Winter rides 2011

The weather has been a bit all over the place with a mix of rain rain rain and some absolutely gorgeous sunny winter days thrown in to lift our spirits. We have done a number of bunny rides and in between these I've  been cruising up and down the old Pacific Hwy on my own (looking for bellbirds....) when the weather has been kind... So it's about time I update this blog with a few photos.

I've been thinking a fun project on bicycle would be to take photos of interesting signs... there are plenty about the place, just have to find a way to psyche myself into actually stopping to take the photo.

The Spring Cycle is just around the corner (early bird registrations end in 2 days!!!) so get your entry in and come on an adventure - they have changed the route this year to include the Botanic Gardens and a few more exciting places - so it's well worth the experience if just for the sight-seeing. :)

Amanda and I have traversed along the Gosford - Woy Woy track a number of times; stopping off for coffee at the Gnostic in Woy Woy, giving us a chance to giggle and collect ourselves before completing the second half of the ride. It's funny how the wind always seem to change on this ride - you ride into the wind no matter which way your are going!  One morning we did a cruisy ride from Mingara up to The Entrance and back. The ride itself was lovely - taking us along the bike path for most of the way - however, the start to our adventure was quite dramatic with magpies out in full force attacking anyone with a bike helmet! Luckily resourceful Amanda had plastic ties in her car which we fitted to our helmets! I figure it's ever so much better looking like someone who communicates with aliens, than lying flat on the ground after a successful magpie missile connects with your head!

In the school holidays Tor & I walked with our kids riding their bikes from Long Jetty up to The Entrance and back. It was a fabulous day out and even though we weren't riding we still got to walk at a fast pace with all the 'little' people on 2 wheels :)

This morning Janine and I rode from Gosford Gallery to Woy Woy and back where we had a coffee and another admiring look at the Mad Potters Tea Party (love your work ladies!!!). It wasn't quite as sunny as we'd hoped but still a lovely ride with just one incident with an angry lady and her lead-less dog... Everyone else along the way (and there were a lot of people out for a morning ride or stroll) were all very civil and pleasant.

Here are a few of the photos from the latest rides:

   Coffee spot no:1 in Woy Woy :)

   Mirror surface at the Woy Woy jetty

   Reception appears a little hazy....

   Yippeee! Made it half-way :)

   View over bushland and Gosford from the lookout on Kariong hill

Looking forward to more rides and SPRING which is just around the corner.

Annette :)

End 2010 Ride Wrap-up

Here's a little wrap-up of our latest adventures in 2010... Hope you enjoy the slightly belated photos, and hope to see you on lots of exciting escapades in 2011!

The Gossie - Wossie rides...

Amanda & I went on a few of these leisurely adventures in the last few months of the year. Armed with a good dose of humour, lots of silly laughs and a few hysterics; we cruised along the beautiful waterfront spanning the distance between Gosford and Woy Woy. In Woy Woy we stop for that delicious coffee before returning back the same way.

The stretch of road from just past Truscott & almost all the way to the Woy Woy bridge (not sure if that's the name... but it is a bridge and you can see Woy Woy 'towering' just after it :) ) offers a fabulous sprinting tempter to the ride. We mostly forget to record the exact time we leave Gosford, but always marvel at the 35+km/hour clocked along this stretch, believing we MUST have done it in record time...

Our last ride had an extra treat thrown in at the end: Amanda came up with the great idea that we should finish off with a swim in Gosford pool! Oh that blue, blue water and the sun shining from the blue sky! It was blissful and although I still had the ride up the hill before I could call it a day, it was a fabulous way to 'end' a ride. We could almost call ourselves tri-athletes (a bit of running around in the parking area would have sealed the deal for sure...) after our mixed workout.

     Posing at Gosford pool...

     It's hotting up... time to get out the sun-screen!

    Which way to Woy Woy??

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    

Tuggerah - Long Jetty - Entrance Adventure

At the end of November bunnies Tor, Amanda & Annette went for a slightly longer bike ride. It was a nice warm day (plenty of water needed) - just perfect for a ride with friends :)

Amazingly we all managed to meet up without anyone getting seriously lost... I caught the train to Tuggerah station planning to meet the girls at the start of the cycleway - but Tor & Amanda (who started from Tor's house in Forries) got to the end before my train got in & so they cruised down into seedy swampland for a hair-raising detour into the desolate forgotten side of Tuggerah. Quick back-track pedalling had them swing out onto Wyong road just behind me... unfortunately though, traffic drowned their excited yelling and obviously I didn't see them... so we all caught up at the Chittaway pub (& had a few beers before continuing in our dreams...).

The ride was lovely - weaving along the waterway on the cycle path to Long Jetty & then all the way up to the Entrance where we stopped for coffee. Fuelled on coffee we rode back the same way & continued on to Tor's house in Forresters beach where we all drank lots of water, after which, Amanda picked up her car & I waved bye to the lovely bunnies and rode on home.

    Someone at the back really wants to be in the photo...

    Tor & Amanda near Long Jetty

    This coffee bunny's got attitude :)

    I am So allowed another coffee - my iPhone says I can!

    It wasn't me...

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mini Bunny Rides...

The kids and I have been on a few little rides close to home, checking out the horses and ducks across the road & riding to the local library. Ben is definitely due for a bigger bike: at the moment he's riding with his knees up near his ears poor kid, funny how they grow so quickly!

We went on one sunny adventure which involved a mix of road, pathway, roadworks and even some lovely scenery thrown in for good measure. Crossing the Pacific Hwy was precarious to say the least, with roadworks and a new crossing to contend with and lots of traffic. Once we got to the other side things quietened down and even the ducks came out to say hello...

    Crossing the Hwy...

    Cruising down the bike path :)

Apart from a bunch of solo rides this concludes our rides for 2010.

Happy riding to all of you in 2011!

Annette :)