Video 1 Video 2 With thanks to Martin and Susan.
Day 1: Map (257 kms travelled)
Most of us met at Maccas Eastern Creek, before heading off through Castlereagh and up Bell's Line to the Monkey Creek Cafe outside Lithgow.
A short break to have a coffee and for the group to get to know each other.
A fancy bit of artwork overlooking the valley at the cafe.
From the cafe, we left through Lithgow and Lake Lyell. This pic was taken just before the lake.
Here we arrived at the Oconnell Hotel for lunch. Time for some pics with the bikes. First up, Jalal (aka Rasputin) with his Sprint.
New members, Martin and Susan with their KTM.
Lance with his Tiger.
Ed with his camera.......and Yamaha.
Cousin Irene and Phill. No he's not my brother.....thank God.
Yep, its us with Robocop.
Allan with his Beemah.
Great effort Rob and Tracey, joining us all the way from Port Macquarie.
Nice parking spot in the shade while having lunch.
Enjoying the sunshine in the pub's beer garden.
After lunch, we set off for Hill End via a stop in the historic town of Sofala.
We parked the bikes at the start of town and walked it in.
This bridge just at the turn in to Sofala.
Phill and Irene led us to this home where a lady was known to make very good jars of various conserves.
This is her, and Gwen is her name.A lovely, friendly lady who could take a joke with the best of them.
Looking down the main street of Sofala.
This is typical of the old homes in the town.They are so small with low ceilings.
Every good town has a pub. This is the Royal in Sofala.
Most of the homes had wonderful cottage gardens. This beautiful cherry blossom got my eye.
This sign stands just out of town, headed for Hill End.
Upon arrival to any of the pubs we visit, we generally line the bikes up for a group shot. Here we have arrived at the Royal Hotel, Hill End, where we spent the night.
Rob and Tracey, reading the information board just near the pub.
The main road leading in to the town is tree lined. Absolutely beautiful as you can imagine, in Autumn.
These stores across the road.
Tracey, enjoying the view from the pub's verandah.
The town is full of old buildings like these.
Hmmm, right up our alley.
Here, we find this mob of Roos, along our afternoon walk.
A little closer.
The Bridle Track is on our "to do" list.
This wonderful old church stands overlooking the town.
This old tractor now stands as a garden ornament in someone's front yard.
Just in case we forgot where we were.
These signs, just at the edge of town.
It's fascinating, to see the original storm water gutters, still servicing the town.
The afternoon sunlight made for a top pic of this property.
The pub in all her glory.
The bar is lined with various currencies, pinned to the walls.
After a great day's riding, we all settle in for the evening to enjoy each other's company over dinner and a drink or three. No he's still not my brother!
We were outside in the beer garden at first, but it quickly got cold so we migrated in side to take advantage of the fire place and music.
I can do this....... but I don't wanna. Actually, I cant play the bloody guitar either.
My nose is red from the sun, not from the inkahol. No really.
Cheers guys.
We also had a go at the pool table.
Bloody show off
Doing my best, just watching.
Yes I'm actually trying to dance with Irene and Cath with Phill.
Keeping up the NSW Riders tradition of a pic behind the bar.
Me with Wendy who patiently organised the accommodation for us.
Day 2: Map (386 kms travelled)
This morning, we said goodbye to Phill and Irene, Martin and Susan, Rob and Tracey and Jalal, who all either returned home or continued on their own way. Cath and I, Ed, Allan and Lance rode on to Taralga for our second night of the trip.
After eventually getting some sleep when the noisy local drunks had had enough, we woke for our morning walk. Even the letterboxes have character.
When Cathy walks, she waits for no one. Not even me, and I'm her bloody husband. Another nice pic of the tree lined road..... and Cathy's bum.
A local Alpaca, or is that a Lama???? I dunno.
More hairy locals.
The pub's great verandah.
Robocop still away in the lock up.
A final group shot before the group split for their various destinations.
My two favourite girls.
Before leaving, we had a chat to the guys who entertained us with their music and singing. They offered to take us to a spot called Kissing Point Lookout. We never reject an offer from a local.
Here, Robocop has her portrait taken.
Another angle. The view from this point was excellent.
Cathy not impressed when I chose to kiss the bike in stead of her.
Ed was kind enough to photograph us coming back down from the look out.
Travelling through to Bathurst, we come across this bridge crossing the Turon River.
Yes I still like to photograph bridges.
The guys with the bikes in the background.
The Turon River isn't flowing much at the moment.
Riding through to Cowra, we are met with hundreds of acres of Canola fields.
Adventure bikes are the way to go. Great to tackle unsealed roads with ease.
Arriving in Cowra we stop to take a pic with the town's sign.
Hope Cathy doesn't notice. Anyway, it was Ed's idea.
Eventually we arrive in the town of Boorowa for lunch. Little did we realise they had the annual "Running of the Sheep' festival this weekend.
We had never seen so many people in this tiny town, however events like these are very welcome to inject some cash in to the community.
They had a sheep shearing display.
Done the old way. I asked the guy if he enjoyed shearing? He replied that he "aint sharing with anyone".
Here we arrive in Taralga and parked out front of the Taralga Hotel.
This pub has been recently renovated resulting in an excellent and cheap place to stay.
The bikes parked under shelter provided by most pubs.
Down at the bar I find this plaque. The story goes that back in 1968 the publican slammed his shot gun down on the bar resulting in the gun firing and blowing a hole through the wall and its tiles. Worth framing ?
Before dinner, Ed and I head off for a walk around town. I wanted to show him the showground where the Rodeo will be held on the Australia Day long weekend.
I cant decide whether I look like the bull or the rider?
Main street Taralga in the evening.
Ed and Lance settling in for the evening.
The meals at this pub are enormous.
Ed showing off his sausage.
The salmon for me.
The grand final begins. The atmosphere was great in this little pub.
This pic was taken at half time.
Gotta love these farmer's utes.
This Bullldogs supporter holding his end of a bet. Or did he simply enjoy showing off his bare arse?
Day 3: Map (219 kms travelled)
This morning sees the final day of the trip. Today's ride takes the adventure bikes across the Swallow Tail Track while Ed and Andrew (who met us in Taralga) take a tour through Goulburn.
This is looking down to the shed where we parked our bikes for the night.
As with all good pubs, breakfast is included. Just help yourself to toast or cereal and tea coffee or juice.
The morning outside the pub.
Notice all the bras hanging from the verandah? I asked if there was some sort of "flash for cash" going on but no, it was a result of a breast cancer fund raiser.
This is Andrew who met us from Goulburn and rode with Ed while we cut across the unsealed track.
The road from Taralga to Marulan is made up of approximately 60 kms in total. 20 kms of tar on the Taralga side then 20 kms of unsealed track and finally another 20 kms of tar approaching Marulan.
This is the start of the track.
Not all who wander are lost but sometimes we're bloody crazy.
Alot of the pass is quite good as you can see , but other parts have large rocks we needed to dodge.
Here , we are leading down to the river and you can see the steep drop off on the side of the road.
I took this pic after the boys had gone ahead and just after I took it, a large kangaroo jumped off the ledge to the right. on to the road then down the drop off. I'm just glad we weren't passing on the bike when he did that.
Here we reach the bottom at the river crossing.
We all have a closer look to see how we plan to tackle the crossing and keep our bikes upright. The causeway was straight forward but the drop off at the end of the concrete and the large muddy puddle beyond that w s a little more challenging.
I volunteered Lance to go first.
Next it was Allan's go.
This muddy patch on the other side was tricky.
This is my walking on water impersonation.
Made it across with no problem.
The muddy section wasn't too bad in the end.
All the same we are all relieved when we make it across.
On the eastern side of the river , the track improves back up the hill. That's Allan first up.
Then Lance heads off. The country side out here is excellent.
Here we find the historic Big Hill Church.
They have a service here every second Sunday of the month.
Cathy misbehaving in the ladies' dunny.
Not real flash is it ?
Along side the church is a cemetery. It was interesting just browsing the head stones. We noted that they represented 4 main families.
This must have been the poverty pack.
Finally we meet back up with Ed and Andrew at the Marulan Truck Stop.
We decide to share a lunch together before we all made our way home.
This was a another fantastic ride where we shared great roads, great food and nice cool drinks together. As always, we enjoyed each other's company and all vowed to do it all again. Consider joining in. You never know , you may just enjoy it too.
A big thank you to Ed, for allowing me to use some of his pics in this post. Particularly those where Cath and I are included.
