Another Ride – First time at Appin

What with being on holidays you would think one could get bored riding but there is no sign of that yet and with Ozy (Mark) having the day off it was decided to explore around some of his usual tracks in and around Appin.

So, here goes.

With the meet point of Appin pub being a known landmark for me (good food) it was an easy little stroll up the freeway from home and onto Appin road, arriving before Ozy to be greeted by one of the local lads and his lady friend.

Not long afterwards I heard the burble of Ozy, who promptly pulled up all eager for the ride, but he knew what lay ahead and I personally reckon there was something masochistic in that helmet hidden smile. After waiting to see if any other sucker, I mean person showed up and finding that we were ‘persona non grata’ for the day we headed off with Ozy leading.

Then came the first hurdle as after a very short and brief little track we came to our first gate which as Ozy put it ‘wasnt there last time’.

So up a little further for the alternate track in, damn, another gate. So what now?

Well as Ozy was aware and as I informed him there was what looked like a track just a little along Appin Road where I had seen numerous bikes and 4WD over the years, so with no other way to go we headed to the turn off and onto the trails for what was to be the first time this way for either of us.

The first part of the track was good in itself with a few rocks mixed with some potholes, small undulations and the odd mud puddle and al to soon we had a small descent to a junction in the track at a small creek.

With a quick decision made we headed right, through an open gate but came to a pure dead end at a rocky cutting from the colliery (sorry no pics, maybe next time) which was surrounded by fences. Nice rocks though.

So we returned to the earlier junction and pondered the path through as it wasn’t clear cut.

Crossing the creek using the small track to the right of the rocks in the last picture was the easy part as the opposite side of the creek was littered with small rock ledges, roots and some larger rock ledges that again, no pic can do justice.

Whilst the climb out of the creek was a bit gnarly and required some precise lines in order to maintain momentum, it wasn’t that gnarly that it caused any real concerns and we both got through with no problems.

Now the fun started and I will apologise here and now as there are very few pics taken by me of this ride or trails, hopefully Mark has got some good ones.

The track from here on was interesting and if the trail at the creek was gnarly, then I have no words that can describe some of the other tracks we experienced. Suffice to say not far from the creek we found a rocky climb that involved some skill to get the big pigs (me and the DR) up and through, so lacking skill I just banked on sheer luck and it worked. But seriously the climb was tough with rocks up to a few feet tall in some places meaning just gunning it and trying to ride straight up the face, or through gaps often as small as a few inches. But I needn’t have worried as the DR had my back and we made it, although I can’t say easily.

The tracks from here were sensational fun and tested every muscle on my body and I dare say every facet of the DR, which again passed with flying colours. The surfaces range from deep ruts, sand, through rock platforms as wells as loose rocks, and generally these were all found within a 50 or so metres stretch. 😮

Generally I like to look around as well to enjoy the countryside and while I tried to look it was difficult due to the nature of the trail but we were in what I would say as typical Aussie scrub country. We had some treed areas as well as what appeared to be a lot of native flora that littered the rock platforms which I found interesting in themselves.

So back to the riding.

We played around and followed trail after trail, some single track, some more open but all of it was extremely testing due to the variety and quick changes to the surface which meant concentration was at the extreme. We went and looked at one of the local waterholes and even made a trip to the airport before starting to head out, which is where it did get interesting.

There was one section of track that we traversed where my bashplate proved it’s worth and more than paid for itself, and my bashplate wasn’t alone. It was a slight downhill, very rock strewn section that we had already gone upwards earlier, but the line down was different and I kind of got it wrong ending up smashing the bashplate into a rock and virtually grounding the bike. Powered her up and the bike slipped off easily but with Ozy stopped just around the corner I thought it best to check the bashplate which had a large scrape mark but no dent, all good.

Then Mark pointed out the rock that I broke, yes broke with the bashplate and yes it lay now in the centre of the track. Thank god for B&B I say. 😮

Now whilst I though Ozy had stopped waiting for me I soon found the real reason when I looked a little further, a gnarly hill to climb and a spot for him to get some pics.

So choosing the line I twisted the throttle, hung on and hoped making it up the first part unscathed and entering the second part as Oz ran to get more pics (I reckon he wanted carnage personally). Again I twisted the throttle and hung on and whilst not pretty did get to the top without any real issues.

A few pics of the top section and as we all say, pics do not do justice to the steepness.

So with me at the top it was time for Ozy so I just tried to record it and of course, with camera in hand he does it to damn easily.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnsBk1lqigQ
[yt]KnsBk1lqigQ[/yt]

It was about now I was regretting an earlier comment I made with regards to some of the hills where I said that it was always best to go second and learn from the others lines and/or mistakes. Now I noticed that each and every hill climb Ozy went second and at times I swear I could hear some maniacal laughing behind me. Maybe I imagined it.

From here we pottered around the trails, made a few turns, found some sand and some single track, saw heaps more single track and eventually found another little series of rock ledges to descend. So we walked it, looked at it, walked it some more, picked a line and Ozy decided to have first go, something about it was downhill after all.

At one stage he was caught out slightly and had to make a few physical adjustments whilst I silently watched and learnt.

So now my bike was left alone at the top.

So with Ozy waiting at the bottom it was now my turn and I chose a slightly different line at one of the trees that then made the next turn far smoother, but still the feet were out to paddle along at times. So off the first step, through the second, across the face and down around the tree I made my way to the bottom and bought the bike to a halt, got off, and drank like never before. That crap had tired me no end, and there was still more to come.

So, after much chatter and some drinks we continued on through a spot Mark had spoken of and which was basically a ditch caused by soil erosion. No ordinary ditch mind you as it was around 6 – 8 feet deep and Mark even got a pic to prove it.

The next test really was the killer for me. It was a small hill littered with rocks and one that had caught people out in the past (Ozy being one), so we dismounted and walked it. I noticed what appeared to be a good line to the left, although it was narrow at times and required the skirting of a rock the a hard but small left to get inside a tree stump. So I decided that was my plan of attack and announced that I was going to have a go, all the while Ozy is piling rocks to the right of the track.

So, I get to the bottom, take off and quickly realise that I am just a passenger here as the bike bucks, wallows and slides all over the place, but somehow I keep near enough to my line. That is until the rock then tree stump part. I got around the rock easily enough and even got through the tree stump but had to give some throttle to make the step as I aimed for a gap not more that 3 inches wide. Well, as Maxwell Smart would say ‘missed by that much’ and I did as the front wheel struck the ledge to the left and I came to a halt. Had a quick sit down rest and simply walked the bike the rest of the way up which was by then flat and easy.

Of course having seen that Mark was more determined to follow his path (remember earlier comment about learn from others) and he simply hit the throttle, took the line and made it look far easier than it was and quickly bought the bike to a halt to tell me that we were only half way. Damn.

So a little further along we round a bend to find the next challenge, get off, walk it but by now I know that I have to go first again as I just need to make something look easy. I failed ………… again.

Instead I hit the climb with to few revs and had to gun it a bit, which would normally be ok except that this climb involved a 45 degree rock platform so that coupled with dirt and a twisted throttle put me sideways and bought me to a stop, but at least I was upright. Safe to say after much huffing and puffing we got the bike the right way and again parked her along the track so that it was out of Ozy’s way.

Now, one would think he had learnt and he had making the climb easy, at his second attempt (sorry, got to throw that in). His first attempt being spoilt by a nice front end slide and near lose as he started the climb, nothing dramatic but enough to have to restart.

From here there were more rock, lots more and we eventually found the track that bought us into this whole jungle and found our way back to the creek, crossed it and out onto Appin Road. Now the choice was easy after a ride like that and we ended the ride by sipping a few cold drinks on the balcony of the Appin Pub.

Well, the best way I can describe today was that it was by far and away the hardest, most difficult, most technical and easily the most physical riding I have ever done and I damn loved it, even if I need to get fitter. Anyone who likes a bit for difficulty may want to get in here and have a ride before it gets closed off.

Thanks for the great day Mark, although I expect that I won’t be so thankful in the next few days as the muscle ache grows.

And some of Mark’s (Ozzy) pics from the day.

Just before moment #1. You can see the rock right at the front wheel and then the small tree stump that I had to go to thr right of (in direction of pic). Well I ended up hitting the rock Mark is standing on ……. scared the crap outta him for a second.

Moment #2. Not carry enough momentum, twist throttle as I hit the rock, bike goes sideways. Good fun and my stuff ups entirely.

And the half pipe kind of thing (Mark forgot and sent it to me overnight)

Garry