I took a long ride up to McGavin View near the Dam Wall on Lake Samsonvale today.
Up and back it was about 26km.
The lake looked fantastic. Last time I was here, it was almost empty because of the drought, but now it’s almost full.
Some of the hills around here are pretty steep, and it’s hard work cycling up them.
In 1824, John Oxley wrote that he saw a weir in the North Pine River. The local Turrbal people called it “Mandin”. It was a pocket coming off the river into which they would drive fish, which would then be easily caught.
This is “Mandin” as it appears today, just west of the railway bridge over the North Pine River.
I stopped there today, and it was easy to imagine young Aborigine kids from 200 years ago splashing about in the water, chasing fish into this pocket.
I could almost hear it.
I previously posted some pictures of the site of the old Normanby Rum Distillery on the banks of the South Pine River at Strathpine.
Here’s a picture I took today of one of the few remaining bottles of Normanyby Rum, kept safely for posterity’s sake at the Pine Rivers Heritage Museum, at Old Petrie Town (North Pine Country Markets).
A mother and joey koala who visted our house this evening.
The Moreton Bay council organized a cycling morning at Lakeside Raceway this morning.
Between 6.30 and 8.30am cyclists were allowed around the track, and we got a free drink at the end of the morning too.
At first I got a bit frustrated that Lilly was going so slow till I realized she had a flat front tyre. (Silly Neil). So I pumped it up and she flew. When she took the "kids shortcut" that cut out one of the hills, I had trouble keeping up with her.
I think it’s great that the council is organizing things like this. And it was good to see at least one of our local councillors, David Dwyer, out on the track in his bright yellow spandex. Good on ya David!
The second best thing about the ride this morning was being on bitumen and not having to worry about cars.
The best thing was having some fun exercise with the kids.
If you’re looking for a fun way to get fit, buy a bike!
The site of the old Normanby Rum Distillery on the banks of the South Pine River, behind Westfield, Strathpine.
It was built in the early 1870’s and continually produced rum from 1875 until it closed in 1968.
A boat would steam up the South Pine River, collect the rum, and steam back down to Brisbane (an 80 mile journey by water).
One of the old stills operates at Old Petrie Town historical village, where you can sample the rum every Sunday morning.
I passed by here this morning while cycling. I’m really enjoying all the bike tracks and parks in our local area.
A couple of our boys went to school at Pine Rivers High School in Strathpine.
The high school and surrounding houses are built on what used to be an RAAF air field, used in World War 2. In fact many of the streets in that area are named after WW2 planes – Spitfire Avenue, Lancaster Street, Wirraway Street, etc. And Spitfire Avenue is built on the actual runway of the old airfield. Every time I drive down that street I imagine young pilots revving up the engines on their Spitfires, tearing down the runway, and up into the sky above where I live.
In 1944, a couple of Spitfires collided mid-air over what is now the North Pine Country Markets. These photos show a memorial to Bill Wright and Alan Chandler who died in the collision. I don’t know how old they were, but I’m guessing they weren’t much older than a couple of our own boys today.
I ride past the monument some mornings, and thought I’d pay my respects today.
Who knows, perhaps in some other universe, young Bill and Alan are still flying their Spitfires and enjoying the view?
Regardless, these young men deserve to be remembered.
It’s time for toy voyager Sheldon to leave us and continue he journey overseas.
So the kids and I took him for a ride down to the North Pine rover this morning to say “good bye”.
It’s been great being able to take Sheldon on some of our adventures over the last 9 months, and we hope his new hosts get as much joy from him as we did.
See ya, Sheldon!
