20th April 2008 - Wiseman's Ferry; Retry Sunday 27th April...

Well, we fell foul of Sydney’s current wet spell.  Things were looking promising when 5 of us met at the Newtown Hotel; Johannes (BMW R1200ST), Steve (Suzuki GS500), Graham (Kawasaki ZX12), Stephan (Kawasaki GTR1400) and me (BMW R1200GS).  There was blue sky showing as we headed to McGrath’s Hill, however, it didn’t last long with rain at Rouse Hill.  At McGrath’s Hill we met new rider, Luke (Kawasaki GPX250) – welcome Luke.  We decided to have coffee at Maccas and defer the rest of the ride until next weekend.

Graham was heading back to Canberra, so he decided to try his luck west of the mountains, the rest of us found the world’s slowest coffee maker at the McGrath’s Hill McCafe (I don’t think the term barista applies here)  More sun appeared but the clouds rolled back in when it was time to head home.

We’ll try again for our Wiseman’s Ferry ride next Sunday 27 April – see you 845am for a 9am departure at the Newtown Hotel.

James

Wiseman's Ferry; Sunday 27th April...

What a difference a week makes.  It was perfect biking weather for the re-run of the previous week's ride.  A good turnout for a rescheduled ride.

Welcome to newcomer, Adrian (Suzuki SV1100).  Welcome also by two visitors on a Harley who couldn't join us on the ride but will be joining us on future rides.  A thousand apologies, I've forgotten your names - this will serve me right for not writing this report last week.

Welcome back to Harry (Honda VFR800) after a long break.  We were also joined by regulars Gary (Yamaha R6), Steve (Suzuki GS500), Luke (BMW K1200S), Stephan Kawasaki GTR1400 and me (BMW R1200GS).  Rowan called to say that Mark was on his was but we later learned that he got caught in the traffic jam resulting from last

Sunday's closure of the Anzac Bridge.

Due to double demerits we decided to change our destination from Wiseman's Ferry to the Halfway House on Putty Road.  We headed to McGrath's Hill to regroup, the onto Halfway House.  It was a pretty good run, although the RTA has decided that bikers should also be prevented from having fun on Putty Road and has lowered the speed limit from 100 to 80 from south of Putty to at least Halfway House.

We stopped for a break where several of the group ignored my warnings about the coffee (it's rubbish here) although they told me they couldn't taste it anyway due to the abundance of BBQ sauce on the bacon and egg rolls.

Steve, Luke and Gary decided that they needed a longer ride and headed on (can I have a volunteer for a **Part 2 of the ride report).

While it pained me to turn back from here, the laundry monster was waiting at home, so Harry, Adrian, Stephan and I headed back to Windsor for lunch before heading home.

[**Part #2 from Luke] - Gary and I rode up the Putty rd to Broke from the half way house, where we found that the road into Broke was blocked and the bridge over Broke Creek was covered in water. Despite this, some cars were crossing the water, and it didn't look to bad, so I went across. I thought Gary would follow, but I guess he decided it would be better to go around, so I waved goodbye from the other side. I guess he went around or back down the Putty Rd. When I went around the corner, I found that the Wollombi Rd was also closed, so I went around the Cessnock and into Wollombi that way. I headed home from Wollombi, but I did stop for about 40mins at The Pie in the Sky, where I had two pies and a coffee, mainly because the perving was quite good!

[**Part #3 from Graham] - Addendum - McGraths Hill to Canberra - Well well. Bells Line of Road might be a well-known and popular motorcycle ride, but NOT in Sunday's weather. I arrived in Lithgow half frozen, though fortunately my gear kept the body dry in spite of constant rain and fog. The road is very rough on the bends, and slippery in the wet! And of course the tin-tops (well their drivers anyway) had no respect for the conditions, making it a harrowing morning to say the least.
Conditions improved after Lithgow, and a warming lunch at Bathurst was very welcome. After that, a very pleasant 3 hour ride via Cowra, Boorowa and Yass to Canberra. Maybe an itinerary for a round trip weekend ride sometime guys.

The next ride is scheduled for Sunday 18th May heading to Robertson.
Neither Rowan nor I will be in town that weekend so we need a volunteer to lead the ride - you can also set your own destination, i.e. it doesn't have to be Robertson.

See you in June

James