Even though the Thursday Riders plan to ride to Kiama down south this week, I broke the rules and suggested we head off in the same direction, just a few days beforehand Never On Sunday is the usual rule for Royal National Park riding, but the rough plan was to avoid the “Royal” until the return journey – and that worked., at least for this little black duck. As usual, I insisted we take the scenic route via Cahill Expressway across the Harbour Bridge and across Botany Bay, past Miranda Fair, for coffee and art-stop at Hazlehurst Gallery – the Art Express portraits  by high school students from many diverse schools were stunning,  made the coffee taste extra smooth. Took the Motorway south, with easy traffic down Mt Keira, by-passing Seacliff Bridge, Wollongong and Albion Park -  fairly scenic,  just watch out for Speed Controls and Learner Drivers, and enjoy the rich farmland vistas and simply look out for the twisty off- lane to Bombo, under a rail bridge and over ...

  Broke via the Putty Ride Report It started with a phone call but this time even I have to admit Alan’s excuse was pretty good i.e. there’s a tree fallen on my house and it’s blocking my driveway. So suddenly I was leading the ride with less than 24 hours to prepare! Step 1 was to check the route given the appalling weather over the previous 24 hours. So I checked with Grey Gums but they didn’t know about the road but did know that their “facilities” would be offline on the morning of the ride “if the plumber made it through”. Mmmmm that could be problematic, did they have any suggestions and just like that I had the number of the Halfway Roadhouse which is a 10mins ride further up the Putty from Windsor. So a call to Dave (owner) resulted in a change of ride plan with morning tea at the Halfway Roadhouse. Step 2 was to check the return route and all looked AOK and PITS was open. Step 3 (which didn’t happen) should’ve been to check my route to Windsor. If I had got to that I would...

 Mad dogs, a Czech and an Irishman turned up at St. Ives on a scorching hot Saturday. Everybody else wimped out!!!  With no more riders appearing we set off at a leisurely pace into the furnace via Mona Vale Road, M2, M7 and Great Western Highway arriving at Sydney Motorsports Park at around 10am. As there were no signs indicating there was an event on at the park we rode right past the entrance and only realising we had missed it when Bondi appeared on the horizon!!! When we eventually found the right entrance we parked our trusty steeds and proceeded to get into our "cool" gear of shorts and sandals. The temperature was around 35C but we were ready for it with bottles of water, sunscreen and appropriate head gear.  The things you see when you haven't got a gun!!! We wandered past the various pits taking the odd photo:   RC30!!!! All you knowledgeable bikers can work out what they are ... apart from all being Hondas. There was a gold coin donation for entry. Not man...

  Ride report Sugarloaf Mountain On a great morning with a promise of 30+Celsius, 20ish riders gathered at Berowra and Michael, the son of Marty Ambrosious was welcomed, to a short ride with the group and one newby  was given 'the clap'. The route to Sugarloaf mountain was via. Kulnura, Yarramalong, Dooralong, Cooranbong, , Brunkerville and Mulbring. Several riders seemed so impressed with 'Jerrys' at Kulnura, they did not seem to want to leave!! As usual, the run down Bumble Hill raised  enthusiasm but the ride started 'thinning out' to the point where, when I arrived at Mulbring, we had run out of 'corner markers' so the last corner marker and myself had a break for a few minutes until Dave Sipple plus friend arrived but he did nor recognise me so flew straight past!  All was good and Andy and myself reached Sugarloaf which has attained a height of 412 metres and of course you are all aware that the name is derived from Brazil where sugar for export wa...

  This was my first time as ride leader on a Thursday Riders scheduled ride and turning up at Maccas McGraths Hill just before   9.00 am , I expected to perhaps be the only person crazy enough to want to ride over the mountains with the dodgy weather forecast and colourful rain radar. Good news, Ian Frost from the Central Coast was already there having had a quick run down the M1.   Over the course of the next 50 minutes we had a total of 17 riders (including 2 virgins from the Hills Ulysses - Quentin and Ivor) join the group, all eager to see how the day might play out. The weather was actually extremely kind with perhaps only a few mm falling over us for the duration.   At 10.00 we all headed off via the Grasslands, then Bells Line of Road, arriving at the Bilpin rest area opposite the Public School for morning tea. We then continued on Bells Line of Road, past the weigh station and on to Lithgow for a regroup coming into town. Right onto the Great Western Highway ...

Six riders and two-and-a-half*-in-a-tin-top started out from St Ives on Sunday 5th at around 9.15am. Another fine sunny day with just a hint of autumn and some possible afternoon showers forecast. Coffee and chat at a very busy PITS, and here we collected Erica and Mr Suitcase. Discussions on ride route determined that Suitcase should lead, and so we departed via Old Highway, Peats Ridge, Bumble Hill, and a comfort stop at the Triangle. Then up Hue Hue Road to Wyee, across Rutleys Rd and up the Old Pacific Highway through Swansea to Belmont. The 16 Foot Skiff Club was busy but we managed to snare a nice table by the windows and enjoyed our lunch and dissertations. Departed the Club around 1.45pm and retraced our route back to Doyalson then mostly eased out onto the Expressway. A brisk ride ensued with a following breeze back to the Brooklyn Bridge where I waved ta-ta and opted for the Old Road and a more leisurely pace. Home by 4pm with big clouds building in the south-west, but no sho...

My mother had a pillion on a Harley when she was 17. Went to the Dam up in the Watagan Range, got home with virtue intact but decided she would not be able to trust herself on a Harley Ride again. Met my dad years later & had 2 babies during WW2? Maybe thought her clock was ticking too fast! Fast forward to Sandra, another WW2 child who pillioned at 14 & wanted to relive that for 80th birthday. Her kids found GONBUC & Alan B's details to arrange fantasy ride on a suitable carriage such as behind Spyder Man. Arrangement involved donation to UCARF only. Too many laws around taking paying passengers for me. A little help needed to throw the leg on & off to Estuary for coffee. Perfect spot at Brooklyn overlooking Hawkesbury River. Onwards to Terrigal Skillion via Old Hwy, another dreaded double demerits weekend, lunch with views of The Haven. Very humid day so straight back on Freeway. Excellent days riding with appreciative company. If you have friends needing to “thro...

A motley crew assembled at St Ives on a fine and sunny morning, and at 7.30am-ish proceeded leisurely to Brooklyn via Hornsby and the Old Highway. What a delight to be out on the weekend roads before the crowds. Parked right outside the Café. A tasty breakfast was enjoyed, provided by the staff at King Tide Café. Boats and ferries chugged about and trains rumbled past. Sunshine sparkled on the cool water. Life is Good. Then we rode home. I went via Bobbin Head and guess what? Almost no bicycles! Hah! What a great day.