The wildflowers are in peak bloom across much of California. These lupines were no exception - fields of the flowers coated hillsides in Las Trampas.
Sorry for the recent hiatus - been very busy!
It's becoming a familiar pattern of late, a southern ride into NSW commencing with a headwind, then finishing with a headwind after a southerly wind swings around to the north. I can't recall a day with a consistent wind for well over a month. It was the same story last Saturday. While the wind was never strong, it seemed to be just enough to be noticeable for the entire day. This ride opened with a climbs over Bilambil and Hogans rainforest, before settling into a relatively flat run west toward Chillingham. The only thing of note was a slightly more convoluted run taking in Tweed Heads, the place where the the dead are buried above the ground.
Hogans rainforest was a nice way to commence the ride. After Chillingham things got a little hillier on the way to Tyalgum. On one of the descents here, another of the riders finished in Murwillumbah hospital after apparently misjudging a decent and landing hard. Evidently the swelling after the impact was preventing the medical staff from coming up with a conclusive X-ray. This is a shame, because Alan was having a good season, and was lining up a crack at the Great Southern Randonee in October. It probably won't happen now.
I continued from Tyalgum back toward Murwillumbah, taking probably the only tailwind of the day for the 20km stretch here through the gorge. Somewhere is the turn off for Wollumbin forest road, which promises more spectacular riding. For the life of me, however, I can never seem to find it. After this it was a southern detour, taking in Uki, Stokers Siding, Burringbar and finally the checkpoint at Mooball. At this point I was aware of what had been a headwind, but the hills to date had kept me relatively sheltered. Nonetheless, I was looking forward to a tailwind after swinging around the southern end of the Tweed Coast.
The tailwind never eventuated. It was clear after I turned at Wooyung that it would be headwind to finish, and now with a long, flat stretch right up to Tomewin. I basically just decided to grind it out for however long it took. This route takes another strange route to Murwillumbah, taking in the "new" highway, then the old Pacific Highway. It reminded me that freeway cycling is probably about the safest, but most boring form of cycling there is. It's also interesting to note just how efficiently people manage to use freeways as rubbish dumps. It seems odd given the amount of time people apparently spend driving on these things, that they would also see fit to use it in this fashion. Rather like a magpie shitting in it's own nest.
The route detoured around Murwillumbah on Cane road, notorious for it's perpetual headwind, but decided on an irrational tailwind for some reason. I took advantage of it for the 4km or so it was there, then went back to griding out the headwind before starting the climb of Tomewin. I always seem to dread this climb at the end of a long day, but there really is not reason to. I have the gearing to cope with the 2km 11% stretch in the middle, and it's consistency makes it easier than taking the "two small climbs" option of Urliup then Bilambil. It also offers great views. I decended the ride, then hammered the final stretch through Currumbin valley to salvage what I considered a respectable time.
I was astonished just how much this ride tired me out. Maybe I'm just not as fit as I should be right now, or maybe I just overdid things on Thursday night's "training" ride into Tallebudgera Valley. Whatever it was, the final ride back home from the Currumbin finish took a lot longer than usual. On the whole, however, I was happy with the day. Another day of glorious scenery in near-perfect weather. Now if the wind could just make it's mind up...
It's isn't as if I've done a lot of organised rides this year, and given the abandon in the 600k, it's not as if I have much of a track record. Saturday's 100k should have been a more straightforward affair, and in truth it probably was. It was the moment of the taking of the above picture that complicated things. Ordinarily when I take a picture, it's done in about 30 seconds (assuming I don't also take the moment to apply sunscreen or eat).
What complicated this incident was that three other riders* also decided to take the same picture. Immediately south at Murwillumbah, the four of us (and I'm as responsible as anyone, although nobody bothered to check the route slip). Consequently, we took a wrong turn, and while we ended up riding the same distance and the same route, we did the Murwillumbah/Uki/Stokers Siding loop in reverse, which meant a disqualification for the four of us. Ironically, I managed to grab a much better shot of the morning mist at Mt Warning further south...
... Not to mention the earlier views from Tomewin...
... Or the wildflowers there...
... Or even the sunrise on the way to the start...
On the other hand, it gave us all a chance to visit the Uki Cafe (which is still the best in Northern New South Wales), and more importantly I dished out some serious ownage to the climb of Bilambil with which I seem to be engaged in a permanent battle. I hit it with three attacks before the third one finally stuck. I actually suffered a bit on the final coastal strip at the finish, but that's less important, I'd really stuck it to Bilambil this time.
* Note: I am not going to attempt to recount everybody's name, because I'm not very good at remembering names, and omitting anyone may cause offence. Suffice to say that I managed to play a part in the National Treasurer or Audax Australia suffering a disqualification on a ride. I don't know whether or not I should be proud of that.
One of my cycling goals this year is to ride a vertical century, or accumulate 100 miles of total climbing before December 31. Oddly, I was actually a little behind schedule until last month, when I managed 17km of climbing in 31 days. Yet I had to do all that without being able to climb the highest mountain in the area, as it has been closed by the landslide that came within 15 minutes of killing me for the last two months. Well, the road to Springbrook was re-opened last week, but as I was touring around Crows Nest, I didn't get a crack at it until Saturday morning. It's amazing how I didn't think what happened last time, and simply headed straight for it.
The landslide from before took out quite a chunk of the mountain, and the view from the inside of one particular narrow switchback will be scarred for some time. Oddly, given the length of time that the road was closed, there was surprisingly little work done in the area - only the erection of a rather flimsy 'fence' that won't even slow another landslide should it happen next wet season. Nevertheless, it was a good feeling to be back. Each mountain climb has a unique feeling about it, and Springbrook's was in evidence on a cool morning. I realised how much I've missed it since that crazy April day.
Yet something else about that place that's not often noticed is just how many different things there are to see, be it flower or exotic plants. I think that's why I keep coming back, even when the mountain threatens to throw rocks at me. Still, I don't mind, the variety gives me a great escape from suburbia, and a great way to spend a morning. Now that I have my mountain back, nothing is going to stop me!
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| with thanks towww.1900s.org.uk |
There is this place that has a humongous amount of wildflowers.... right next to the freeway!So, yet again, mom made me pose amongst the flowers and here I am... Fortunately, after the shoot, I got to go to the park and play with my pals!
This is my pawsome pal, Wesley, who came from the same organization as me... Norcal Golden Retriever Rescue! 
This is our own version of soccer a la dog parkie! 
Ma! Find my kong! I'm really not into bumpers!
