Sandy Cundy

Bribie Island n the bump track

Today Jen n I rode 17km from Sandstone Point over to Bribie Island and out to the Art Centre. Along the way we past the local bump track and I couldn’t resist doing a few laps. It’s such a beautiful location for cycling as the cycle way hugs the stunning Pumicestone passage.

Hervey Bay Marina

13km ride today to check out this mural by Paul Pettersson.

Hervey Bay Marina

Went out for a 13 km ride today along the Esplanade and down to the marina to see yet another of Paul Pettersens murals. What a gloriously sunny day with a light soueasterly breeze, just perfect for cycling. The waters on the Bay look like something from the Greek Isles in all it’s blues n turquoise. 

Last Official Ride 500 Ride

Today was the last official ride on the Cancer Council Ride 500 Ride in honour of my dear friend and neighbour, Anne Royters. I have so enjoyed getting on my bike to ride in Anne’s honour whilst raising funds for much needed support and cancer research. The focus of my rides were ‘nature’, as Anne loved to immerse herself in nature. Being in Hervey Bay for most of the month the marine environment was top of the nature list. Seeing whales up close and doing their thing, snorkelling on Lady Elliot Island and appreciating beautiful murals by Paul Pettersen. Paul has such a gorgeous  way of capturing the beauty, detail and colours of nature particularly of the marine environment. I have talked to Anne on my rides and hopefully she has enjoyed the beauty n wonder of Hervey Bay alongside me. Thanks for all of your support, I rode 11 km today so I’m stoked I cracked the 200km mark  but will continue to ride until I reach my goal of 250km. 

Hervey Bay Whale Mural

Todays ride was done in two parts, a morning and an afternoon ride. This mornings ride  was under grey skies to meet family and friends for a delicious brunch at ‘The Spotted Goat’. It was to say farewell as they flew home after a fun catch-up. This afternoon I rode under clear skies n sunshine up into the commercial area of Hervey Bay to take this photo of the humpback whale mural on the Main Street side of Repco.  Riding home along the Esplanade watching the sunset colours deepen was a real treat.

Urangan Pier n Markets and Pelicans

Decked out with a new tyre n tube and a riding buddy, i headed out on a 13km ride this morning to the Urangan Pier n Wednesday markets. Wandering around the markets  and enjoying looking at all of the home made handiworks n crafts, even a timber pen maker in action. I was tempted by the YA YA sisters coffee n Darryl’s donuts. Using the excuse I needed  fuel on board to ride back to the Camp ground. The donuts were cooked fresh to order (u don’t see that very often these days) and the flavours sampled were the traditional cinnamon, Ruby rose, and lemon n lime (yes, I was sharing) and they were all absolutely delicious as was the coffee. Out along the Pier I saw the first pelican I have seen in HB this trip. In fact there were two, so I knew Anne was doing this ride right alongside us. 

Hervey Bay in search of bike bits

Finding a flat rear tyre before setting out on todays ride meant it became  a 10km ride in search of a new tyre and tubes. 

Pialba Pace Mural

Today I rode11km along the Esplanade and up to Pialba Place to take a photo of a magnificent mural being painted by a very talented local artist, Peter Pettersson. It’s overall theme is Australiana but each panel depicts a different aspect of Australia. I have been captivated by the mural and have enjoyed watching Peter create something truely special n unique. Hopefully he has it finished finished by the time we leave. 

Meet Nala, Hervey Bays Huge Humpy

After yesterdays rain, this morning brought sunshine n a balmy breeze so I set off for a 14km ride. Heading  along the Esplanade towards Point Vernon and then up to the Hervey Bay Regional Gallery where Nala the Humpy proudly breaches out of the parklands. Nala is made of iron bark timber and stainless steel. She is 11.5m long and 8.3m tall. Nala is named after her namesake, a whale that has visited the Region every year since 1992. 

Hervey Bays Whales

Today I rode the 16km circuit to the Marina and back to take a photo of the original Hervey Bay Humpbacks . He was there 25 years ago when we first visited n fell in love with HB. Over the next few rides I will ride to each of the whale statues and whale murals in HB to honour these magnificent mammals that keep luring us back to Hervey Bay..

Scarness to Torquay n Pialba

Taking advantage of a break in the rain today I managed a 10km ride from Scarness to Torquay and then to Pialba return. It was so peaceful not having to dodge the  magpies.  I did stop to admire the local bay colony that were wrapped up tightly clinging to branches in the buffeting winds.

Hervey Bay to Maryborough Rail Trail

Today I rode along the Esplanade, stopping to see one of the adult osprey in the nest with the chicks, so lovely to watch. Then it was onto the Urangan Pier which had waves breaking either side of it due to the blustery nor’easter stiring things up on the Bay. . It’s at the Pier that the partially completed Hervey Bay to Maryborough Rail Trail begins. Not 500m along the trail I encountered  my first swooping Maggie. Now normally I’m a big fan of Maggies so I hatched a plan to always get off my bike, face them n have a chat before walking off slowly.  Today I decided to add bribery to the mix, mind u I only had mixed bird seed in my pocket, not chunks of eye fillet. So I added bribery to my repertoire which seemed to work with all but two very aggressive maggies. Hence my ride took much longer to complete due to having to dismount regularly n negotiate my passage along the rail trail  with the guards.

Scarness to Point Vernon

My ride today was north along the Bay at Hervey Bay from Scarness to Point Vernon return, a total of 13km. It involved a few km  off road in an attempt to avoid an aggressive magpie protecting its nest. I don’t know if it was my bright riding jacket,  or I was just lucky, but Maggie saw me and let me know in no uncertain terms that I had invaded her space.  I dismounted, apologised profusely and walked my bike outa there, eager to return to the safety of my vans awning and my  friendly feathered friends. The Bay looked so different today as the low tide exposed all of the coral, it was like someone had pulled the plug. Not something u see everyday but the full moon has brought huge tides. 

Hervey Bay ride 3

Hervey Bay Ride 2

Got in an 8 km ride this afternoon,  along the Esplanade,  to go and see how the Osprey family were doing. Both parents we there with one protecting the nest and the other flying over the edge of the Bay. Such spectacular birds and obviously good parents. Came back along the Esplanade just in time to catch sunset from Torquay Pier. Yet another enjoyable ride with plenty of nature to enjoy.

Hervey Bay Ride

A gorgeous 14km beautiful ride today along the Esplanade at Hervey Bay between Scarness and the Pier.  The sun was shining and there was a light breeze - perfect riding conditions. A couple of mandatory stops along the way to admire nature, an Osprey sitting on a branch guarding the contents of her humongous nest and a pod of dolphins playing just off shore in the Bay. 

Noosa Ride 2

I took advantage of a beautiful Sunny morning this morning and rode 15km from Sunshine Beach to Noosa Main Beach and around Noosa Heads. It was Fathers Day and there were sooooo many cars and people out n about enjoying the glorious weather that my ride at times resembled an obstacle course. This area is picturesque and my favourite part of the ride was the off road tracks around the heads. I was even accompanied by the Aussie road runner, the brush turkey, looking for tasty morsels in the bush. . Yet again, another enjoyable ride.

Noosa Ride

Dodging the rain yesterday I rose a really scenic 18 km ride from Sunshine Beach to Peregian Beach and back. With the ocean on one side, and Noosa National Park on the other, the ride took me thru beautiful literal rainforest, over creeks and up n down many hills. Some of these hills I had to push my bike up. The highlight of the ride was watching whales breaching. Firstly adult humpies and then the calf, a pause to watch this spectacle also gave me a chance to catch my breath at the top of one of the challenging hills. 

Bribie Island ride

Yay, first  official ride for Cancer Councils Ride 500 today. Jen n I cycled over and around Bribie Island which has a great network of cycleway. The ride over the  800m long bridge to the Island was pretty precarious as the cycle/walk way was marginally wider than  our handlebars .  Our persistence was rewarded with glorious coastal vistas of the pumicestone channel and deception bay.. Our ride was made all the more special because we encountered pelicans, Anne’s favourite birds so we knew she was ‘riding’ along with us.  

Training Ride at Tallabudgera

Headed out for a 10km training ride around Tallabudgera Creek, along the beach cycleway to Palm Beach, and then over to Burleigh Heads. Such beautiful scenery and an enjoyable ride  all the while trying to avoid the storm clouds. Made it back to base within minutes of the skies opening up.

Mullumbimby Training ride

My training buddy, Jen n I rode 55 km yesterday through the beautiful hills n countryside surrounding Mullumbimby. We rode into  Mt Jerusalem National Park to Unicorn Falls passing  thru a number of villages, Glen Iris, Hillvue, Hilans Corner, Billindudgel, The Pocket, Centurion Park, Main Arm, Toolond, Verdue Valley and  Chowan Creek. The ride was both challenging and enjoyable and lots of fun.. The fact that we were  riding  E bikes made the distance over this terrain possible. 

Training rides

Getting some training kilometres under my belt  with a beautiful ride around Lake Ainsworth and out to the point at Lennox Head. I must say the surf was pumping and it gave  my riding buddy, Jen, n I just the excuse we needed to sit for a while and enjoy watching heaps of surfers taking advantage of excellent conditions carving up the consistent right handers. Then finishing off the ride  along some Sandy fire  trails that were quite challenging. 

I'm taking on the Ride500 challenge to help end cancer! Please support my Ride by making a donation.

Cancer is a leading cause of death in Australia and sadly, 1 in 2 Australians will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. But together, we can help change this by raising some serious coin to help end cancer for good.

Your donation will help fund life-saving cancer research and prevention programs, as well as provide vital support services to people impacted by cancer.

Thank you!