Category: Out & About

Where’d you go?

Riding the bike from Newmarket taking a different route than I usually do and one I’ve only taken a couple of times.

Start location: Puma on Newmarket Rd, Windsor

Heading: west towards Kelvin Grove Rd

Destination: Forest Lake 4078

Witnesses: Mr following in the car

Dilemma: signs say “ICB” or Inner City Bypass. I move into the appropriate lane. At the last second I notice the lane I’m in is ICB North (to Sunshine Coast). Argghhh shakes head at self 🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️

Mr drives past up the correct lane … there are three in total and poorly sign posted I might add.

Heading the the wrong direction I take the next exit (Vic Park Rd) foolishly believing just follow the road and you should find a main road again. Incorrecto!

As I was speeding down the 40km zone I came across some coppers on the side of the road, not sure what they were doing, perhaps had pulled someone else over. Knowing full well I was going too fast, when they looked up at noisy Lil Boop not doing 40km/hr all I could do was give them a wave 😂😂😂😂😂

Thought to myself oh if I follow this road should lead back around to the Kelvin Grove Rd … yeah nah ended up in a school parking lot had to map my ass out of there lol.

Back on KGR and yay she takes the correct lane this time 🤷🏻‍♀️ but Mr in the car is long gone. He beats me home of course 🙄🙄🙄 and sniggering as I pull into the garage. Yeah ok I took the wrong lane get over it lol. I’ve been that way couple times before and not very familiar. In fact I think that’s not even the first time I’ve done that hahahahhaha.

This is Mr watching from behind as I take the wrong lane (he delighted in telling me afterwards, prick)

What’s your destination?

The following are some of the day trips I have completed in my 18 months as a motorcyclist. Note: all rides commence from Forest Lake QLD and return times are shown. I have been on loads of smaller rides as well over this period.

Learner

1. Fernvale > Mt Glorious > Samford

Gorgeous ride with plenty of twisty bits on Mt Glorious. Estimated time (including multiple stops and lunch at Samford) 3.5 hours

2. Beaudesert > Mt Tamborine > North Tamborine

One of my favourite rides. Fair bit of boring road getting to the mountain itself and on the return trip is the first time I used emergency braking 😂😂😂. Estimated time including stopping at the Lookout to watch the hang gliders and paragliders (magical) 2.5 hours

3. Burbank > Wellington Point

What a fab way to spend a sunny day having an ice cream at the beach! Relaxing ride with some attractive rural areas. Estimated time including ice cream stop 2.5 hours. Will tackle the low tide walk out to King Island when my fitness improves.

4. Logan Mway > Nerang > Byron Bay Lighthouse

Not many things better than riding to Byron Bay Lighthouse (most easterly point of mainland Australia) for some horizon gazing or sunrise. Take full advantage of being a small vehicle as the parking is very limited. If you arrive before the gate opens you will need to traipse up a steep walk from the lower carpark although it is fairly short. Estimated time 5 hours including looking for whales / dolphins in the waters below.

RE Open

1. Beerwah > Gympie > Rainbow Beach

Literally a few days after I could legally ride alone. The longest trip I have taken solo for a fishing charter and I freakin’ loved it. Once the highway gets to 110km/h speed limit it seemed like there was no one around. Estimated time 9 hours including one stop each way.

2. Beerwah > Gympie > Noosa > Palmwoods > D’Aguilar > Caboolture > Bruce Hway

Did this trip to mark off the Big Australia items Mower (Beerwah) Kangaroo (south of Gympie) & Pelican (Noosa). Was a VERY long day with a sore butt at the end. Estimated time including stops and several u turns looking for the damn Kangaroo 10 hours

3. White Rock > Peak Crossing > Wyaralong Dam > Beaudesert

Absolutely loved the blast from Peak Crossing to Wyaralong. High speeds achieved 😬. Would make a fantastic summer day trip to have a dip at the Dam. Estimated time include decent sticky beak and photos at the Dam 2.5 hours

4. Beaudesert > Cedar Creek Falls >

Had the loveliest swim at Cedar Creek Falls on a stinking hot November day. A schlep from the carpark to rock pools but ohhhh so worth it. Left my helmet on the rocks and ended up with random ants for months afterwards until I sprayed my helmet. Estimated time including swim and walking from carpark to water hole 5 hours.

5. White Rock > Willowbank > Aratula > Templin

Very similar to the Wyaralong Dam ride just over a bit. Good to go for a blast on a weekend if you’re not keen on the bike “crowds” on Tamborine, Glorious, Mee. Estimate time including lunch at Aratula 2.5 hours

6. Logan Mway > Nerang > Fingal Head

Loving in the hexagonal column shaped rocks that jut out of the ocean. A sandy walk from the carpark to the cliff but it is shaded in parts and there is a turn off for the beach to swim if it’s especially warm. Estimated time 4.5 hours including walk to the cliff and 1 short stop each way to stretch your legs

7. Samford > Dayboro > Mt Mee > Maleny > Montville

A slow cruise day with a friend of ours. Yummy lunch at the burger joint in Montville, shopping for trinkets and enjoying the village vibe. Heaps of excellent lookouts on the way and someone even took my photo which I found later on Facebook. Estimated time 6 hours at low speed and decent lunch break / wander around Montville shops.

8. Redbank Plains > Peak Crossing > Boonah > Lake Moogerah > Willowbank

Refer to post ‘Where’d you go this weekend?’ dated 003/09/18.

Where’d you go this weekend?

Saturday: ummm nowhere

Sunday: Father’s Day ride with my significant other out to Lake Moogerah. Gorgeous. Unfortunately Mt French was closed due to fire danger so couldn’t suss out the lookout up there

Route: starting Forest Lake, Ipswich Mway, turned off onto Cunningham Hway. Exited Cunningham Hway at the Boonah exit. Headed to Boonah Info Centre (perfect spot for info, toilets, cold drink and BYO food if you packed any). Super helpful service here ☺️. Carried on to Lake Moogerah Rd turnoff that is well sign posted.

Followed that to the carpark approx 10kms of gentle corners – ok to ignore the posted speed limits. Beautiful view of the lake and across to the mountains. Also the Moogerah Dam you can walk across … info guide says there is a walking trail back there somewhere but I’m too lazy #NotForMeThanks

Returned home via Cunningham Hway through Willowbank and joining up to Ipswich Mway again to get home.

Quite a chill ride, plenty of places to lose your licence on the long boring bits haha. I note we didn’t get a lot of nods, mostly cruisers or Harley’s out and about. Moderate traffic and nothing too worrying. Didn’t see a single copper and was at times not doing the speed limit. Don’t bother lecturing me, I won’t listen.

Panoramic shot looking across the lake

Total time: 2 hours return riding + 15 mins at the Lake itself taking photos of the bikes.

Probably a lot better places to take photos but short of time. I will return at a later date for a more intensive search!

Bikes with Moogerah Dam behind