BMBEN
Registered user
Wednesday 16th Nov 2011
Wollongong
My mates at the Met Bureau confided in me that there would probably be showers this afternoon, so I carefully packed my wet-weather pants (and peanut butter sandwiches) before heading around to Maccas in the morning. I had graciously allowed my good wife Diana to accompany me today so I had made sure that she was packed on board as well. There was a pretty good turnout today and by 9.00am we had a total of 11 (I think) riders plus of course 1 pillion. Noel was once again offering his services as ride leader and decided to take us to Stuart Park at Nth Wollongong.
We rode out through the Mobil Servo and onto the Great Western Highway, then down to Mulgoa Road. Heading south, we crawled through the school zone at the Christian School where a student has never been seen. (In the zone I mean, not the school.) Then it was through Mulgoa and Wallacia and down to Werombi where we turned onto Werombi Road. From here we took various back roads that never fail to confuse me, and came out on the Old Hume Highway at Cawdor. From here it was a short run to Menangle where we stopped for smoko at the old store (on the corner naturally). So far the weather had remained dry though overcast but the wind had been picking up.
We took over the largest of the tables provided, right under the sign which says “Menangle College of Knowledge”. How true that sign was. I listened to Eric at one end of the table explaining how eating snails allowed worms to enter your body and then how these worms could devour your brain. Bugger! I had to cross snails off the menu for tonight. I then tuned in to Dave Campbell at the other end, describing activities he indulged in during his criminal youth in England. And I had thought that convict transportation to the colonies had ended about 200 years ago. I was learning so much today!
After smoko John Mac declared that he was leaving us. He claimed he was going to visit Dawn again, though personally I didn’t believe him. After all, he had visited her last week and I’m sure no woman would want to meet him for a second time. Ian was leaving us too. (Probably to spy on John). The rest of us headed off along Morton Park Road. By this time the wind was really picking up and we resembled a swaying conga line. Then it was onto Douglas Park Road and down the twisty bits across the Nepean River, emerging onto Wilton Road where we turned south. This took us down to the Picton Road where we turned and headed towards Wollongong. Then it was past Cordeaux Dam and on to Bulli Tops. We cruised down Mt Ousley and took the Wollongong exit to the big roundabout where we turned right, and then it was through side-streets till we got to Stuart Park. This apparently is where the annual Sydney to Wollongong bicycle marathon finishes, so Noel told me. Anyway it was still pretty windy so we occupied one of the shelter sheds. It didn’t provide much wind shelter.
After finishing our lunch a few of us walked over to the beach with its signs warning of imminent death should you enter the water. Then Dave spotted some pine trees with a strange affliction. There were bands bare of bark and sap had been forced out through tiny holes and had hardened into strange shapes. Being a walking encyclopaedia of natural history, I was called upon to explain this phenomenon. Of course I knew what it was but couldn’t explain it in layman’s terms so I pretended ignorance. We then decided to take a ride around past the harbour to the lighthouse where we inspected the old gun emplacements. This was when the rain began. It was only a few spots at first and certainly not enough to bother an intrepid fellow like me, though a few of the wooses in our group started putting on the plastic gear.
Anyway we left the lighthouse and made our way back up Mt Ousley in light rain then on to the Picton Road. We followed this to Picton (naturally) and stopped at the little park (on the corner naturally) for afternoon tea. By now the rain was quite steady and there being no shelter shed, we used a table under some trees which provided no shelter at all.
By the time we were ready to leave everyone had their wet-weather gear on except me and Diana who doesn’t have any. For some reason I decided not to wear the plastic gear. I was probably telling myself that the rain would soon stop (which it didn’t). I suppose I could have offered mine to Diana, but I’m not sure how I’d feel about a girl wearing my pants.
We left and rode across to The Oaks, and then it was back home via Wallacia, Mulgoa etc etc. Diana and I arrived home at Blaxland about 4.30pm with 254km on the clock for the day. I was much wetter than Diana was. Being a gentleman, I’d used my body to shelter her all the way home. Despite the rain, I’d had a great day and I think everybody else did too. Sorry no photos this week. Jeff obviously had a better offer and didn’t turn up.
Peter M
Thanks to the National Library of Australia and Picture Australia which is an Internet based service that allows you to search many significant online pictorial collections at the same time for the photo.
Thanks to Google maps
Franz
Wollongong
My mates at the Met Bureau confided in me that there would probably be showers this afternoon, so I carefully packed my wet-weather pants (and peanut butter sandwiches) before heading around to Maccas in the morning. I had graciously allowed my good wife Diana to accompany me today so I had made sure that she was packed on board as well. There was a pretty good turnout today and by 9.00am we had a total of 11 (I think) riders plus of course 1 pillion. Noel was once again offering his services as ride leader and decided to take us to Stuart Park at Nth Wollongong.
We rode out through the Mobil Servo and onto the Great Western Highway, then down to Mulgoa Road. Heading south, we crawled through the school zone at the Christian School where a student has never been seen. (In the zone I mean, not the school.) Then it was through Mulgoa and Wallacia and down to Werombi where we turned onto Werombi Road. From here we took various back roads that never fail to confuse me, and came out on the Old Hume Highway at Cawdor. From here it was a short run to Menangle where we stopped for smoko at the old store (on the corner naturally). So far the weather had remained dry though overcast but the wind had been picking up.
We took over the largest of the tables provided, right under the sign which says “Menangle College of Knowledge”. How true that sign was. I listened to Eric at one end of the table explaining how eating snails allowed worms to enter your body and then how these worms could devour your brain. Bugger! I had to cross snails off the menu for tonight. I then tuned in to Dave Campbell at the other end, describing activities he indulged in during his criminal youth in England. And I had thought that convict transportation to the colonies had ended about 200 years ago. I was learning so much today!
After smoko John Mac declared that he was leaving us. He claimed he was going to visit Dawn again, though personally I didn’t believe him. After all, he had visited her last week and I’m sure no woman would want to meet him for a second time. Ian was leaving us too. (Probably to spy on John). The rest of us headed off along Morton Park Road. By this time the wind was really picking up and we resembled a swaying conga line. Then it was onto Douglas Park Road and down the twisty bits across the Nepean River, emerging onto Wilton Road where we turned south. This took us down to the Picton Road where we turned and headed towards Wollongong. Then it was past Cordeaux Dam and on to Bulli Tops. We cruised down Mt Ousley and took the Wollongong exit to the big roundabout where we turned right, and then it was through side-streets till we got to Stuart Park. This apparently is where the annual Sydney to Wollongong bicycle marathon finishes, so Noel told me. Anyway it was still pretty windy so we occupied one of the shelter sheds. It didn’t provide much wind shelter.
After finishing our lunch a few of us walked over to the beach with its signs warning of imminent death should you enter the water. Then Dave spotted some pine trees with a strange affliction. There were bands bare of bark and sap had been forced out through tiny holes and had hardened into strange shapes. Being a walking encyclopaedia of natural history, I was called upon to explain this phenomenon. Of course I knew what it was but couldn’t explain it in layman’s terms so I pretended ignorance. We then decided to take a ride around past the harbour to the lighthouse where we inspected the old gun emplacements. This was when the rain began. It was only a few spots at first and certainly not enough to bother an intrepid fellow like me, though a few of the wooses in our group started putting on the plastic gear.
Anyway we left the lighthouse and made our way back up Mt Ousley in light rain then on to the Picton Road. We followed this to Picton (naturally) and stopped at the little park (on the corner naturally) for afternoon tea. By now the rain was quite steady and there being no shelter shed, we used a table under some trees which provided no shelter at all.
By the time we were ready to leave everyone had their wet-weather gear on except me and Diana who doesn’t have any. For some reason I decided not to wear the plastic gear. I was probably telling myself that the rain would soon stop (which it didn’t). I suppose I could have offered mine to Diana, but I’m not sure how I’d feel about a girl wearing my pants.
We left and rode across to The Oaks, and then it was back home via Wallacia, Mulgoa etc etc. Diana and I arrived home at Blaxland about 4.30pm with 254km on the clock for the day. I was much wetter than Diana was. Being a gentleman, I’d used my body to shelter her all the way home. Despite the rain, I’d had a great day and I think everybody else did too. Sorry no photos this week. Jeff obviously had a better offer and didn’t turn up.
Peter M
Thanks to the National Library of Australia and Picture Australia which is an Internet based service that allows you to search many significant online pictorial collections at the same time for the photo.
Thanks to Google maps
Franz
