D
Deleted member 18083
Guest
Other people having fun…
One of the perks of train travel is being able to eavesdrop on other people's lives! So it is also when travelling along a disused, sorry 'repurposed', rail line.
My local rail trail, the country's longest (at 161 km), follows the old Brisbane Valley branch line which passes just a few hundred metres from our home. Although it usually takes two minutes to reach the rail trail, I persuaded myself (because the sky looked 'ominous') that today's ride required an initial trip by car to the small country town of Esk from which I would ride to the village of Toogoolawah and on to Harlin which is too small to qualify as a hamlet.
Away from the road, all was quiet… until there came a droning from the leaden sky. Must be a plane. (One that I couldn't see!) And then, there it was, emerging from the clouds. Who'd want to be up there of all places!
That they needed a mug of coffee as much as I did became apparent as their craft circled round and came right down to my level, just clearing the rail trail, and touched down as lightly as a feather, although decidedly more noisily, on a gravel runway I had failed to notice before. What fun!
As usual, add the two distances (54 km total so far + 21 km outward journey) to get the total for the ride (75 km). Whether this is actually correct will depend on riding the same route out and back, which is usual on a rail trail.
One of the perks of train travel is being able to eavesdrop on other people's lives! So it is also when travelling along a disused, sorry 'repurposed', rail line.
My local rail trail, the country's longest (at 161 km), follows the old Brisbane Valley branch line which passes just a few hundred metres from our home. Although it usually takes two minutes to reach the rail trail, I persuaded myself (because the sky looked 'ominous') that today's ride required an initial trip by car to the small country town of Esk from which I would ride to the village of Toogoolawah and on to Harlin which is too small to qualify as a hamlet.
Away from the road, all was quiet… until there came a droning from the leaden sky. Must be a plane. (One that I couldn't see!) And then, there it was, emerging from the clouds. Who'd want to be up there of all places!
That they needed a mug of coffee as much as I did became apparent as their craft circled round and came right down to my level, just clearing the rail trail, and touched down as lightly as a feather, although decidedly more noisily, on a gravel runway I had failed to notice before. What fun!
Toogoolawah, Brisbane Valley, Queensland
As usual, add the two distances (54 km total so far + 21 km outward journey) to get the total for the ride (75 km). Whether this is actually correct will depend on riding the same route out and back, which is usual on a rail trail.
Last edited by a moderator:
What can I say, I just got carried away and decided to explore some new roads! I found some gems and will revisit them again soon, I love trying out new roads I find in the opposite direction at a later date! I will have some big climbs and some lovely descents to look forward to!
