Well, there was certainly something in the air yesterday that brought out 30 bikes for our Dungog ride. I don't know whether it was a fantastic weather on the day, or because it was the last ride for this semester, for the financial year, or the effect of the winter solstice, but we haven't seen a group that size for a long ride for a long-time. It was as a pleasant surprise to see so many of our group there for this ride.
The route was going to be a bit complex because we had to go through a couple of residential areas, so in the briefing I highlighted the importance of corner marking, which seemed to have been taken to heart. Rob Toshack agreed to take on the TEC role, thanks Rob. I gave a fairly detailed briefing of the route in the hope of avoiding lost riders, and we almost set off at 10 AM when somebody’s bike laid down for a sleep, and both bike and rider needed to be helped back to their feet/wheels. Short delay but no damage.
Our route was up the old road to Calga, then Peats Ridge Road all the way through to the M1 freeway, up to the turnoff at Tuggerah to go down to the Triangle, then onto Hue Hue Road, through Cooranbong, onto Freemans Drive to Freemans Waterhole for morning tea at the Oaks. Given that it was going to be a longish ride, some chose to do a "splash and dash" fuel stop there to ensure that they have enough to get through the day. TEC Rob reported that he had to chase a couple of riders who were heading into Wyong, having missed the left turn onto Hue Hue Road, but otherwise no lost sheep.
A couple of riders took off from the triangle to take the short road home via Yarramalong Valley, and a group of four left us at Freemans Waterhole to head across to Wollombi and make their way home from there, and the rest the group saddled up and went North. We continued on to Kurri Kurri, then Maitland (Wow, hasn't the residential development expanded quickly there). Everyone made it through the entrance to Maitland and on to Ken Tubman Drive, which becomes Belmore Road which becomes Patterson Road which becomes Tocal Road up to Patterson. From there we went North on Gresford Road, and turned right onto Dungog Road and made our way to Dungog. The countryside through this region was in lovely condition with full dams, green fields and lots of smiling livestock.
Lunch was had at the park adjacent to the bridge on the north eastern corner of Dungog. Unfortunately the toilets there were closed (we were told due to roadworks happening there???) So various members found various ways to facilitate their biological needs. There were some eyebrows raised when first Stephen, and then Wayne, headed off to a remote location under the road bridge in what some saw as suspicious circumstances.
The party then broke up into several groups, each choosing a route home determined by the time by which they wished to reach there. Only five stayed around to do the designated homeward journey. That route was to go over the bridge and turn right onto Alison Road, then Glen Williams Road and Pine Brush Road to get to Clarencetown. There was some consternation as the three at the front were waiting for the other 3 to catch up, and when after some time no-one appeared, the two Johns who both needed to meet time commitments back at home, so we headed off, and slowly (in the hope that the others would still catch us), meandered our way along the designated path. From Clarencetown we went through Seaham and on to Raymond Terrace, where two Johns went their own way and I stayed on to fuel up. While I was attending to some phone correspondence at the petrol station, Marty rolled up and explained that he and the others had been delayed because his top box had parted from the bike and spread its contents all over the road. Marty left the top box and most of its contents on the veranda of the adjacent farm to pick up at a later date. My guess is that the beautiful new bike was insulted at being lumbered with a 10-year-old top box jerry-rigged on to its immaculate frame, and decided to spit it off at an inopportune location to teach Marty a lesson. After fuelling up. Marty headed off to the freeway and home.
Now on my own, I decided to continue on the rest of the planned journey which was to be the Pacific Highway down to Hexham, then John Renshaw Drive west towards Kurri Kurri, left onto George Booth Drive down through Buchanan to Stockrington and onto the M1 motorway to get home. In fact, I meandered off onto a few other roads ( around Seahampton and Black Hill) which I don't think we have used before in that area, so I hope to be able to stitch them into future rides that I might lead in that locality for a bit of new interest.
There were several worksites with minor delays where roadworks and resurfacing were being undertaken, so that augurs well for better roads on future rides. The motorists and cyclists ahead of us at one stop waved the whole group through ahead of them, which we appreciated. I get the feeling that motorists are becoming more considerate towards we motorcyclists.
What a great day.
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