CYCLING LOGAN CENTRAL - Slacks Creek & East West Routes

This ride following the Slacks Creek route started in Meakin Park, Slacks Creek, just off Paradise Road, following the creek line on well maintained, wide concrete paths.

 

 

As this was the second time we have ridden this route, it was a pleasant surprise to find nicely presented, well maintained paths.

 

The first time we rode here was in summer, on a very hot, humid day, which was hard enough but confronted with large portions of broken glass, causing a number of punctures, was the last straw and some of us declared that we wouldn't be back. Time, however, does have a habit of healing bad memories and so here we are back in Logan, riding in winter this time and experiencing very little broken glass. The result......a very pleasant ride.

 

Approximately 4 km into the ride at Meadowbank, we joined the East West Route, which takes you all the way to Greenbank, however, due to the time and the need to be back in Cleveland before 3 p.m. we elected to turn around earlier than planned, but we will be back.

A focal point which attracted our interest was the old pioneer cemetery which is clearly visible from the path. Imagine the hard yakka these men and women would have had to endure to not only carve out of virgin bush a place to build a home but also taking scrub and converting it to a viable food producing lot and all by hand . Life would have been extremely hard

 Following the ever changing line of a creek makes the ride all the more interesting. Personally, I feel cooler on a hot day when I can see water. Now, I don't know whether there is a physical explanation for this or whether it is purely psychological, but it certainly works for me. I feel that councils should, if at all practical, design their routes following the meandering contours of creeks and streams.



  



The signage, this time around was much improved and easy to follow, a trend I have noticed on a lot of my rides in and around Brisbane of late and one which would be appreciated by all recreational cyclists using off road cycling routes.

  

 

 

 

 

The Berrinba Wetlands was certainly a highlight. A pretty lake with varied birdlife including Pelicans, one of my favourite birds, a modern, covered interpretive centre overlooking the wetlands, picnic shelters, clean toilets and one of the best moving sculptures I have seen. A lot of innovative thought has gone into the planning of this area thanks to Logan City Council,  so why not pack the kids into the car and head for this spot with or without bikes as there are plenty of walking tracks to entertain the whole family. For more information, open the following link:  http://www.logan.qld.gov.au/facilities-and-recreation/parks/parks-directory/berrinba-wetlands

 

 I'm about to close this post but before I do I have to tell you where I bought the tastiest chicken salad sandwich I have ever had. The address is 357 Browns Plains Road, Crestmead. I kid you not, it was the freshest, tastiest chicken salad sandwich I have ever tasted and I bought it from the Logan in Sports Centre - http://www.insportslogan.com.au/

 

 I use Map my Ride for simplicity and elevation information. Become a member (free) and find similar rides within the area and elsewhere.

I really appreciate receiving good, constructive and polite comments.


Cheers and safe riding,
Jimmy Bee

  

CYCLING 100 KM in the REDLANDS, Qld.

A group of my cycling friends including myself have often discussed doing a 100 km ride within the Redland Shire, situated on Moreton Bay east of Brisbane, Queensland. We planned to ride off road as much as possible, sticking to shared paths, trails and suburban streets with little traffic and when on busy roads, riding on dedicated cycling lanes.

 

 

 

 

As we have recently entered our winter season, we thought it would be an ideal time to make the ride as the temperature would be cool and the humidity low. The weather forecast was for possible showers and increasing south to south westerly winds during the day. It proved accurate but we failed to anticipate riding into a headwind increasing to 20 knots along the coast.

 

 

 

 

We commenced our journey in Cleveland, heading along the coast line to Point Talburpin, 50 km to the south. This is abnormally long as we decided to actually follow the coastline as much as possible.

From our starting point at Cleveland Station, we rode straight to Raby Bay and along the beaches  before retracing our path and riding out to Cleveland Point. Part of the reason for doing this is that it makes for a more interesting and scenic ride and of course a more interesting blog topic.

 

 

 

From Cleveland Point, we made our way to Victoria Point via Thornlands and Point Halloran, where we stopped to take in some refreshment.

Raby Bay, Cleveland, Qld.

 

Victoria Point

Back in the saddle, we meandered along pathways to Redland Bay and then on to Point Talburpin our halfway point, where we had a snack and water. Although the Redlands is renowned for it's beauty, I feel the coastline between Victoria Point and Point Talburpin which is an attraction to migratory birds, would have to be the jewel in the crown.

 

 

Point Haloran

 

Redland Bay

 

Point Talburpin

 

As we ventured back, we tracked more inland, taking paths through parks and nature reserves where we could. As much as I enjoy riding along the shoreline, I equally enjoy taking paths and trails through our nature reserves, forests and park lands. At times, it is almost a symphony with the variety of birdcalls, no other sounds, just bird calls, some raucous, others more flute like.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 As we now had the wind to our backs, the riding became much easier and we managed to reach Capalaba on the western boundary of the shire with relative ease, where we ensconced ourselves in MacDonalds for a much earned coffee.

 

The ride from this point is more on paths meandering through forests, parks and alongside creeks and spring fed streams  as we negotiated our way through Alexandra Hills and Birkdale. It wasn't all a breeze however as, as the name Alexandra Hills suggests, there are a number of sharp hills to climb on the way with the ever increasing wind in our faces as we changed direction and alerting our senses to just how weary our legs were at this stage.

 

 

Alexandra Hills, Qld.

After passing through Alexandra Hills, the terrain becomes more coastal and the ride back to Cleveland through Birkdale and Wellington Point was a breeze, possibly more so because we could already taste the cold beer awaiting our return back at the Hog's Breath.

 

 

Birkdale, Qld.

 

Birkdale, Qld.

What a contrast, one moment we are riding through the forest and next we are following the coastline again.

 

Birkdale, Qld

It was all downhill from here as we quickly passed through Wellington Point and Ormiston, down the big hill in Sleath Street, Ormiston gliding all the way to Cleveland Harbour.

 

 

Sleath Street, Ormiston, Qld. with Cleveland point in the background
 

 

Cleveland Harbour, Qld.

 

 

Cleveland Harbour, Qld.


 

I use Map my Ride for simplicity and elevation information. Become a member (free) and find similar rides within the area and elsewhere.

I really appreciate receiving good, constructive and polite comments.


Cheers and safe riding,
Jimmy Bee

CYCLING NORMAN PARK to NEWSTEAD PARK via Story Bridge



There always has to be a starting point and for this ride I have picked Norman Park railway station for the simple reason, that it is simple to find on a map and due to our system of allowing cyclists and their bicycles on trains, it is an easy and alternative form of transport to taking the family car.





This is a beautiful ride, there is no other way of describing it. Riding next to the Brisbane river, crossing it via the Storey Bridge and then following it all the way to Newstead Park.



Mowbray Park

Prior to crossing the bridge, we travel through Dockside, an upmarket residential address, popular with some who have chosen Brisbane City as their work place. I could think of worse places to live, with a river ferry route passing by, views of the city that command a good deal of a weekly salary and as well, being close to the cultural hub and a reasonable number of cinemas. One might say it demonstrates a certain appeal.

Dockside

The below photograph depicts the imaginative urban use of an old ship building and repair dry dock.


Dockside

I really love this sign located at the base of the Kangaroo Point cliffs as it highlights the constant danger our wildlife face in their everyday life. Two of our major killers of marine birds are plastic bags, fishing line with and without attached hooks being thoughtlessly discarded in and around our creeks, rivers and foreshores.

The cliffs of Kangaroo Point are also used as a training ground for rock climbing and abseiling and on weekends, it is not unusual to see quite a lot of climbing parties right along these cliff faces practising their sport, prior to taking on the mountains. http://www.riverlife.com.au/rock-climbing/

 

After 5 years under construction, the Story Bridge was officially opened on 6th July 1940. One facinating aspect of the bridge is that it takes 17,500 litres of paint to completely paint the bridge and this arduous job occurs every 7 years. http://www.sbac.net.au/story-bridge/the-bridge.html

This bridge also caters for climbing enthusiasts and if that takes your fancy. http://www.adrenalin.com.au/redeem/

 

 

A group from the Peddling Pathfinders crossing the Brisbane River from South to North via the Story Bridge.

 

 





Another group of cyclists heading south along the Riverside pathway almost in perfect single file as spied from atop the Story bridge.

 

 

Prior to the last Brisbane flood, cyclists had the benefit of riding along a floating shared pathway from the bridge to Merthyr, unfortunately the pathway fell victim to the flood and hasn't been replaced yet, so in the meantime, it is merely a diversionary tactic to ride along Bowen Terrace, Moray Street, turning right into Sydney Street and then following the pathway to New Farm Park, where you will be greeted either by beautiful displays of  Jacaranda (in season) or manicured rose gardens. Parking at weekends is at a premium with families of all origins using this park as a favourite meeting spot.

 

 

 

If you are feeling thirsty, hungry or just in need of a caffeine boost, I can highly recommend  the cafe situated on the ground level of the Brisbane Powerhouse, on the northern end of  Newfarm Park, overlooking the river. The ride between here and Newstead Park, is very scenic and historically interesting as there are a number of informative plaques highlighting the importance of this part of the river in World War 2.

 

The area along the Brisbane River between New Farm and Newstead, could be of significance to my U.S. viewers who may have had members of their family stationed here during W.W.2. Almost 1 million US servicemen passed through Australia during the war, 100,000 of these being Afro American. There was also a large US Submarine base along this stretch of the river.

 

 

 

 

Newstead Park is the final port of call on this ride, unless you are intending on returning the way you came or indeed, taking a cross river ferry and returning to Norman Park that way. I'm sure you would enjoy this ride  and it can be done with ease on most bikes and perfectly suitable to older children

 

 

Newstead House

 

Norman Park to Newstead Park, Qld. (Map courtesy of Map my Ride)
 

I use Map my Ride for simplicity and elevation information. Become a member (free) and find similar rides within the area and elsewhere.

I really appreciate receiving good, constructive and polite comments.


Cheers and safe riding,
Jimmy Bee