ride 25 feb

The Alarmist just boarded this train. Two days sgo, pumped along the platform on rake thin legs that he raised a little too high, wearing a too small hat propped high on his head, and announced that the next train had been cancelled. None of the regulars flinched. The train arrived just as he scampered off the platform complaining about the people that run the trains. 

He's  just boarded, same hat, floral pink and lime green shirt, carrying a shoulder bag with short straps so it sits uncomfortably high by his long neck. Reading Don Quixote keeps me on the alert for Knights Errant, & I suspect he's one. 

The Knight With The Tiny Hat did not create enough fuss to stop our train & we arrived at Newcastle station. The coastal temperature is milder,  a gentle seabreeze channeling through the train terminus.

After a short spin I see the ferry leaving the dock  allowing me time to ride further to Customs House. Back at the terminal, i wait on a floating pontoon & feel the random surge of ocean swell. Among the waiting passengers there was a holiday vibe; young mums with kids in beachy gear,  sightseers taking photos etc. Bizarrely, a Stockton local pushing his bike told everyone that he had narcolepsy. Good for you mate, lucky its not leprosy I say.  

from the dock

a red trawler with seagulls

looking back to nobbys

North to 9(?) mile beach 

At Stockton I ride the main street with a 1960s vibe  aided by the salt air. It impressed the shit out of me. My childhood memories of this place were that it stank from the steel industries, had a pissweak footy team,  the surf always closed out & the sand was fine & gold coloured. With the industries gone it looks & smells cleaner & boarders on trendy traditional. 

The ride out the 2-3k to Fern Bay cycle rudely dumped us onto a narrow edge of busy 100kph road for the next 12k. I was forced to walk the bridge over Cox's Lane, it was just too scary. It got better straight away thankfully & soon the bright lights of Williamtown loomed. I had a Maccas wrap & coffee while checking route options; I could ride home via Wtwn but it was 47k & busy or via Tomago ditto. I then remembered that I wanted a swim at Stockton. I remembered seeing a possible get out of cycling purgatory card bypass & giggle maps confirmed;  Fullerton Cove Road 2k south ran parallel to the busy road and linked directly back to the Stockton cyclepath. The 100kph zoom every 30 seconds dropped to two cars pootling by with a wave. You'd be wondering why I didn't go this way before, I did too. I couldn't believe it was so good & delivered me right on to the cycleway. 

The swim at Stockton beach was just satisfactory; the sand & surf hadn't changed but neither had the architecture. The latter was really cool, think a 1940s kiosk pavilion & a brick weather shed with tables for family picnickers. Remember them? Families who packed a basket of food, a tablecloth and unbreakable crockery. Dad would burn meat on the barbie while mum kept track of kids wanting to swim or stuff themselves with watermelon before lunch. They're probably only used by druggies now, but really retained an old skool cool.

Back on the ferry, I asked an  guy with a nondescript air on a nondescript mountain bike about the long plastic strips that dangled from his helmet.  He proceeded to tell me they were magpie deterrers, & that he & his partner were avid cyclists. They had cycled "most of the inland & Queensland coast" on $250 bikes using their caravan as a home base. And they were nearly finished with the NSW coast as well. He then spoiled it a little by going on full rant against people who ride e-bikes.   

I made the 3:30 train with 4 min to spare. I was woken from my fitful doze by the odd demonic cursing of a woman who had allegedly "taken a heap of ice". Ah the wonders of public transport.

I think the boat (in foreground) is Nikita which  I built & sailed solo to Qld, 40 years ago!

HIGHLIGHTS

Old mate's cycling tale

A rare Maccas soft serve

Visiting old skool Stockon

A dip in the surf

Riding mods: slicks, mirror.