Hard to believe, but the cafe at the top of the lake wasn’t open until 8am. After a morning of checking out the heights of Merimbula, we were looking forward to the coffee respite before attempting the climb back up Lakewood Drive. This is one testing climb; almost three climbs in one as Lakewood Drive is terraced. More of that later.
The morning started as the previous two had. Windy! Today, it didn’t matter as we were going to do a few hills, so a little bit of a breeze was inconsequential. Looking back, it could also be a tour of the best cafes with a view in town, given the delights that are along the way. Just make sure that they are open.
Commencing as usual from the top of town, we rode up Main Street towards the bluff and followed our nose staying as close to the edge of the cliffs as we could. This meant heading past Bar Beach, the Wharf and up and over the cliff down to Shore Point.
This route has various inclines of between 9% and 11%, but all enjoyable and check out those views. All of Bar Beach, the Wharf and Shore Point require slight detours down into them, which means some tough little efforts to get back onto the main drag – but well worth the view. Think of this as the cheese platter prior to the entree. Shore Point has a caravan park, but no cafe that I could find. If you know of one, let me know! Be careful of the T intersection of Lakeview Avenue at Henwood St. It comes up quick if you are enjoying the free wheeling down the hill. I wouldn’t be surprised if there have been a few that have ended up in the front garden of the apartments across the street. I can only imagine the tangled mess.
Heading back to Main St and out of town via Sapphire Coast Drive and Merimbula Drive, this is the entree to the main course. Merimbula Drive gets up to an incline of 12%. When you feel like it is getting beyond you, on your left is a set of weatherboard apartments on the corner of Monaro St. Take the left turn for some relief and on your right almost immediately is Lakewood Drive – which heads towards the back lake; where you will come to the cafe at the top of the lake. Back, top, which is it! Bloody hell, I don’t know!! Either way you end up at a magnificent, almost hidden treasure. The Merimbula Top Lake Boat Hire & Sunsets Kiosk. Just a picturesque coastal town cafe. Great breakfasts, good coffee.. mmm.. if only it was open.
The lake has oyster farms which you could almost touch from the shore. You can definitely wade out to them at most tides, but definitely at low tide.
Now, Lakewood Drive. What it giveth on one hand, it takes away with the other. Earlier, I mentioned that terracing. Well going down, it’s like being on one of those large water park slides with camber and terracing helping you enjoy the thrill and be safe at the same time. Well, on a brave day, you can hit 80 km/h on this road. Today wasn’t that day and I feathered the brakes several times heading down, only hitting mid 50’s. Still, a thrill. God, that coffee was going to be enjoyable. Oh hell! Did I mention the cafe wasn’t open.
Other than the view, their was no respite to be had and we started up back up towards Monaro St. Those terraces are at inclines of 15%, 18% and 15% percent. Coming across some runners who were heading down (maybe they knew the cafe didn’t open until 8am and had timed their run), they asked how I was. “F..cKed!!! was my reply. Michael was a bit less crass coming across the same group. “I’m sure it was easier the other way”. That is one tough hill. The rewards come thick and fast as you coast back down Merimbula Drive into the centre of town and today we chose the Boardwalk for our coffee. Pretty good too. Not burnt and check out that view. (Of the lake, not the two mugs in lyrca. Bad photo into the Sun, No. I’m not a great photographer – but hopefully you get the picture). This was a very enjoyable, testing workout. Twelve km’s of sweat, views and cafes.
Tomorrow. I haven’t thought about it. Maybe I’ll check out riding to Eden.
