Saturday 15 June Ride to Samuel Gee Pies at Balaclava

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Ride Report – Saturday 15 June “Chilly Willy” Ride to Samuel Gee Pies at Balaclava

The forecast heavy cloud and cold air mass rolled through on Wednesday evening as Joan and I lingered in the 35 degree bliss of the Moree Artesian Bore Baths. This was our sixth and final artesian pool on our five-day “Artesian Drive” round the northern NSW artesian belt. The following (Thursday) morning was bleary and cold as we began to head homewards. As we drove along in comfort in our nice warm car I recalled that on the coming Saturday (today) I was due to ride to Balaclava. If you’re wondering, Balaclava is the little village on the run into Mittagong from the Hume Freeway, and home to the famous Samuel Gee Pies. But at around 1000m. at this time of year Mittagong can be, shall we say, brisk.

Brisk I don’t mind so much; that’s the point of the “Chilly Willy” ride thing, but soaking wet and brisk I’m not really so keen on, so I wasn’t really expecting a huge roll-up at St Ives this morning, in the rain, with the forecast for Mittagong today as showers and 2-to-9 degrees. I mean, Samuel Gee’s pies are pretty damn good, and you could say their scallop pies are to die for, but not literally, eh?  Nobody needs to suffer hypothermia and probable death just for a scallop pie.

So I guess I really want to thank you for NOT turning up at St Ives this morning and expecting me to take you there. There will be another time on a vastly more enjoyable day. See you then! 

Oh, and I want to Thank You MTC for coming along to St Ives this morning and sharing a coffee and chat while I came to my senses and decided to go back home.      GW.


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