My dual sport adventure 11/11/09

After having a few months of absolute crap at work, I was due to take a “mental health day” I took that day today.
What do you do with yourself with a day to burn?

You go riding.

With TB’s NX in the shed and TB telling me to take it for a good ride to clear the head and revitalize the soul, I did just that.
I left home at around 7.30 this morning to head off for a ride. I first had to get some fuel and a packet of smokes . With that out of the road I headed off. I had it in my head I wanted to go to Chichester Dam for a look.
My first stop on the way was at Dungog. I stopped to have a drink and a smoke and to stretch my legs out a bit. I gave TB a call to let him know that the NX was running like a clock.

Dungog

The NX in Dungog
After leaving Dungog it was a short hope to the Dam. It was a top day for a ride so I was in no real hurry to get anywhere quick. When I got to the dam I parked the NX and went for a walk out onto the dam wall.

NX at the dam



Looking down


Our anniversary padlock

Self portrait
I checked to see if Kylie and my padlock was still attached to the dams fence, sure enough it was still there. We put the padlock there on our 10th anniversary. It is engraved but it is starting to get a bit hard to see it.
After having a look from the dam wall I got back onto the NX and rode down to the bottom of the wall. Used the facilities and headed back up the hill and back to Dungog for a pie, sausage roll and a drink. I should add to the pie thread that the Dungog pie shop is CRAP. The worst pies and sausage rolls that I have ever had, and bloody expensive too.
After leaving Dungog I didn’t want to go back the way that I had came, cause that would be boring and there was a shit load of road works as well. So I headed back towards Maitland. I went through Paterson and stopped for another smoke.

From Paterson I headed back into Maitland and then out towards Cessnock. I went through Cessnock and then out to Wollombi. I didn’t stop at the Dr Jurds pub as time was starting to get away from me. I had to be home by 2.00pm to pick up the kids from school. My next stop was Laguna to top up the fuel and have a Vitamin B.
With that done I headed towards the Wattagans for the run home. The trip up into the Wattagans along the dirt was fairly steady, not cause the NX wasn’t capable more like I didn’t want to drop a borrowed bike. I did hit one drainage hump a little bit quick and nearly drove my spine through my skull.

Note to self NX’s aren’t really meant for jumping .
I stopped a few more times along the way for photo’s and smokes.

My last stop was the Pines and then I was off for home.
I went down a little bit of twin trail just to mix it up a bit which was done a lot slower than I would on the WR.
I arrived home at 2.00pm after doing 325km for the day. The ride cleared the head and got me away for the day.
Thankyou to TB for the lend of the NX, I really enjoyed my day of duel sporting.

And remember TB I want first dibs when you sell the NX.