Alt THursday Ride Hi-Tea Celebrate End to Lockdown

Orchestrated by Kirsten, members of the Alt Thusday Ride met at the usual place to celebrate the end of Lockdown. Watch this space for future postings.

Helen 

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Post script to "Where the Fukarwe"

Things we learnt from the excursion that went wrong, blogged by Mike as ""Where the Fukarwe"

1.  Not all fire tracks lead anywhere.

2.  Despite hills having slopes, they can still present ankle deep, muddy, water logged surfaces.

3. Barbed wire fences may be intended to keep bike riders away.

4.  Jelly snakes do not a meal make.

5.  We should not disturb lovers on  remote hill slopes, without warning.

6.  There is no such thing as having sufficient climbing gears.

7.  Cleats and mud are a poor combination.

8.  Bikes resist being lifted over fences.

9.  Google maps is not always correct.

Jon

Where The Fukarwee !

Yes it was one of those moments - down to the last dribble of energy (me) having climbed under a fence into a paddock with the slope of Mt Everest we slowly climbed without bikes to find yet another paddock of similar slope with no sign of civilisation let alone a road, would we find our hidden supplies (woops that was Bourke & Wills) .. where did we go so horribly wrong ! 

The day had started off so well when Jon and I met at the Library as per usual and set off by way of a shortcut onto Beaconsfield road. Yes despite having started here for years we'd always gone "around" the library onto Belgrave Road before turning on to Beac road when lo and behold if we had just simply walked around the library in the other direction it was 10 metres to said same road - a miracle !

It was straight to the shops at Upper Beac before we turned right into St Georges Road where our real adventure began. We rode high on the ridge line past I guess what would have been the original houses in Upper Beac accompanied by beautiful views down to Beac and beyond. Turning left at Benyan we hurtled downwards to an area that on Google Maps showed simply as a dotted green line. In reality it was a magical fire trail that fed through a forest where I'm sure sure numerous bodies are buried to the same Cardinia Creek that we were trying to avoid by going in this direction This time the creek had a log across it . I bravely let Jon in his slippery cleats go first. He precariously balanced on the log using his bike as a support. As he crossed the ferocious creek I wondered what part of Port Phillip Bay i should tell Anne to head for in case he fell in ! 

Somehow we both avoided getting wet and now set about climbing out on a series of roller coaster like 4wd drive tracks to Kings Road in Harkaway. Here the scenery was majestic with rolling farmland and faraway views that we had plenty of time to take in while continuing to climb at about 3.5 kms an hour, to eventually find ourselves with some helpful direction out on to Harkaway Road. 

With the smell of a French Vanilla slice in the wind we made it to our favourite cafe in Narre Warren Nth to gorge on our delectable delights. From here it was our usual route by way of the Lysterfield Monastery to Lysterfield Park and Birdsland. I say Birdsland but upon entering yours truly made the mistake of saying, "i wonder where that unsigned path goes Jon"!. Following a muddy track, climbing under a fence and cycling up a not so well trodden path we found ourselves lost as mentioned in the paddocks of "who knows where"! With little energy left we back tracked to the normal route into Birdsland. Jon kindly deposited my body and bike at the front entrance to await a pickup by Monika while he bravely battled back to Emerald by himself. He was reported late last night as lying in a catatonic state in the lounge room - definitely a ride to do again, maybe though this time without the paddock diversion ha !

Yummy !

Ferocious Creek !

Limbo Dancing !

Where it all went wrong !

What? More hills?

Having ridden with the Alt. Thursday Grp. for some time now, you'd figure that lessons would be learnt. I think I am proof to the contrary. Just the fact that Mike, Werner, Peter D and Jurgen constituted the initial riding members of the group should have been enough to warn me, or so you'd think. After all, they each freely admit not to be intimidated by hills. To quote one member, "A ride is not a ride without hills" My thoughts?  "Shoot that person." And so hills it was. Every ride  .. a hill! Then another hill. Then the slightest of downhills followed by ... a hill! 

Often would one of the quartet would exclaim " Where does that road go?" whilst pointing to some Everest type incline. So UP! we would go  How come their legs don't hurt as much as mine? Why is it they don't get off and walk? Why aren't they running out of gears?

Even flatland rides were managed so that a few  bl...y hill were incorporated.

An easy ride only contained three hills.

800m climbing became the minimun goal irrespective of distance. 1100m+ was considered a worthwhile  ride. Meanwhile, I just hung on, as I watched the others cruise up mountains and reward me from the top with shouts of encouragement.

So, I considered it was time to make a list of all the hills I plan NEVER to climb/ride again. Let the surviving members of the Alt. Thurs. Grp. continue to conquer mountains and I will proffer applause from the comfort of my car. 

The list:

Amphlett Rd. Cockatoo

Portmans Rd. The Patch

Mernda Rd.     Kallista

Altson Rd.       Belgrave Sth.

Ryans Rd.        Lysterfield.

Shelton Rd. Pakenham Upper

Matters Rd. Pakenham Upper

And Salisbury Rd. Upper Beac. is a contender for the list. Updates will follow.

I guess they will stay on my list until such time as the ongoing dislpays of determination, pain tolerance and climbing prowess by my riding colleagues, shames me into attempting them once again.

Jon