Saturday 19^th July 2008 – WINGELLO FOREST RIDE

Clear skies and a cold morning greeted us as we conversed on our Mittagong meeting place (BP Service Station with no petrol or pumps!!!). 

We came from the City, the Coast, the Southern Highlands and the Macarthur area.

15 bikes in total headed through Bowral, Moss Vale, Bundanoon and onto Wingello where we picked up Mark from Canberra.

Turning left and onto the dirt and into Wingello forest.  After a few technical problems with the trusty GPS (or was it the operator?) causing us to go around in circles we were then on our way.

The trails were many and varied with something for all riders.  After a couple of hours in the forest with morning tea and re-group stops we headed back into farm land and onto Badgerys Spur lookout at Tallong for lunch and photos.

Back in the saddle by 1:00pm and onto more dirt, this time on the other side of the railway tracks. Through Penrose and then an excursion to find the yacht in the forest. What is it doing there and how did it get there???  Anybody’s guess !!!  More photos and fun.

Out of there and onto the last section of our ride with a rocky and sandy section with some mud, just to make it interesting.

Saying our goodbyes we disbursed after enjoying a day of perfect weather, great company and good riding. 

So until next time we get dirty again,

 Dennis  (Ride Leader)

 Those on the ride were:

 Mark     KLE-500            Peter  DR-650

 John M  KLR-650            Mike  DRZ-400

Trevor    Transalp              Brian   1150GS

Keith     Dominator            Greg L DR-650

Graham DR-650                Alan    1200GS

Lyndon DR-650                John B  DRZ-400

Gerry    1200GS                Greg R Tenere

Colm     KLR-650             Dennis  KLR-650

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RIDE REPORT - GLOW WORM TUNNEL JUNE 14th 2008

After predictions of poor weather all week, it was nice to wake to clear sunny conditions, albeit a little cold. Ten eager souls gathered at North Richmond, and set off up the Bell’s Line of Road right on schedule. A clear run to Mount Banks for a minute or two to take in the view, and then back on the black-top to the Clarence turn-off. From here it was a good run along dust-free forest roads to the Bungleboori picnic area, and then a wet and slippery run down the rough track to the Lost City for a snack and a photo.

Back on the bikes, we headed straight for the Glow Worm tunnel, along a reasonably good surface. It’s been many years since a blade was put over this section of road, but we were lucky enough to have had that occur somewhat recently. The road was already starting to deteriorate a little, but it was vastly better than previous runs along here. At the tunnel a few of the blokes who hadn’t been there before went for the return walk, while the rest of us had some lunch and listened to Lyndon entertain us with funny little stories. He should write a book!

Once we were all together again, we set off for the Blackfella’s Hand track, and headed west along it. There was a considerable amount of water over the trail in places, with some quite deep washes. One or two bikes finished up horizontal along here, but nothing too dramatic. Down the edge of the plateau until the last little pinch through the slot canyon of rock and ferns. A quick stop there to enjoy the pretty nature of it, and then back on the bikes for the short run to the Wolgan Lookout. Here we said our farewells, and went our separate ways. A successful day all round.

John Baker
Ride Leader
DL650

The day’s riders were:
Dennis KLR650
Greg Tenere
Jeremy BMW G650
Gavin DR650
Graham DR650
Peter DR650
Trevor Transalp
Lyndon DR650
Mike DRZ400
John DL650

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RIDE  REPORT  --  COWRA WEEKEND  17 + 18  MAY, 2008

 Saturday morning was crisp and clear but cold, about 9 degrees at home,  riding  down to our meeting place at Mittagong

the temperature dropped  to about 6 degrees . Everyone was cheerful  though and full of anticipation of things to come.

 

We had a good roll up of members, some had travelled quite long distances to join the ride. There was Shane from Taree on his full spec DL650 Vstrom,

Allan from Gerringong on the  BMW1200GS, Trevor from Albion Park on the mighty KTM 950 S Dakar, John from Burrawang on the new KLR650,

Trevor Payne from Cronulla on his Honda Transalp, Dennis from Camden on the flying red KLR 650, Mike from Appin on the racing DRZ400,

Merv Scott from St Marys on a pristine Yamie Tenere XTZ 660,  John from Sutherland brought a BMW 1000 RS sports tourer and   yours truly was

on the black beast, the KTM990Adv.  We even had a support vehicle, Colin was driving his  rally Subaru WRX

     Unfortunately there were a couple of no shows, our original Ride Leader John Baker from Moss Vale had to be excused  due to family duties, John the Hungarian from Tempe could not start  the Suzi DR650 for love or money,( he had done a major service himself).  Rod Kronast from Sackville, we found out later, was riding  his mighty  Honda Varadero and got stuck on his way to Mittagong in the Blue Mountains National Park on  the Kowmung Track when his ignition gave up the ghost. He was stuck in one of the remotest parts of the forest on one of its most intimidating tracks being the Kowmung. Had to wait 8 hours for a vehicle to come past ,  to get a message out for help.

    We still had to meet other riders  from Canberra at Taralga, so we kicked off at Mittagong as planned at 9.30, took the Wombeyan Caves Road  north, it is good bitumen for about 25 ks, then on the High Range  from the big Sandstone Tunnel  the good dirt road starts. There is a fantastic Lookout  after only a couple of ks , the views to the north east are  extensive and are really  worth stopping for, which we did.  Some riders adjusted their tyre pressures here for easier dirt riding and we pressed on.  There was some traffic, local farmers going to town for Saturday shopping , and holiday makers and weekend campers getting away from the city for some fun.  Several blind corners on this road  have to be treated with  caution, the road is also very narrow in places so one has to be on guard all the time.

    Goodman Ford came up  fairly soon after about 40 minutes riding, we had a brief regroup, and  travelled on  up the escarpment to Mount Killekrankie .Here we

left the road and entered a beautiful section of Eucalypt forest. Up the mountain on a  winding  dirt road  in  good condition and up top a plateau  which is an absolute dream to ride , imainly red and black soil track,  stately eucalypt trees on both sides of the road ,  almost a rainforest environment.  We always see some ‘roos and wallabies here, there were a couple  about today but when they see the lead rider of course they take flight and the riders at the rear miss out.

    We made good time   over about the next 20 ks ,  bypassed and left the Wombeyan Caves caravan park in the valley below and hit the road to Taralga where on arrival we met our other fellow riders from Canberra. There was Lorraine on her BMW650GS,  and Mark on a KLE500. We took on petrol and had some quick refreshments and left Taralga for Laggan and Crookwell.  Not much dirt left on that road, mostly bitumen now,   any dirt left is in good condition. Crookwell was  our main lunch  and fuel stop,  Everyone was hungry,  the temperature  dropped to about 5 or 6 degrees,  heavy cloud was building  ,  it looked like rain or sleet  was  going to hit us soon.

     We left Crookwell all rugged up, took the Boorowa Road  for Rugby and lost 3 riders who did not take the turn. However they were corralled in some time later by our sweep riders. Turned north before Rugby and headed towards Reids Flat, good smooth dirt roads,  rain had hit that area about a couple of hours before we did, and the

Wet road  with its red clay base  made for some interesting  slides and lively  cornering. There was now some persistent light rain coming down on us and the temperature was down to 4 or 5 degrees.

     We got into Reids Flat and did a couple of laps to take in the sights of this great town , being half a dozen houses. Some say that the ride Leader had misplaced the road to Wyangala,  which is not true of course,  as  he eventually found it again,  although it had a close resemblance to a sand track to the local tip.  But it all turned out good, we headed off  in the direction of  the Carbine Recreation area and then turned west to go up a mountain ridge of about  10 kms length , narrow roads, good scenery, a few farm properties, until we came to the Wyangala Dam for a brief inspection. The water levels are pitifully low and the dam is virtually useless and  out of water.

     On to the Cowra town centre and  the War Memorial Cemetery,  were we inspected  the Japanese graves. At this time the skies opened up and we got a heavy

drenching cloudburst for 15 minutes while the sun was trying to shine as well. We rushed off to our accommodation at the Townhouse Hotel/Motel to dry out and warm up.

     Dinner that night was excellent and so were the beverages. We   departed Cowra  in the morning at  9.00 am , and followed the Mid-Western Highway to Mandurama. Merv on the Tenere felt sick in the gut, it was probably something he had for breakfast, and he decided to head for home. He did get home OK. John on the BMW Sport Tourer also left us here, he had to head for the City.

     We turned South  to Neville, a historic little place renowned for its fantastic pub in the gold rush days.  A really great dirt road then took  us west to Trunkey, then  part bitumen and sections of dirt south to Abercrombie Caves and Tuena, another famous gold rush era  town. Just a few ks south we turned off to Peelwood to ride a great dirt road  along the  Peelwood river, very scenic undulating landscape,  brilliant in the  change of  season  to winter.  Near the end of this section we were ascending a plateau of hills and small mountains which brought us to  a high elevation point where we gained  grand views over the country north and east  of Laggan  and Golspie, which were renowned  primary production areas back to the 1820s . We then turned towards Golspie and the last 50 ks  to Taralga were  a dream to ride, first great smooth country dirt roads, lovely open sweeper curves capable of being taken at any speed,  then narrow bitumen seal  towards the end into Taralga  where we arrived about 1.00 pm.

     We had lunch in Taralga, the second pub  on the northern hill had excellent fare, after that we took the road to Bannaby, some bitumen then dirt, the Swallowtail Pass beckoned and we took it  on. To our surprise the grader had been in since our last recent trip and had improved the washouts and rocks somewhat which made the descend to the Tarlo River easy.

      The  Tarlo  crossing was dry, no water  to speak of, we  gunned the bikes up and over the Mt Hercules  plateau and out on the road to Brayton  and Canyonleigh.

Those dirt roads were quite good, a few gates to open and shut , a couple of cars along the way to be mindful of, and when we got to near the end  of our ride a couple of the bikes were very short on fuel, reserves had been in use for some time and red lights were warning us to fill up or else. We said goodbyes at the Hume Highway and some dashed a couple of kms west  to  the Sutton Forest Shell for the necessary  fuel which was just right handy.

     We had an excellent weekend ride, really good company, no mishaps,  great scenery to relish, visiting a couple of places we have not been to before, what else can you ask for ( bloody warmer weather someone said) yeah, it was a bit cold.  But we mustn’t give in and we mustn’t give up, it’s all part of the Adventure.

Thank you everyone.

Alf Lechner ( 8647)

Ride Leader

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