Pokolbin Ride 10th Apr 2025

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 Between 17 and 20 bikes were on this ride depending on where you where!!

 

The weather was pleasant but overcast at the 7-Eleven, Berowra.

 

As there were no virgins or other miscellaneous beings I opened the briefing with a riddle:

 

“What borders on insanity!!!”

 

There were e few feeble attempts at an answer, none correct.

 

“Canada and Mexico”

 

Some mild titters …. tough audience.

 

On to the business of the day. We’re heading to Pokolbin today to the Hunter Valley Gardens. Some bright spark piped up that we were banned from Hunter Valley Gardens because this tight-arsed mob don’t spend anything and they use and abuse the toilet facilities. We’re still going there I said.

It transpired later that the venue from which we were banned was the Wollombi Pub, so fake news struck again.

 

The route for today was old road, Peats Ridge, Kulnura, Bumble Hill through Yarramalong with morning tea at the Triangle. Corner marking will be enforced. 

After morning tea we were going to proceed up Hue Hue road, past Morrisett, through Cooranbong and Freemans Waterhole on to Cessnock and head for Hunter Valley Gardens via Mountain View road, Oakey Creek road, McDonalds road, and Broke road. 

 

Off we went with Harley Pete doing the TEC duties.

 

Unfortunately there were mucho roadworks and other distractions that weren’t marked on the “Live Traffic NSW” app, useless piece of s..t,  so the pace was a little slower than normal. We all arrived safely at the triangle and commenced to dissect the news of the day from the orange-u-tan in the ovulating office.

 

Another amusing anecdote was shared by the ride leader as follows:

 

During a lull at a White House dinner, Melania Trump leaned over to chat with Elon Musk. "I bought Donald a parrot for his birthday. That bird is so smart, Donald has already taught him to say over two hundred words!" “That’s very impressive," said Musk “but you do realize he just speaks the words. He doesn't really understand what they all mean.” "Oh, I know", replied Melania, “but neither does the parrot!”

 

At this time a couple of the rabble asked what route I was taking to Hunter Valley Gardens so I repeated the above. What! going through Cessnock are you mad, there are quicker ways. 

 

So this is when the trouble started. Off we went up Hue Hue etc. When I got to Aberdare I was running out of corner markers so I waited and Rob Mckee arrived with the news that some riders had turned off on Sandy Creek road etc. Chaos ensued. We waited for a while but no one showed up so I made the executive (ride leaders prerogative) to carry on,  on the OFFICIAL route. As Rob and I were approaching the Broke road turnoff I spied a mob of bikers approaching from the right on Broke road. We tucked in behind them and entered Hunter Valley Gardens together. As we were parking our trusty steeds Suitcase appeared with the Czech refugee in tow. “My short cut wasn’t that short”, he admitted. One up for the ride leader. So, seventeen of the original twenty starters arrived at the official destination.  85% success rate is not bad.

After lunch and much discussion on the latest Trump nausea we headed back to the Pie via Broke, Wollombi etc. The Paynes Crossing Road is really good now all the potholes have been filled and it has been resurfaced.

 

Five riders made the PITS for more bullshit and refreshments.

 

Thanks to Harley Pete for his TEC duties. He earned his money today.

 

Thanks to everyone who came and enjoyed the day.

 

Alan

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