As is the norm of late the PADPAL was to be split between 3 riders to “spread the load” but as is also becoming “normal” it didn’t quite pan out that way. 10 riders assembled at Berowra including a couple of very infrequent faces. It was suggested and seconded that a Wollombi Loop was in order and in short order we had Al#1 for the Kulnura leg, Al#2 for the Millfield leg and I volunteered for the “Long” leg back to the Pie. In the meanwhile a veritable procession of jam sandwiches was passing by the 7-11 prompting some musing about WTF was going on. Anyway, Al#1, one the the relative newbies, assured us he knew where Jerry’s was at Kulnura so we set off up the old road behind him with confidence albeit a slightly reticent start. This was due to one of our number positioning at the front but then not following the leader out so’s to not have to corner mark! All was going well right up to Mount White when Al#1 turned right into the Road Warriors Cafe followed closely by one of our ...

View from Cowra lookout Stanwell Tops   There had been lots of interest in this year’s Way Out West ride from the time of my first posting of our 3-day ride adventure. I relied on the well-used ride itinerary, 2 nights in Cowra, 1 dinner at the Imperial, 1 dinner at the Bowlo, but where do I take a bunch of well healed, smart as, I’ve been everywhere man, ride group so they will have had a good ride, good roads and visit a place of interest. The Dish – did that in 2021, The Roundhouse Turntable – did that in 2023, what’s the next place of interest – that I haven’t been to nor 80% of the fellow Tourists – Temora – Aviation Museum, sounds good and they offer, you guessed it, Seniors concession. So plan made, now just hope like hell that it isn’t fucking freezing; Riders love nothing better that complaining when you as ride leader deliver miserable conditions to ride in, one thing that reduces complaints is they will have paid for 2 nights accommodation, so they are kind’a forced to c...

 It was a beautiful sunny morning if a bit chilly. Six hardy GONBUC members (including ride leader) turned up at St. Ives ready for a days spectacular riding. The plan was to ride to the 7-Eleven Mobil Service station at Berowra to pick up Monsieur Valise aka Suitcase. When we got there, there were mucho motorcycles and it took a while to find Suitcase. After waiting for Captain Andy to finish washing and polishing his new bike  at the fuel pump we set off for the Berowra Ferry. There was no traffic on the road down to the ferry so we had an uninterrupted trip except for a small tree lying on the side of the road. We managed to avoid said tree (including MTC) and arrived at the ferry in good time to board. The trip from the Berowra ferry to Wisemans ferry went without a hitch. We stopped at the Wisemans Ferry Park Reserve and purchased coffee and other delicacies from the Kiosk for our morning tea.  Our merry band of brothers and MTC Much analysing of the previous day's w...

  After one of our riders had a “pleasant conversation” with a truck driver who wanted to demonstrate how close you can park a truck loaded with timber pallets to a motorbike in the Berowra 7-Eleven (see pic below) 10 riders tracked north to Jerry’s for morning tea. The earlier ride briefing must have been exceptionally well delivered as everyone arrived safely at Jerry’s without the traditional regroup at Galga and no corner marking along the way. This got me thinking that today’s bunch must have been in the higher I.Q. Range of riders so I negated the need for corner marking all together for the rest of the trip to Rathmines. Off down Yarramalong Valley, past the Triangle and a left turn into Hue Hue, all going well. Another left into Jillaby Road and onto Dooralong and then right into Mandalong Rd. Still no corner marking…what possibly could go wrong! Strangely the 10 strong team kept a very tight formation, turns out it was the fear of getting separated and lost in the wilderne...

Heathcote  - Robertson - Thirlmere - Third Time Lucky!   The weather was just fantastic today. 14deg when we set out from Heathcote; 9deg at Robertson and then a high of 18deg heading back into Sydney. Sunny. Crisp. And not a drop of rain. Or mist. Or fog. Just a fantastic day for a ride!   So . . . with the weather report done with, here's the ride report!   Seven of us set out from Macca's, Heathcote for what was our (my!) third attempt at this ride. That's three years of trying to get this ride done! Seven of us on BMWs (3  x GS's, 1 x XR, 1 x RT), a Yamaha and a KTM. On the two previous occasions we lost people due to poor navigation (or, more accurately, poor following of the ride leader's instructions!) or due to seriously wet weather that had us abandon the ride mid-way through.   But not this time! Today, we enjoyed success!   We started with something different today! We back-tracked 5kms back up the Highway and took Farnell Ave into the RNP, ...

Arriving just before the 9.00 departure I went to fill up. Looking through the bushes  I couldn’t see anyone else and my immediate thought was oh no, wrong day.  In the car park I found two riders, Geoff W and John W. Good start. Alan B arrived saying Andy R should be joining us, but after waiting it seemed he most likely had work calling.  Geoff the ride leader, said the plan was Pitt Town, via Pitt Town road to Wiseman’s for coffee and to meet Suitcase. I suggested the old road, Peats Ridge, Mangrove Mountain, and Spencer to Wiseman’s Ferry and on to Glenorie bakery for lunch. Geoff immediately agreed and then enthusiastically pronounced me the new ride leader.   I should have seen that one coming.  Wiseman’s Ferry road along the Hawkesbury has improved with less pot holes now after recent improvements, but gravel corners still in some parts.  Chilly riding in the shadows along the river side, so feeling encouraged when the temp rose to 12°, only to ...

  It was a very simple ride destination, a route we have done many times. In my briefest of ride briefings (less than 20 seconds) I said morning tea at Braithwaite Park and lunch on the beach at CHB, that’s it, let’s go.   The group of 24 riders were all very excited about a new destination in Braithwaite Park.   Braithwaite Park is the proper name of The Triangle (as we all call it), my trickery was to get the group focus on the ride and corner marking to the mysterious new destination, my plan worked perfectly, I copped a bit over morning tea, but I usually cop a bit anyhow.   Also, I had done the maths, we had more riders than corners, instantly I thought this is an opportunity for some free flowing riding as I wont run out of corner markers and we didn’t, it was a quick ride today. It all went well, Peter of the Braces kept everyone in check as TEC.   The return ride was also a good ride led by Peter Walshaw, back along Dog Trap road to the Old Highway, we m...

  With a lot of rain the previous few days - the sun rose to mixed conditions. The rain stopped momentarily on my ride to the meeting point at Berowra - but the the road was still very wet   As we gathered at the 7-11, then we watched 1,2 then 3 & 4 Candy cars pass us.   With one setting up about 200 meters down the road from us.   So the ride was going to be at the speed limit or slower with the wet conditions and usual debri, potholes, road works and Highway patrol cars to negotiate past.   The route to Wollombi is quite complicated - I counted a total of 2 corners to negotiate with a stop at Jerry's for morning tea.   There were 11 of us, all old faces that had done the route many times so we dispensed with corner marking.   Apart from the wet conditions - the most notable occurrence was seeing 3 Highway patrol cars at Cowan, we think discussing their lack of pay rise.   Jerry's was closed - but the ablutions block was open ...