Southern Highlands Ride 18th July 2024

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, across Audley Weir and enjoyed the RNP with almost no traffic. After a quick stop at Bald Hill, we continued on back towards the Old Princess Highway, onto the M1, off at Picton Rd and then down Mt Kiera Rd.

 

It was there at the bottom of the hill  as we rejoined the Princes Hwy that we experienced the usual 'losing one of our group' scenarios, all the more curious because the rider we lost was none other than our TEC who had specifically confirmed the route instructions with the ride leader prior to our departure and had attested that they had understood said route instructions!

 

The, now, six of us continued on our merry way, down the M1 before exiting at Fowlers Rd and then heading back to the Old Highway, thus bypassing the sights of Unanderra, Kembla Grange and Dapto, then onto Huntleys Rd, Marshall Mount Rd and then through the burgeoning new housing estate of North Macquarie before joining the Illawarra Hwy at Tullimbar and heading up the hill to Robertson.

 

As luck would have it, our TEC had arrived at our lunch destination before we did. Can someone please explain to me how that happens! We lose them but they get there before us! Oh, I know how it happens!! They obviously get ahead of us while we're sitting on the side of the road waiting for them, not knowing that they have decided to take a quicker, more direct route.  Silly me!  Mystery solved!!

 

At one point enroute, the group was back to seven in number, but it turns out that an infiltrator had joined our ranks. A white FJR with cute little blue lights. Thankfully as the good, law abiding young lads that we are, we were of no interest to him. Was it that? Or was it because he was too busy booking someone else as we all idled past? I'm not sure, but thankfully, none of our details were exchanged.

 

After our collective coffees, pies and bladder ventings (the bladder ventings enjoyed on a solo basis, unlike the coffees and pies which were enjoyed as a group!), we then headed back down the hill to take the Old Tourist Rd back towards warmer climes.

 

Somewhere in there, we (the seven of us, our TEC having decided to rejoin the group and the white FJR nowhere to be seen!) travelled on Range Rd, Old South Rd, past Mittagong Aerodrome and then on to Colo Vale, Hill Top and to our ultimate destination of Thirlmere where more coffee was enjoyed.

 

Enroute we again dropped back to six in number as one of our group managed to arrange a 'better offer' and headed off to a swanky lunch at a winery.  Apparently the lure of lunch with a couple, of good-looking ladies seemed more inviting than sticking with the six less good-looking lads in the posse. We were all terribly offended - and jealous, of course - but made the most of the rest of the afternoon sans his excellent company!

 

Afternoon tea was had at the little park in Thirlmere where there was nothing odd, at all, with seeing six older gentlemen sitting in the children's playground during school holidays amongst a sea of kids on swings and slippery dips! We did our best to ignore the kids and they, thankfully, ignored us! As did their accompanying yummy-mummies!

 

After a further venting of bladders, this time partaken in pairs, we headed off, to various household chores awaiting our arrival home. For my part, I did my best to overlook the fact that five of our number decided to head off on their merry way as a group, leaving me  - the ride leader - to travel back home on my lonesome. I've decided to believe that it was because they all live on the Northshore and it made sense for them to do so, as I had to head back to the Eastern Suburbs.  That's what I have decided to believe.  It could not, possibly, have anything to do with my personality, obvious failings or questionable route decisons. That's what I have chosen to believe!

 

Anyway, that's me done for another six months. I can now revert to being just one of a number, hidden somewhere between ride leader and TEC.

 

Thank you to those who attended today's ride.  In another three years, I'll get another one right! Until then, enjoy this gorgeous winter weather.

 

Steve