Borgnis Street lights One solitary rider turned up on his Can-am at St. Ives (plus ride leader)!!! Luckily he volunteered to be the TEC. We waited until 7.45pm before leaving as sunset was 8.06pm and it needed to be a little darker to make the lights more effective. I had driven part of the route last Sunday and selected additional locations from the Northern Beaches 2023 Christmas lights website. Off we went to Childs Circuit off Forest Way. There was only one house with lights but they were quite impressive. It wasn't quite dark enough to make them stand out. Next we went to Prince Charles Road but nothing much happening there. After that to Carnarvon Drive, Frenchs Forest .... sod all there (so much for the website). Then on to Borgnis Street, Davidson which was chockers. We did a lap  admiring the locals handiwork before heading to Gondola Street, Narrabeen via the Wakehurst Parkway. This street is pretty impressive, even up to Borgnis Street standard!! We saw a few impr...

Hi All, 5 hardy souls including newest & youngest Ulysses member, Mike (on a shiny black Kwaka GPZ900R sporty thing) braved the elements of light drizzle fading to brilliant sunshine as morning progressed. Waited til 5 past, just in case, then headed through Roseville Chase, Frenchs Forest, Seaforth to Dobroyd Head for quick chat about ……. Back roads to coffee at West End Cafe for more chat about …… Then up to North Head for more chat about……. Thanks to Mike, Rob, Bonny & Geoff. Cheers, JW Here is a Brain Teaser from John for all you smart arses Tom Tightwad keeps his money in a safe, the code for which is a 10-digit number that uses every digit between 0 and 9.   Fearful of forgetting the code, Tom wrote it on the front of the safe, but disguised it.   He wrote the first five digits (C 1  to C 5 ) along the top of a 5x5 grid, and the last five digits (C 6  to C 10 ) down the side.   Then he multiplied each digit along the top by each digit down the side...

  It was a small, sad-arsed group. But we’ll come back to that.     The morning started off interestingly. We motored off, eight of us, and almost immediately we were arrested. By the police. Of course, we denied everything, dobbed each other in without being asked and in due course, none of us having been found to be intoxicated by anything but the warm weather, were released. Soon the small and grumbling traffic jam we had help create moved on.   Off to Jerries at Kulnara for morning tea, or coffee. Some interesting news from Jerry. His establishment will be closed from next week to the end of January. He, with his family, are off to Vietnam. He has subbed in a catering van, so that coffee will be available but there will be no Portuguese tarts. Jerry was unwillingly entertained as we displayed; excruciatingly, patronisingly, and competitively, our knowledge of the five principal dialects of the Vietnamese language and of our last holiday in Hanoi. Eventually out o...

  15 arrived for the ride and to enjoy the sun shine and fabulous company. This included 1 virgin, who we were happy to give the clap and 2 dirty riders who went their own way via Portland Ferry and Upper Colo to Mt Wilson via Bilpin.   The remainder had morning tea at Mt Tomah gardens after a short wait at the roadworks. Tea and bickies done I timed it perfectly to catch the tail end of a batch of vehicles that had just cleared the said roadwork which included a very slow truck. Once past the truck we came up to speed and not much over as I had just regained a clean licence and was keen to hold onto it for at least a week or two. My caution paid off as an unmarked piggy heading the other way was seen at the top of Lithgow. The original plan was to take the road that goes past the entrance to Hassan Walls but that road was closed. The alternate plan was to go around Hassan Walls and cut back in to Hartley Vale. Another change in plan as the only road I did not recon. was close...

  GONBUG “Not to Bombo Beach” Ride report, Sunday 3 December 2023 Well !!! The best-laid plans can go awry, but don’t quite turn to custard. After meticulous ride-planning one week early, and with good weather forecast, I thought I would at last lead Northern Beaches group to a virgin destination – we had never ridden to wonderful, tantalising Bombo Beach. Then it unravelled – with an invitation from no less than the Lord Mayor of Sydney to her fancy-pants Lord Mayor’s Town Hall Christmas Party, 3 rd December, starting at 2pm back in centre-city. Ever the “opportunist”, I reckoned this would be just the event to publicise Ulysses Beginnings, at the Elizabeth Hotel (since demolished) in Elizabeth Street, City, forty years before, on 6 th December 1983. We had even (almost) been awarded a bronze plaque in the footpath near the site. This I explained to the gathering of five riders, that two of us riders would need to get back to centre-city by 2pm for the Town Hall shindi...

I received a call on Monday from Al Scott, who was todays designated ride leader, asking if I would lead as he has a problem with his shoulder and has not been riding due to it. Great I thought, looking at the forecast that showed rain. I am pleased to say the forecast was wrong, the weather was sun and blue skies. Briefing done a dozen or so familiar faces left Berowra a few minutes before 10 where we proceeded to have a nicely paced ride to Calga for regroup. A small amount of road work with traffics lights that did not hold most of us up very much except Peter of the fluro braces who had kindly agreed to be tec. After a long wait at Calga a rider with fluro. as part of his top rounded the corner so off, we went only to find out later it was not our tec. One corner at the top of Bumble hill was all I thought needed marking and as we all arrived at the triangle that theory was validated. Morning tea consumed we were off again this time every corner was marked and again we all arrived ...

  Thursday promised rain, skies were sodden 3 hardy souls turned up at Berowra, in drizzle. Raining on the beaches 10:00am  nobody else. I foolishly parked at the front. Leader Andy TEC, Richo was the group! Wets were put on. Destination Ebenezer church or Tractor 828 for morning tea depending on the weather/road conditions and then Grey Gums for lunch. Berowra Waters ferry first, missed it by one minute, when eventually it arrived back, cars disembarked, but the ferry master stopped us getting on, gates closed. He went for a dump, shower, put on his makeup and then his morning tea, in the meantime  the ferry was being sprayed by another gentleman in the drizzle. Weed killer/pest control? never found out, after 25 minutes another Ferry master let us on. Finally we were under way, the clouds parted and a good run to Sackville Ferry, as we arrived the gates closed, would he let us on? No! Watched as he slipped away. another delay. Stopped at Tractor 828 as it was  11:3...

  The weather gods were kind today . . . for a while, but then decided to sabotage our planned ride to Thirlmere.   The few showers this morning were not enough to discourage the seven intrepid riders who made their way to Heathcote McDonalds from near and far. 'Near' being an hour away from the Eastern Suburbs and 'Far' being nearly two hours from the Northern Beaches and The Hills district.   Because of the wet weather, we agreed to abandon the planned RNP leg and proceed down the Old Princess Hwy and the M1, exiting at Picton Road so that we could take the less-travelled Mt Kiera Rd down the hill to the Coast   After a further diversion back onto the M1, we rejoined the Princess Hwy at Dapto so that we could take some back roads towards Illawarra Hwy and then up to the Robertson Pie Shop.   It was at that juncture, exiting the M1 at Dapto, that we lost three of our group, the first four riders being too covert in their egress from the Motorway.  Thankful...

  Tony and I arrived at Berowra to be greeted by 4 enthusiastic riders ready to go, all suggesting that we get going early because Dungog is a long ride. Over the next short while we were joined by another 3. A detailed briefing was given describing the route to our morning tea stop at Dooralong Hall. Mark was appointed Tail End Charlie and he and some others advised that they would leave at Sandy Creek Rd after morning tea as they had commitments in the afternoon.   We were all ready and anxious to get going when a colourful rider turned up and asked for some extra time to top up the gallant steed. Job completed and off we rode. One of our number reported that he had seen a gaggle of motor bike mounted constabulary pass by as we were waiting to leave. This was noted and a careful pace was set as we headed off. I also allowed a couple of other bikes to act as rabbits in case one of the blueys happened to be hiding in the bushes somewhere. True to form we found one hiding in th...

  It  It was an an enticing morning to gather at McGraths Hill Maccas, the weather was good but a sceptical majority must have been reading the forecast from the BOM and decided to stay at home. Nevertheless 7 riders gathered and then learned that one rider had a 'brain snap' and was waiting for us at Berowra!  The route was through Wilberforce, up the Putty and then left at Blaxland Ridge Rd. to Bells Line. As we passed Bilpin one rider was seduced by The Grumpy Baker, now 6 riders.  The forgetful one joined us at  Mount Tomah for smoko, back to 7 riders. Phones showing weather radar are wonderful things, promising a downpour, back to 5 riders.  Due to the sky indicating  fulfilment of the radar projection  and the probability of a rather wet, potholed run down to the end of the Megalong Valley, with no shelter at the end. The destination was changed to Mt.York, which has shelter.  The race was now on the finish lunch and beat the rain,...

There is NO escape! I arrived at Berowra 7-11 to find a gaggle of bikes so slotted neatly in front of them. Turns out it was ladies day so a number of the bikes disappeared early on in the piece as the rest in of the parking filled with bikes and the time was fast approaching  10am . Problem - the allocated ride leader was no where to be seen and no-one had heard from him in any attempt to arrange an alternate leader. At 9:58  Peter of the committee stood up and said “right we need a replacement ride leader”, I kept my counsel and buttoned my lip. He roamed through the crowd of 20 eager riders making pronouncements like “morning tea is at Spencer” so I foolishly assumed (and we all know what that does) it was sorted. He headed back in my direction so I was expecting a “so and so has volunteered so all is good” but instead I got “morning tea is at Spencer and since your bike is parked in front of all the others you are ride leader for today”.   Not happy Jan! So much so th...

  History:   Europeans explored the area  in the summer of  1822 and shortly afterwards  Dr Thomas Braidwood Wilson, a surgeon, was granted land in the area. Wilson, eschewing modesty, named his farm 'Braidwood' so that when part of the farm was resumed for the town it was a simple step to name the town Braidwood.   Starters:  Erica, Steve S, Rob T, Peter W, Frosty, Peter C, Kim & Yours truly.   Day 1 : McGraths Hill, Lithgow, Oberon, Taralga, Goulburn, Bungonia, Tarago, Braidwood....415km   Dinner : Royal Hotel   Day 2:  Braidwood, Gunning, Blayney, Lithgow, Bilpin, McGraths Hill.....487km   Weather:  Day 1 great although slightly on the cool side. Day 2 Cold and fine until lunch then showers to Lithgow, then 5 degrees and rain to Bilpin, thereafter fine.   EEE:  Erica's Enterprising Escapades. Day 1 and Erica disappears whilst we were gassing up...eventually the lady in red arrives flustered and d...

Overcast skies and a little drizzle getting to Berowra 15 riders turned up by ride briefing  at 9:55 Confidently predicted no rain. Peter of the Braces accepted TEC Regrouped at Calga, corner marking from there! George Downes, Right at Springs Rd. Down Bumble Hill, Yarramalong Rd to the Triangle for Morning Tea.  Where the problems of the word were solved, before 13 riders headed up the Hue Hue, left onto Jiliby Rd then right at Dooralong, onto Mandalong Rd. past the infamous corner.  Crossed the MI and right at Wyee Rd, left at Ruttleys Rd, starting to run out of corner markers. a left at the Pacific Hwy, right at Elizabth bay Dr, then left at Birdie Beach Dr into the  Munmorah State Conservation Area, used more corner markers in the last 6k than the rest of the ride. Arrived Frazer Beach.  Thanks to our TEC nobody got lost Beautiful weather, a great view, secluded, isolated, plenty of parking, an ideal lunch stop,  peaceful, serene.  W...

  The designated ride leader has sold his bike and is yet to buy a new one. Given that this was a reasonable excuse, I agreed to lead the ride on his behalf.   Despite the forecasted hot day, 20 riders turned up at Wollombi including one virgin, Geoff, who was duly welcomed to the group and given the clap accordingly. We took a different route to smoko at Jerry's which involved 1.5 hours of riding, without any regrouping thanks to the corner marking system working well.  The route was the usual Pacific Highway to a right turn at Calga and onto Somersby followed by a right turn down Dog Trap Road to Ourimbah. We then rejoined the Pacific Highway to Tuggerah where we turned left and headed to Yarramalong and up Bumble Hill to Jerry's.  After Smoko, 6 riders departed for home leaving 14 making it to Wollombi for lunch in the Park. After lunch, most made their way back via the Wollombi road with a couple taking the circuit via Freemans Water Hole to the Pie.   Despi...