Calendar


Trip Diary

08-2012 Peel Island (An Ekka tradition)
08-2012 Moreton Island
07-2012 Rocky Point
06-2012 Blakesleys
06-2012 The Bedroom
05-2012 Breakfast on Karragarra
05-2012 St Helena
05-2012 Perigee Bedroom
02-2012 Queen Mary II
02-2012 Mud Island
11-2011 St Helena
11-2011 Shorncliffe to Redcliffe
10-2011 Weinam Ck to Dunwich
10-2011 Peel Island
10-2011 Breakfast on Karragarra
10-2011 St Helena and Green Island
09-2011 Wivenhoe Dam
08-2011 Fraser Island
08-2011 Canaipa Passage
08-2011 Karragarra
08-2011 Stradbroke Island
07-2011 St Helena
07-2011 So long, and thanks for all the fish.
05-2011 Green Island
05-2011 Wivenhoe Dam
04-2011 Upper Noosa River Weekend
04-2011 Easter at Woodgate
04-2011 Mud Island
04-2011 Karragarra for Breakfast
02-2011 Bongaree
02-2011 St Helena
01-2011 Weinam Ck to Blakesleys
10-2010 Moore to Blackbutt Rail Trail
10-2010 Whitsundays
09-2010 Mud Island
09-2010 Redcliffe
09-2010 Girraween
08-2010 Upper Noosa River
08-2010 Potts Point
08-2010 Peel Island
08-2010 Gateway to City Bike Ride
08-2010 Mud Island
07-2010 Blakesleys Afternoon Paddle
07-2010 Kedron Brook to Scaborough (and return)
04-2010 Colmslie Beach
04-2010 Brighton Park
01-2010 Nundah Creek
01-2010 Blakesleys
01-2010 Upper Noosa River (with a difference)
01-2010 New Year Paddle
12-2009 Potts Point
08-2009 Raby Bay to Peel Island
08-2009 Wynnum Creek to King Island
07-2009 Sandgate to Redcliffe
05-2009 St Helena
04-2009 Wellington Point to Peel
04-2009 Breakfast on Karragarra
03-2009 King Island
03-2009 Mission Point
03-2009 Mud Island
01-2009 Morning Tea at The Pin
01-2009 Circumnavigate Macleay Island
01-2009 New Year Recovery Paddle
12-2008 Caniapa
12-2008 Pine Rivers
11-2008 Coochie Night Paddle
10-2008 Breakfast at Karragarra
10-2008 Girraween
10-2008 Coomera Falls Circuit
09-2008 Hinchinbrook Island
09-2008 Manly Harbour Festival
09-2008 Linville to Blackbutt Rail Trail
08-2008 Weekend at Blakesleys
08-2008 Old Woman Island
08-2008 Circumnavigate Macleay Island
07-2008 Upper Noosa River
07-2008 Weinam Creek to Dunwich
06-2008 Scarborough to Bongaree
06-2008 Wellington Pt to St Helena
06-2008 North Stradbroke Jazz Weekend
05-2008 Point O'Halloran to Blakesleys
04-2008 Upper Noosa River
04-2008 Aquatic Paradise to St Helena Is
04-2008 Eprapah Creek
03-2008 Paradise Point to Moreton Island
03-2008 Wynnum Ck to Tangalooma Point
03-2008 Amity Point weekend
03-2008 Bremer River
03-2008 Brisbane River - Gregors Ck to Barneys Rocks
02-2008 Play Day - Coochie Mudlo
02-2008 World Wetlands Day Paddle
02-2008 Brisbane River night paddle
01-2008 Australia Day Week
01-2008 Blakesleys 3/4 Moon Paddle
01-2008 Shorncliffe to Nudgee
01-2008 Brisbane River - Barneys Rocks to O'Sheas Crossing
12-2007 Raby Bay to One Mile via Blakesleys and Potts Point
12-2007 Diamond Head to Tipplers
12-2007 Wynnum Ck to Green and St Helena Islands
11-2007 Bike Ride Bay Islands
11-2007 Tingalpa Creek
10-2007 Potts Point Night Paddle
10-2007 Return to Gilligans Island
10-2007 Salt Water Creek and Coomera River
09-2007 Elimbah Creek
09-2007 Scarborough to Caboolture River
09-2007 Fraser Island Whale Watching
09-2007 Circumnavigate Russell Island
08-2007 Pine Rivers Night Paddle
08-2007 Linville to Blackbutt Rail Trail
08-2007 Brisbane River City Reach
08-2007 Peel Island
08-2007 Brisbane River
08-2007 Green Island Day Trip
07-2007 Pine Rivers Night Paddle
07-2007 Mooloolah River
07-2007 USS Kitty Hawk in Brisbane River
06-2007 Black Tie on Peel Island
05-2007 Harrys Hut Camping Weekend
04-2007 Theodolite Creek
04-2007 Upper Burrum River
04-2007 Circumnavigate Big Woody
04-2007 Walkers Point to Toogum
03-2007 Boat Passage to Big Sandhills
12-2006 Woodgate to Mon Repos
10-2006 Fraser Island Whale Watching
04-2005 Keppel Islands
12-2004 Fraser Island
10-2004 Munna Point Camping Weekend
10-2004 Mooloolaba to Maroochydore
09-2004 Coochie Mudlo Island
08-2004 Karragarra Island
07-2004 Wellington Point to St Helena Island
06-2004 Noosa River Camping Weekend
05-2004 Brisbane River Night Paddle
04-2004 Budds Beach to Moreton Island
10-2003 Bulwer to Tangalooma
05-2003 Eatonsville to Harwood Island

Links

SEQSK Discussion Group
SEQSK Newsletters
Adventurer Anthony Malloch

Linville to Blackbutt Rail Trail
Date: 06-09-2008
A tight group of five turned up for the spring ride along the Linville to Blackbutt rail trail. The welcome heavy rain that had fallen in and around Brisbane the day before had missed the area, but there had been enough to wet the track, create sloppy mud and puddles for a tyre wash and a pepe stripe.

Although today's crew were all paddlers, there were some cross trainers amongst us and I knew from the outset that I was going to be the slow poke on the pull up to Blackbutt. Stan volunteered to be keeper of the key, which was just as well as he was jumping fit and having the key reigned him in. There are some of advantages being slow poke for the day. While you might huff and puff up the hill, by the time you get to the gate it is open so you just sail on through. Sure you get lapped before the next gate, that is by design so you can continue to breeze through the waiting gates.

Spring is a great time for this ride. The flowers are out, there is pollen a plenty so it really was a huff, puff and sniff trek accompanied by a variety of birdlife. Cloisters of bellbirds chimed, with so many that you could see the little critters darting amongst the eucalypts. A fat pigeon or dove with light mauve back and brown feathers on the wing with a distinctive whooping flight stayed amongst tall trees, while pairs of tiny birds with startling red breasts and pardolotes darted amongst the shrubs next to the track. The day was cool but a headwind and steady incline ensured we did not chill off.

The ravines where bridges had once crossed had me laying claim to plenty of 'girl germs' and walking the bike through. After last time I knew it wouldn't take much to have me can off and I did not want to have to replace another helmet. Chris called for morning tea after one gully so we took a pew on some heavy old wooden piers that would have supported one of the bridges. The Anzac biscuits from the Linville Store went down well with a coffee.

The remembered downhill run into Blackbutt seemed to flatten out into a headwind. By the time we pulled up at the park it was quick smart to the bakery. The lazy wind persisted so we took refuge on the grass in the shelter of the loo block. With full bellies full after second (and in some case third) visit to the bakery here we soaked in the warmth of the sun.

A few lads were seen to ride over the cycle jumps whilst dodging a belligerent magpie. Some jumpers were more successful than others. Onto the downhill rally, no slow poke here, that was until the mandatory walk down the gully or having to wait for the gate keeper to arrive.

The track now continues another 7Km onto Moore, however there were no other takers so we left that for next year's spring ride - Moore to Blackbutt.
Bike rack at Linville Station
Photo by Chris
The Gate Keeper
Photo by Chris
Sloshy track
Photo by Chris
Muddy and loving it
Photo by Chris
Not quite so keen on the mud
Photo by Chris
Slow poke making a temporary dash for it
Photo by Chris
Typical terrain
Photo by Chris
The crew