A TASTE OF 2012 RIDES

2012 has been a busy year for me in regard to cycling with the highlight being the week long ride along the East Gippsland Rail Trail in Victoria. It was shortly after this that I started my blog and  this post will be my 50th. I taught my Grandson to ride and we continue to ride together whenever possible. Our new group "Peddling Pathfinders" was formed as an offshoot of "Peddling For Pleasure" and this is proving successful under the direction of our leader David Sallows. To cap it all off, I welcomed a new steed into my stable in the form of a Scott Sportster 25 and named him "Scotty"(very original) and he is serving me well.
 

 

As this is my last post for 2012, I thought I would shine the spotlight on  some of the rides I participated in during the year.

*     CYCLING SHORNCLIFFE TO NEWPORT



Scenes around Redcliffe, Qld.

*     CYCLING ASCOT TO SOUTH BANK, QLD.

Breakfast Creek

*     CYCLING TO THE FARMERS MARKET AT MANLY

Manly Farmers Markets

Mouth watering, cakes, fresh fruit etc. at the Manly Farmers Market

 

*     CYCLING CLIFTON--EASTERN SIDE

Clifton District

Clifton District

*     CYCLING and SWELL SCULPTURES

"The world of reality has it's limits, the world of imagination is boundless"......Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Sculpture at Currumbin Beach

Sculpture at Currumbin Beach

 

Swell sculpture at Currumbin Beach



*     CYCLING THE BOONDALL WETLANDS

Boondall wetlands ride

Boondall Wetlands

 

 

*     CYCLING BURLEIGH HEADS TO THE SPIT

Burleigh Heads

Surfers Paradise

    

*       EAST GIPPSLAND RAIL TRAIL AND BEYOND

East Gippsland Rail Trail

East Gippsland Rail Trail

 *     CYCLING KINGSCLIFF TO POTTSVILLE, NSW

Surfing at Cudgen Beach

An Osprey keeping an eagle eye on things

One of the many sculptures to be enjoyed on this ride
 

Comfortable bar on Salt Beach

*     CYCLING CLEVELAND TO PT. TALBURPIN, QLD.

Cleveland Harbour



Views along Santaguiliana Way



Cleveland & Thornlands

 

NB. The above maps are only to be used as an indication of the route and should be used in conjunction with a more detailed map.  The above map depicting the route from Cleveland to Pt. Talburpin, may not be suitable to all recreational cyclists due to the heavy traffic and therefore would be advisable to contact Redland Tourism on the following link  :

http://www.more2redlands.com/Pages/default.aspx

 

 

You may also like to view the following tabs:

 



www.u3aredlands.com.au (If you are looking for a group to ride with.)

 

translink.com.au/ (Great for maps in and around Brisbane.)

 

www.bq.org.au   (For all things cycling in Queensland.)

 

http://www.bbta.org/   (This group is very active and organised. They are also into touring))

 

http://www.rtcycles.com.au/    (Great bike shop who are agents for GIANT, good mechanics, friendly to deal with.)

 



On March 6, 2013, U3A Redlands,  Peddling For Pleasure group is heading to Hawkes Bay on the North Island of New Zealand for a week's riding and everyone within the group is eagerly awaiting this trip. I will certainly be keeping you posted as to the outcome of this ride when I return.

2013 is going to be a big year for the Peddling Pathfinders Group. Although still in it's infancy, we have already accrued a number of areas to explore, some will be one day trips and others necessitating an overnight stop.

I have or am in the process of getting a number of items of gear which I will road test and bring you the results during the year. These include:

• Bell helmet
• Swalbe touring tyres
• SPD pedals & cleats
• Shimano SPD shoes

Also on the agenda for next year, I intend posting a variety of interesting topics but haven't decided  on how I will deliver them, however, I will inform you early in the new year.

Many thanks to all my peddling pals and a special thank you to Dave Sallows for his prompt action in assisting me with detailed ride information.

I would like to wish you all a merry Christmas and may the new year be an exciting and safe one for you and your families.


Jimmy Bee

PHOTOGRAPHY AS AN ART FORM

Photography is a composite of Art, Craft and Science. More so now than ever before due to the introduction of digital photography.

The only claim I make in relation to my photography is that I do it  to the best of my ability and I enjoy it immensely. In the main, the form of photography I take these days is in using photographs to enhance my articles but I also have another side, probably my artistic side and that is the use of the medium of photography to depict and at times boost natural patterns which are all around us.

In the past year, you have sampled the photographs I have taken to enhance the posts in my blog. To-day I am going to depict some examples of turning an image of a natural pattern into a piece of art. Not only is it a piece of art but like a fingerprint, it is an original and it would be highly unusual for the exact image to be replicated without copying the photograph.

When cycling, I am constantly on the lookout for the unusual and indeed the bizarre and over time I have developed this sense to see natural patterns in many forms and because it is a moment in time I consider this art form to be unique.

 

As with all art some may love it others may hate it. I've heard many people say "I know nothing about art, but I know what I like"

Cheers and safe riding,


Jimmy Bee

CYCLING TO INDIGISCAPES, CAPALABA

Before we commence this ride, let me explain a little about the Redlands Indigiscape Centre. I'll be brief because with a little dab of your finger on the link, all will be revealed. Opening in February 2000 and situated in Capalaba, this centre of learning, an initiative of the Redland City Council, features only plants native to the area. As it was designed as a learning centre for both adult and children, it is an ideal place to bring the family. There is plenty of open space for a picnic and even a barbecue, play areas for the kids, flying fox, maze and a number of trails to explore. Whilst the younger members of the family are entertaining themselves, the adults can relax over a coffee or tea with maybe a snack or a light lunch in the Tea Garden cafe.

 

 

Tea Garden Cafe in the background

 

It had been awhile since our group had made the ride to Indigiscapes and it was decided to try a slightly different route entering via the back door off Timbarra Court instead of through the normal entrance, Runnymede Road.



Flinders Street Pathway

 

 

Flinders Street Pathway

 

 

 

Entrance to Scribbly Gums Mountain Bike Trail

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our ride started at the Cleveland entrance to Flinders Street shared pathway which runs through to McDonald Road in Alexandra Hills. This path is fun to ride, being constructed of concrete, bordered by virgin bush on both sides, undulating terrain and curving bridgework over Hilliards Creek. For those who enjoy riding bush trails, a couple of gates as depicted above lead you into an area frequented by mountain bikers. I took my 12 y.o. grandson here last September holidays and he loved it.

The above photograph depicts a drain crossing Flinders Street.  Be very aware not to hit this drain at speed. It is not highly visible until close to it and is very much a trap for the unwary.

On reaching the end of Flinders Street, turn left into the Scribbly Gums Nature Reserve. This is another pleasant section of the ride as the path meanders through the reserve all the way to Vienna Road. You now have a decision to make, either you elect to ride on the marked bike lane or choose to follow the footpath. Either way, you continue to ride until reaching Redland Bay Road. Cross this busy road with care. You will now be riding down Lyndon Road. Follow this road until you reach Korawal Court and proceed for approximately 300m where you will see the signed entrance to Indigiscapes.

 

The trails are in keeping with the natural bushland

A natural Australian bush setting

The trails through Indigiscapes are dirt and in the main, narrow and the corners blind, so be extra cautious when riding through here, particularly at weekends when there can be a lot of people including little children wandering through the bush.
 

 



Tea Garden Cafe

 

 

 You should find the ride to and through Indigiscapes both enjoyable and educational and if nothing else it sure is relaxing and they do serve a very nice iced coffee.

There are a number of ways in which to return to Cleveland Railway Station but for the purpose of this exercise, the easiest and shortest, is to retrace the same route. I have included a map which should assist but I would advise using it in conjunction with a more detailed map or a GPS system.


 

 

 Because, our group the Peddling Pathfinders predominantly uses paths and trails, I have found the GPSies system to be the most helpful . It is a German system but can be translated to English.

Ride Information:
Skill level: Easy
Surface: Sealed road and bikeways, concrete paths and compacted dirt.
Fitness required: Moderate
Distance: 16km return
Bike required: Any bike in good working order.

If you are a visitor to the Redlands, you may wish to avail yourself of some of the other trails, of which there are many, the majority of which are excellent, both for the single rider and groups including family as well. Throughout the past year, I have written a number of posts detailing some of these rides.

 

 Cheers and safe riding,


Jimmy Bee