Willawarrin Adv Ride

The Roundabout Inn was the meeting point for dinner & catch up on the Friday night at Gloucester. The Place was packed as it was the show weekend. The music was St Paddy themed and Matt Zarb was playing. The room had been pencilled in for the Saturday night instead of Friday but the Publican soon found us a bed each and after a prolonged dinner and entertainment the crew went to bed with a full tank of fuel.

Lotsa was leading the Ride taking us to Willawarrin….Where is that ….30 Km West of Kempsey.. .

Riders were Lotsa, Mickp, llewdert, Boulder, Reece Y, Gavb.

A short stretch of black to towards the flying pig and we turned left into Bakers Cr Rd.

Nowendoc Rd and then followed Enfield Range Rd through to the Enfield Forrest and emerged at the Oxley. We lost Scott at this stage as his foot peg on the beast completely snapped off. The peg was found but that was the only mechanical failure on the journey. He left us at that point to return home using a short 8mm bolt as a foot peg.

Next was through Doyle’s river State Forrest & Werrikimbe National Park. Looking for Werrikimbe Trail. We found it to be a locked gate.

Detour #1., found us a beaut clean picnic area for lunch at Mooraback Rest area.

We were on the search for Youdales Hut & Trail. Yet another couple of Locked Gates. But apparently you can get keys from the gods of the forest. This then led onto the Racecourse trail which was as twisted and slippery as most of you guys on this site. What a ride sliding and having you on edge the whole way. We were meant to meet up on this road anyhow so it was a little bonus.

We cruised onto Oxley Wild Rivers National Park, Willi Willi National Park and Carri State Forrest. We were almost at the destination of Willawarrin and was checking out the crossing that gave us heaps of grief on the Taylors Arm Ride last year. This was supposed to be Sundays fun but they had replace the crossing with a brand new one, specially for us. Must have felt bad about Joe falling in last time. 10 minutes to go and everybody hadn’t had enough.

Detour #. 2. A special test stage 55km was in order. It snuck us through some Private Property ascending to the top of Boonanghi State Forrest & Nature Reserve. The descent was very decent with arm pump building up I wasn’t game to stop as I might get run over by Boulder, not too far behind riding the big gun. It was such a good hill it was decided to go the other way the next day. Getting into Willawarrin was rewarding and Mickp only had a couple of teaspoons of fuel left in the tank. We were unsure if he would make it to the fuel pump 100m away in the morning.

The pub that night was cranking so much that at 8.00pm the barman was starting to close up. We were the only people left. No problems though we were made welcome to carry on as long as we liked. I think I was in bed at 9.30.

Sunday we got up bright eyed and bushy tailed had a delisious breakfast, refuelled and set on our way Detour #.3, down Willy Willy Rd. Fantastic winding road with a little dust thrown in to make us feel at home.

Wayne found a great route home. Kumbatine NP took us to new heights and awsome tracks that drop off, only to be slowed a little on the erosion jumps put in specially for us.

Every road was covered in leaf litter and it swirled and lifted as you passed. What a fantastic section. This led our way to Rollands Plains, Belangry SF.

We then had Detour #. 3 with a road closed . There had been trees down on all of the trails but it was only one that gave us grief as most had been cleared already. No Probs. Gavb had a saw and we set to work. Before long we were on our way and through Willi Willi NP, Mt Boss SF and out onto the Oxley Highway.

This is where things got moist. Doyals River SF. The bridge was out and we took the water option.

I was enjoying the water so much I decided to wash the bike and most of my gear. Im sure there are better pics of this.

Boulder was a little apprehensive but with the determination in his eyes he split the water in two.

Lunch was well past by this stage and we were dubious about getting a feed at Ellenborough Falls. This was already arranged by Wayne. The Lady there was awesome and a great feed.

Curry in a hurry and the day drawing thin, we detoured down Bulga Rd which was mostly dirt and last refuel at Wingham where we headed home with the sun glowing in our eyes.

1040 Km for me door to door