Roughly 40 per cent of the singletracks planned were
rideable that day, with tweaks being made as the trail builders
improve their topographical knowledge and councillors await
the subsequent planning permits. Some black diamond
descents have been delayed and are expected to open midyear,
along with extra climbing and link tracks that weren’t on the
original blueprints. In the meantime, construction continues
on a 27km cross-country loop that’s expected to open at the
end of March and is bound to be the park’s signature run. Until
then, it’s mostly beginners and intermediates who will benefit
from Flagstaff’s trails.
We returned to St Helens via the 3.8km Townlink trail that’s
been earmarked for an 8km extension along the St Helens
foreshore. Council plans also include a 6km coastal trail
linking the Bay of Fires’ Swimcart Beach with Binalong Bay,
anda 12kmlinkbetweenBinalongBayandtheStHelens
township.Oncecompleted,it’sexpectedthatmountainbikers
willinject$38millionintothelocaleconomyannually,with
150 full-timejobscreated.THEBAYOFFIRESTRAIL
Afterreturningourbikeswedrovenorthalongtheroadleading
towardsBinalongBay,to ournight’saccommodationat theBay
of FiresBushRetreat.Asweenteredthereceptionoffice,Tom
Dickerwasbusybrowsingmountainbikingwebsites.I
mentionedthatweshareda similarpassionandhadcometo
Tassieto rideitstrails.
“HaveyoudonetheBlueTiertrail?”heasked,referringto
the18kmsingletrackfromthetopof MtPoimenato the
historicpubinWeldborough.I toldhimI had,andthatit was
thebesttrailI’deverridden.
“Well,it’seasilytwiceasgoodasthat,”he’dsaid.
Hiscritiquesenta chillupmyspineandFinnwaswide-eyed
withanticipation.Neitherof uscouldwaitforthenextdayto
come,whichmeantanearlynightinbed.Webunkeddown
insideoneof theproperty’s 10 belltentsthenroseearlyforthe
hour-longdriveinlandto Derby,wherea strangerapproached
methemomentI steppedoutsideourcar.CLOCKWISE
FROM LEF T:
There was no
holding Finn
back once he got
started; Jarrod
Teal acted as
guide with the
benefit of local
knowledge; the
fast, flowing Bay
of Fires track;
there are plenty
of chances to get a
little air
Outdoor \ 45