Well, back home after a eight day ride around Taree in central NSW, trip meter shows 480 Km. I will slowly be adding some notes and pictures, mainly for my own record.
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Getting there and back
Traveled to and from by car. First night was at Forster on Friday 16 Mar. This left a 40 Km drive the next morning to the start point in Taree. The trip was about six hours, using the F7 has made a world of difference in getting from the south of Sydney to the north near Hornsby where you pick up another freeway to the north. What took 3 hours, now takes 45 minutes. Well worth the toll.
We stayed ay the YHA Forster (search Google) or try this direct link. First class YHA and close to town where we had a fish and chip tea.
I wore a sun hat down to the restaurant, but by the time we had eaten, the sun had gone down and so I left without my hat. Very annoying, but on the way out on the Saturday, called into the establishment, and although locked up we could see someone working inside, so belted on the door, got attention, explained problem and would you believe, that had secured my hat. It was going to be a good week!
Day 1 - Taree to Tuncurry
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The ride to Tuncurry was mainly on side roads, a small section of the Pacific Highway was ridden, but a lane had been partitioned off for us.
It was an extremely hot ride with the ambient at 35 degrees C, what it was coming off the bitumen, anyones guess. A few people collapsed from heat exhaustion.
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Day 2 - Tuncurry to Bulahdelah
The Day 2 ride was 70 Km with a couple of climbs towards the end. Most of the route was at sea level, cause we rode with the sea mostly to our left. It wasn't until the end when we moved over the mountains, did we move away from the coast. Another very hot and humid day.
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Day 3 - Bulahdelah to Gloucester
This was a big, 90 Km ride and if I must say it again, a very hot day. It followed Bucketts Way to Glouscter and started with a BIG climb which I was forced to walk in part.
The route passed through Stroud for morning tea, Stroud Road for lunch and Craven for afternoon tea. The last 20 Km were the hottest and the end was most welcome.
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Day 4 - Glouster to Wingham
As you can see from the second photo below, a misty start to the day., and of course another uphill.
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After arriving about 2:30 pm, setting up tent etc, went for a ride through town, coffee etc. The pub was well patronized!
Day 5 - Rest Day
Did lots of things on the rest day. Dropped my laundry (all smelly and damp), and then visited the local historical museum, offered to pay $3 but the man said "You look like a senior, it's only $2 for you". Great little museum and after an hour or so there went down to the Brush National Park with its elevated walkway and fifteen million flying foxes.
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Came back to the Village Square just in time to join a tour guided by a local who took us all round the square and did a fine job of describing the town and its history. Then an extended lunch followed by laundry pickup and back to the show ground.
Bikes were to be loaded for the ride to Comboyen, and just by luck, I was first in line as I rode by at 3:50 pm. The queue went on till 8.00 pm.
Bikes were to be loaded for the ride to Comboyen, and just by luck, I was first in line as I rode by at 3:50 pm. The queue went on till 8.00 pm.
Day 6 - Wingham to Timbertown
The bikes were unloaded on the Comboyen oval and protected overnight by the local bush fire brigade and footy team I think who also ran coffee and food stalls. Bikes were in coloured groups, so mine was easy to find.
Had a look round town, not a very big place but in the real estate game, they say position, position, position and Comboyen is one of those treasures of a place, 700 odd metres above sea level and beautifully surrounded.
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The trip from Comboyen was meant to be "all down hill", but had to climb yet again to get too the start of the big downhill run.
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Timbertown is worth the visit.
Day 7 - Timbertown to Pt Macquarie
This segment was meant to be a 44 Km or so trip, into Wauchope, a figure of eight north and south of the town and then off to Pt Macquarie. A number of us early birds, without maps did not see any signage and ended up more or less just riding to the Port.
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Went full dressed for a swim in the beach above, beautiful!
The scene above is fairly typical of a camp site, tents, a central eating and entertainment with administrative areas near by, and ablution facilities on the edge of the camp (to the right and not in the picture)
Day 8 - Pt Macquarie to Coopernook
This day was to be an 83 Km ride, it followed the coast to Laurieton, turned inland to Kew to cross the Pacific Highway, on to Lorne, then some dirt to Coopernook. H O T.
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Hyperthermia was a bit of a problem apparantly with a couple of people being evacuated to hospital. The local pool (Landsdown River)and pub did good business that afternoon.
Last day - Coopernook to Taree
I was so tired the previous night when I lay down at about 8 pm, went out like a light and didn't close my tent or fly. When I awoke at about 11 pm, it looked like Armageddon had struck. I had a bit of water in the tent, but being on a stretcher, didn't matter too much. Closed the tent and fly and went back to sleep.
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The next morning the loud call was not to pull down your tent as the luggage trucks could not get out. keep your gear dry in your tent. Eventually my lift and I (plus 5 or 6 hundred others) decided to ride into town in the rain, get our vehicles and drive back. Pulled the tent down and stored it in the ambos area where they treated a few people for hypothermia, bizarre.
Got back about 10 am and left the chaos. What a mess, what a way to end the tour.
Lots more photos at Here by Jardo.
