Getting lost never felt better

This morning's plan was a ride up over Mt Mee, then into the Glasshouse Mountains via a little narrow road from Woodford, north of Brisbane. Everything seemed to start well enough, after negotiating the maze of one-way streets in Fortitude Valley, and onto Samford Road. Some decent ups and downs early too, have I underestimated Brisbane's northern suburbs. I was even sufficiently charitable to offer a few words of encouragement (i.e. "nearly there, mate") to a struggling cyclist that I passed on one of the early climbs. Speaking of Samford Valley, it's a very pleasant area, and there are other roads here that I might one day return to explore further.





Shortly after this it was onto the climb of Mt Mee. I sensed that I wasn't quite at my best today, a result of the illness of the last few days I suspect. In anycase, I found some form on the second half of that climb, up onto the mountain, with sweeping views.



The wind up here made things difficult at times, but it wasn't an insurmountable problem. Again I was tiring earlier than I normally do, and it's not something I'd generally associate with a hilly opening to a ride. In anycase, I persevered to get across the range, through the wind, and down the screaming descent and eventually onto Woodford. Here was a problem: There is no signage in Woodford -- no indication of the road I'd been intending to follow.

Eventually I headed west toward Kilcoy for a couple of km, where I knew there to be an alternative route. After turning off onto that road, I saw another road which might double back to meet the route I'd intended to take. I turned off onto Cove Road, now a narrow farm road which soon turned to dirt, passing through isolated terrain. There was just enough traffic to convince me that this road might go somewhere, but not enough to disturb my peace. This is what these rides are all about, taking a chance, finding new routes, discovery.



Passing through the hamlet of Commissioners Flat, taking another turn onto another farm road, I ended up at Peachester. A village atop a range in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland. By now I was really feeling the pinch, experiencing the tiredness that exploration has masked for so long, but still a few km to go before Beerwah, and my train home. This final section was all down hill, a beautiful descent through the forest...



With spectacular views over the Glasshouse Mountains



I have intentions to return to Beerwah/Peachester one day. There are other roads to explore -- the back road to Maleny as well as numerous others. My legs even recovered slightly for the ride home from Nerang Railway Station too. All in all another wonderful day, which offers the promise of more to come in the future.