Attempt #2 at a ride report.
4 of us met at 8.30 Sunday morning to set off on a reccy ride for the up coming nundle ride,
Crash KTM 250
Steve, Husky TE 310
Demmis, TTR 250
Boony. DRZe 400
Bikes were unloaded in slight drizzle but it looked like it may clear, as it so often does in the high area around here. I told the boys that I wanted to look at an area of trails around the bottom of the fire lookout towers to see if they would be suitable for the up and coming OBT ride. We set off all smiling like we just won lotto, and Demmis was playing lead. We found the trails to be in not to bad condition. I rounded a long sweeping left hander that was covered in pine needles as no-one had been on this trail for a fair while and had my left foot out in readiness for the rear to step out, but root me boot if the front just went and this caught me by surprise, trash 1 knee for the rest of the day.
After walking/limping some of the pain away we set off to keep on exploring. We rounded a fast little right hander only to be met by the devastation the loggers make when they log pine; I even commented that I didn’t remember seeing the smoke from the atomic bomb when it went off. The trail we where on disappeared instantly and we had to do some inventive riding to reach the main road. Following this adventure we entered the standing timber area only to be met by my old mate, (red clay) and crikey was it greasy.
We pulled up at an intersection to discuss options and when we set off I went about 3 meters and arse over breakfast I went. Guess who’s having a great day so far. After resetting the tire pressures we set off in search of more sweet trails. And that is what we found. The single trails have been extended and the ground was standing up to the bikes well. We then set sail for the dam and on to the berry patch to organize a BBQ for us all on the OBT ride, Will keep you all informed as it progresses. The ride down to the dam is STEEP but very doable, I’m talking 2nd and on the fronts to minimize you speed, Steve and Demmis shot off like kids in a candy shop and waited for me and crash at the bottom. (The knee remember) could have rounded them up if I wanted to LOL.
Any way the 6 creek crossings are all in good shape and the climb out to the berry patch has its moment, just ask crash, Demmis was now riding sweep as the knee was numb and Steve was in race mode so I accommodated him for a while,
Coffee and lunch, re fuel and we were off to find the other way back to the cars to complete the loop. I have found the track we will now be taking, easy down hill however the climb out can be challenging so get out there and practice your up hill riding, We will all make it out, and that includes Kylie on the new rocket ship. From the top we took the main road back to the cars as Steve was looking down the barrel of a time penalty from she who must be obeyed and the skies had opened up, Cats and dogs kind of stuff.;
We reloaded and reminisced for a while and that was our day.
93 ks, about 6 hours and a ball had by all, even good old clumsy foot Boony,
