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Late yesterday I had gotten sick of sitting at home hoping for a job to come knocking and also got sick of putting rides off because of bad weather. So it was decided that I was going to get out for a ride in the usual stomping grounds around Fitzroy Falls/Meryla and it was duly posted in a small local forum to see if Nigel Nofriends could get company (or, as he prefers, someone to take pics of him falling down).
So with a bit of time at play before the meet time I decided to go a slightly different way to the usual meet place, just to explore a track found some time ago and yes, it was still there and a great bit of fun, albeit way to short. But after this slight deviation it was off to the meet point to see who would turn up, but Nigel Nofriends wasn’t to hopeful given the short notice for the ride.
And so it was that Nigel Nofriends found himself at the meet point all by his lonesome again – but wait, in the distance was that the sound of singles pulsing ever so loudly on their way to join Nigel on the ride?
Well yes and no as it turned out as all to soon arrived not one, or two but eight thumpers ranging from DRZ’s a smattering of DR’s through to a lone Adventure. But alas they were not to join Nigel as they were off elsewhere what with their tents and sleeping bags so with nary a howdy they were soon to continue on their way once all had regrouped. Sadly for Nigel it was to be a lonesome day.
The might blue pig awaiting company
But the road stayed like this.
With the small deviation out of the way earlier in the day the decision was to ride the usual track, but in reverse as well as a few little ridden deviations, and so it would pan out. So it was along Redhills FT, through the usual pieces of dirt, mud and bumps, another slight deviation, a return to the main track, down the hill and out onto Redhills Road and along to the end of the little piece of single track ridden so frequently.
A teaser from the deviation – although sadly the track is all to short and does exit onto private property
Turning right it was onto the single track and only having ridden it this direction once before it soon became apparent just how much a change of direction can change a tracks character. The first stages were heaps fun as I simply rode the existing ruts, tracks and berms before taking one of the small side tracks, although I was sure this one was a deadend. It was but still offered some fun because with little use comes overgrowth, trees across the track and all others kinds of obstacles as the track was done both directions.
So onto the main single track and whilst earlier was fin I have to say I struggled with the next section a bit as I simply could not remember it from this direction. So what was gentle bumps and small obstacles downhill suddenly took on a different meaning and so I was fighting harder to maintain my line but seriously still enjoying myself heaps and really working – starting to feel good again.
But soon another deviation was in store as I knew another sidetrack existed and so it was off along it, skirting a few obstacles along the way. There were three fallen trees or branches to skirt around in about 150 metres of track – two were easy although I did leave my mark on a tree while getting around the last obstacle.
The last obstacle
And the one before.
The DR and track await
From here it was simple track after track, hey where does this go kind of stuff as I explored some areas I had not ridden before and somehow I ended up on what I again suspect to be private property. No pictures of it but it was in interesting track and one area alone had a number of wombat holes and other areas that looked very man made – maybe another visit will get more pics.
So it was back again and along more track, each with their own nuances that tested including downhill off camber corners, mud, fallen trees (much smaller than those before thankfully) and plenty of overgrowth. So much so a rest break was called for.
The track travelled, that with was ahead and the obligatory DR shot.
So with tracks like this it was just more of the same, wonder where this goes type of riding as I just wandered aimlessly on the single track that was to be found. Some of the tracks went places, others stopped at swamps or fences, but all were fun and challenged both me and the might blue pig.
A few more pics of the tracks found – and this is nowhere near all of them.
Just another shot of the pig at rest – only standing for a change.
As is usual though, at some point you always return to a known area and after a while I found myself on a familiar track to continue the immense fun as I found my way back to Redhills Road. Crossing Redhills Road it was what would prove to be the hardest test of the day and something I had wanted to do for a while as I made my way into the small hill that I had only ever climbed previously.
Today would be the first descent and so I soon found myself following the tracks as I headed down the hill – damn it though as I was offline and ended up having to go around the rock I usually ride up. All good though, still upright ……………… crap, spoke to soon ………………. Nope, still upright but the front wheel caught in a small rut and went out from underneath and the bike took a gentle lay down – I put it down to the depression of being alone (and no pics).
Ah well, I was determined to get down the damn hill so it was to be that the bike was duly picked up, taken to the bottom and a u-turn was performed for me to get back to the top for take 2. So the trip up was aborted at first attempt due to a significant lack of speed but a second attempt had me at the top of the hill.
Another u-turn and this time I was more careful with the line chosen and being heaps slower to ensure that I could hold the line I soon found myself at the bottom in one piece and wondering how can people make it look easy – or have I just no skill (no need to answer). There was no stop to celebrate though as the small drop into the creek that I always find so testing uphill lay ahead – and all in the reverse direction. Mind you it proved to be straight forward and I soon found myself enjoying another rest stop in the tranquillity of the creek.
From here the pictures ended, for no reason other than pure laziness but it was a case of climb the hill, have fun over the erosion mounds, sideways through the sandy corners and onto Gunrock Creek Firetrail. But only for a short trip as I took the sidetrack after a hundred or so metres, had more fun over the mounds before skirting a fallen tree then taking more single track back to the start of the Gunrock Creek FT.
It was then a hard right and back onto Gunrock Creek Firetrail for the uphill erosion mounds that I always find fun before having an absolute blast all the way to Meryla FT where a slight deviation of single track was completed before rejoining Gunrock Creek FT and heading on home.
All up it was a great little ride and what was required given I haven’t ridden in about four weeks so now the aches have returned and it is time for a nice long hot bath.
Garry
EDIT: Putting into standard Ride Reports as it was a mix of single track (although easy) and firetrail rather than open road ADV rideing – if moderators wfeel it should be moved feel free.
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