Whoota Breakaway 2014

A few of us have gathered together with the Breakaway Group for a lot of years now and have an annual ride once a year. Once again this started at Bulahdelah. The Plough Inn Hotel.

https://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/small/19485003.jpg
The demented adventure group composed of Mickp, Mark1957, Steve P, Tryhard and myself Gavb.
Where will we go? Was the question. There are heaps of trails & decent roads in the close proximity of the town its self, so we hit the map and made a rough plan to zigzag a heap of back roads & trails and emerge somewhere for lunch at a respectable hour. And if it’s not too much trouble, end the day at a close proximity to Gloucester. We thought if one was to ride in that area, it would follow through nicely as a second day run round the top end of the Barringtons.

I took off a couple of hours late to ride up to Bulahdelah. Took a few back roads along the way including Wallaroo State Forrest & Nerong SF. Steve & Mick and Joe all took Nugera Lane. Joe pulled in the car park 3 mins after me just as it was getting dark and Mick & Steve finally rambled in a beer & a half later, well and truly in the dark.

After the rain in the last week the team found the trails to be quite slippery. We checked out a trail that climbed the hills east of the town and crossed through to check out the rather large tree.

We found the local bike wash along the way to check out Wallingat Nat Park. You can also get to this via Sugar Cr Rd off the Lakes Way.
Mickp

Stevep

Joe then Mark

Whoota Whoota Lookout was one of Joe’s favourite lookouts because he didn’t have to walk to it.
I have never seen Joe walk to any lookout. They are all the same!

We found the boat ramp and the camping area looks decent enough as well.

Mark

Joe’s bike was very dirty. Better give it a heavy duty rinse off. Much better but didn’t wash off the thing attached to the seat.

Bachelor state forest is quite a nice run with these nice whoops along the main road out.

Hey! Who has gone past the Salty Dog at Col Coolon how do you spell it…? Coolongolook (thanks Google)
It’s a ritzy fish n chip alfresco diner out the back. Food was really good. Company wasn’t bad also.

Well satisfied we headed directly west ish. Curreeki Cr Rd

There was heaps of these shots as I was taking most of the shots on the fly. Most did come out but a bit more blurry than usual.

Through to Bunya

& Tipperary Rd & Titaatee Cr Rd never let us down weaving through the farms and hills.

This is where we said good bye to Mark as he could only get out for the day. So with a couple of hours to spare we headed up Bakers Cr Rd to Bundook and looped back to Gloucester.

The Round About Inn is quite nice to stay at these days. Everybody enjoyed the Food & entertainment. sorry no pics. We popped down the street to check the entertainment at the other local establishment and the band was going off.

90% rain was the forecast. What a spectacular morning. Glowing

Even got a pick of the ghost rider. Can you see him smiling.

Curricabark Rd. Heading west off the Thunderbolts Way, is one of the most spectacular ways to get to the other side of the Barringtons. Its easy dirt road but meanders tightly up the valley through farmland and as you go up the trees & plant life change rapidly to suit the altitude with moss & lichen growing on trees that live in moist shadow the whole winter. Yes slippery in spots… Wahoo.

Yes we are headed towards the mist covered mountains

This guy was out for a run

The place was very green

It would not be a trip over if we didn’t get a pic here

This wombat was minding his own business when I took the pick he took offence and tried to run me down. He glanced off the motor and kept on going into the scrub. Glad I was stopped as I almost fell off when he hit me.

It wasn’t our only encounter with the bulldozer built species.

Out along the other side someone has done a lot of work planting acres and acres of green low leafy turnip style plants which is totally different from our last tour.

Moonan Flat Pub. Good information place for conditions. We were a bit early for lunch at 11.00. so the next town wouldn’t be until Singleton. No worries.

Stewerts Brook with a few more bike washes Mick then Steve

This skirts some fine rainforest with lush scenery

The 90% chance of rain had been threatening in the distance for a while and we were thankful it held out to after this dark soil trail.

We just got off the Mountain and well on our way to Upper Rouchel when the dark & stormy rolled in and just after, when we should have put the wet weather gear on, it down poured.
It was pretty heavy so the camera got put into the zip loc bag. And we took on the Albino rd. We could see from the mountains the squalls everywhere and in particular east towards home.
The rain just got heavier and without the good gear we have, it would have been miserable. 3.pm and lunch at Singo.

Thanks gents for the ride. It’s always a pleasure to ride with these guys.

THE END

STATS
Distance 850Km
Elevation 1355Mt
Rain Fall Excessive aprox 3Hrs
Food All Good
Snorer Grumble Grumble
New Tech 7 Boots Awsome
No Brake Downs Awesome
KTMs & DRs no worries