Tableland Talk, May 2021
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Monthly Archives: April 2021
The Bridge
My response to Lillian’s d’verse challenge to write a poem in a modern form called the Puente. The first and third stanza must have an equal number of lines and be connected by a second stanza bridging line demarked by the tilde. https://dversepoets.com
We dreamed of a bridge to adulthood
When we bought a house looking good
We’d settle as a family
My wild days behind me
Having scrimped and saved all we could
~the bridging finance broke us~
The deposit we mustered and paid
The lender suspiciously delayed
We were soon out of pocket
Bridging costs on the docket
Lost the house and felt quite betrayed
Strathbogie Cycling: Nagambie – Murchison Loop
Link & Chain / Road Cycling Route
Route Name / Address:
Nagambie – Murchison Loop
Start / Finish locations:
Nagambie Railway Station Prentice St., Nagambie 3608
Mode:
Road bike (or any other mode you prefer)
GPS 36.785292° S 145.160579° E
Difficulty:
Easy – as long as the distance is OK for you
Distance:
50km
Elevation:
211 – 145m
Topography:
Flat
Surfaces:
Sealed bitumen. Narrow around Kirwans Bridge and Goulburn Weir. Firm dirt shoulders. Murchison East has quite a bit of through traffic, but broad sealed shoulders. Morningside Rd has quite a bit of patching. It is the roughest section, not too bad.
If you wish to join the Rail Trail to Rushworth at Murchison (another 7 – 10km one way dependent on where you start), you will require a bike able to manage a gravel surface.
Description and Features:
Nagambie is well serviced, Murchison less so, but can offer accommodation, food and drink. This is flat river plains country. The route parallels the Goulburn River, Weir and major irrigation canals most of the way. There are various scenic sites, such as the aged Kirwans Bridge, broad vistas across prime grazing and cropping land, quality horse studs and wineries.
Riding conditions:
Generally, fairly low traffic during the week with more tourists about on the weekends. Some long straight stretches. There is little shelter from the elements on the road.
Options:
Include the Rail Trail to Rushworth.
Start anywhere
Clockwise or anti
Clockwise Cues:
Start Nagambie Railway Station
Straight Prentice St
Right High St
Left Lobbs Lane
Left Kirwans Bridge Rd
Right Goulburn Weir – Murchison Rd
Right High Rd
Right Wahring – Murchison Rd
Left Morningside Rd
Straight Hayshed Rd
Straight Grimwade Rd
Straight High St
Left Prentice St
Straight Nagambie Railway Station
Amenities (in each township):
Car parking
BBQ
Fuel
Shops
Winery
Seating
Parkland
Waterway
Playground
Picnic tables
Public toilets
Potable water
Walking tracks
Accommodation
Historic features
Sports Reserves
Swimming Pool
Railway stations
Directional signs
Information signs
Extension routes
Cautions:
Open water
Soft shoulders
Limbs may fall
Embankments
Uneven ground
Slippery surfaces
Subject to flooding
Road surfaces vary
Snakes may be active
Beware of vehicle traffic
Mobile reception may be unreliable
No potable water outside townships
Carry food, water, First Aid, be SunSmart
Be equipped for self-reliant riding
Restrictions:
Take rubbish with you
Historic relics are protected
Native flora and fauna are protected
Riders must use formed roads only
Tableland Talk May, 2021
Strathbogie Cycling: Violet Town – Boho Foothills Loop
VT Railway Station 
Leunig Country 
Smiths Rd view 
Boho Rd
Hub & Spoke Cycling Route Route Name: Boho Foothills Loop Start / Finish locations: Violet Town Railway Station Corner Primrose and Cowslip St., Violet Town 3669 Mode: eBike, road, hybrid, MTB Map: GPS 145.7164 -36.63884 Difficulty: Intermediate: modest rises Distance: 23km Elevation: 179 – 252m Topography: Undulating terrain Surfaces: Good condition bitumen Description and Features: A pleasant loop that follows the line between the base of the Strathbogie Tableland and the plains surrounding Violet Town. Broad vistas, attractive landscapes, pleasant foothills and roadsides of aged River Red Gums. Riding conditions: Largely exposed to the elements Anticlockwise Cues: Start Violet Town Station Head south east along Cowslip St Straight Urmston St Cross Hume Fwy Straight Harrys Creek Rd Left Hayes Rd Right Boho Rd Left Boho Church Rd Left Smiths Rd Left Boho Rd Right Hayes Rd Right Harrys Creek Rd Straight Urmston St Straight Cowslip ST Finish Violet Town Station Amenities (Violet Town): Car parking BBQ Fuel Shops Seating Parkland Waterway Playground Picnic tables Public toilets Potable water Walking tracks Accommodation Historic features Sports Reserves Swimming Pool Railway station Directional signs Information signs Off leash dog play Flora and fauna habitat Cautions: Limbs may fall Uneven ground No potable water Subject to flooding Road surfaces vary Snakes may be active Beware of vehicle traffic Mobile reception may be unreliable Carry food, water, First Aid, be SunSmart Be equipped for self-reliant riding Restrictions: Take rubbish with you Historic relics are protected Native flora and fauna are protected Riders must use formed roads only
The safe path
You tread the safe path
Never raising your eyes from your feet
Is that enough to take you
Where you want to go
One step, another, repeat
ABC Breakfast Radio interview
This morning’s interview with presenter Matt Dowling regarding my work on tracks and trails promotion in the Strathbogie region. Commences at 43.30minutes.
Doing
When there is nothing worth doing
But doing itself
Do
Photos provided for the Strathbogie Shire Annual Report
Click on this link for access to my photos in the report Strathbogie Shire Council Annual Report 2020
The Last Butterfly
When the last butterfly flutters by your seat on the grass When the sun moves overhead in one more timeless pass When the creek’s empty water flows by and on When the creatures of the bush all around you have gone Will you sit and reflect on what could have been When you knew it was coming it had been foreseen Will you ask why you didn’t when there was time and you could While you sat on the grass thinking I must then I should
Cycling: Ruffy – Red Gate Lane Loop
Hub & Spoke Route Name: Ruffy - Red Gate Lane Loop Mode: Gravel Grinder Start / Finish locations: Corner of Longwood – Ruffy Rd & Nolans Rd., Ruffy 3666 Difficulty: Intermediate Distance: 14.5km Elevation: 394 – 547m Topography: Undulating with some steep inclines Surfaces: Longwood – Ruffy Rd is sealed Nolans and Red Gate Lane are gravel Description and Features: Depart the Ruffy main street for rolling green hills of pasture, sweeping views and treed roadsides Rocky outcrops Riding conditions: Little traffic, road conditions are generally good, can be very hot in summer and cold in winter Options: Clockwise or anti clockwise Amenities (Ruffy): Ruffy Store open intermittent hours or by booking Car parking Seating Parkland Playground Accommodation Historic features Sports Reserves Directional road signs Information signs Cautions: Steep climbs Soft shoulders Uneven ground No potable water Slippery surfaces Subject to flooding Road surfaces vary Snakes may be active Beware of vehicle traffic Mobile reception may be unreliable Be mindful to keep within the Reserve Carry food, water, First Aid, be SunSmart Be equipped for self-reliant riding Anticlockwise Cues: Start corner of Longwood – Ruffy & Nolans Rd Straight Nolans Rd (west) Right Red Gate Lane Right Longwood – Ruffy Rd Finish corner of Longwood – Ruffy & Nolans Rd
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