Friday 28 September 2012

CYCLING ALBION TO THE GAP



This ride will take you through the following suburbs, Albion, Windsor, Herston, Kelvin Grove, Dorrington, Ashgrove, The Gap & Petrie Terrace.

The maps depicted below are merely an overview of the ride. For more accurate directions, it would be wise to plot your course on a professional map or GPS.

Albion to Banks Street Reserve, Dorrington


Banks Street Reserve, Dorrington to The Gap


The ride from Albion Railway Station to The Gap and back to Roma Street Railway Station was undertaken by three members of U3A's 'Peddling Pathfinders' to map the trail as a future destination for our main riding group , U3A's 'Peddling For Pleasure.'

We used the train as our form of transport, embarking at Cleveland, changing trains at Bowen Hills and disembarking at Albion. The waiting time at Bowen Hills was minimal.


A mural depicting aviator Bert Hinkler painted on an old shed in McDonald Road, Windsor



Modern playground in the heart of Industria
We exited on the western side of the station and started our ride in Mawarra Street. Apart from detours around major road works in the vicinity of Breakfast Creek and Lutwyche Road in Windsor, which will be completed shortly, the pathways are well signposted.


Bike paths beneath the overpasses
In the main, the paths flow through a series of parks and along creeks, making it a very pleasant and easy ride through to The Gap. We stopped at Coffee Club for some light refreshment, before retracing our ride back as far as Downey Park in Herston, where we changed course and headed for Roma Street Railway Station for our trip back to Cleveland.


Breakfast Creek, Brisbane
This historic creek could tell many a tale from old, from the early German and Irish settlers taking their goods and produce by horse and cart to market to grim forensic tales of murder victims located floating in the creek or on the mud flats amongst the mangroves at low tide.


Bowen Bridge Heritage Track, Herston



Part of the good signage on this track
Conservation groups as well as local councils are doing a lot to enhance our green space and without their dedicated work, we wouldn't have the facilities we now enjoy within our communities. Playgrounds for the children to play and exercise in, shared paths for the enjoyment of walkers and cyclists alike. Even pet dogs are given space to enjoy. Now is the time to take advantage of the amenities ........take up walking, jogging or cycling, you're going to feel one hell of a lot better and the more you exercise, the better you will feel. Join the revolution to build a healthier society.


Spring is in the air
The spring blossom is really beautiful this year adding to the ambience of the ride.


Renovated old Queenslanders
One can't help but notice how beautifully renovated some of the old Queenslanders are. I've started taking a photographic record of these grand old homes during my rides through the older suburbs of Brisbane, the best of which I will display in a future blog.


Pattern on the bark of a tree
As a photographer, you develop a sense in noticing the unusual. As I rode past a tree in the Ashgrove/Dorrington area, I couldn't help but notice the striking pattern and colour combination of the bark.


Enoggera Creek
For an alternative return route, take the Downey Street bridge at Downey Park, turning left into Butterfield Street, then follow the paths all the way to Roma Street Railway.

Downey Park, Windsor to Roma Street Station


Beautifying the parks in Herston

I couldn't think of a better way to enjoy life than to be with family or friends enjoying the weather we are so fortunate to have  here in South East Queensland.

Distance: 33km
Difficulty: Easy and well signposted.
Surface: Sealed paths, some on road but little traffic.
Maps used in this blog: GPsies.
It is always wise to ride with a map or GPS

Cheers and safe riding,

Jimmy Bee

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