Got home this morning after leaving the lads at Bellbrook this morning. It was just too tempting to come home when I was only an hour or so away.
Great ride. The first day had us through to Tabulam for a refuel at a very colourful little servo, followed by the famous Rocky river road that T.B and Nick had been raving about since their last trip. They hadn’t been wrong about it. Awesome.
Then on through farm and bush tracks to the New England hwy. Whilst geographicaly challenged at one point on a beautiful property, we spotted a Landcruiser ute with the obligatory 6 dogs chasing it heading our way. We pulled up and waited for the usual ensuing blast that usually follows, even though we hadn’t gone past any keep out signs etc.
“G’day fellas, where are yuz trying to get ta” was a much better response than we were expecting. Nick explained our goals, pointing out that we couldn’t find a crossing for the bloody great river in front of us. “Didja try up there at the end of the next paddock?” We then said that we had a look at it, but it was too deep.
He then took us to a set of rapids near where the crossing had washed away in the last flood. He waded in, in his gumboots and was prepared to start helping walk bikes across.
T.B walked his bike in first (which was pretty brave remembering oh hang on.Don’t mention the war.) With Nick and I assisting we got as far as the rim, when the current started sliding the bike on the green, slimy stones.At this stage out feet also started sliding.An executive decision was instantly made to abort!!
“No worries fellas, if you come back next time, I gotta dozer coming soon to fix up the crossin’.Come back next time and yuz can get get across no worries.”
And we thought he was going to tear strips off us like most people do. Top bloke.
Then onto Glen Innes a nice warm motel room and a night at the pub, as the forecast was for snow. Unsurprisingly no-one wanted to camp.
Slow start next morning as it was pouring rain and freezing.Old Grafton road was a great way to start off the day, with one detour on a contour mound littered hillclimb catching Richard out. No harm done though. Spent the next hour or so dodging “would be” rally drivers in some charity event coming head on at us. Frightening stuff, glad I wasn’t leading. Roadside cook up for lunch, then back up into the mountains heading south.
Copped most extreme weather all arvo, including howling cross winds, hail, (twice) Bugger the tablelands, it was cold. Then dropped onto the Armidale road and headed east. Almost immediately it started warming up. Beauty.
Top ride down to Bellbrook then, culminating in a three way Moto GP style battle the last few kays to the pub. I don’t mind riding along steady, but its always fun being first to the schooies as the end of the day.
Good feed last night, and probably only 2 or 3 too many beers etc. too many.
The others left around 6.45am, and then I packed up and headed home.
It’s been a top ride.
Thanks to Nick and family for the hospitality, and Nick and T.B for all their usual efforts with the mapping and organising. We all know what a thankless and frustrating task it can be, and we appreciate it.
I’ve had a ball.
Moose.
