Café Va Bene.

Well, 3 of the last 4 rides starting with a drenching.

One would be rider rocking up in her car, asking where the sunshine was before leaving (sensible decision) hehe.

With the rain pouring we set of around the outskirts of Mawson Lakes spitting out bits of dirt as we went. Heading towards the tunnel under Main North Road we were expecting a torrent coming down Dry Creek and over the pathway, but it was dry. Out the other side it was still pissing down and got even worse at the usual piss stop.

Over Briens Road and one rider suffered whip lash after a tree branch hooked up in a helmet air vent. Not hurt badly as she wasn’t going fast. The trail continues from the trees and water was running down the single track, not slowly but more like a rivulet. Up and over the hill with a great view of new construction at the prison.

Heading toward the Walkleys Road tunnel, again we were wondering flooded or not? Nope not flooded so up and over the top we went only to be met with something that is happening all too often. Widening and bitumising hard pack trails. Annoys the shit out of me, councils clearly have too much money to burn and once covered in bitumen the tree roots push it up and have to be relayed. Waste of time and money when the usage is minimal at best.

Fuck the “path closed” and trough the blockade to see what the fuss is about. Path closed so the grader and digger can be parked in the kid’s playground WTF?

From here a pretty uneventful ride to the café with the rain easing. On arrival I couldn’t un snap my hydration clasp, I didn’t know I had no feeling in my finger, hehe. Good coffee stop, a quick waz and hand warming under the drier, time to go.

Rain started again but didn’t last long before the sun started peek through the cloud. Lucky for us no rain all the way back.

Up the Torrens before turning up to the aqueduct trail where the trails are now open again but with no pine trees. Hundreds of saplings have been planted but it will be a long time before trees cover the trail again.

Up a few short but steep streets we entered Hope Valley reservoir, down through the trees and up n out.

Walkleys tunnel was starting to be covered with water but nothing to write about.

Back to the single tracks heading towards Briens, and the rivulets had stopped.

However, the water under Main North Road, Dry Creek, was a torrent from one end to the other. Fun to ride through keeping to the wall edge with the water about BB high, feet wet again.

Next underpass had a fairly large amount of standing water in it, not too deep but enough to slow ya down or OTB if your not experienced hehe.

Back to the start, sun shining ending a mixed weather ride. Still, glad I didn’t call it off even though it was a little shorter than usual.

Cobbler Creeking.

Meeting at Cobbler Creek caught one rider out, the Phantom Flasher. I’m sure it says check the night before on the web site even though this ride hasn’t changed since it was posted hehe.

Good start, one down, heading to the top of Cobblers via the Babbler before heading off for a short spin through the local gullies. Riding down to a steep up hill, I change gear the wrong way, doh! and totally screwed myself on the climb. Get off n walk dick head hehe, everyone else made it up.

More or less skirted the top of the gullies before heading down to the bottom, much nicer than climbing up when the loop is reversed. Across the stream, up the bank and down to the road. Up the road and across to Cobblers again, passing the start of the Babbler climb on the way to the Ruins climb.

Climbed to the top of the Ruins, had a short breather before setting off again. Just as we dropped out of the bike park but still on Cobblers Creek it started to rain. Took a different route down, mainly a foot path, tried it, not doing it again.

Pissed down all the way to the Stables where a well-earned BnE roll was calling along with a coffee. Sitting outside, the Flasher appeared then disappeared inside with the ladies. The blokes sat outside, under cover but cool wind.

Food and coffee devoured it was time to head out again with two riders deciding to head for home instead.

Rain stopped, the next stop was the Little Parra reservoir. Longish dirt road to the top of the hill by the motor cross track and to the end of the reserve track. Nice views out across the reservoir, spoilt only by the cold wind blowing across the valley.

Back out the reserve via the trail through the trees.

Down the dirt road along the motto fence line, joined by a kangaroo until it found an escape route to the other side of the fence.

Next was the long uphill roads to the top of Cobblers on the western (I think) side. Just before hitting the Roads there was one section of gravel that went around, down and up once again, shifted gears wrong way for the steepish up, farrrrrk. Need to alter shift buttons position me thinks.

Good single track down, unfortunately it started pouring down again. I tried to stand on the pedals for the decent but my right thigh was burning so sat down all the way to the Dam Wall. Still good trail but better dry and uncooked legs hehe.

A quick run down the berms and back to the playground to complete the ride.

Although the ride was jut over 30 km, elevation was nearly 900 m. Great ride, really enjoyed it.

Random Salisbury.

Fun started on the ride to the ride, man was it cold, freezing me tits off I had nipples like chapel hat pegs. I had to stand facing the sun to warm up before we started the ride.

Out of the sun it was pretty cold but it would warm up so off we went heading up the river. Through Carisbrooke Park, out the other side up n down the gravel road as far as we could go.

After a short drink break down in the valley it was back up the ups and down the downs again to the park. Heading towards the single track above the park I decided to hook a sneaky right through the fence and down to the bottom by the tree walks.

Down past the new car park for the apartments build around John Street. Past the train station to follow the line to Mawson Lakes and around the outer track where we came across Dez who had just sorted a leaking tyre. We stopped to see how he is going and offer assistance, if needed, all good.

Through the tunnel to the Fabulous Bakery Boys for coffee and refreshments. Fuelled up on a bacon egg roll, green donut, a good chat and a coffee.

After refuelling I thought we could finish the ride with a spin down to Yatala and back. Up one side and down the other with a quick stop for a phot outside RM Williams old house by the women’s prison. Nice single track above the old blacksmiths to Bridge Road.

Up the other side of the rails to the golf club and the end of todays outing. Finishing a lot warmer than the start. Almost 48km and 450 m elevation.

Southern Soaking.

Re arranged ride failure, well sort of. Ride supposed to be along the Torrens but we haven’t been down south for a while and forecast up to 10 mm rain, hence the switch.  However after switching the ride the rain was forecast 25mm and was pretty accurate.

Anyway, down to the train and the rain wasn’t too bad. Getting off the train in Melrose Park it was raining a bit heavier, bugger. Setting out on the ride it was pissing down and the single tracks will be wet clay so I decided to stick to fire or gravel roads.

Riding up the gravel tracks was like riding up rivulets picking up water all the way, already wet so can’t get any wetter.

Once at OHH we took the track to the tunnel which is a fairly hard surface so we weren’t chewing up the trails.

Fire road across the top to Glenthorpe. Gravel all the way to Happy Valley in the still, pouring rain, then through the Enchanted Forrest to the reservoir.

Once inside the reservoir grounds you could feel the temperature drop. I have never seen so much water flowing into the reservoir, over the roads and flood ways, good to see.

Out of the res and down to the Gooby Goose for warm food n coffee. While we were refueling wet clothing were swapped out for dry, bottom of the shorts wrung out. As we were leaving the rain stopped woo-hoo.

Rode back pretty much the same way we came out, main difference was no rain. As the bike dried out there were a few strange creeks n groans with the chain complaining the lack of lube.

After the moaning and groaning before we set off everyone enjoyed the ride. The comments of “should have changed the day” were duly noted and will be totally ignored for future rides he-he.

Still manages 44 km, not bad considering.