around London. Has an access charge but as long as the rides are under 30mins then it’s free for you to just keep on bike-swapping at any of the docks.

Drivers are amazingly patient & observant for anything partially blocking their lane & the lane on the opposite side of the road. Makes being a mobile chicane & any minimal-sized onroad bike lane use a bit more confidence-inspiring – along with the “bike boxes” at the head of the traffic light queues?

Had a ride along the Great Union Canal & as ever, loved checking out the locks.

Great Windsor Park is great for riding, great in size & minimal traffic – but the “Long Walk” area has an unusual rule.

Pre-London but a ride on the Centurion Way reminded me of the delightful sculptures to be encountered on rail-trails.

Moving day Friday & time to say “So long London, hello Wiltshire”, as we continue our push northwards…

Aussie on a Brompton