2019 : Our Rides in Words, Photos & Maps

[Deleted member 18083]

Shady Coffee Break : Moreton Bay Fig, Kholo Gardens, Ipswich, QLD, AU …

The Moreton Bay fig (Ficus macrophylla) is a large evergreen tree native to the subtropical eastern coast of Australia (Moreton Bay being Brisbane's port). Seed germination usually takes place in the canopy of a host tree and the seedling lives as an epiphyte until its roots reach the ground. It then enlarges and strangles its host, eventually becoming a freestanding tree by itself. (From Wikipedia.)

Coffee break at 18 km into ride - about as long as the allegedly spill-proof mug can keep its contents warm.

Trip : 77 km / 2019 : 540 km

 

[Alaskan]

I will be riding through the Avenue of the Giants today and will post photos and possibly a video from a gopro helmet mounted, http://avenueofthegiants.net/

 

[Deleted member 18083]

South Pacific Lunch Break.
Moreton Bay Cycleway, Scarborough, Queensland, AU …

A shady bench with a view: Tingira Park just before 55 km (on my Ride with GPS log change map to 'Satellite' to see exact location).

An unfortunate detail: drought. The blue sky with clouds way out over the warm East Australian Current is complemented by the dry grass. Moreton Bay has had no rain of consequence for months.

Trip : 104 km / 2019 : 644 km

 

[elliot friedman]

Wow, I'll have to search for another magnificent tree specimen to take an image under so I can post as well.
Here in the northeast, that may not occur till the spring, but I'll keep looking while on my daily treks.

 

[Alaskan]

@elliot friedman I think I may have found a few suitable trees along the Avenue of the Giants in Northern California.

 

[elliot friedman]

@elliot friedman I think I may have found a few suitable trees along the Avenue of the Giants in Northern California. View attachment 28919View attachment 28921

Many thanks Alaskan, I have been there, but alas, it was only with a four wheeled vehicle. I'll find something closer to home and share the wonders of nature on the east coast with you guys when I do.

 

[Deleted member 18083]

Many thanks Alaskan, I have been there, but alas, it was only with a four-wheeled vehicle…

Richard's selfies say it all: ebikes are wonderful! Alas, most of us contributing ebike ride photos are cobwebs (contented old blokes with electric bikes?) from the pre-selfie era. Let the fun continue!

 

[Ravi Kempaiah]

@elliot friedman I think I may have found a few suitable trees along the Avenue of the Giants in Northern California. View attachment 28919

It was a spiritual experience for me to ride on Pacific 101. Witnessing the giant redwood trees was an amazing experience. These trees have been around for centuries and have seen the whole human civilization from 1700's onwards... Looking at their size, marveling at the history they have witnessed, it was truly humbling. I dream of biking and experiencing those redwoods and giant sequoias sometime again.
This pic is form Aug 2016.

 

[Alaskan]

boy did I get lucky! I arrived at 1230 at the north end of the Avenue of the Giants, a section of old Highway 101 just south of Eureka, California. It was sunny, calm with temperature in the shade of 55 degrees (7c). I rode down and back at total of 38 miles, listening to Bach. It was beyond glorious. I arose very early this morning and drove from Ukiah to Santa Barbara, arriving at 1300 in time for a break in the rain and a nice ride along the sea wall. It was blowing rather briskly so the ride south was a grind and the ride back could have been done at 22 mph without motor assist.

I put a go pro on my helmet and recorded some of the ride. It is up on youtube Redwood Ebike Ride

Look carefully at the base of the tree and you will see my bike in the shadows.

 

[elliot friedman]

boy did I get lucky! I arrived at 1230 at the north end of the Avenue of the Giants, a section of old Highway 101 just south of Eureka, California. It was sunny, calm with temperature in the shade of 55 degrees (7c). I rode down and back at total of 38 miles, listening to Bach. It was beyond glorious. I arose very early this morning and drove from Ukiah to Santa Barbara, arriving at 1300 in time for a break in the rain and a nice ride along the sea wall. It was blowing rather briskly so the ride south was a grind and the ride back could have been done at 22 mph without motor assist.

I put a go pro on my helmet and recorded some of the ride. It is up on youtube Redwood Ebike Ride

Look carefully at the base of the tree and you will see my bike in the shadows.

I expected to hear Bach playing in the background..........Picturesque ride

 

[Alaskan]

I expected to hear Bach playing in the background..........Picturesque ride

Brandenburg concertos & various oboe concerti. I turned it off for the video, what with copyright issues.

 

[Deleted member 18083]

Moreton Bay figs in their eponymous setting… on the shores of Moreton Bay.

If you click on my ride map (same as post #23) and zoom in at 32 km using satellite view, you can see a row of a dozen or more Moreton Bay figs between Allpass Parade and the Cabbage Tree Creek inlet of Moreton Bay. It's an idyllic place to ride, or better still, to take a short break from ebiking.

This tree provides a good example of buttress rooting - as does the largest Moreton Bay fig in the US in Santa Barbara. In the Kholo Gardens example above the buttressing is negligible but one can clearly see the tree's extensive roots sinuously spreading across the ground.

 

[Alaskan]

I departed Santa Barbara after breakfast yesterday for La Jolla near San Diego. I got to meet the crew at San Diego Fly Rides...a very friendly and helpful bunch. Walking in the door was like arriving in ebike heaven.

Before I left Santa Barbara I had a chance to visit the Morton Bay fig on Dave's suggestion. My gosh what an amazing big tree with massive buttress roots.

 

[Bruce Arnold]

cobwebs (contented old blokes with electric bikes

 

[Bruce Arnold]

Great video, @Alaskan! We were out in NorCal a year ago at Christmas to see our youngest grandson. Enjoyed the visit so much. Your video makes me wish we'd had our ebikes with us!

 

[Deleted member 18083]

Ted Smout Bridge, Bramble Bay, Queensland, AU …

• A dedicated sea crossing for pedestrians and cyclist.
• The photograph was taken at the Redcliffe Peninsula end, looking south towards Brisbane.
• From the bike to the distant gantry across the motorway is about one-sixth of the bridge's length – it's a long, exposed ride.
• Ride Map (same as previous) – photo at about 67 km.
• To our left (east; ocean) is Bramble Bay (an inlet of Moreton Bay) and beyond – out of photo but clearly visible from the Homage – a distant line of great sand islands separating the bay from the vastness of the Pacific all the way to Chile.
• To our right (west; continent) are three lanes of of traffic travelling in our direction, then another bridge with three northbound lanes. Beyond that is the Pine River inlet and and the rest of Australia – much the same in width and area as the 48 contiguous US states.
• The green line separates pedestrians (our left) from cyclists. In practice, cyclists travelling in our direction enter the pedestrian strip (if empty!) out of courtesy to oncoming cyclists (or dread if they're a Sunday morning peloton).

 

[J.R.]

That looks like a bridge to nowhere, or a bridge to everywhere, depending whether one is a pessimist or an optimist. I'm really enjoying your pictures, especially this time of year. 2 snow storms here in the past week, with another on the way this weekend. I'll ride vicariously through you for a bit! Love the blue sky and green trees.

 

[Deleted member 18083]

That looks like a bridge to nowhere, or a bridge to everywhere, depending whether one is a pessimist or an optimist.

JR …
Pessimist or optimist depends largely on whether one is riding an ebike or not!

It's usually a bridge into the wind or a bridge with the wind! And I get it both ways every time! It's a long way with no motor assist when the breeze is fresh enough to rattle the guard rails.

On Monday, when I took that photo, the wind was almost straight off the water – as can be seen from the wave formation – so it was more of a diversion than an impediment.

You tempted me to look up Central PA weather: 'Weekend storm could bring freezing rain along with snow, sleet.' No thanks. Please add some photos when you can get out again.
… David

 

[Deleted member 18083]

The southern section of the Ted Smout Bridge from the fishing platform …

• The southern section of the Ted Smout Bridge from the fishing platform where I took a break on the outward journey (top photo taken on return journey).
• If you look under 'our' bridge, you can see the pylons of the northbound bridge and, in the far distance, the beach and mangroves (next photo) of Bramble Bay.
• Typically, about ninety minutes passes between my 'out' and 'back' crossings, which accounts for the clouds' change of position in the photos.

 

[bob armani]

JR …
Pessimist or optimist depends largely on whether one is riding an ebike or not!

It's usually a bridge into the wind or a bridge with the wind! And I get it both ways every time! It's a long way with no motor assist when the breeze is fresh enough to rattle the guard rails.

On Monday, when I took that photo, the wind was almost straight off the water – as can be seen from the wave formation – so it was more of a diversion than an impediment.

You tempted me to look up Central PA weather: 'Weekend storm could bring freezing rain along with snow, sleet.' No thanks. Please add some photos when you can get out again.
… David

Great photos of the bridge that never ends. What is the usual velocity of winds you are referring to? I live in the 'windy city' in the Midwest US and they can bring in some pretty strong currents with sporadic wind shifts. Just curious.