Like to take a family ride through the bush? Tomorrow?

Yes, tomorrow, Sunday 5th August.

I know it's short notice, but we decided to do it and I thought some others might like to join us.

The place?

Corner of Manning Road and Happy Valley Drive, Aberfoyle Park

http://www.whereis.com/sa/happy-valley/manning-rd

There's a dog park (not open to the public yet) and skateboard pit on the corner with an off road car park on Manning Road, along with a playground that suits little-uns right up to big-uns.

North of that car park is Minkarra Park, a stretch of bush that goes all the way up to Blacks Road which has a network of shared paths - that's right, bikes and walkers ... and dogs. They are crushed gravel but very firm - you could use any road bike but probably wouldn't like to use your carbon racer.

The plan is to park in the car park, go for a ride with my 11 year old (and dog in trailer maybe) up to Black's Road (3km?) and return for a picnic at the playground. Sometime Sunday.

If anyone is interested in joining us, give a yell and we'll fine tune things like times etc. If you live locally, there's a bike path along Manning Road, though I don't know how far that goes.

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Permalink Reply by Matt Brennan on August 4, 2012 at 19:04

Just a side query.  Can you get from Manning to Blacks?

I thought the shared paths stopped either side of the golf course dam.

Permalink Reply by Richard on August 4, 2012 at 19:09

Dunno Matt. As you say, the shared paths used to stop either side of the dam and although I haven't travelled the route yet, I got the idea by looking at a map on the path that showed it going all the way to the top. I guess I'll find out tomorrow ... unless you want to get the kids out to join us.

Permalink Reply by Matt Brennan on August 4, 2012 at 19:27

I'm at Williamstown tomorrow so I cant.

Let us know where they go.

Permalink Reply by Michael Pinos on August 4, 2012 at 20:18
@ matt, there is a gravel path that runs along the golf course linking fairlie drive and pinnacle court, so yes you can.
Permalink Reply by Michael Pinos on August 4, 2012 at 20:22
And the bike track in question stops at the first side street.
Permalink Reply by Richard on August 4, 2012 at 20:36

I thought so - I guess it heps the BMX riders get there safely - I sometimes use Manning for training and it's a bit squeezy in places ... well, idiots in cars seem to think so.


But back to the family ride in the bush ...

Permalink Reply by Don (Who's lost?) Nairn on August 5, 2012 at 7:19

looks like an interesting area for a casual ride.

would a 10:30 am start work for you?

I will check this thread again about 9:00 am

Permalink Reply by Richard on August 5, 2012 at 12:56

Sorry Don, I slept in (damned Olympics)

How does a 1 or 2 o'clock start sound to you?

Permalink Reply by Richard on August 5, 2012 at 13:48

We're planning to be there at 2, but that depends on my son getting home with the Falcon in time. If anyone does turn up, look for a white Falcon station wagon with bike racks on the roof. If it's there and we're not, just head off up the gravel path behind the playground - there's a creek not far in that my daughter is insisting on checking for frogs.

Permalink Reply by Richard on August 5, 2012 at 16:07

Well, that didn't work out as advertised (stop sniggering Patrick, or I'll come on one of your rides and embarress you all).

The lass, the dog and I turned up bang on 2 pm. The wee one went off to the playground while the dawg was tied to a post and just wee'd. Meanwhile, I got my bike off the back, her bike out of the car, the dog's trailer out of the boot, assembled the dog trailer, hooked it to the Road Chief, called back the daughter, got the dog into the trailer ... doncha love being a parent, it's soooo relaxing. Hmmph.

We headed off into the bush and I immediately discovered that the tracks were a bit more gravel covered than I'd thought - not a skinny tyre route so it's a good thing the Road Chief wears 27x1 1/4 tyres, though the head down, bum up riding position wasn't the best, particularly with the dog trailer pushing from behind. The lass handled it well which was a relief as she hadn't ridden on tracks that loose before (only bitumen from memory).

Then came the first up-hill bit.

Daaaaaaad! Daaaaaaad!

Just get off and flamin' walk, I thought, then translated it into Daddyspeak for her consumption.

There were a few decent slopes that beat her, but she did well.

Then we came to the end of the track, many miles from the golf course dam.

What? There's a track all the way to the top, it shows it on the maps posted along the route.

So I had a look. There is indeed a yellow dotted line at the top of the map, and a yellow dotted line at the bottom, both connected by a green dotted line ... labled 'future path'.

I returned to internal mutterings only this time, I was the one copping it.

So we headed back to the car where she played on the playground while I reversed the process described above, the main difference being that the lass took the dog so he was able to wee on everything that stood still long enough - dead set, I'm going to tie a knot in it one day.

But we did get home in time to watch the track cycling on the telebox.

Sorry for misleading you - aren't you glad you didn't come?

I have evil plans for a family day later in the year, but will give proper notice nearer the time.

In the meantime, Minkarra Park is a great resource for those of us in the Aberfoyle Park area, check it out, even if you don't take the bike.

Richard

Permalink Reply by Patrick O'Kane on August 5, 2012 at 16:26

snigger snigger

Permalink Reply by Don (Who's lost?) Nairn on August 5, 2012 at 16:58

Sounds like the dog and the daughter had a good time anyway.

is bush walking just simpler?

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