[SUBW-A] Trip Report - Bike Ride - Parramatta to Kurnell - 5 April 2008

[David Noble]

Trip Report - Bike Ride - Parramatta to Kurnell - 5 April 2008

Riders - Stuart, Greg, Armando, Dave - and we were joined by Rachel  
for the last bit

Photos and other images at -

http://www.david-noble.net/cycling/ParramattaKurnell/ 
ParramattaToKurnell.html

It had been a few years since i had been on this ride - and some of  
the route had changed - so this meant a bit of route finding in places.

  Four of us met up outside Parramatta station - and headed off to  
Parramatta River - to where it looked like a bike trail was from my  
Google Earth observations. Sure enough - we found the trail and rode  
off along it. The weather was perfect - sunny. not too hot and no  
winds. Nice. The riding was through parklands - lined with stately  
gums trees - very pleasant indeed - until the cycle path stopped in  
an industrial area - and we had to scout around to find the best way  
ahead. Eventually we regained the path and continued on our way. We  
had joined up with the old route - and I now knew the way. Easy. At  
least it was until we hit a big gate across the path. Ahead was an  
area being redeveloped and the path was temporarily closed. There was  
a route around it - so we set off - but that was when Stuart got a  
puncture. While he was fixing it - i scouted around on the other  
(south) side of the river and saw a new (to me anyway) bike path -  
that looked good - so we changed our plans and instead of heading  
along the north side to Meadowbank  - we followed a delighful path on  
the south side which linked up with Bicentennial Park at Homebush.  
This followed the foreshores past some old docks and past Silverwater  
Nature Reserve.

 From Homebush - we picked up the Cooks River Cycle Path and followed  
it along to Botany Bay - having a late lunch at Brighton-Le-Sands.  
There, Greg and Armando left us - and headed off towards Rockdale  
Station. Stuart and myself continued on along the shore of Botany Bay  
- along a cycle-way to Tarren Point Bridge. the cycle-way continued  
on the other side - at first along roads - but later along a section  
of boardwalk near the Mangroves through to near Shark Park. Here we  
met up with Rachel - and welcomed the cool drinks she had brought.  
The cycle-way continued towards Cronulla. We followed it and then  
turned off and went along the cycle-path on the side of the road to  
Kurnell. We went all the way to the lookout at Cape Solander - and  
then rode back to Cronulla - where we caught a train home (except for  
Rachel who could ride home)

For a ride through the city - this one was pretty good - and just  
about all off road. Thanks to the others who came along for making it  
a nice day.

Dave

________________________________

David Noble
dnoble at ozemail.com.au
http://members.ozemail.com.au/~dnoble
http://www.david-noble.net