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Host Sites : Laidley Shire Council [Website: www.laidley.qld.gov.au] RACQ - Features-Need Directions? [www.racq.com.au] WEEKEND MOUNTAIN BIKE RIDING AT LAIDLEY Friday 19th to Sunday 21st November 2004.
Pre-Departure - No Bookings Required!! Camp Site – Centenary Park Camping Ground is operated by Laidley Shire Council. Centenary Park Camping Ground, Thornton is located approx. 25Km south of Laidley on the Mulgowie, Thornton, Townson Road. It is situated on the bank of Laidley Creek, and surrounded by the Little Liverpool and Mistake Ranges, amidst rich agricultural farmland. Camping is free for the first three nights. Facilities include hot & cold Showers, composting Toilets, Laundry tub (or kitchen sink for wash-up), BBQ (bring your own wood), Playground and Refuse bins. Hotel – Mulgowie Country Club Hotel 5465 9127 10Km north of Thornton offers . Bistro Meals – Friday and Saturday Nights - Dinner from 6pm - 8pm. Sunday Lunch from Noon - 2pm; Meals are accompanied by self-serve salad, and/or vegetables - ‘bistro-style’. Menu Prices – Rib Fillet $16; T-bone or Rump Steak $15; Half-serve Rib or Rump $10; Pork Chops $13.50; Ham Steak $11; Lamb Cutlets $10.50, Half-serve$8.50; Chicken Kiev $13; Chicken Schnitzel $10; Fish of Day $12.50, Half-serve$9.50; Prawn Cutlets $13, Half-serve$6.50; Seafood basket $13.50; Roast (varies, & not always) $9.50; Salad Bar (alone) $6.50, Half-serve$3; Waffles & Icecream $4; Chips l$3, s$1.75; and All These for $4 ea – Munchies&Chips; Pizza&Chips; FishBites&Chips: and Calamari&Chips. Entertainment – First Sunday of Month – Country Music Jam Session; and Bull Riding - Practice sessions every second Wednesday night from 6.30pm. And the ‘real thing’ happens when??
Packing – What to Take Pack for the trip using Bob’s Bike Book list, provided by Robyn! Thanks Robyn. Or, use the BQ packing list, but baggage limits do not apply. (See attachments) Evenings in the hills surrounding the Lockyer Valley can be cool, even in late Spring – so pack some warm clothes!! Bicycles – we intend to use mountain bikes for the Bicentennial Trail (BT) section on Saturday, and enjoy their country-road versatility for Sunday (unless you choose to bring two bikes!!).
Saturday 20th November 2004 You need to carry supplies – water, food, snacks, tools, tubes, etc. for your needs whilst peddling on Saturday from Centenary Park Camping Ground at Thornton 11km along the Main Camp Creek Road, then 4Km on BT to Tenthill Creek Road (gravel); 18Km to Mount Sylvia (locality, no amenities), then narrow bitumen to Tenthill Hotel[11Km] for lunch. Note : Limited services en route are available typical of rural localities / hamlets on a weekend, but Tenthill has a Hotel!!. We will lunch in Tenthill. Tenthill Caravan Park General Store has hamburgers, meat & salad rolls, and a great range of cold drinks. There is a park opposite with tree-shade. Then its only 45Km uphill and down dale to Thornton Campground!! See RACQ Map 2 & 3)
Sunday 21st November 2004 You need to carry supplies – water, food, lunch?, snacks, tools, tubes, etc. for your needs whilst peddling on Sunday morning from Thornton to Townson and back – a ~25Km simple easy country-road ride. Alternatively, something more strenuous than the Sunday ride to Southbank!! Thornton to Mulgowie to Mt Berryman to Laidley (33Km mostly downgrade for Morning Tea), then return directly via Mulgowie (25Km mostly upgrade) before a light lunch, and pack up to go home.
Phone Coverage On Saturday, I understand that there is mobile phone coverage within the township of Laidley, and across the Valley, because we travel along the northern slope of the Little Liverpool and Mistake Ranges, and the locality phone towers are in Gatton and Laidley. ‘Public’ landline phones are available on Saturday’s route, at Laidley. However, on Sunday’s either route we travel within the same coverage area, so mobile reception should be OK.
Hoping you have a great week-end – Why be L, when you can be J !!! Itinerary – Friday Saturday Sunday 19th, 20th and 21st November 2004; Car Travel Where to Go!! [Check www.racq.com.au Features “Need Directions? Try ‘Travel Planner’” for your own directions] or My best route is from Brisbane-Ipswich Rd, take Warrego Highway 54 towards Toowoomba, exit left at Plainland; take the road south to Laidley, then through Laidley township, right at the T junction, then onto Mulgowie-Townson Road to Thornton 25km from Laidley. (See RACQ route attached- Map1)
When to Go!! Friday 19th November 2004 – “Experience a ‘Friday Evening Outdoors” Travel times – Sherwood to Plainland turnoff 60 mins; Plainland to Laidley 11 mins (stop for a counter tea at 1 of Laidley’s 4 hotels, if you’ve left work late, and won’t get to Mulgowie Country Club Hotel before Bistro closing!!) Laidley to Thornton 31 mins. Total Travel distance 98Km. Total Travel Time 1 hr 42mins. On Arrival at Centenary Park Camping Ground - Arrange your accommodation on Friday. Prior to sundown; pitch your tent and settle in; Unpack your bike - ride the little loop road that crosses to the west bank of Laidley Creek. Feed your inner-self on the scenery and the fresh air. Friday night camper arrivals may wish to self-entertain / party at the Camp Grounds or Check out Mulgowie Country Club Hotel!! Bistro dinner from 6-8pm….There’s not a lot else in Mulgowie…Why go back to Laidley?
Saturday 20th November 2004 Aim for 8.00am arrival at the latest for a 8.15am sharp ride departure on Saturday You will need to leave home at about 6am to start with us!! Centenary Park Camping Ground is located approx. 25Km south of Laidley on the Mulgowie, Thornton, Townson Road.
You need to carry supplies – water, food, snacks, tools, tubes, etc. for your needs whilst peddling on Saturday from Campground at Thornton 11km along the Main Camp Creek Road, then 4Km on BT to Tenthill Creek Road (gravel); 18Km narrow bitumen to Mount Sylvia (locality, no amenities), then wider bitumen to Tenthill Hotel[11Km] for lunch. Note : Limited services en route are available typical of rural localities / hamlets on a weekend, but Tenthill has a Hotel!!. We will lunch in Tenthill. Tenthill Caravan Park General Store has hamburgers, meat & salad rolls, and a great range of cold drinks. There is a park opposite with tree-shade. Then its only 45Km uphill and down dale to Thornton Campground!! See RACQ Map 2 & 3)
We can leave camp/tents erected on-site in safety against vandalism/theft whilst away on rides. Alternatively, we can stuff our equipment inside our vehicles on –site. J
Saturday 20th November 2004 Morning Ride – 44 Km ride from Thornton to Tent Hill Hotel Departing from the Centenary Park Camping Ground at 8:15am sharp. Depart Centenary Park Camping Ground at 11km along the Main Camp Creek Road, then 4Km on BT to Tenthill Creek Road (gravel); 18Km narrow bitumen to Mount Sylvia (locality, no amenities), then wider bitumen to Tenthill Hotel [11Km] for lunch. At Tent Hill, we can drink at the Hotel?, buy lunch at the Tenthill Caravan Park General Store, or bring BYO, and eat in the park area opposite the Pub.
Saturday 20th November 2004 Afternoon Ride – 46 Km ride from Tent Hill Hotel to Thornton (See RACQ Maps 2&3) From Tent Hill Hotel we travel about 10Km back to Caffey, then on Zampechs Rd and Caffey Connection Road, to Ingoldsby, then up the valley to Zischkes Road, (then gazetted, but unmade road in between!!)then into Ropeley Road and Ropeley Rockside Road, and Rockside Mountain Road, then Berlin Road, (and down Laidley-Mt Beryman Road to the Mulgowie-Townson Road and up to Thornton, as the planned route includes ‘gazetted, unmade roads!!) and up Laidley Mount Berryman Road through Mount Beryman, left onto Coleman Road/Beckman Road/Mulgowie Road, through Mulgowie to Thornton.…. the RACQ page makes this easy!!
That’s 90Km (about 110Km!!)from your rides commencement this morning!!. You’ve deserved a rest, cool drink, maybe a shower and get ready for dinner?? Should you have stopped at the Tenthill Hotel longer - ?? Before riding across the hills??
Saturday 20th November 2004 Evening Activities Dinner from 6pm - 8pm – – Mulgowie Country Club Hotel 5465 9127 offers . Bistro Meals – Friday and Saturday Nights - Dinner from 6pm - 8pm. Sunday Lunch from Noon - 2pm; Meals are accompanied by self-serve salad, and/or vegetables - ‘bistro-style’. Menu Prices – Rib Fillet $16; T-bone or Rump Steak $15; Half-serve Rib or Rump $10; Pork Chops $13.50; Ham Steak $11; Lamb Cutlets $10.50, Half-serve$8.50; Chicken Kiev $13; Chicken Schnitzel $10; Fish of Day $12.50, Half-serve$9.50; Prawn Cutlets $13, Half-serve$6.50; Seafood basket $13.50; Roast (varies, & not always) $9.50; Salad Bar (alone) $6.50, Half-serve$3; Waffles & Icecream $4; Chips l$3, s$1.75; and All These for $4 ea – Munchies&Chips; Pizza&Chips; FishBites&Chips: and Calamari&Chips. Entertainment – First Sunday of Month – Country Music Jam Session; and Bull Riding - Practice sessions every second Wednesday night from 6.30pm. And the ‘real thing’ happens when?? Alternatively, Laidley - 25Km away has four hotels – Railway, Exchange, Hotel Laidley and Queensland National. But who would want to go?? Or self-cater - ? Then - What do you suggest?? J Campfires are permitted in Camping Ground BBQ facilities, and firewood is NOT supplied?? We can fix this!!] Wine and Star gaze from the campground?;
Sunday 21st November 2004 Ride – 25Km loop south to Townson; or -- 58Km loop north to Laidley. Sunday Breakfast - Self-cater at Centenary Park Camping Ground Departing from the Centenary Park Camping Ground at 8am. Alternatively, a ~25Km simple easy country-road ride from Thornton to Townson and back; Or, something more strenuous than the Sunday ride to Southbank!! Thornton to Mulgowie to Mt Berryman to Laidley (33Km mostly downgrade for Morning Tea), then return directly via Mulgowie (25Km mostly upgrade) before a light lunch, and pack up to go home.
Sunday Lunch – Meals served on Sunday at Mulgowie Country Club Hotel!! Or, you may have to choose one of Laidley’s venues – Any of its 4 Hotels , or the famous pie-shop frequented by cyclists!! J Packing Up Pack vehicles, prepare bikes for return to Brisbane.
Departure Home from Thornton Presumably the reverse of how you got there – and it seems like it was only yesterday!! But it could have been Friday night with cycling friends, if you got organised!! J Costs and Budget Ready Reckoner [Fill in the bits relevant for you!!]
Hoping you have a great week-end – Why be L, when you can be J !!!
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