RIDING TOOHEY FOREST

Boggo Road Gaol

Our ride started at Boggo Road adjacent to the infamous Boggo Road Gaol, making our way down to and following the Brisbane River to Yeronga where we weaved our way south easterly through a series of parks to the perimeter of Toohey Forest.



Harder than it looks

Whoever thought that riding through Toohey Forest could be so much fun. Not all of my cycling friends would agree with me but heh! if you have to walk and push a little, it's all part of the game. Sometimes, I get really fed up with riding through the burbs, not always though, depends on the mood and where I'm riding but I never fall into a state of despair riding through forests, no matter how hard it gets, within reason anyway.




(TL) A Gellie (Custom), (TR) Mongoose & Giant (BL), Specialised & Trek, (BR) Van Nicholas



Perhaps we could be eligible to join the COBWEBS (Crusty old buggers with expensive bikes) with this collection of bikes.



Toohey Forest

Sometimes it can get a tad tricky navigating through a forest, especially if you are not quite sure where you want to exit and so it was on this ride, when we exited too far to the south and had to re-enter on another track taking us in the right direction but it was worth it, for me anyway as I just love the forests.

 







 



 

We exited Toohey Forest on the V1 Veloway running alongside the Pacific Motorway and followed this until we reached Wellers Hill where it crossed at Birdwood Road. A quick left into Esher Street joining the cycleway heading through Greenslopes to Stones Corner. This is how all major cycleways should be, fast, off road and relaxing.

 

Time for coffee, so we decided to try the unimposing Lady Marmalade Cafe situated at 269 Logan Road, Stones Corner, not far from the V1 Veloway. There were a number of attractive points to this cafe, namely it serves good coffee with personality and our loud raucous conversation didn't interfere with the other patrons because as loud as we are, it was drowned in traffic noise. It would appear that the atmosphere overcomes the noise as there was a constant flow of patrons and as General Douglas MacArthur once famously stated.....we shall return.

From here it was just a matter of crossing this busy road and following the path to Norman park Station for our train trip back to Cleveland.

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
 

TOUR de LOGAN

27TH

JULY

2014

 

It's all happening in Logan City...........The Tour de Logan.

 



Berrinba Wetlands, Logan



There is something for everyone

 



100 km ride

100 km + for the Lycra fraternity

 

This ride will roll through Logan City, Park Ridge, Logan Village, Yarrabilba, Beenleigh and Springwood returning to Berrinba Wetlands.

 



 

40 km ride



40 km+ for the Recreational mob.

 

The 40 km ride will take you to Park Ridge and the central suburbs of Logan City before concluding at Berrinba Wetlands.

 



20 km ride

20 km for the Families

This ride will take you through Heritage park and then through the inner suburbs of Logan City before returning to Berrinba Wetlands





Start Location: Berrinba Wetlands, Wayne Goss Drive, Browns Plains.

 

Start Time: 100 km + ......6.30 am

                       40 km + ......Also 6.30 am

                        20 km.........6.45 am

 

For more information: http://logancitycharitybikeride.org/node/2   and

 

                                                            http://cyclelike.com/tourdelogan/

 

 

COME ONE, COME ALL FOR A GREAT DAY'S RIDING EXPERIENCE IN LOGAN.

 

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

WITHIN THE REDLANDS CYCLING SPIRIT

I have mentioned this before and I am going to mention it once more, we as cyclists living in the Redlands City, are really blessed. There are few places where there are well maintained cycling paths that pass through forests one minute  and the next running directly along  the shoreline of the coast. We have our progressive council to thank for this, together with the state and federal governments who provide the necessary monetary grants to make it all happen.

 

 

The official opening

The unofficial opening

 

Hilliards Creek Pathway and bridge

 

 This morning, I was privileged to receive an invitation along with some of our U3A cyling friends to the opening of a new three metre wide pathway, 400 metres long , including a boardwalk over wetlands and a bridge crossing Hilliards Creek. This new path opens a new route between Ormiston and Wellington Point and adds to the beauty of this area and the continued safety of our cyclists.

 



New bridge over Ross Creek, Cleveland

Less than a month ago, a new cycle/pedestrian bridge was built over Ross Creek in Cleveland, once again making the ride from Cleveland Railway Station to Cleveland Point a whole lot safer for the casual recreational cyclist and families both local and visiting.

 

The Mayor, Karen Williams, in her opening address also provided insight into plans underway to upgrade the off road, mountain bike park at Scribbley Gums, within a stone's throw of the CBD which adds another dimension to our cycling community which supports, road, tri-athlon, mountain bike and recreational riding.

 

The Redlands, of course is not alone in this new cycling phenomonen as the whole state is embracing it but dare I say, Redlands City is at the forefront, and all will eventually reap the benefits through added tourism, better health and added commerce. Europeans for years have known the benefits of bicycle touring and in the near future, as our infrastructure improves, they will be spending their Euros in Australia.

 

 For more information on riding in the Redlands, open the following link -http://www.redlandstourism.com/pages/what-to-do.php

By the way, whilst I have your attention, and providing you live in close proximity, our friends in Logan City are hosting the Tour de Logan, on the 27th July and is suitable to roadies, recreational and casual riders. please open the following link to find out more details http://cyclelike.com/

I really appreciate receiving good, constructive and polite comments.


Cheers and safe riding,
Jimmy Bee

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