Prelude
Weekend prior I purchased a Garmin Zumo 660 GPS, updating the Aldi GoPro I’d grown used to – very easy to use (read Kimmie proof here). So with another friend Phill headed to Breakfast Torque and then onto Robbo Pie Shop using the Zumo with the pre-programmed route I’d set. Well to say it was a success getting to Robbo is an understatement. You know the saying “it’s a castle, it’s a castle”, well that was us….LOL. Took a road we’ve never ridden before and will not probably again. Encountered a little skippy hopping straight down the middle of the road heading for me….yikes (skippy averted) and eventually we found the highway and made it to Robbo, laughing as you do.
DAY 1
More playing with the Zumo had me preloading the weekends day trips on Thursday night (hopefully with more success than previously). A lazy morning as we weren’t able to get away until much later than we’d usually leave as Paul was earning brownie points (onya mate). Finally we are ready to leave McGraths Hill at some 10:00am. Not much traffic up the Putty and 10mile was hard work for me. New shoes on Angel and they didn’t feel right. Had this horrible vibration so by the time I stopped where the boys had pulled up my arms were numb. Karl took some weight off the front and the world was much more betterer. First stop Singleton for fuel and I was given the task of setting lunch.
Crossroads Cafe – Gresford
I’ll give you the go, if you’re heading toward Dungog through the back way (the roads are windy, the scenery is great, it’s a bit bumpy but no worse than the rest of Bucketts but heaps gooderer then hitting the highway) and ya gotta stop at the Crossroads Café in Gresford. Lunch was fabo and it’s nice an quite, just what we like – no hustle and bustle.
Onwards bound for Gloucester for more fuel and a message from Bendemeer Hotel saying I hadn’t confirmed acco…..WHAAAT!!!! A quick call and everything is fine, someone forgot to mark my confirmation….disaster avoided Phew!! Now, Thunderbolts Way north of Gloucester is renowned for being crap but really it wasn’t that bad. There’s still a bit of red surface (was dry though) and as for the rest you ride to the conditions, don’t be stupid and the world will be good.
Carsons Lookout on a Beautiful afternoon
A smoko stop at Carsons Lookout for Paul & Ryan and it would have to be the first time it’s been clear to get a good look at the view – photo op naturally.
Come on boys, beer o’clock is calling and we still got a bit to go….onya bikes!!!! LOL
The rest of the way we chopped and changed lead and order but really just enjoyed the ride together – a good fit of skills. Into Walcha for a splash and dash and I crack the whip again – that beer is a callin’.
Gorgeous Bendemeer in the afternoon
Finally into picturesque Bendemeer, get settled and we chat down by the crick with that old brew…..yeah!! Dinner is never a disappointment here and poor Ryans’ eyes was bigger than his belly but in saying that he still managed to stow away dessert…lol and Paul, I reckon if you stuck him in the kitchen there’d be nothin’ left for anyone else….boy that bloke can pack some food away – just where, is still to be determined!!
Down by the Crik at Bendemeer Hotel with a cool ale
DAY 2
7:30am and we are on the road, excited somewhat cos we wanna enjoy the Oxley at a reasonable time and light (fingers crossed with no traffic). It’s fresh….no not the boys the weather but noice!! Onwards to Armidale for breakky (for a big town not much is open early). We did find a café though and I had the best raisin toast for ages. Paul eats half the kitchen again….man where does this bloke put it? We just sit in amazement while he finishes. LET’S GO!!! Those famous words from Krazy Karl and we are off.
Ebor Falls
How nice is the road meandering up through the countryside to Ebor…Aa-mazing!!! Normally we’d just keep going but Karl surprisingly stops and says “why don’t we check out the falls”, I nearly fell off the bike – YAY.
. We are making good time and decide to head through Dorrigo (sorry Juan). Waterfall Way what a magically peace of road and guess what – very little traffic Yee Haw!!! and into Bell and Jen we roll for fuel and a cuppa. How much fun are we having, the smiles and laughs were a testament to that. LET’S Go!!! Sweety one day, I swear……. (nah, it’s all good).
Not far before we head into Dorrigo. We have been seeing this view of ages now – just spectacular
Some of the views you just can’t beat. This is one of many and the road to get you there is well…….you’ll just have to get up there and find out for ya self.
Where’s Jeep Jeep???
While we were in Bell and Jen, Karl parked his bike, but I’ll be damned if i could find it…….let me know if you can!!
Now for the boring slab down the highway with the traffic and the speed camera’s and the dopes in cages that don’t give a shite that they have to share the road with others that help pay for it…grrr. Karl was thinking of me and knew I’d need food soon and decided to stop at Freddo’s Pie Shop for lunch. WOW what a choice, they all looked so yummy. Unfortunately, looks can be deceiving and we were disappointed. Ryan mentioned that there’s a back way to Wauchope, so we consult the map and get on the road again eager to reach the Oxley. The back road to Wauchope is a bit like Bucketts Way but avoids a heap of the highway and brings ya out right in the middle of town – awesome, well done Ryan. Fuel, some oil for Paul and lets go have some fun!!!!
A nice warming of the tyres til just past Long Flat (just to get you in the groove) and then “the sign” 45km of twisties – bring it on!! Karl & Paul were already gooone. I’d overtaken Ryan (we seemed to play tag most the time) and yee haw, I’m ready. Down a coupla gears and just listen to Angel roar (I mean sing, really it’s the same)…lol. Virtually NO traffic, what, this is not heard of, but yes my friends it’s true!!
Angel’s brand new shoes……NOICE!!!!
What a magical run, not a gear change missed, the stars aligned and Angel, well she just roared her way through the mountain, Carving up the Oxley!!! Ryan had caught me up and passed but I tell you, we were but less than a minute apart when we arrived at Gingers to see Karl & Paul with huge smiles on their dials. I let rip with a WOO HOO before I even got the helmet off, what an awesome run (read your own expression here). Hop of quickly to check the rear tyre – SENSATIONAL!!
We have all earned a cuppa and a rest before heading up the top end, Big Sky Country and then Walcha.
The Jolly GREENIER Giant
Ryan offered me the 14, but alas I couldn’t get it up… (story of my life). In the meantime, I’d had a bit of fun on the open sweepers on Angel before I came across Karl & Paul stopped on the side of the road. Karl frantically waved me through so I kept going but stopped a way up the road just to make sure all was good and got the camera out to get some action shots of the boys.
Ryan, done….waiting, waiting and then Jeep Jeep approaches with what, that’s Paul riding Jeep (inserts laughing here). I could barely see him, Jeep just engulfed him…LOL with Karl close behind on the Rex (funny sight, see for yourself).
Talk about funny!!!
Now during the weekend each time Paul overtook me he’d be watching his mirrors waiting for me to bite him back, but would I do something like that……..hell yeah this time I did. I caught the boys (wasn’t hard..lol) and watched them watching me in their mirrors and then…….bang – gooone. I could see the smile on Pauls face as I flew passed him heading to Walcha. Paul pulls up very gingerly and slips off the seat to plant his left foot and then waits for someone to put the stand down – sorry I could only have a laugh, Karl did the stand thing.
Dinner was in the Chinese restaurant in the pub and wasn’t too bad, at least the chef was asian. Many many laughs were had and words of warning (from all of us) to Karl over his wardrobe malfunction…hmmm. Seems I had the apron on tonight and made tea for all before packing it in for the night.
DAY 3
A nice outdoors (fresh) breaky and we decide which way to head home – the vote went Thunderbolts Way. The trip home, well is the trip home. You just want to get there, well some of us anyways. Poor Ryan wasn’t looking forward to getting home to go back to work after having 2 weeks off riding around the countryside (can’t blame him really). The 4 of us are travelling well and making good time, so decide to stop for lunch at Grey Gums Café on the Putty. From our fresh start this morning, boy you could feel the heat of the day setting in as we travelled south and the layers are off…ah! We say our farewells and thanks for a great weekend and get on the road for that final stretch home.
We rolled into the drive around 4 after covering approx 1700 kays for the 3 days. Tyres are well and truly scrubbed in, and now it’s time for a rest. After nap time folks…..see youse on the next adventure.
p.s a rare photo of Karl & I together
Carsons Lookout.
