…we're going on a bike ride!"
For a week or so the Co-Pilot has been advising us that on her next visit Super-Gran will be taking us out on a bike ride - so we thought we'd better make sure it happened! Yesterday afternoon we mounted up for a trundle upstream along the Gardiner's Creek trail - with the aim of taking coffee at Hahndorf's Chocolates opposite Wattle Park. This was more than enough to motivate MLSP to get the pedals going!
Bushy
I really enjoy the section of the Gardiner's Creek Trail between Warrigal Road and Burwood Highway - it alternates between sealed and gravel as the surrounding landscape alternates between sports grounds (often alive with cricket or football but quietly deserted today) and thick bushland right there in the suburbs.
We took to the streets at Elgar Road and then back onto the trails in Wattle Park. This park doesn't seem to be as well kept or as popular as it was when I was a kid but it's still a great green space in the area. It used to crawl with weekend joggers and it's a bit surprising that there aren't more people on mountain bikes hurtling around it, although I guess there are better places to get your offroad thrills.
Hahndorf's
Hahndorf's is on Riversdale Road, and it's a very popular spot. I suspect this may be because they insist that you sample their scrumptious chocolates along with your coffee. I mean, if they come around with a tray of chocs and twist your arm to take one, you've got to oblige, don't you? Super-Gran has been here a few times before (often enough that they recognise her) but it was our first visit. I don't know how long they've had this location but it looks like a fairly new installation with a cosy all-weather courtyard at the rear.
Chocolatey goodness
It was a sunny afternoon and we probably could have propped there all afternoon except the Co-Pilot was well-revved by his very chocolatey cappuccino (and he also managed to lay his hands on a sample from the chocolate tray) so we thought the best place for him was strapped into the passenger seat of my bike. We were off again, and now coffee-powered MLSP surged along Elgar Road (the Co-Pilot demanding even more speed) and after parting company with Super-Gran at Burwood Highway we made an easy trundle home back along Gardiner's Creek.
Another perfect autumnal day for a ride - that was a good suggestion from the Co-Pilot!