 Despite all the planning and ideating the weeks prior to the June long weekend the final route wasn't finalised till midnight before the ride. A few hiccups along the way included initially mapping out a route that potentially had no water refills, then accidentally creating a route through the restricted area around Lake Burragorang. In the end it was decided 5:20am train to Lithgow and ride out to Mittagong. Day 1 - Lithgow to Shooters Hill via Jenolan Cave Strava link Distance: 66.87 km Elevation: 1,568 m Riding time: 4h 28m Beautiful bits: the decent into Jenolan Caves, wedges at the cafe at Jenolan, camping in the state forest Shitty bits: the freezing cold chill (the kind where you think your fingers and toes will snap off), big vehicles on the narrow roads, guns shots in the middle of the night (thankfully I didn't actually shit my pants but I was close). Food Breakfast: avo bagels on the train Morning tea: apple pie from the Lithgow cake shop, picked up more rolls for later Lunch: Avo + tuna rolls, Avo + tofu rolls Afternoon snack: Soy chai, coffee and chips at the Jenolan caves kiosk Dinner: Lentil dhal and rice in one pot.  Day 2 - Shooters Hill to Wombeyan Caves through state forests Strava link Distance: 74.93 km Elevation: 1,189 m Rolling time: 5h 8m Ave speed: 14.6km/h Beautiful bits: Morning sunrise in the state forest, lunch by the fire at Werong camp site, decent into Wombeyan Caves, 2 ice-creams at the kiosk Shitty bits: coffee in oats (very, very bad), google navigating onto private roads, drones and dirt bikes on the camp site Tips: If lost, look out for the Bicentennial trail signs Food Breakfast: oats + nuts + coffee Morning tea: Jules' muesli bars Lunch: Avo + tuna wraps, Avo + tofu wraps Afternoon snack: 2 ice creams each from the Wombeyan kiosk Dinner: Coucous with sultanas, fried eggplant, felafel in tomato sauce  Day 3 - Wombeyan Caves to Mittagong via Wollindilly River Strava link Distance: 65.77 km Elevation: 1,049 m Rolling time: 3h 57m Average: 16.6km/h Beautiful bits: breakfast with the roos, slow gentle climbs, lunch at Wollondilly lookout Shitty bits: freezing hands Food Breakfast: oats + nuts, coffee (separately) Morning tea: Jules' muesli bars, trail mix, dried avos Lunch: Avo + tuna wraps, Avo + tofu wraps Afternoon snack: beer from the Mittagong pub  Tips: 1. Check the restricted areas / access with NSW Water 2. Check if hunting is allowed where you're camping, the Department of Primary Industries website 3. Check if google has mapped you onto a private road on six maps 
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.Cargo bikes can be the solution to the last mile delivery of a package in an urban dense environment.
Read more about the benefits in Aaron's thesis - Planning the last mile: Improving urban freight delivering using cyclelogistics  Photo source: Dixon, 2019. Planning the last mile: Improving urban freight delivering using cyclelogistics I stood on the high line here salivating. Sydney, here is a mega city and even they have managed to go on a road diet. A road diet in NYC looks like a lane for shared bikes, a bicycle lane, pedestrian crossings at each and every leg of the intersection. And signal phases that don't force you to sprint across as soon as the pedestrian light goes green just in case you get stuck a quarter way across and people try to run you over. 
I was on my way to meet my friend in Brooklyn and what do I see when I walk out of the subway station, walking along the pedestrian overpass, over 8 lanes of traffic? A beautiful separated bi directional cycleway and footpath running down the middle of the chaos buffered nicely by trees and parked cars.  That's actually not Penn Station. The station is behind me in the photo and unfortunately the original station was knocked down to make way for Madison Square. This building is actually the post office and was built to complement the station.  
Just blown away by the Bicycle network in this crazy city.
The signal times are long and frequent for pedestrians. The one way streets arranged in a grid pattern with minimal driveways make for an easy bicycle network. Distance: 29 kms Elevation: negative. downhill to Nowra Strava link. Highlights: - Downhill - The biggest epic vegan breakfast at Nowra (The deli on Kinghorne)  Distance: 60 kms (37 miles) Actual moving time: 5 hours 51 mins Strava link. Day of Hike-a-biking. What an epic day under the sun all exposed. Highlight: - Empty Firetrails - Swimming in the creek of the waterfall  Day 3 - Mount Scanzi Distance: 71.5 kms Actual moving time: 5 hours 51 mins Strava link. Highlights: - Pie from the pie shop - Can of solo from the bakery - Bumping into Tim and Saskia at Kangaroo Valley - Dip in the creek down Mount Scanzi  Day 2 - Kangaroo River to Kangaroo Valley Distance: 17.22 km (one way) Strava link. Today was supposed to be the "rest day". Little did I realise the climb out of the camp site was a killer. Especially on a scorching hot Australian summer's day. In hindsight maybe we should have packed up and moved closer to the valley that night. Whatever. Still managed to laze about by the river and go for a few dips. Back at camp the boganville left but left behind all their trash. If you just ignore all the bottles and plastic and rubbish, the camp site was pretty nice and peaceful with perfect sunset viewing position.  |
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