Was it all that and a bag of chips?

Nah, lol.

This is actually part of a bigger story which is essentially that I stopped riding with my core group for reasons I won’t share.

Part of the group was heading to Kandanga a few weekends back as part of a larger group ride. I did initially put “Going” but ended up changing to “Not Going” as I am not yet ready to see or talk face to face with members of the group. I may never be ready.

So I elected to wait for annual leave (happening now!) and go with Mr for our own ride. Ended up staying overnight in Pomona at an Airbnb place. Great accommodation and location, the best host I’ve had using Airbnb.

We took Nebo > Glorious > Samford > Mt Mee > Woodford > Maleny > Kidaman Creek > Kenilworth > Pomona.

Don’t get me started on Kidaman Creek 🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️ stupid fucking maps re-routed me after Maleny instead of continuing to Conondale and it was 7 slow kilometres of either soft dirt or gravel. Ended up coming out on Obi Obi Rd (not too shabby) but 7kms felt like 70kms lol. I don’t enjoy the earth moving under my wheels!

Sussed out the Kenilworth 1kg doughnut challenge. As I’d already had plenty of food on the way I didn’t partake in the challenge but enjoyed the quotes of previous successful challengers as below.

Hopped straight in the pool at Pomona exactly what I needed after a long ride 😊 and into a solid nights sleep. Early start back to Brisbane the following morning via Kenilworth > Conondale > Maleny > Mt Mee > Samford > The Gap > Forest Lake. Absolutely stuffed after that.

After a night in our own bed we rode to the Gold Coast. Spent a night doing nothing so we could ride down to Lions Rd (Northern NSW) which is something I decided not to ride with the group coming home from Dorrigo/Bellingen.

It’s a bit awkward to get there from Gold Coast, having to head into Canungra > Beaudesert > Tamrookum (where you can turn off but we wanted to go over Mt Lindesay) > Woodenbong for refuel > Grevillia > Rukenvale > Gradys Creek > *me nearly riding off a bridge going into a corner too hot lol* > Cougal > Running Creek > Innisplain > Beaudesert > Canungra > Clagiraba > Broadbeach.

Another top day of riding done. Hit the spa, stuffed my face at Italian restaurant nearby and off to bed.

Do I think Lions Rd is a must do for SEQ riders? No. Are there similar roads? Yes – Queen Mary Falls is one example. Is this the most enjoyable ride I’ve had? No. BUT … it’s worth going just for the bridges and railway crossings. Loads of adorable photo ops along the way and some tight corners to test your skills.