I'm on the Road to Nowhere

The first step outside

 

Today I got to do something I don't do enough of. Ride my bike! Actually, to be more specific, ride my bike with no goals, time lines, other people or expectations. And I only had a vague notion of where I was going! I do actually enjoy riding with other people, racing and participating in community rides, though I could do without the timeline of having to start work that looms over my morning commute. But there's something to be said for just riding and enjoying the scenery.

What was in store for me

 

My rough aim was to find a way to Fox Creek without going up Stone Hut Road. I've only ridden Stone Hut Road once and I'm not sure I ever want to do that again. I think I'd go up it, but coming down it all I wanted to do was let go of the bike (I was walking) and slide down on my bottom. 

Linear Park - Suburbia

 

So Stone Hut Road was out, except as a last resort. I should probably also point out there's a perfectly good, sealed road all the way to Croft Road and Fox Creek, the only problem with it was that it's the long way round and requires me to climb Gorge Road and Fox Creek Road, not too bad on a road bike, but on a mountain bike? So essentially, I was after a short cut. 

 

My favourite path

 
With no real timeline, I rolled out of the house before 10am. Mr Carl had been gone since about 7:30 am, as he was racing a criterium in town. He'd actually already completed his race before I had even left! We did have a vague plan that he would meet me at Fox Creek (with the car) and go mountain biking with me, but that depended on me actually making it.

The end of the path

 

The weather was beautiful for bike riding, a little on the chilly side, but that's ok if it means I don't get sunburnt. I quickly made my way through suburbia and headed down to my favourite path along Linear Park. The slightly overcast conditions must have kept a lot of people inside, as there was hardly anyone along the park and I fairly quickly (for a mountain bike) cruised to the top.

Relaxing by the river

There's a historic aqueduct at the top of the path that makes for a nice place to stop and take a break. Usually it's fairly quiet, but unlike the rest of the park there were lots (well ok, 5 tops) of people here! Good to see people out and about enjoying themselves on a day like today.

10 seconds - smile!

They were about to head off, so I had the place to myself. It was nice to take the time to snap a couple of photos and generally enjoy the scenery. It feels so secluded there, but in reality there's quite a busy road just the other side of the river.

The road less travelled

 

 
I decided to head off just as another cyclist pulled in, it was becoming a regular thoroughfare there! From here I headed out onto Gorge Road. I didn't intend to be on it long, it's got a fair amount of traffic of both the two and 4 wheeled varieties and I wanted to enjoy my day. I bumped into a couple of riders going the other direction looking a bit lost. Turns out they were looking for the start of the Mawson Trail, so I signalled to them that I knew where it was and to follow me. 

Clearing skies

It's a good thing I didn't actually ride to the start of the trail, or at least where I thought it was, as we'd managed to have a bit of a communication error. I knew that the Mawson Trail turns off Gorge Road about 5 km from where we were and heads up Stone Hut Road. I assumed they were looking to ride the trail, as it happens, they had already ridden down Stone Hut Road and were looking for the official start! Unfortunately I couldn't help them with that, and last I heard they were going to ride back up Stone Hut Road to get home!

Adelaide Hills - Awesome!

 
Anyway, it was time to move on as I was eager to do my own exploring. Pootling along Gorge Road was fun and I wanted to stop to take pictures, but I was a little wary of the lack of road shoulder and unpredictable traffic. So I just kept going until I reached the turnoff for Corkscrew Road.
 

The dreaded Corkscrew

 
Corkscrew Road is absolutely lovely (except the end, which is a torturous uphill) and for most of the lower section meanders alongside a stream. I knew the road I was looking for was a left hand turn gravel road so I was keeping my eyes open, but when the road started to head up and I hadn't found my turnoff I started to worry. I didn't want to ride the whole way up corkscrew! As it turns out, the road was a couple of hundred meters on from where I stopped to check my map. Admittedly the break was kind of nice, even the lower slopes of corkscrew are hard work.

Not a promising sign

 
I had found Valley Road! That was one achievement for the day, now could I make it al the way to Fox Creek? The road sign wasn't all that promising, indicating that the road didn't actually go through to anywhere I wanted to be. Well, I was here already so I decided to give it a go.

A happy Contessa

 
Valley Road was a gravel road about one car width wide, the type of road you know you ought to be cautious on as the site lines round some of corners weren't brilliant. But it was gorgeous, starting out in luscious farmland, dotted with sheep, then winding its way between steep hills. The gravel was a bit loose and washed out in places, but nothing to cause any stress. I was grinning like a Cheshire cat as I pedalled along the road, the only other people I saw were a couple of bush walkers who looked a bit surprised to see a bike on the road.
 

Perfect place for a snack!

 

But all good things must come to an end, and about 4 km in I found the end. Not of the road, the road seemed to continue, but it was the end of me riding it as a padlocked gate barred my way. I would have loved to continue, but I'd had so much fun that I couldn't be all that sad, and anyway, my legs were starting to feel it. A quick phone call to Mr Carl confirmed that mountain biking was probably out (I don't think he was too disappointed, he spent most of the afternoon sleeping, recovering from his race) and that I'd ride home.

Hiding from the sun

 

 

 

 

I still wasn't in too much of a hurry, so I pedalled back the way I had come for a bit before stopping for a snack and a few more photos. It was impossible not to be happy, sitting in the dappled sunlight, eating the snickers I had brought as a reward for getting to Fox Creek. Well, it wasn't like it was going to keep, those things go off (or get eaten by other people) if they aren't consumed quickly!

Good spot for a tea party!

Thankfully it was mostly downhill on the way home and I made it back in just over 3 hours total. Not quite before I got rained on, but almost! I was happy to be home and thoroughly enjoyed putting my feet up with a cuppa for the rest of the day! It may have been a road to nowhere, but it made for an awesome ride!

Keeping my balance

Strava Link Here