A lazy day off ride

Well after finally getting two days in a row off and using the first one to catch up with all teh household duties such as damn lawnmowing it meant I could have today all to myself, but what to do?
So waking to a bright cloudless sky it was decision time. Would it be the beach where no doubt Greenpeace would appear and try to get me back in the water after again mistaking me for a beached whale, would it be a bushwalk, or maybe even lazy day at home, or would it be get on the pig and see where it headed.

Easy really as the bag was loaded onto the pig and it was off to see where the day took me, but frst to refuel the bike which didn’t go to well when the attendant decided to lecture me about helmet wearing but would not answer why they allowed hats and glasses to be worn. Ah well, while I understand their point they still need not be so bloody arrogant and argumentative about it – but it was not going to ruin my day – nosireee.

So it was up Macquarie Pass as my riding nearly always seems to take me but today it was not going to lead me to the usual stomping ground as I wanted something a bit different, something a bit more in the ADV riding mould. So, following the Illawarra Highway I headed for what was to be the starting destination at Canyonleigh to see how I felt and where I ended up.

Now, I have written of Canyonleigh Road before so won’t bore people to much, but it is a piece of road I do like as it offers a heap of variable surfaces from a clay loam, through looser rock and all across what is generally a reasonably quick piece of dirt. That said, there are some tighter sections and much of it is tricky as the surface changes, but all is fun and the smile is ever present, whether it be caused by the road or the view.

The obligatory shot taken on Canyonleigh Road before the farm gates

If Canyonleigh Road is considered fast before the farm gates then there is no way of describing it after the gates, other than to call it blindingly quick right through until the small section of tar that marks nearing the intersection with Bannaby Road. The problem however is that while the road is quick, it is farming country so one must always keep an eye out for the ever present cattle although today they were somewhat scarce, although there was an echidna.

Turning right onto Bannaby Road it was on to the enjoyable winding and undulating tar before the dirt restarts and the fun begins again, and I do mean fun. The road from here is just corner after corner, then a straight with more corners but a looser surface as the road winds it’s way towards Swallowtail.
There are some views to be enjoyed.

Hmmm, not sure what this sign means.

The road just travelled.

The road to Swallowtail looked as though it was being regraded – and it was which made it somewhat challenging as there were plenty of loose rocks, soil and sand before getting to the bottom and finding the causeway as usual, dry. Sadly the camera batteries had died so I was unable to get pictures of the soaring eagle and views, just means a return trip is required

A small video of the descent
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mc2b_7axYX8

Now, if the trip down was interesting the trip up was even more so as this was where the grader was working, so the surface was very disturbed, loose and full of rocks but I seemed to get ‘in the zone’ and just found myself seemingly flying along barely noticing the challenge.

Before long I was back on the farm country, past the cattle and onto Brayton Road headed to Taralga where it was decided to replenish the camera batteries just in case I needed them. Leaving Taralga it was onto the Oberon Road before taking the Wombeyan Caves turnoff for the next step of the trip, but all to soon I found another local who was out enjoying the sun.

The local seemed very non-plussed by the attention

The mighty pig looking ahead

Wombeyan Caves road at this point is quite wide, open and a lot of fun with a few corners that can catch the unwary or lazy but I personally hate the caves themselves so always bypass the caves and take Langs Road instead. Only a short time later the reason why were all to evident as the abundant forests just seemed to overwhelm the road and make me feel small and insignificant.

Looking ahead on Langs Road

Looking back

Langs is a great road, well I find it that way as it is immense fun just to ride through the forests before starting the descent back to Wombeyan Caves road, but the best part for me is the views which I find as magic and really encapsulate why I enjoy this type of riding.

Langs Road, just before Wombeyan Caves Road

Not far from where the above pictures were taken I had yet another example of why this pastime is fun, came around the corner and surprised around 20 Eastern Grey kangaroos who just hopped off into the bushland, all happily doing their own thing with their usual grace. Was another illuminating and relaxing moment on what was a hell of a good day.
More of Langs Road – if only I could build a house on this flat section

This was to pretty well be the end of the pictures as I simply got into a groove and did not want to stop the fun so I simply powered on down the hill to the river avoiding the multitudes of fallen rocks along the way. Now, by multitudes I do mean literally thousands, some still actually rolling so I was not about to stop when the cliff faces were that unstable, nothing to dangerous just concerning so I chickened out and headed for the river.

Across the river it was onto the climb back up and this was as rough as the descent on the other side, and just as much damn fun as the bike went sideways one way, then the other and back again, man fun was being had. But all to soon the climb was over as was the remaining dirt before the tunnel and it was out and on to Mittagong for some much needed fuel and food before the gentre strop on home.

So all up around 350kms of pure unadulterated fun which has left me sore but relaxed, which means it was worth it and did what was needed. Until next time.

Gaz