Departure was from Caltex
Nicholls, 0930. At around 0920 there were 5 of us ready to go, but we waited
around a bit longer (0935) for any late arrivals. I briefly discussed the
route: the usual morning coffee stop at Boorowa bakery, Rugby Road, turning left
on Frogmore Road. Through Frogmore, and Hovells Creek, turning right onto
Darbys Falls Road toward Wyangula settlement. After Wyangula we would descend
into Woodstock for a meal at the pub, after which we will get onto the
Midwestern Highway, and refuel in Cowra, before heading back toward Boorowa,
and turning left (Chews Lane) towards Murringo, and back into Boorowa and home.
The group was OK with
the intended route, and with Ian as tail-end, we set off. Off course at the
bakery Ian had to have the mandatory pepper steak pie. Just coffee for me. After
a good 20 minute break, back on the bikes, turning off (right) onto Rugby Road.
After a couple of left, right, left turns, we get onto Rugby Road proper. From
here it is approximately 14km to the turnoff for Frogmore (I think it’s called
the Gunarry-Frogmore Road). The road is in reasonable condition, albeit a
little broken up in places. The edges are broken and soft after rains –
fortunately there hasn’t been a lot, with just a few puddles of standing water
here and there. We pass through Frogmore, and staying left so as not to get
onto Reids Flat road, continue through Hovells Creek. Turn right at almost a
T-junction, onto Darbys Falls Road. It is signposted “Wyangala”. Staying left
of the Wyangula settlement, the road rises, and there is a small roundabout at
the entrance to the Wyangala Waters State Park. We turned right here so as to
have a look at the dam wall and take note of the rapidly receding water levels
(the drought is having an effect).
 |
| Wyangala Dam Wall |
After this we headed
back to the roundabout, continuing through and up along Reg Hailstone Way, over
the top of Mount McDonald. What a beautiful view. Careful, the road demands
your attention. Being only about 20km from Wyangala, we were soon arriving at
the Royal Hotel Woodstock. While the lunch could not be called ‘amazing’
(standard country pub grub), the steak sandwiches (which all 5 of us ordered)
were just right. Sitting in the sun at the front of the pub was pleasant.
From the pub, the
continuation of Reg Hailstone Way northwest toward the Mid Western Highway is
known as “Sheet of Bark Road”. This we took, and about 5km on, turn left/south
west onto the Highway “A41”, toward Cowra. Passing through Cowra, we took the
second left out of town on Olympic Way/Hwy (still route A41), stopping at the
Caltex for refuel. From here, approximately 40km and through Koorawatha, turn
left just south of Bendick Murrell, onto “Chews Lane”. Turning left on “Nine
Mile Gap Road”, the road becomes Murringo Gap Road, through Murringo, and
eventually becomes the Lachlan Valley Way again, before running back into
Boorowa.
At Boorowa we bade
farewell heading home under own steam. Chas and I enjoyed a nice English /Irish
(as applicable) Ale at the George Harcourt Inn Nicholls before heading home,
but not before some ‘senior’ moron coming out of the winery estate at the east
side of Murrumbateman decided to pull out onto the Barton back towards
Canberra, right in front of me. Of course it had ACT plates on it. My gut feel
is he’s had a few pleasant wines during the afternoon.
Thanks Chas, Ian, Les
and Neil for the great day!
Photo’s courtesy Ian
Paterson.
Chris Dietzel
Riders
Chris Dietzel: Kawasaki GTR1400
Chas Towie: Honda ST1300
Riders
Chris Dietzel: Kawasaki GTR1400
Chas Towie: Honda ST1300
Ian Paterson: Honda
GL1800
Les Robinson: Triumph
Trophy 1215
Neil McRitchie:
Kawasaki GTR1400
