Mount Piper Ride 6th July 2023

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Started out to be the perfect day for a ride, not a cloud in the sky as we gathered at McDonalds, McGraths Hill. Our destination today was to the Mt Piper Power Station. 

 

There were no new riders to welcome, just the same old faces, so the briefing got underway at 9.55am. 18 bikes headed off in search of more sunshine and amazing scenery, across the turf farms to Freemans Reach and onto Bells Line of Road, Kurmond to regroup near the BP Service Station. 

 

We barely went 200 metres and had to stop for some serious roadworks. Should’ve checked my Live Traffic App because it could’ve easily been bypassed. A brief stop for roadworks at Mt Tomah. From Mt Wilson the weather changed as the temperature dropped and the clear sky was replaced with dark clouds.

 

As we descended into Lithgow the temperature went down to 7 degrees. Very disappointing. To avoid about 5 sets of traffic lights we took some back streets which in hindsight may not have been a great idea with all the lefts and rights I ran out of Corner Markers and had to stop until the group caught up. Anyhow, as it turned out we all arrived at Bowenfels together for morning tea which I thought was a great achievement.

 

As we shivered and put extra layers on for the next leg three riders had to head back east in the direction of a clear sky. Rather than stand around too long we soldiered on past Lake Lyell through to Rydal and went to turn right to go a short distance to the Great Western Hwy to find road closure barriers across the road. Rather than take the gravel road detour they let us through. There was only one earth moving machine which looked like it was being used to clear the table drain. 

 

From Rydal we turned onto the Great Western Hwy at Mount Lambie. It was than onto Range Road and as we came into Portland in the 50 area a white BMW went past in the opposite direction which I was told at lunch it was one of those unmarked cars. 

 

It was a good run back to the Bilpin Fruit Bowl. My trip meter measured 298 kms round trip. Thanks to Rob Toshack for being our TEC. It was a good day. 

See photos on FB. 

Dave Sipple

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