I was filling in for Richo who was undisposed. We had 10 riders line up with a mixed forecast not warm, possibly cold, possibly wet. I just love the way the BOM hedges their bets with forecasting. Probably because they were so criticised for not giving enough warning during the Lismore floods. We had morning tea in Bowenfels & rode the well-trodden route through Tarana. Alan & I chatted & agreed that this ride really should  start at 0930 as time was getting away from us. So he knew a short cut to Bathurst which made up a bit of time. Then on to the Sofala road which was in really good condition compared to the rest of NSW roads. We had lunch in Sofala where I abandoned the group because I was staying the night in Orange.  We didn’t lose anyone thanks to Rod for being TEC Until next time… Tony James

  Well, that all went ok. The weather was near perfect. People thrust money into my hands as they arrived at Berowra and we went for a ride. We wandered off down the Old Pacific Highway. This is a lovely road and easy to under-appreciate because we do it so often. Lots of bends and twisty bits, and the added excitement that comes with the impossibility of riding within the speed limit, even, for much of it, if you are on a bicycle.  We are blessed, and Australia is beautiful as you wander through the trees and over the Hawkesbury and past the rich orange-red sandstone cliffs. The colour is almost Trumpesque, but I put that unpleasant thought behind me secure in the knowledge that the cliffs were there a million years BT, and will be there, provided we don’t blow the world up, a million years PT. I thought the following crowd was a bit slow, but that didn’t matter. They’d soon catch up at the multiplicity of roadworks traffic lights placed strategically to frustrate us. Quietly...

  Today’s ride didn’t go exactly as planned. The weather was certainly not perfect with a grey sky and gusty winds and 26 degrees   at 10.00am but this did not deter 15 riders turning up at 7 Eleven Berowra looking forward to a ride but evidently not Dungog.   Filling in for Jim Cormack today I had the ride to Dungog all sorted going north it was going to be good, however one by one I had 5 riders tell me individually that they would only be riding to Smoko so that left 10 riders. These 10 riders were not showing a lot of enthusiasm either as they looked at the weather forecast on their phones. Discussing Dungog as a ride destination with three committee members and others it was agreed we take Dungog of the Ride Calendar due to the distance and lack of interest.  After some deliberation it was decided to ride to the Oak Dairy Café at Freemans Waterhole for morning tea and then onto Mt Sugarloaf for lunch cutting off about 2 and half hours return trip. Leaving on tim...

  McDonalds McGraths Hill was a hive of activity as 25 or so riders gathered for   a 10.00am   departure for this overnight ride to Scone the long way but a more interesting route. After a short briefing we managed to successfully hightail it out of Windsor and across the grasslands past a mobile camera car not far along on the right-hand side opposite. A quick stop at Kurmond to regroup and it was a nice ride along Bells Line of Road with another mobile camera car and then a lollipop stop and go at Bilpin as workman were clearing vegetation along the roads edge. Roadworks at Mt Tomah held us up momentarily and it was a clear run to Lithgow to regroup just west of McDonalds. The group of 25 bikes seem to have been split up into three groups because of the number of traffic lights getting through the railway town of Lithgow. The first stop was the very impressive Wallerawang Bakery for lunch. The Castlereagh Hwy was a good run with a 5-minute break at the Ilford Rest Area....

The day beckoned with a blue sky and double digit temperatures, the last time I tried to lead this ride it was very wet and very cold, only 2 riders showed up and we only got as far as Kulnura before giving it away. So 25+ riders decided this was the day to do the Luskintyre ride 👍🏻 To be fair there were a few blow-ins with 3 Jim picked up at Bayview, Mike a mate of Ron’s and Anton who was joining for his first ride with the group, but still a sizable turnout for what is a long ride. At the briefing I described the route, old road to Wollombi for morning tea, Wollombi rd to Cessnock, Old Maitland/Old North roads to Lochinvar and thence on to the airfield. Some bright spark lobbed in “but do you know the gate code” but everyone knows it’s top to bottom middle row +#. Probably because everyone knows the code when we got there the whole gate was missing! Given the newbies I described Corner Marking once again with emphasis on wait until relieved by the TEC who, being a glutton for punis...

  A perfect spring day for a ride. Beautiful temperature - 14 to 24°, lots of spring flowers out and about with their delicious perfumes (particularly the wild wisteria) and lots of fabulous twisty roads. I'll be quite detailed in describing the route, because it would be an excellent one day run for anybody wanting to go and have some fun.   18 bikes at the start - one Newby, Woody, down from the Central Coast, and one former rider (in the group around 15 years ago), Gordon. They were duly given the clap.   Frosty gave a fairly detailed outline of the course, informed the group that we would be corner marking in the delicate areas and that it was important to make sure everybody got through, and after being reminded to do so, announced that Peter of the Braces would be tail end Charlie for the day.   The aim of the route was to find lots of bends with a reasonable surface and the opportunity to go a little bit quick. Mission accomplished. We set off through the gras...

 Five lucky riders assembled at St. Ives on a beautiful spring day. Three motorcycles and two Can-Ams. A good mixture. I decided to avoid motorways and tollways so the route was as follows: St. Ives, Punchbowl, Hume Highway through Yagoona, Bass Hill and Warwick Farm. Past Liverpool, The Cross Roads, Campbelltown, Appin. Down Broughton Pass and Picton Road to Cordeaux Dam. There wasn't a lot of traffic but there were a million sets of lights which I had forgotten about. We were spread out over about three kilometres. I stopped a couple of times but because the roads were clearways we couldn't re-group. Luckily Kevin "pick-a-lock" Hardy seemed to know the route and lead us to Cordeaux Dam from Liverpool. It turns out that Kevin had no idea what the route was and was just winging it. Pretty good winging!!!  We arrived at Cordeaux Dam at 10.35am. Some of us had a coffee whilst we waited for the proceedings to start. Tim Shelton from the Eastern Creek branch opened procee...

  I departed home in the pouring rain but as the designated Ride Leader I thought I should go in case some keen riders turns up. Arriving at Maccas McGraths Hill there were 7 bikes already there but it turned out to be none of ours. They were 7 ladies heading to the '2WheelBabes' Rally in Ballina, where they expect up to 4000 Babes to attend. Given they were brave enough to head up the Putty Road... and as none of our group turned up,  I volunteered to be my TEC and headed off. What a great decision that turned out to be. I stopped for a break at Grey Gums before heading to lunch at Bulga and then on to the Pie to farewell myself for the day. Apart from the lack of company, it was great ride of approximately 400 kms. The rain had already stopped when I arrived at McGraths Hill and I made it round without getting wet and the majority of the roads were dry. Until next time.... Peter Walshaw

 Well over 20 riders were eager for the ride to Broke via the PHW but some crazy drivers put and end to that by crashing at Jolls Bridge. Now it was my first lead and many asked me “where to now”!! So after some deliberation we voted to go on the Berowra ferry and then down to Wiseman’s for lunch. Off we went and only lost 5 on the way but we all met for a warm sunny coffee stop to discuss the many issues of life. After quick break a further debate of “so where to now” was resolved to go to Wollombi for lunch as time was slipping by. A fun run and we caught up with a rider (not to be named) who left McGraths Hill and went to Broke then back to Wollombi. Well I think I have experienced all for my first lead and looking for to the next ride. Thanks guys. Geoff

  Hello Thursday Riders   Chapter 1 – 21st August, 2025.   The 21st August ride had been cancelled due to inclement weather. A decision was taken to transfer the ride to the Kyushu Japanese Restaurant, Neutral Bay, famous for its bento box, and hold a formal meeting to discuss important matters of policy. These notes represent Minutes of that meeting. Membership was drawn from a cross section of constitutional interests, to ensure a diversity of views.   Present: Chairman Rod (Roquet) May, representing the Bega Valley Cheese Eaters; Peter Walshaw (North Korean Hoteliers Resistance Movement); Wayne Rees (Aotearoa Advancement Society, Fielding Branch); Tony James (Teals) and Yours Truly Truly, a person known to be incapable of lying.   Welcome to Country: Sato-san visited the table and did his Welcome to Country. Tony James, as a devout Teal, was shocked by this and moved a call to order whilst he phoned Zali (MP Stegall) to determine whether a Japanese Welcome to...

  Great forecast for the 3 days. 21 riders in all. One virgin, Dave on a Multistrata. 2 newcomers to riding the Putty, Rod GS & Owen from Kiama.   Jim Cormack checked over my planning on Monday before the ride. Walcha & other Tourist bureaus were phoned to check the roads were open. What could possibly go wrong?   Putty is in good condition. I waved some faster riders thru. I activated Waze over lunch at Maccas in Singleton where Frank from Tamworth was waiting to join us. Waze said the road from Singleton to Buckets way via Dungog was closed & diverted us via New England Hway & Pacific Hway to join Bucketts Way. That’s the only road I didn’t check was open. One demerit for Tony.   38km short of Gloucester I hit a pot hole & blew the front tyre & butterflied the rim. Two demerits for Tony. Erica took me, & Austin took my bag, to Gloucester. Iron Horse Rescue was called & 2 hrs later Jim, Alan & me (on Rod’s borrowed GS) returned to...

A sunny, but brisk morning greeted four riders for the possibly pot-hole strewn ride to Wiseman’s ferry. Garry on his Spyder, and Bruce on his Shadow cruiser, were joined at the Pie by suitcase on the now classic Suzuki Gladius. After coffee at the ‘Ulysses’ table with Paulette, Edwin, Tim, Ken etc, it was back to Berowra and then straight down to the Berowra Ferry, across the water and up the hill to Wylds Rd, and the Northern Road to Wiseman’s Ferry. An uneventful, and fortunately quiet ride on a saturday morning. The original destination was the Wiseman’s Ferry Bowling Club, and after all the mucking around with the driving license electronic entrance procedure, we walked into the bistro to be told that the kitchen was undergoing renovations, and there was only pies at the bar! But a very chatty and pleasant local woman laid out all our alternative options for us?   And so it was decided to head down the hill to the Ferry Crossing cafe for hamburgers in the park, as they were re...

  10 or so riders gathered at Berowra looking for a ride whilst the rest of the mob were off gallivanting in Gloucester. One, yours truly, went to the loo and upon his return found himself elected ride leader. The destination was set on Broke (clearly no-one had looked at the ride calendar) and when challenged on where morning tea would be I blurted out Wollombi without thinking. The group rolled out a few minutes before  10am , cos we can so nur 🥳The ride up to Wollombi was brisk but uneventful after successfully navigating the booze bus set up on the outskirts of Berowra and the weather was glorious. I even remembered to slow down for the speed cameras so my portrait wasn’t blurred 🤣 Whilst sat around the benches in Slacks Park riders raised the issue of the leg to Broke being too short so I proposed extending it to Pokolbin Park. Everybody present agreed so I thought it was dusted buy a couple of riders then said they were going home via the Putty so would stop at Br...

 It was a beautiful sunny day as four of us met at the St. Ives starting point. Terry Fewell sent his apologies as he had a flat battery (so did his scooter). We headed off down Mona Vale road to the turn-off to McCarrs Creek Road. Taking this turn Bruce (our new member) thought his rough mate from Elanora might be waiting for us there but there was no sign. On we went down McCarrs Creek road to the turn-off for West Head and Akuna Bay where the Park Entry booth is. Suitcase had to fork out $12 for the pleasure of making the trip to West Head and Akuna Bay. The lookout at West Head gave us spectacular views up and down Pittwater and out to sea. Bruce, John, Suitcase and Alan - the usual suspects!! After admiring the views we jumped on our trusty steeds and headed to the Akuna Bay cafe for coffee and refreshments. Much discussion on the state of the world and the clown in the Oval Office took place in the pleasant sunshine. Then we disbursed in all directions to find our way home. V...