St Albans MTB with Jonesy and the boys

With Jonesy, Neil, Dorian and Pierre. A very cool and pleasant morning to bike in the MacDonald River area and up Jacks Track through the Womerah Range. After a quick trip from the ferry to St Albans (pub not quite open!) along the blacktop we decided to skip the morning coffee and head up Jacks Track (steep!). The weather started to heat up but we were fortunate to have shade from the gums most of the way. After a dash back along the Webbs Creek Rd to Del Rio we crossed back over on the ferry and met up with Mike and Felicity for a chat and a coffee to celebrate Pete Jones' birthday. Garmin Connect link here

Webbs Creek ferry

MacDonald River

MacDonald River

Pierre

Dorian

Peter Jones

Neil Rees

Pub Wagon

Settlers Arms

Settlers Arms

Jacks Track (steep!)

Pierre at the top of Jacks Track

Jacks Track Lookout

Jacks Track junction with Womerah FT

waiting for the ferry

Terrey Hills MTB with Jonesy

A very enjoyable spin along the Cowan and Neverfail trails with Jonesy. Managed to fall off on Neverfail track. Enjoyed coffee at T Hills Garmin Connect link here

Glenorie "The Pie Run"

The morning started with drizzle and mist and looked pretty uninviting as I set out from home at 0715am to "Bite Me" Bakehouse (formerly "Rubber Duckies") Mt Colah.

After waiting 10mins it was apparent that no-one from SICBUG was on the road this morning. Then an email message came through to cancel the ride.
I checked the horizon ahead and saw the clouds moving north and decided to go for it. Some spots of rain through Berowra Heights but mostly dry roads through to Berowra Waters.
Quite a few riders gathered at the ferry crossing and it was then that we were joined by ex-PM Tony Abbott and his group of 4 riders. They looked pretty chuffed to be out in the back-blocks and enjoying their ride. One of the group was on an e-bike. I was going to suggest to Tony that he grab the seat post for a "tow" up the Berilee Hill but thought better of it. He did make a Wong turn though and I asked him if he was trying to Shorten the ride.
Anyway, I was now determined to beat Tony and his e-bike friend up the hill and after following for 2km I mounted an attack! It was an attack similar to Cadel's on the Corkscrew climb in TDU 2104 (at least in my mind). It was unchallenged all the way to the top when one of his mates edged his wheel ahead just as we reached Chilcott Rd.
Never mind, at least I aced Tony! After a friendly rer-group I joined them for the dash through to Arcadia. Tony took a turn at the front and I enjoyed taking his wheel for a few kms. At Arcadia they waved me "Goodbye" and stopped for coffee at Andy's takeaway. 

On my pie-seeking mission to Glenorie I scoffed down a very tasty pie with sauce and coffee at the Glenorie Bakery. I headed back through the Gorge and on to Hornsby where I met my wife Kathren for a further refreshment break.
The weather was quite comfortable by this time (11am) so I elected to complete the full course with a spin out and back through Bobbo.
An enjoyable outing after a dodgy start! Garmin Connect link here

Glenorie Pie Shop

Plenty to choose from!

Pie and coffe - much needed energy for the return trip!

SICBUG Manly and Northern Beaches

An early start (630am) meant that we had the sun rising ahead of us as we headed out along MVR. About 10x riders turned up at St Ives to join Stuarts Manly spin.
Fortunately the 630 start meant that the riding was cool and traffic not too heavy.
Arriving at North Head we joined a triathlon in progress around the roads through the park.
After the mandatory photo stop it was off to do battle with the Manly tourists and traffic. The Police were waiting with their breathalyzer at North Manly but we managed to get through without getting hauled over.
Through Manly, Freshwater, Curl Curl, Dee Why we stuck together until DT, ET and Kevin decided to skip the Turimetta and Warriewood climbs and head straight to Church Point.
Brief stop to fill water bottles and have an energy bar at Church Point before the final climb up McCarrs. Excellent coffee at Eden Café St Ives and some lively biking discussion surrounding the proposed changes to road fules for cyclists. Garmin Connect link here

The "Ascension"

As the peleton were leaving N Turra at 630am I decided to forego the ride out through Bobbo and head straight to Galston. After a quite climb in cool conditions up Galston I arrived at the top to find Charles already there. Soon the usual suspects arrived including Sam, Jack, Hamish, Mustafa. Eventually we had a good size group of about a dozen riders.
Off to Berowra Waters at a steady clip and the cool morning made for very pleasant cycling. After crossing on the ferry we were then split up at the top of BW climb unto the "Mt Whiters" versus the rest who elected to return to N Turra or Hornsby.
Craig and his slightly smaller peleton headed up to the "Old Road Café" Mt White while the rest of us (about 5x) turned right at Berowra for the home run. After coffee at N Turra I made a pleasant return home through Bobbo. Thanks to Craig for his leadership on this ride. Garmin Connect link here

Past teh Monastery

BW Ferry

Bobbin Head Marina

SICBUG West Head

15x SICOs left St Ives bound for West Head and Akuna. Rain did not dampen their spirits. 1x SICO pulled the pin at Terrey Hills Thai due to a severe deformity in his rear rim. Weather God and cycling Guru Jim Jam decreed that "no further rain will fall on this ride!" Unfortunately he left the group 5 minutes later to take the path of least resistance to Akuna Bay along with 3x of his disciples. Rain promptly fell again as the remaining 10x splashed their way along to McCarrs Ck. At the West Head turn 2x SICOs decided to skip the scenic delights of West Head and disappeared into the mist heading towards coffee followed by a hot shower. The 8x steely and steadfast surviving SICOs set their sights on seeing out the final spin to WH and up the Akuna climb back to St Ives. Spirits slightly wet but definitely not extinguished, the SICOs satisfied their coffee cravings at Eden Café. Mount Colah Cycling

Seven Survivors