Firm tracks, empty campsites and an apple cake worth the detour.
Late October is my favourite time for the lakes loop: the leaves are down, the tracks are firm after a dry week and the campsites are closed, so nobody's around.
I rode it clockwise this time, which puts the long sandy stretch at the start while the legs are fresh. Last year I hit it at kilometre 80 and walked half of it.
Coffee stop at the bakery by the second lake, which now opens at eight on Saturdays. The apple cake is worth the detour.
Total: 94 km, a bit over five hours with stops. Tyres at 2.4 bar front, 2.6 rear worked well on the mix of sand and forest road.
