The Tweed Ride 2021

The day dawned calm and clear – a great day for a Spring ride in a group.

It was a bit cool as I pushed the trailer out and loaded the trike onto it but the sun was shining promising a warm morning later. Trailer attached to car and we were off.

It was a quiet drive into Launceston and I headed for a car park close to Royal Park as it used to be free on a Sunday and not much used. It remains free on Sunday! There was plenty of room to take over two spots to fit the car/trailer in.

It’s a short footpath cycle up to Princes Park – the site of the Junction Arts Festival. The Tweed Ride is part of the Festival.

I was a bit early. Had to move some barricades to get in but they did let me in. I think the “gate keeper” thought I was disabled and allowed me in out of sympathy. Thank you. To keep us all safe the Festival it was a voluntary “mask on” event and the gatekeeper passed me one to wear.

It was quiet in the park as I sat watching people prepare and open their food stalls. After a while a nearby coffee machine had steam up and was ready for business – so I had a cup.

I was first in the queue to register for the ride – booked online but needed to pick up a number. The early rider gets the low number – I scored Number 1. I had brought a couple of safety pins to attach it to my Op Shop bought Harris Tweed jacket. It’s a jacket with history. Several patched areas indicate it has been feasted on in the past – maybe by silverfish? The cuffs are really frayed and seem disconnected from the lining. It’s great – an old jacket with patina!

The number of riders gradually built up and I had a chat with a few. There was a Brompton there – an orange one. It caught my eye because it had a disc brake on the front. The owner told me he bought the bike in London, had ridden it in New York for a few years and had fitted the disc brake before heading to Tasmania – to handle the downhills which would overheat the wheel with the normal rim brakes. Not a bad idea. With a disc brake I would think about tackling the Mount Wellington descent. Unfortunately it doesn’t come cheap as a non-standard extra wide titanium front fork is needed.

Then it was time for the off : here is the video. Listen for the “clanks”. One guy had a picnic basket on the rear rack and the china was crashing about.

On my return I met up with a couple who were interested in trike riding. I had told them I would be there with Bluey and so they came along for a look. And a little ride.

Then it was time to claim my Gin and Tonic and cucumber sandwiches.

Finally I left the festivities and returned to the car for the trip back t0 Longford. A satisfying day in all.

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Other Stuff

Phil has received the e-wheel for the Bike E and he has started stripping the bike down to enable the fitting of the Mountain Drive.

Riding the Norfolk Plains has been very enjoyable this past week. Lots of Spring-like days with one reaching into the 20s for the first time in months. 23°C. Lovely.

There are lots of birds to spot too. The Swamp Harriers are again patrolling the paddocks, the Magpies are quite noisy but not swooping, Masked Lapwings have numerous children running around the Longford nature strips, a couple of Eastern Rosellas were seen along Wilmore’s Lane together with lots of Finches, swallows, Skylarks and the occasional Grey Fantail.

There is still plenty of sitting water about. The above “lake” is the site of last year’s peat fire which dragged on for a number of weeks. It’s well and truely out now!

’til next time ………………….