An Easter Escape!

I would have liked a full cycle-tour over Easter, but I was just far too busy with other things (very few of which I actually managed to get done). However, I did manage to get a day clear to do some exploring, so it was up early, on the train to Ipswich and simply riding west. The immediate scenery is a little uninspiring out here, being largely flat and cleared, but a couple of hills between Grandchester and Laidley provided the only excitement between Ipswich and Helidon.

There was one other concern, a couple of bushfires to the north which had somehow gone unnoticed by the rest of the world.

From Helidon (where I got a big wave from an old lady whom I've never even met before) it's the dirt of Seventeen Mile Road. This is actually a problem because it's as sandy as buggery. A couple of times I had lift the bike out of where it had been bogged, and there was a brilliant save at high-speed about 20km into it. In more important terms, the road climbs gradually at first, then kicks up steeply into the mountains toward the end.


Actually, many of the views here are blocked by the vegetation. The road ends at Ravensbourne National Park, which was a slight disappointment. The information in the lead up spoke of rainforest, but it's not exactly a Springbrook or Urliup. Maybe there are just different standards out here. Consequently, I didn't linger long, I headed eastward, toward Esk, which I reached after a 6km descent. The town of Esk is surprisingly pretty, with granite outcrops backing the main street, but for some unaccountable reason, I failed to take a picture (this may be just as well, as I've reached my photobucket limit for free accounts).

After leaving Esk, the chase was on. I wanted to make it back to Ipswich in time for the 7.10pm train to avoid hanging around that place for another hour waiting for the next one. I started slowly as there is a bit of a climb out of Esk and I was re-warming up after the food stop, however, I soon found a rhythm, and powered through the rolling hills southward.

22km from Esk, I calculated that I had 41km left to Ipswich, should be a snack -- except that a sign on the road told me it was actually 46km. That was a psychological blow, as I began to wonder if it was really possible after 200-odd km in the saddle. Then on Cormorant Bay, the wind started blowing against me like crazy. I think it just funnels viciously here, but it was hard to sustain 21km/h.

After getting out of the exposed area, it was time for a climb, I hammered it for no reason other than to make a statement. Then there was a descent into the village of Fernvale. Here I grabbed more water, just in case (it was still quite warm). The sign now said "Ipswich 27", maybe it was on after all. I accelerated again out of the town. 20km to go to Ipswich, I had 57 minutes -- very doable, but I need time in the bank just in case I get a run of red lights.
A sign proclaimed the Ironbark Range (illuminated by my E6 by now). Funny, I hadn't felt any climb. Then I felt it, the road kicked upwards, I attacked it. Stalemate. The hill blinked first, and I was rewarded by a screaming descent back to the Warrego Highway. Here the wind tried again, but by now I had plenty of time. I took the exit, and the descent into Ipswich (totally expected because Ipswich is such a hole).
I'd made it to Ipswich in plenty of time, but there was another problem -- where are the signs telling anybody where the railway station is? I rode around and around the CBD, eventually finding a dead end street that ended at the railway line. Mechanical methods needed, I looked up and down the railway line, saw the station, found a dimly lit pathway (that is, dimly lit for anyone without an E6), and found the station. I had made it.
I nearly fell asleep on the train home, and again on the ride home from Nerang Station. That was weird, I felt sleepy, but for some reason my reaction times (both physical and mental) were exceptionally fast, and they needed to be when playing a bout of 9.45pm "spot the rat-runner". Still it wasn't a problem at all. It was a memorable day over all. One thing I forgot to mention was the guy on the trailbike about 20km into Seventeen Mile Road -- "I've been following your tracks since Helidon, I thought 'Gee that guy must be going' ". If only he knew how far I'd really ridden!