Norah Head return

After a few so called 'convalescing' rides to Woy Woy, Amanda comes up with a delicious offer: Ride to Norah Head light house (from Duffy's oval in Terrigal) and back again. I thought this was a fabulous idea as the road up that way is gloriously undulating and the scenery is positively beautiful! For those of you who haven't yet ridden along the road north of the Entrance, you really must come on a ride; most of the way has a generous shoulder and although there are some hills you can maintain a nice steady pace because the road goes DOWN as well as UP :)


The Ride Stats
Friday 7th May 2010 

Bunnies on board - Amanda and Annette
Meeting place - Duffy's Oval Terrigal
Distance cycled - 58km
Time cycling - 3 hours 10 minutes
Total adventure time - 4 hours 15 minutes
Speed - Maximum: 40.9km/h Average: 18.1km/h
Heart rate - Maximum: 168 Average: 121
Calories burnt - 1650


The Map

Friday dished up a lovely Autumn morning; sun shining from blue skies and a road waiting to be explored. Despite that we both had lingering colds we were excited, and so we set off with determination and glee written on our faces.


The first killer hill comes at the top of Ocean View road, it takes you by surprise as it sort of stages up in 3 levels - the last bit up to the roundabout being quite steep - if you're in the wrong gear it pretty much turns into a case of get off your bike or roll backwards...It is a short hill though, and straight after (once you cross the busy road at the roundabout) you land on the oh so smooth bike path which takes you all the way down to the Tumbi Rd roundabout - definitely a reward section of the ride :)


We meandered along, laughing at all sorts of things - and managed to get on to the bike track at Long Jetty without any major obstacles. Riding along the path way we spotted a cop car parked inconspicuously by the side of the pathway (naturally it was waiting for Amanda... and I, being her 'police-escort', was supposed to deliver her to the car without causing too much of a kurfuffle... ), failing my mission we stopped by THE Long Jetty.... and took some photos - whereby the next alert to my failed mission cycled past in the shape of 2 cops on mountain-bikes. I decided that I would play vague and continue the ride with my "escortee".

The Long Jetty at Long Jetty...

Lovely water views :)

Cops on bicycles disappearing in the distance

Gung ho Amanda rearing to continue riding

Having officially become deserters of an undefined mission (elaborate at your leisure), we reached The Entrance in shorter time than expected (even though we did have quite a few short stops along the way). We had a group meeting to decide on where to go from here... Lingering colds played a part in the possibility of turning around and making it a shorter ride, yet the road beyond the Entrance bridge beckoned to us and we soldiered on towards Soldiers Beach...


I could rave about the road (Amanda will say I'm MAD) as it is a truly lovely stretch, but instead of boring you with the details I'll just say COME for a ride; you're bound to love it! :) 

Central Coast Hwy at Magenta

Isn't Magenta just a lovely name for a place? 

We made it all the way up to the lighthouse at Norah Head, with amazing views and a fruit and sesame snap snack as our halfway reward. While we were admiring the view and thinking about booking a weekend in the lighthouse accommodation;  I realised that time was going to be short getting back in time for my son's school assembly presentation... ouch!

Blissful ocean seen through trees at Norah head

The lighthouse 

The lighthouse obscured by a bunny

Amanda  in front of the lighthouse accommodation.

Return trip was slightly rushed, yet still very enjoyable. Poor Amanda looked quite exhausted as we neared the end of our adventure, yet she deserves a big pat on the back for enduring close to 60 km after 2 months  of recuperating (with only a few shorter rides up her sleeve) from her back injury - well done bunny!.

I made it home - unloaded bike and walked (stumbled) up to the school, getting there at the tail end of the assembly item which was lucky, good and a happy ending to a lovely day out :)

Safe and happy riding to all of you!

Annette :)