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Oh ok, will keep this one as short as possible for me anyway.
With time on my hands I have been enjoying the fact that I can drive the lovely wife to work (yes she was reading as I typed) and have actually been enjoying myself with no pressure. But still I have been wanting to get the bike for a ride but either had job hunting things to be done or it has been raining and today shaped as no different with the overcast conditions.
But then, after taking Michelle to work and doing a few things around the house (crap, I am starting to become domesticated) I looked outside and saw that the clouds were starting to lift enough to give me some hop. So, with no time to lose it was inside, daggy house clothes off and warm bike gear on although thankfully for all concerned there were no pictures taken of this event. From there is was simply lock the house, start the bike and get the hell out before the weather changed my mind.
But with only around two or three hours to spare it was always going to be a simple little run through the usual tracks to see how muddy they had become with the recent rains, or at least that was the plan.
So after a run up Macquarie Pass it was out through Belmore Falls where the condition of the road provided a very pleasant surprise as it was quite dry with hardly any sign of the recent rains. With the surface providing excellent grip is was a fairly brisk run through with the fun had already bringing a nice smile and providing an excellent start to the ride.
So once through Belmore it was onto Meryla and in through Redhills FT as is my usual way. But today I decided to have a look at one of the side tracks that I had not yet ventured along although sadly, whilst the track started quite nice it quickly ended at a locked gate.
The track just travelled.
The track ahead (note the yellow and black tape in the distance)
The gate, with the DR contemplating the gap.
Now if you look closely at the last pic you may get the impression that there is more track off to the right and you would be correct and a quick look had me believing that the track and creek crossing looked familiar, only that I was now on the other side.
Seeing more of the yellow and black tape I decided to have a little investigation and so it was off for a walk down the hill and found this.
So finding this interesting I decided to look a little further and found a nice little bridge and some tracks that I am sure the Mountain bikers amongst us will find of interest.
This had me wondering a little, but I guess it gets cold up these parts.
But the exploring had to stop and so it was that I returned to the track and got a few more pics shoring the creek and other side where I was soon intending to be, just not by going through the creek or over the bridge.
So after trundling back up the hill I remounted the mighty DR and headed back to the main track with the intention of checking the second sidetrack to see if my suspicions were correct and I had been at that creek previously.
Whilst I was soon to find out that my suspicions were indeed correct, I didn’t quite make it to the creek before a little something to the side caught my eye, and of course we know what that means.
The little something was quite nice, grippy and fun although I did take it very easy.
After this little piece of track I cam upon a small intersection of what looked to be more firetrail as opposed to single or mountain bike track and found yet more tape.
The look back up the small hill and seeing more tape meant more exploring
The set-up of the tracks looked quite well organised as well as being clearly marked and no doubt had been used recently.
But for me, I decided to explore further along the sidetrack which was a sadly to short before I came across more tape.
The track in.
The mud wasn’t bad to ride on, walking was slippery
By now, the DR was starting to dislike yellow and black tape.
Especially when tracks like this are just off the side.
So it was off for a little walk as there appeared more tracks that may be of interest for the Mountain bike guys amongst us.
After the walk around I was more curious as to where the track ahead of the DR (in the earlier pic) and that to the side led so it was a lift of the tape and straight up the slightly slippery hill. Only think was I almost immediately felt as though I was on private property although there were no signs. Now, you may ask how or why I got the feeling and I have to be honest and say that when I found myself riding amongst small holiday like cottages and playgrounds I kinda got the feeling that I was likely in the wrong place and returned back the way I had entered.
So rather than head back out the small single track I decided to go straight ahead and through the maze of tape in the earlier pics being careful not to damage the tape in any way but to lift it over myself and the bike each time. This track then led me back to where I had thought it would and all to soon I was back on the main track and heading down through the creek and mud pools on offer as I made my way for Gunrock Creek FT.
But I didn’t get there as for once I finally decided to take the left turn to the lookouts just after the creek crossing as whilst I had ridden to the car park, I had never walked to the lookouts themselves. Did I say walk?
Yes I got lazy and rode most of the way, the DR finding a nice spot to park.
And yes it was well worth the ride/walk as the view was stunning back to the main Fitzroy Falls.
I had no idea that the falls themselves were three separate drops and the bottom set just looked so damn awesome to me as the hole into which it fell was so clean.
From here it was back to the car park and after a little more exploring on a further sidetrack and some step climbing it was back to the main track and out to Fitzroy Falls and on home via another fun little jaunt through Belmore Falls.
While I didn’t get to where I had originally intended it was good to do more exploring and I fully intend to head back although on foot to walk the full Mountain bike track and also the tracks to the lookouts themselves. I know that some may find constant repetition of the same area boring or wonder why or how it can continue to be enjoyable and the best answer I can give is that every time I see or experience something new which for me is what riding is about.
Now to explore around that quarry.
Garry
Have found out that it was the track used two weeks ago for a round of the NSW State XC Mountain Bike series, so it was some hardcore riding going on. Had I have known I may have tried to get up for a closer look as a few mates race MTB at club level and the son of a mate at national level.
But yes, there are plans for future excursions.
Garry
Those MTB`ers SHOULD have removed the tape,,,,,:S
We used to get in the poo for leaving any tape or bunting behind at our local forest when I was into MTB.
It is a form of pollution afterall:angry:Looks like they frequent that area a fair bit though Gazza, a bit of effort has been put in for those berms & bridges. Shows that they seem to care about erosion of their trails etc
You will have to run a ride down your way mate to show us around for sure, a few of the boys are keen I think;)
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