Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Ride Report October 2012 Newnes Camping Trip

The intrepid riders:
  • David Campbell    BMW G650GS
  • Leo Farrelly        BMW R1200GS
  • Peter Thomas        BMW F800GS

Saturday morning was overcast and spitting when the three of us assembled at EPIC and by the time we were running down Macs Reef Road it had settled in to a cold drizzle. However, past Bungendore and Tarago, the rain had eased and patches of blue were threatening to open up. By the time we stopped for coffee in Goulburn there were definite blue skies above us. After coffee we had a delightful run through Taralga to Oberon for lunch. The skies had resumed their greyness by then but at least it didn’t look like the rain would be returning.

From Oberon we followed the Duckmaloi Road to the Jenolan Caves Road through Hampton and then on to the McKanes Falls Road up to the Great Western Highway past Lithgow and on to the Castlereagh Highway before turning off to Lidsdale at Wallerawang Power Station. We followed the Wolgan Road to Wolgan Gap and some spectacular views of the Gardens of Stone National Park.

At the bottom of Wolgan Gap the dirt started but it was a very good all weather road. However, it was only five kilometres or so past this that David’s front tire had a run in with a rock and subsequently deflated. Luckily, Leo and I had spent one Saturday early in the year unsuccessfully practicing tyre repairs. But that’s how you learn. After a bit of hesitation we set to and between the three of us, we had a full set of tools to do the job. We soon had the wheel off, the bead broken and tire levered free. We removed the tube and found twin cuts in one of the side walls. The rock had pinched the tube on the rim. We put some patches on and the tube tested OK. Remembering some invaluable advice and tips from Derek Titheradge regarding how to get the tire back on the rim, we soon had it all reassembled. It had taken us just over an hour to do a roadside repair in the dirt and we were feeling quite pleased with ourselves. I adopted my “If at first you do succeed try not to look too surprised” look and we continued along the twenty kilometres in to Newnes.

It was starting to get late by this stage so we rode past the delicenced hotel in to Wollemi National Park and the Capertee Camping area. There were about a half a dozen different groups set up in the area but we quickly chose a site near the river and got our tents set up. Just as we finished setting up and were seriously contemplating our first cup of tea, three young boys approached us and passed on their Dad’s invitation to join them at their campfire. That’s the sort of invitation you don’t pass up so we were soon sitting around a lovely warm fire with Jeff and his three boys, Cameron, Daniel and Matthew. Their hospitality was very much appreciated. We each cooked our dinners then spent the evening having a few chardonnays, Tim tams and Jeff whipped up a batch of dough so the boys could make twists to cook on the coals. Unfortunately, they didn’t have any Golden Syrup to fill them with so they had to make do with honey. Sometimes you have to rough it in the bush.

Sunday dawned absolutely beautiful but slightly tarnished after David discovered something had gnawed through the side of his tent, through his Canberra AGM bag and in to his stash of Belgium Chocolate inside a sealed zip-lock bag. I have had so many run ins with an Antechinus helping themselves to some of my food in the bush before that I now call them all "Antichrists".

Anyway, after breakfast we rode back along the road to the car park and the locked gate at the start of the Glow Worm Tunnel walk. We forded the river then climbed the surprisingly easy one kilometre up to the line of the Wolgan Valley Rail way. It was an easy three kilometre walk to the tunnel passing through a variety of environments from eucalypt forest to tree ferns and rain forest between the narrow cliff lines. The tunnel is approximately 500 metres long and runs in a semi circular shape. We entered and the daylight faded behind us. Several times we stopped and switched off our torches. The walls and roof lit up in myriad new constellations as the glow worms put on their show. The light at the end of the tunnel soon showed and we were out in sunlight where a pair of lyrebirds ran ahead of us up the track through the cutting. We turned off on to a track that led us up then down to the Coach Road. We followed it down through a natural gorge surrounded by high cliffs. David quoted some Kendall to us as the bellbirds opened up and it was absolutely magical to hear their calls as we walked along.

“And, softer than slumber, and sweeter than singing
The notes of the bellbirds are running and ringing.”

We paused for a welcomed lunch break on a benched part of the road overlooking the valley and surprised a goanna as we started off again. We were soon back at our bikes and rode back in to Newnes. Ice creams were consumed at the old hotel before we returned to camp. We left our bikes there as we spent the afternoon following a self guided tour of the shale oil works.

Shale was mined then superheated in retorts to distil off the oil and naphtha. Originally started in 1907, the mines, workings and rail way employed thousands. The last mining operation was a test mine for coal in the 1970s. It was a fascinating and the enormous operation is now rapidly being reclaimed by the bush.
We walked back to our camp and prepared our dinners before getting a fire going for the evening. While we were discussing the finer points of solving everything, a pair of wombats wandered in to camp, as they do apparently. We decided it was definitely time for bed.

We were up early on Monday morning and soon breakfasted, packed and having a great ride along the dirt. We crested Wolgan Gap then on to Lidsdale, Lithgow and Oberon for morning tea where we were reminded to put our watches forward.

The traffic to Goulburn increased due to the aftermath of Bathurst 2012 but we managed to make it to the bakery reasonably unscathed. We had lunch and contemplated a few more of these trips.

We then did our farewells before heading down the Federal to our respective homes. Definitely, a very enjoyable trip.

Peter Thomas

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Ride Report - Griffith – 6 to 8 October 2012

All Weekenders
  • Michael and Tracey Winters – a blue bike
  • Ian and Sally Paterson – another blue bike
  • Chas and Jen Towie – a red bike
Overnighters
  • Andrew Campbell – a blue bike
  • Trevor McLeod – a maroon bike
  • Peter Arday – a red bike

A few phone calls on Thursday night saw the planned ride to Eden and Mallacoota cancelled as the weather wasn’t looking too inviting and a trip to Griffith was hastily arranged with Ian sourcing accommodation in the town. As we left Bungendore on Saturday it started to sprinkle – fortunately the wet weathers were already on so no delay to us. We met Ian, Sally, Chas and Jen at Nicholls and were on the road to Griffith just after 9am with the clouds looking threatening.

We took the road to Binalong where we passed historic Gilbert’s Grave (Sullivan’s mate?) and the sun shone briefly as we neared Harden. Certainly the main income for both Harden and Cootamundra Shires must be canola. The crops were in full bloom and the fields golden and lush. We stopped briefly in Murrumburrah just for a quick break. We ladies watched as a much younger, inadequately dressed and certainly more supple pillion went past clinging on to the back of a Ducati (built for one) – it certainly didn’t look very comfortable.
We then followed the Burley Griffin Way to Temora for lunch in a local café. If you have small children (small , very noisy children) then this café can be recommended to you. It came with an enclosed playpen littered with toys and toddlers whose mums were taking advantage of a coffee and a break. Hamburgers, wraps and coffee were the order of the day for us. While we lunched a storm passed over but fortunately was gone by the time we came to leave. The roads into and out of Temora are very straight and very boring (even for a pillion).

We turned at Ardlethan, stopping at Barellan to have a small breather where we took photos of the giant tennis racket celebrating Evonne Goolagong, who grew up in the town. Chas had heard on the CB that there was a mobile radar in the area and we passed a police car on the other side of the road hidden under a tree – the overnighters confirmed he was still there when they travelled through on Sunday. Being law abiding riders we were well within the speed limit so were allowed to pass unimpeded. 

We rode into Griffith under cloudy skies riding past wineries with vineyards that stretched as far as the eye could see, with many citrus orchards mingled in between. The orange trees were heavily laden with fruit.
After checking in at the Motel, we decided to stretch our legs. A quick visit to the Information Centre was followed by the boys being drawn to the Victoria Pub (where they stayed). We ladies continued our walk, then settled down for coffee and iced chocolate at La Tavola Café. After waiting some time for our husbands to join us, we gave up waiting and went back to the Motel. (The men had made “friends” with a local who treated them as long lost friends insisting they inspect the accommodation offered – anyway, that’s their story as to why they took so long).

That night we went back to La Tavola (locals had recommended it) and for a very reasonable cost we had a bottle of wine, OJ, breads, pizza, fettuccine, deserts and coffee. Early to bed with many thanks to Ian for sending us a text at 10pm reminding us to put our clocks forward one hour.

Sunday we woke to clear blue skies and warmer weather walking to the Scottish café for breakfast. Overnight metal structures of different shapes had been installed on the main street median strip. These structures were covered with rubber bands, through which an army of volunteers were attaching oranges and grapefruit to make Citrus Sculptures. After breakfast we spent some time looking at the memorial to Donald Mackay before heading off to the Rotary Markets that Ian was very keen to see, insisting we linger for as long as we wanted. This was followed by a ride to De Bortoli’s winery where some sampling occurred with a box of same posted back to Bungendore. We then went on a short ride through town looking for the elusive Hermit’s Cave. Back in town lunch was a choice of Subway or pies and sausage rolls from the highly recommended Bertoldo’s Bakery eaten in the local park. By now the Overnighters had arrived so we spent some more time looking at the Citrus Sculptures, again followed by more coffee at La Tavola while Chas and Jen rode away for a small sightseeing trip.

Later in the afternoon after some discussion over drinks outside our rooms, a table was booked at Il Corso Café for dinner - another great Italian restaurant where we tried the veal, steak, spaghetti and pizza washed down with a red.

With the end of the long weekend looming we returned to the Scottish restaurant for breakfast on Monday, to find the renovations of the building were continuing (not being a public holiday in NSW). Monday’s breakfast was much noisier than Sunday’s being accompanied by lots of very loud hammering encouraging us to leave early and hit the road. 

We travelled along the Irrigation Way through Leeton and Narrandera (where a kindly highway patrol overtook Chas and then travelled behind us for some time waiting to book a car as we overtook it). We then followed the Canola Way (you can guess how this road got its name) through Grong Grong, Matong (a rather dilapidated town where a horse grazed on the weed strewn AFL grounds), pretty Ganmain to Coolamon for morning tea. 

After a short break we travelled through Junee and Nangus to Gundagai. As the petrol at the Dog on the Tuckerbox was closed, we purchased petrol at South Gundagai where some stayed at Hungry Jacks for lunch, while we travelled past Jugiong to hopefully get a sandwich at Barney’s café at Bookham. Alas it was temporarily closed for refurbishment so we rode on, parting company from Andrew, Chas and Jen at Murrumbateman. We arrived home in Bungendore to weather exactly as it was when we left – some light sprinkles of rain.

A fabulous weekend with great company and food - a trip to be recommended.

Quote of the ride – “There’s nothing worse than a cold crack!” – you’ll have to ask the riders who said this and why….

Tracey Winters



Friday, October 5, 2012

Change to Weekend Ride Destination October 6-8

Sat 6th-Mon 8th Overnight ride,Griffith (changed from Mallacoota due to weather conditions.)

Because the weather looks a bit dodgy down on the coast, we’re now going to Griffith.
We’re leaving from Caltex Nicholls tomorrow (Saturday) at 9:00am and travelling via Burley Griffin Way (Harden, Temora). 
We’re staying at the Econo Lodge Griffith Motor Inn (02) 6962 1800 and returning on Monday, probably via Narrandera.
If you decide to join us, book your own accommodation and let Ian or Mick Winters (0412 134 376) know you’re coming.