Queen Mary Falls Ride 40ks The 70k riders had wheeled out of the park at around 10,00am but the 40k riders had another hour to sit around and soak up the day. While we were waiting for kick off some of us went for a quick spin to the QM falls just across the road. Wow what a beautiful site 50m freefall to the rocks, I would have bet they were dry but there was some water going over the falls. 11.00am arrived soon enough and we wheeled right out of the van park. We headed down the road, the air was crisp and clear but cool and damp as well. It was like riding with the air con on full blast. I was keen to get into this ride and explore some new country. We turned left about 3 ks down the road and headed up an old dirt road that looked like no one had been down it for 20 years. We crossed paddocks, followed power lines and pushed our bikes up hills and through grass ½ way up our wheels. We followed cattle trails, fell off (not me) and this was in the first 10 ks. What had I let myself in for? After an hour or so we crested a ridge and came up to a fence. This was the border with NSW enemy territory. The rabbit proof fence. Pity it still lets the blues in hehe. We climbed the fence and meet up with the 70k riders and the 4WD support vehicle. We turned east and followed the border fence for a while
on the edge of a national park. We turned south into the park down a fire trail. It took us deep into the Koreelah National park. I m glad Madmike knew where he was coz I had no idea. The fire trails are rough and over grown but rideable. I was having so much fun, hard work but fun. We flew down the fire trails, mad down hill, rocky, twisty, blind corners. It was scary fun. The climbs out of the valley were leg burning, throat drying, gut busting. and then it got steep. We ended up at the Koreelah Camp Ground where we stopped for lunch. There were a lot of tired bodies and dirty bikes lying around mine included. We lay around talking about the ride so far and recovering our energy. We still had major climbs in front of us to get out of the valley. My legs gave out about ½ way up the first climb. I was pedalling at 4.5kph, walking pace. My heart rate was through the roof so I got off and pushed. My heart rate came down to a reasonable level. It took me about ½ an hour to walk to the top and recross the border into Queensland. It was down hill for a while from here till we came out on the Boonah to Queen Mary Falls road. We rolled along until we passed the turn off to The Head then I realized oh shyte we still have a little hill to climb to get back to the caravan park. This is a seriously steep long climb. About 6 or 7 ks up into the clouds and past Carr s lookout. (Mental note. Don t ride roars with lookouts on them). The road got steeper and steeper then we passed the sign that said no trucks no vans and no trailers. Oh shyte what am I in for? A long walk up a mountain range pushing a bike is what. Eventualy I got to the top and could pedal again. The going was much easier with rolling
hills and slightly down hill to the park. It was cold and damp so I pushed the pace up to keep warm. I passed the 40k mark and my legs were gone. I got a bit of a 2 nd wind in the last few ks and finished ok. It felt good to complete this ride. I was chuffed to see I was not last on the road. There were stragglers coming in for the next ½ hour. 30k ride Sunday Sunday morning dawned cool and very damp. The tent was wet with dew and the grass was wet as well. We got up early to eat breakfast and drop the tent before 9.00. We ferried the cars to the bottom of the range because no one wanted to ride that hill again. About 40 riders rolled out of QMF and headed down towards Kilarny. It was mad. 10 or so ks down hill, on bitumen, with only corners and cattle grids to slow us down. It was like a road race with all those bikes. Ann enjoyed this part of the ride although at a much slower pace than mine. I waited at the bottom for her coz I said I would. We cruised to the turn off into the Condamine Gorge Road and left the black top behind. The Kilarny Lions Club was having a fundraiser that day on the Gorge road called the Waddle and Saddle. There were walkers and horse riders as well as cyclists all along the road. We made a gold coin donation to use the road that day. The first ½ of the dirt section was mostly down hill with a few river crossings (all dry). We ended up crossing the river about 13 times that day. About 15ks into the ride we stopped at Madmik s in-laws place for a pit stop and a BBQ. The road up to his place was steep and rocky. I had to bribe Ann to get to the top by telling her I would give her $5 if she pedalled to the top, or what looked like the top. When she saw there was another short but steep climb she yelled at me so I yelled back $10 at the top. She put her head down and earned an easy $10.
Lunch was a great BBQ. Well catered for with steak, sausages and onion on bread rolls with the usual assortment of salads. It was a welcome break to refill the legs with energy. The country around the Condamine Gorge is spectacular to say the least. The cliff on the other side of the road looked huge from where we had lunch. After lunch we hit the road for the last 15 or so Ks of the weekend. The road was rough in spots but so much fun to ride. The climbs were easy, even Ann got over most of them without much trouble. The river crossings were mostly dry and rocky as well as fun. No one got there feet wet but I did go through the puddles for fun. We finished the ride at about 2.00pm I was 2 nd last to the cars and Ann was about 100m behind me.
It felt good to get into some warm cloths and a warm car. We met up with everyone at a coffee shop in Boonah for a feed and all vowed to do it again next year. MMMM I don t think I will wait that long. LOOKING BACK TO THE GORGE FROM THE FINISH.