An offer from GrahamT, the need to scrub in a new rear tyre and bed in some new front disk pads sent me scurrying for my riding gear this morning. It had rained during the night and the forecast had been for a high likelihood of showers all day today. When I looked again, though, the weather gods had smiled and the chance of rain and the likely volume had diminished.
So I met GrahamT and partner at the coffee shop under their building and had a fortifying caffeine hit before GrahamT and I set out for the hills.
The map and the link to the one you can play with on the web.
Once clear of the city ...
We made our way to Samford where I filled my tank and GrahamT topped his off. We then made our way through the countryside to Dayboro
where we turned left onto the Mt Mee Road and rode lots of kilometres on windy roads through pretty country, up a hill, down the other side until we came to the town of Woodford, known for its prison and, more importantly, the
annual Woodford Folk Festival which has only recently finished for another year.
We stopped at the
Braisen Hussy Garden Café for a cup of tea, a sandwich (mine was a BLT on ciabatta but I forgot to photograph it) and a conversation about whether to ride back up the best bit of the Mount Mee Road or complete a circuit which would take us over some roads we rode on
ride 1 of 2017.
We took the circuit.
That route took us along the Nuerum Road, thereby avoiding the unappealing D'Aguilar Highway. We passed the northern extremity of the Somerset Dam, part of the source of Brisbane's water supply.
Shortly afterwards we spent a few minutes on the D'Aguilar Highway, passing through Kilcoy before turning left onto the Esk Valley Road which is flat and quick for the first few kilometres but then becomes a treat of turns as it approaches the hamlet of Somerset Dam around the side of a hill overlooking the dam. By then the new tyre felt pretty good which made the corners even sweeter.
Shortly after leaving Somerset Dam we joined the Wivenhoe-Somerset Road which we rode on our last ride. Indeed we followed exactly the same route home. Only, for me it was more fun today because:
- the bike felt better with a new tyre
- we'd ridden to road recently which made it more familiar
- we didn't meet any catle on the road
One of the many pretty sections of the Northbrook Parkway
We refuelled at Ashgrove and said our farewells. As I drove home, I had this splendid view of the new office tower built for the Queensland State Government. I mention it only because its address is 1 William Street, Brisbane and only a week or so after it was occupied it became known as Big Willy. Can't think why.
That was it. About 250 kms for me. Great way to spend Saturday.