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The plan was to travel from Wyong, meet up with more riders at Laguna Creek Rd and Putty Valley Rd, have lunch in Denman and return by a different route. This would be the second attempt. The first was unsuccessful because we were delayed with a missing pannier so went to Bulga instead, which is a great ride in itself. So there were to be no excuses today. It was Denman, even if it was dinner instead of lunch.
Katgirl and Krusty were ready to go at the meeting point when I arrived at 7am, so with quick greetings we set off. After Ourimbah SF and up the hill we arrived at Murrays Run. We set a steady pace which gave me time to think about the beautiful views along Murray’s Run on a perfect not so chilly, sunny day. Who knew there was scenery to look at on these roads…….
Arrived at the meeting point Laguna Creek rd to find mickp, gavb, Jeffro, Choot? (Ian)
The starter on the DR was thumbed, to get going and found a dead battery. Apparently if you leave the ignition and heated handgrips on, the battery goes flat pretty quickly. Woops. Jeffro broke out the towrope and with his recent towing experiences got me up the hill to jump start. Thanks to Ian who pushed and Jeffro and his SV650 and everyone else for their patience. There will be photos I’m sure.
As a group we travelled along nicely at a constant pace without any shenanigans and got to the Putty Rd via Yengo Track. A short blast down the Putty Rd and we arrived at Putty Valley Rd to find the Owls. Krusty got on the phone and mickp went down the road and we were soon giving intros and getting ready for the next leg to Denman.
There were nine of us now. Krusty had the route in his gps which looked more sophisticated than my bit of a4 paper so with Krusty leading we set off for Raspberry Junction.
Pit stop
At one stage there I thought we must be on the wrong track because I remembered rememberable (is that a word) erosion humps. I found the first one that opened my eyes like dinner plates on landing and it was all good after that. With mickp seeing me on that first erosion hump we pulled up at raspberry junction and he said I was all arms and legs flailing on landing. It was pretty untidy from my view as well as I speared into the bottom of the next one. The stock suspension did a great job though.
Krusty
Martindale track start
At Raspberry Junction there was a forestry sign saying ‘Access upon permission of property owner’ or something like that. Unsure of what lay ahead and having heard there maybe a locked gate with an angry property owner we took it very slowly figuring it would be easier talking my way through if we weren’t riding super cross up to his gate. I had prepared for this with cash in the wallet, Katgirls tears and even considered putting a fresh bottle of Jim in the pannier, but giving away a bottle of Jim was going just too far. All good though, no locked gates; a steep windy section claimed a couple of scalps and then open farmland. There was a landcruiser closing a property gate near the creek and they were happy.
Landcruiser having a chat
Creek crossing
We hit the tar and motored into Denman and the Royal Hotel a welcome sight.
To put the food critic hat on, the coffee at the Royal tasted crap and at four dollars, expensive crap. I would have complained but they may have spat in my BBQ Occy salad and I should have done because it tasted like they already had. The beer seemed ok and they couldn’t stuff up a can of coke.
Gav before he tasted the coffee
Royal Hotel nice pub
We had a banter and ribbed Katgirl that we had to go back up the steep windy hill we came down before. Fuelled at the servo across the road and when someone mentioned it was quarter to three I was planing for dinner at Wollombi in the dark.
At Appletree Flat Gav and Mick worked out how to get through the gates and once on the Commission Track it was easy going to Putty Rd.
My camera broke around about …….now
Krusty fuelled Katgirl, we said our goodbyes to the Owls and started on the Settlers Track. We stopped halfway along to regroup and take in the view of sunset over the mountains then turned our headlights to high beam and did the rest in the dark. Ian’s Tenere head light shone through as the biggest and brightest.
From Paynes Crossing we hit Wollombi at 6.30pm and the northern boys went north and the eastern boys and one girl went east back to the meeting point.
Well done Katgirls for your determination throughout the day and everyone else for an easygoing day.
It was good experience for the Cameron Corner ride and definitely points out to me that it’s harder to throw the leg over the bike at the end of the day than it is in the beginning, so I’ll be doing my best to get in as much practice throwing my leg over between now and Cameron Corner.
I hope bollocks can fit a spa in that camper trailer.
It was an ambitious day given the circumstances and I expect everyone was challenged.
After all, it is an adventure ride.
mickp wrote:
Quote:lotsa wrote:Quote:mickp wrote:Quote:lotsa wrote:Katgirl, it’s not a race and don’t think you need to ride faster. So come along.
Next up, planning Denman pub for lunch on the 27th if I don’t get lost on the way.
Saturday the 28th would work for me as I have to work on Sunday the 29th
Mick
Well Saturday and Sunday then :silly:
I’d prefer Saturday 28th at this stage.
TB and Krusty (and anyone) can you make Saturday 28 Aug???
He needs some bikes with big tanks to go with him. :laugh:
I hope you have your big tank by then or the supertanker may have to supply fuel again :laugh: :laugh:
Mick[/quote]
Mick, I’ll have my saddle bags by then and will fill them up with fuel.
If we get lost TB it will be a good chance to test the unsupported emergency overnight stay gear
mickp wrote:
Quote:lotsa wrote:Katgirl, it’s not a race and don’t think you need to ride faster. So come along.
Next up, planning Denman pub for lunch on the 27th if I don’t get lost on the way.
Saturday the 28th would work for me as I have to work on Sunday the 29th
Mick[/quote]
Well Saturday and Sunday then :silly:
I’d prefer Saturday 28th at this stage.
TB and Krusty (and anyone) can you make Saturday 28 Aug???
mickp wrote:
Quote:I saw these the other day and thought of Lotsa suffering from withdrawal symptoms of not being able to get a fix of his Yuppee coffee on the corner ride and thought this might be the go for him. :laugh: :laugh:
TB will be carrying Bundys and Lotsa Cafe Latte
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:Mick
A carton of those will fit nicely into the spare 10lt of extra space in the pannierz
