January 7th UNB Kanangra Walls Black and Tan Ride

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Welcome to 2024!

Our first UNB ride of the New Year took us on a “Black and Tan” ride to Kanangra Walls, about 30km south of Jenolan Caves in the Kanangra-Boyd National Park. By Saturday evening I had a list of ten starters including new Member Simon on his first ride with us, my UNSWMCC friend Russell, and Vaughn and his cousin Craig. Sunday 7th was a great day for a ride – mild but partly cloudy, and the forecast possible showers did threaten but didn’t arrive.

Seven of us left St Ives at 8.05am and went straight to the M2, continued onto the M7, and out Richmond Road where we picked up Russell and on to the BP Kurmond for a comfort stop. Only light traffic up the mountains but a 5 minute delay at Mt Tomah roadworks and plenty of Police presence kept everyone at best behaviour. Left at Bell and over the Causeway to Mount Victoria to a fuel and coffee stop at the Ampol, where we met Craig but not Vaughn, who had torn a muscle whilst wrestling his bike in his garage. From Mt Vic John W and MTC reversed direction and returned via Mt Tomah Gardens, leaving seven of us now heading for Kanangra.

Down Victoria Pass, left at Hartley and up the Oberon / Jenolan road. More roadworks and another 5 minute wait at Hampton, then across towards Oberon and left onto Titania Road to the Edith Road. East now, up to crest the Dividing Range at 1350 (?) metres and a stop at the Jenolan Caves / Kanangra road junction.  From here your Ride Leader, already savouring the ride on his brand-new-second-hand F800GS, directed his companions to go ahead at their own pace down the 30kms of gravel road to the Kanangra Walls parking area. This was an entirely selfish move – I just wanted to have a play on the dirt, to see how good the new bike was. And It was very nice, and thank you again Johann!

All arrived safely at Kanangra Walls and enjoyed a short stroll to the lookout for the photo opportunity and chat of recollections of various canyoning and bushwalking trips in the past. Lunch at the picnic table, then around 1.30pm we took another “go at your own pace” ride back to the Jenolan Caves turnoff, then retraced our outward journey with another fuel stop at Mt Vic, where we farewelled Craig.  Six now, back to Bilpin PITS for coffees and apple pies with ice cream.

From here around 4pm we headed off homewards in ones and two’s. I got home at 5.30pm after a most enjoyable 480km day.  My thanks to Simon, Craig, Russell, MTC, John W, Keith, Erica and Alan for coming along for the day, and to old UNB friend Johann Schroder, for selling me his 2010 F800GS!

Geoff W



It's a hold up???

Kanangra Walls

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