"In Through the Out Door"

Another Friday, another train strike (threat)! Apparently, those Sydney train drivers weren't too keen on our intended Newcastle adventure. Maybe they just wanted in on the action? With our plans temporarily derailed, we scrambled for a new route, only to find out at the last minute that the strike was off. 

Undeterred, we channelled our inner Led Zeppelin and opted for an "In through the Out Door" adventure to The Entrance “Out through The Entrance”. No trains involved this time – we'd tackle Newcastle once those drivers sorted things out with the government. Swerlo was particularly pleased with this change, as he had a strict "be home by 18:00" curfew. 

With the route change and Shane opting for a last-minute meeting (apparently, work sometimes interferes with "life"), our intrepid crew was down to three. 

Ferry frenzy and a bikepacking encounter

Our day started with a pre-dawn rendez-vous (05:10 or "10 minutes late" in James-time). Fresh off a strategic poker night to factor in the ambition of his new bike, James was ready to roll. We had a ferry to catch!

Our first goal was to conquer 50km in 2.5 hours to make the 07:30 ferry from Palmie. Sounds straightforward, right? Well, factor in traffic, lights, and a traverse through the city, and it may not be that straightforward. But fear not, we made it with time to spare! We agreed that chasing a ferry is always more fun than waiting for the next one.

On the ferry, we encountered a heavily-laden bikepacker, on a grand adventure around Australia. He'd heard the Central Coast was "nice." Bless him. His epic journey made our "Longest Day" feel a bit tame, but hey, we were definitely going faster! After he told us that his food budget was $10 a day, we knew our days were going to be different. 

Sea sickness & speedy breakfasts

Swerlo, ever cautious, popped his seasickness tablets despite the glassy-calm waters. "Never trust it between the heads," he declared with a mischievous grin.

Breakfast at 8:00 was a whirlwind in Ettalong. James, fueled by a "big breakfast" ambition and a 30-minute time limit, demolished his plate in record time. We're pretty sure he inhaled it. Swerlo opted for a more modest two eggs on toast. 

As we set off towards The Entrance via Bouddi National Park, James dropped a bombshell: no school pickup today. He was expected at dinner with his mum. “I'm actually due at dinner - my mum is in town for two weeks and she is having none of this all day riding and missing dinner.”  It turns out that even grown men don’t escape maternal wrath. Our 18:00 deadline just got real. Swerlo may not be great conversation after this ride, but he will be there for dinner with his mum. 

Scenic roads

Bouddi National Park was lush and lovely (once we conquered that cheeky 12% climb). The Scenic Road lived up to its name, with plenty of bushland but sadly lacking in ocean views. We even searched for a street sign for photographic evidence, but alas, none were found.

A quick detour to Terrigal provided a much-needed dose of coastal beauty. Our route recalibrated, we cruised through Long Jetty towards The Entrance, arriving a bit earlier than expected for lunch. But who are we to argue with an early feed?

A leisurely (and thankfully flat) bike path around Tuggerah Lake led us to Gosford, where the real climbing began. The temperature soared to 35+ degrees, and we were grateful for every shady water stop along the way, breaking at Mount White and Pie in the Sky oases.

Slurpee salvation

The 7-Eleven at Wahroonga was a beacon of hope. Those slurpees were calling our names (and probably saved us from heatstroke). Refreshed and revitalised, we tackled the final fast and downhill 35kms, determined to get Swerlo home on time.

Our plans for celebratory beers at the South Coogee Bowling Club were dashed when Swerlo received a "car leaving at 17:30!" message. What? That wasn’t the plan! He made it home with just minutes to spare.

A "Longest Day" requires fuel, right? James, ever the optimist, referred to our dietary choices as "nutrition." Let's just say the menu wasn't exactly endorsed by dieticians:

• Breakfast: 1 x Big breakfast, 2 poached eggs, 1 x Breaky roll
• Lunch: 3 Pancakes with Nutella and ice cream, 1 x Toasted sandwich, 1 x Açai bowl
• Snacks: 2 donuts (because, why not?)
• Drinks: 3 blood orange Bundaberg, 1 coke, 1 ginger beer, 2 slurpees (hydration is key!)

The aftermath

Our smallest Longest Day contingent yet, but who needs a crowd when you've got grit, determination, and a shared love of cycling and food? Swerlo swears his trusty bike pump is the reason for our incident-free adventure. 

As we rolled through Maroubra, we couldn't help but wonder if Swerlo would risk delaying the family car to upload his Strava stats. Priorities! And we spared a thought for Shane, stuck in a meeting while we were out conquering the Central Coast.

So, thanks to the threat of a train strike, we had a truly epic day on the bike. Sometimes, a bit of chaos leads to the best adventures. Until next time, keep the wheels turning and the donuts coming!

The Numbers:

• Total: 646.8km, 7860m of elevation gain 
• Riding time: 8 hours, 37 minutes (Elapsed time: 12 hours, 33 minutes)
• 0 incidents 
• No finishing beers (sad face)