Nah, not your local watering-hole. Your local ride.
You know, the one you always go on because you can't be bothered going for a proper ride, but still want to take the bike out for a run.
I've got a lot of choice when it comes to long, fast, straight backroads, as all the canefields are criss-crossed with an excellent network of bitumen service roads. & now the cane harvest is over for the year, they're quite safe too.
But I soon get bored of chasing a bit more speed out of my Scrambler. It's not what it's about anyway. So when I want to put a few more scratches on my centre-stand. I go here.
The Lake Morris Rd to Coperlode Dam, is the most challenging 16klms of bitumen within the city limits. & is only 4klms from my place.
The lower section is relatively easy, & offers great views of the city, as it climbs the Whitfield Range
Looking East across Cairns City & Trinity Bay, with the Yarabah Ranges in the background.
The road narrows & gets a lot trickier, when it enters the jungle canopy, at the top of the range.
The road is challenging, bordering on downright dangerous.
Lot's of tourists (including coaches) use this road, which is a narrow access road that was deliberately built to keep speeds low (it has a 40kph speed limit the whole way) So it's not for the uninitiated, & I'd reccomend a lot of care, until you've got it mastered.
& then take more care, as you don't know the road as well as you think you do.
It's that kind of road. & that's the attitude I always have when I ride it.
However the destination is well worth the challenge.
Lake Morris was created in 1976 when Coperlode Dam was built across Freshwater Creek to give Cairns the best water supply in Oz.
That water is over 100 ft deep, & the dam is currently at 97% capacity at the start of our rainy season! It doesn't even need pumping, as the whole city's on gravity feed.
With all those clouds rolling in, I'm glad I stayed local today, yet still got a decent ride in.
So where do you go to get your jollies?
When you've only got time to squeeze in a quickie.
Ride Always
Scratch
Major Disclaimer: If you haven't got the message already. This is a very dangerous road! If you're going to do it. Take a lot of care!
N.B. Monday's the best day to ride it, as the kiosk at the lake is closed, so the tourists don't go up there as much. Just don't expect to get a drink or an ice-cream at the top (unless you bring it with you)
But watch out for cyclists & joggers, at all tmes.
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