We enjoyed the Boondall track so much, we went back and did the Boondall to Sandgate ride today. The kids did really well to ride the 16.5 kms, although they're a bit slow moving for my taste. Nice gentle, mostly flat ride out along the railway tracks, through the outskirts of the suburbs, through some parks (Curlew Park was full of bats along the mangroves), and back out along the seaside to Sandgate. Really nice area, very reminiscent of Mission Bay in Auckland. I'd like to go back and do the ride without the kids next time so we can go a bit further along Sandgate, because you can ride right along the beachfront.

After we got back we had a picnic which was good, until squadrons of giant mosquitos started attacking us. I've never seen something leave so much blood on your skin when you swat it. That's one thing about Australia, everything's bloody big and bloody hungry. NZ doesn't have snakes, crocs, sharks, giant insects, lizards, dingos, and assorted other animals that're all out to eat you. They eventually drove us out of the park, furiously biting at us, and a few weren't giving up without a fight, pursuing us back to the car.