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Ride Report: Wollombi Loop #3 Wiseman's Ferry

After the Grey Gum Cafe, it was back onto Putty Road to Windsor. Again, what a fantastic road. What was less great was being stuck behind a Petrol Truck for 60% of the way. It was only about 5km's before our petrol stop that there was an overtaking lane. Until then, the ride was sedate, and uphill downright slow. 

With less wind, and more sun, under the leathers warmed up a tad :)

We filled up just outside of Windsor, then turned off onto King Road towards Lower Portland and Wiseman's. I rode this road last Friday, so was relatively familiar with the ride. We were a little faster this week though. Instead of crossing at the Lower Portland and riding the 26 very slow km's to Wiseman's, we turned left and headed to Web's Creek via Green Road & Bicentenary Road. 

This was 15km's of dirt! So bike into Enduro mode, and try to remember skills I haven't used since I was 15 (near on 30 years ago) on a 50cc. We were probably about 25% slower than we could've been safely. And a lot slower than people ride on dirt in the Pike's Peak Hill Climb, or Dakar Rally. Still, fine be me.

We crossed the Web's Creek Ferry, then onto Wiseman's for a late lunch at the Inn! Also a chance to recharge the iPhone and let the family know I was safe.

After lunch was the quick blast home along the Old Northern Road. 

I left home at 7:55am to return at 16:25 some 8hr30 later. All up this was 5hr26 actually in the saddle, to ride 393 km's of our beautiful roads on an amazing day, at an average of 77km/h.

Sweet.

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Ride Report: Wollombi Loop #2 Putty Road Grey Gum Cafe

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All up just on 3 hours of riding, so 1hr50 from Wollombi. What can I say, this is one of the best roads I've ridden.

We left Wollombi after the most expensive bacon & egg roll at Panino's (seriously $12) and I gave Justin a bit of a fright cos I'd forgotten to Glympse, then stopped to do so. He came back quick smart, encouraging really and why it's nice to ride with someone.

The road through the back of Cessnock is a nice gentle single ribbon of unmarked tar. 100km/h speed limit with 75km/h rated corners. So bike in 5th and cruise along with the occasional drop into 4th.

The weather has warmed up, and then it was into the twisties to cross a couple of creeks after the turn at Broke. Wow!!

This road makes the Old Pacific look like a rutted dirt track. Smooth, well cambered, well sign posted, no potholes great even corners. It's no wonder motorbikes like it, and I'm amazed it's taken me this long (18mths) to ride it.

Now a quick drink (not hungry enough for lunch yet) at Grey Gum Cafe and on to Windsor, then Wisemans for lunch.

Ride Report: Wollombi Loop #1 Wollombi

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We headed from Berowra at just after 8:15 on a gorgeous, albeit slightly chilly morning. The old Pacific was covered with patchy fog, which made the ride slightly more challenging but hauntingly beautiful.
After the Calga Interchange the ride sped up on the Peats Ridge Road, and the sun came out. For much of the ride we were the only vehicles on the road, and the changing scenery was charming in the morning sun.
First stop for a bacon and egg roll and cappucino at a very quiet hamlet. The birds are singing, coffee hot, and I wasn't taken out by the idiot 4WD on the wrong side of the road coming out of the Fernances Crossing. All is well with the world