NW Loop - grand finale

Perhaps I didn't really want it to end which is why I have been tardy with this post. That may be over thinking things a bit.
You know the phrase ' saving the best till last'. Does it apply to the steepest incline on the ride? Week, that's what we had this morning - a short stretch of 20% in definitely the steepest hill we've done. We ride up to the aptly named Skyline Boulevard with stunning views along the way, then some beautiful undulations along the top.

 A couple more short steep bits and then down down down, across the St Johns Bridge and a coffee stop is in order. We finish up riding through some industrial areas coming out to a bike path which takes us across the final bridge to the hotel for a welcome shower and lunch.

Crossing St Johns Bridge

 Before the afternoon is out we have dined  on Cubano sandwiches and to stones while my new fenders are fitted to the bike. They are magnificent and I cannot resist a matching bottle holder. We trek over to join a few others at a hotel and restaurant in an old school building. It still had that old school feeling in the halls, I did not see any of the rooms but the old school yard has been wonderfully converted to an outdoor restaurant area including huge outdoor fireplace and chimney that I regret not photographing.
Back to the hotel for dinner, preceded by a trivia quiz conducted by the women known and loved as 'The Dutch'.  How little we remembered, how much we have taken in. Hilarity ensues.

Standing tall with the other Marys

Dinner, a few remarks, a couple of glasses of wine in the bar and we still retire early.
Next day breakfast farewells as the group disbands and we reenter our former existences with plans already in place for the next ride........... for me that's only a few weeks away in South Oz.