Day 6 – 16 October 2022

On the train to St Leonards

It was an early start as we had to catch a train at 5:50am to get St Leonard’s before the start time. Our original plan had been to cycle from Pymble or perhaps Chatswood but the event was starting at 6:30am so we decided to take the train rather that leave another half an hour earlier.

It was a gorgeous day, clear skies and relatively mild when we set out from St Leonards Park, through North Sydney and onto the Harbour Bridge. There seemed to be a lot fewer riders than previous years. The route took us over the bridge, left onto the Cahill Expressway and then back again and up to Observatory Hill, down the hill and through Barangaroo before taking one of the overbridges behind Darling Harbour. The route had changed since last time we rode it. It took us through Glebe, Leichard, Canada Bay, Concord to Homebush whereupon we crossed the Parramatta River. We followed it for five or six kilometres before ascending another bridge to cross back over the river ride along the opposite bank, through a park and then after a couple of turns we were riding into the Olympic Park. The distance was about 48kms and we rode about fifty kilometres all up, including the short cycle from St Leonards station.

We really noticed the small number cycling the route. Apparently only 2,500 had registered for the event a far cry from the numbers that had registered in 2019 the last time it had been held. There were fewer relatively inexperienced cyclists and fewer families than in last years. From my point of view it meant it was a bit safer with less dangerous riding and riders havign more awareness of others around them. We were really spoiled by the weather. The temperature was about right. We must have gained some fitness as we rode the route with only two brief stops. One to take off a layer as we got too hot and another for a toilet stop.

Compared to other rides we seemed to be back at the apartment quite early.

As we had Bev's sister coming over that evening I needed to do the preparation for our meal soon after getting back as it was a rather nice roasted and braised shoulder of pork. It was served simply with fresh spring vegetables.

Vegetables here are much cheaper than in Wellington after being sky high when I was last here. They are also really good quality in contrast to previous visits when drought has been the issue.