Fred's Run

on .

SABERS Year Opening Ride for 2015

 

Dear SABERS

We delayed our first ride for this year due to the high temperature forecast for the Saturday.  Sunday turned out to be a beautiful day although a little windy down Victor Harbor way.

Eight bikes with two pillions heralded in the new year...members, a returning visitor and a new visitor.  I varied the start point to somewhere with COFFEE...since the BOTH the BP and the Shell fuel outlets opposite each other on the intersection of Magill and Portrush Roads in Trinity Gardens don't have coffee.  Opportunity for some extra business there for the first one to offer coffee again.  So then for my convenience we started from the new OTR (was Wild Bean Cafe) on Prospect Road.

There were not too many cyclists to manoeuvre around on Old Norton Summit Road and none coming down with impatient motorists passing them on our side of the road.  Plenty of tree debris from the winds though.  We passed the Cleland Wildlife Park on the east side and headed through Crafers to Upper Sturt.  Here I cut out the narrow, steep and winding Sturt Valley Road which was always a challenge for the longer bikes and the inexperienced in favour of Whitewood Drive...a nice example of pretty hills suburbia.  Soon enough we were through Cherry Gardens and down into Clarendon for a refresher at the shop and a toilet break back across the road.  I met some grey nomads from Holland here...they had a Vmax back home so apologies if the rest stop stretched out a bit.

We took Baker Gully Road then left off McLaren Flat Road up Wickhams Hill Road...a nice climb up to the top and then along Range Road (no problems with the Give Way sign this time!) and onto Victor Harbor Road.  Pambula Road had us dodging the usual pine cones and Hindmarsh Tiers Road was a joy.  Not unexpectedly there were a few slow vehicles on South Road but without drama we arrived in Yankalilla for lunch at the bakery.  Bad timing that was...!  The line up was out the door.  However the efficient staff managed it all and quickly enough we were filling up on pastry and yeast.

A quick run to Delamere and then we were buffeted by winds all the way to Victor Harbor.  The winds were more head on than cross so it wasn't too disconcerting.  A fuel stop at the Caltex and we were soon back on our way up Victor Harbor Road.  A right turn (a little corner marshalling hiccup here but no one got lost) before Mount Compass led us onto Cleland Gully Road...a favourite of mine...just watch the dairy cow crossings...!  After Ashbourne we stayed on Bull Creek Road into Meadows for end of ride at the bakery. The girls here lost my coffee order but it was rectified as soon as we pointed it out to them.

A top day, great weather, awesome roads and fabulous company.  Thank you to Tony for bringing up our tail and thanks to all the riders taking their turn at minding the corners for me.

Good day

Fred