Kiama Ride 30th Jan 2025

Seven of us met at Macca's Heathcote for the scheduled 10am departure. It was a strange gathering! Not a single GS! That would have to be a first!

 

We had two RTs (Frosty and myself), two XRs (Tony and David), an FJR (Rod), a KTM (Peter W) and the massive 114cu HD (Peter G). I took the lead and Frosty kindly offered to be TEC.

 

Being such a small group, we opted not to corner mark and that worked well with just the occasional need to regroup as we came on and off the M1. No one was lost or left behind. Well done, Frosty!

 

The weather was overcast for most of the day with just some light mist on the higher ranges. Otherwise, the temperature pleasantly ranged between 18-24 degrees.

 

For the ride South, we firstly backtracked (North!) and turned into Farnell Ave to go through Audley and enjoy the full extent of the RNP. Traffic was light with only a couple of cars to pass all the way through to Stanwell Tops.

 

We took the usual back way down the old Princes Hwy rejoining the M1 near Bulli before hopping off at Picton Rd and then down the lovely, twisty Mt. Kiera Rd. We encountered a little bit if mist and the roads were damp but nothing too severe.

 

We then jumped back onto the M1 and headed South before eventually jumping off at the Fowlers Rd exit where we then took the usual route down Marshall Mount Rd, Calderwood Rd and then through the ever-growing North Macquarie suburban development.  Sadly, I think this might be our last time down Marshall Mt Rd for a while. There's so much development, roadworks and traffic control going on, that it'll likely be easier just to stick on the M1 and head into Albion Park.

 

Them it was up the Illawarra Highway for a fantastic traffic-free run up though Macquarie Pass and the usual stop at the Robertson Pie Shop. The traffic was light going up the mountain which was fantastic. As it was through the Royal National Park. 

 

After a break, we then with headed down Pearson Lane where we were again stopped by a work crew who were replacing a power pole that had been run into by a car the previous evening. Their estimated delay for us was 10-15 mins.  But just as we decided to turn around and take a different course, the Works Supervisor stopped the works for us to let us on our way.  See, it pays to be a polite bunch of old blokes.

 

Then it was off down the hill through Kangaroo Valley and then a diversion through Wattamolla and Woodburn instead of simply heading straight into Berry.  Those back roads were great but the smell of fertiliser and cow dung enroute is still in my nostrils! 

 

Heading back in towards Kiama, we made one final diversion off the M1 onto Donovan Rd through Broughton Village before finally succumbing to the M1, yet again, before heading down to lunch at the little Cafe near the water for fish and chips.

 

The scenery down by the pier was spectacular.  The sun had come out of hiding, fishing boats were coming and going and a couple of lovely young lasses decided that sunbaking on the pier in their scanty swimming attire was exactly what a bunch of old blokes wanted to look at while having lunch. And they weren't wrong!

 

After lunch, we headed back under our own steam in separate directions. Bloody M1! The weather was great until getting back into Sydney when the clouds reappeared.

 

I made the decision to fill up with fuel on the way home in preparation for next week's ride (amd to buy 95 fuel for $1.78/l) and in doing so, delayed my arrival home by exactly the ten minutes it took for me to get drenched in those last few kilometres as the rain bucketed down. That'll teach me for being prepared (or for being a tightarse and trying to save a few dollars!). The gear is now drying in the laundry dry!

 

Anyway, a great day out. And thanks go to Wayne Rees for swapping dates with me. Much appreciated.

 

Steve