Day Ride to the Deep South

January 17, 2021

"How about a Sunday ride to Tuggeranong?" texted my cycle touring friend John a few days ago. "We can meet Mark there for coffee."

Tuggeranong is Canberra's most southern town centre, and it is about 25 km from home. It is pleasant ride mostly on cycle ways. Over the years I've ridden there many times on recreational and training rides, so the Sunday ride idea was very appealing.

The summer weather here has been superb, the best it has been for years. The air has been clear. None of the thick smoke and dust we suffered through for months last summer. And the temperatures have been more like spring and autumn than summer. Frequent rain has the garden and countryside looking verdant.

The covid-19 situation in Canberra is well under control at the moment. Community acquired infections are a rarity. Some restrictions are still in place, but mostly life here is fairly normal. There have been recent outbreaks in Sydney (about 300 km away) however even those seem to be fairly contained. International travel is still highly restricted, and there are some state border restrictions.

The Sunday ride grew to be more than a ride to Tuggeranong. We pushed on into the countryside beyond Canberra and ventured as far south as the tiny village of Tharwa which is about 40km from home. From Tharwa we returned home via a different route which included some fire trails around the Rob Roy Range and then a section on the bike lane of the Monaro Highway. All up we covered about an 80 km circuit.

Mark and John. Mark is triumphant after our ascent of Lambrigg Lookout.

Looking from Lambrigg Lookout to southern edge of Canberra's suburbs.

Looking from Lambrigg Lookout toward the Murrumbidgee River and Lanyon Station. Lanyon Station is a grazing property established in the mid 1800s. The homestead has been restored and kept as a heritage site. The property is still operating as an agricultural business but the original house is a public site and open to visitors.

Mt Tennant. 12 months ago this area was ablaze. Vegetation has long road to recovery.

Granite tors on the hillside above the Paddy River Road

The vintage petrol bowser at Tharwa Store

The General Store at Tharwa is a step back in time.

Australian rural measure for social distancing

Magnificent view to Mt Tennant from our friends' Mark and Carols' place in Condor. We popped in for afternoon tea.

Today's ride: 80 km (50 miles)
Total: 495 km (307 miles)

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