It must be my early arrival at Berowra which set off a couple of “Oops! Moments” not long after our journey started, but overall, on such a perfect winter day, we had a great day’s riding, with almost no traffic on the river roads. With only one “virgin”, there was only one hand clapping. Then I asked riders to introduce themselves, but after about the sixth Peter, the repetition overcame us, so we abandoned that little exercise and twenty-odd riders departed Berowra  at 10am , with a Tail End Charlie and a “plan”. We all “squeezed” onto Number 1: Berowra Waters Ferry – and, just before disembarkation, my Guzzi toppled over in the excitement– thanks, Peter, Peter and Peter for your assistance. Next Oops – missed the turn-off to Wylds Road – quickly found the way back, and the remainder of our ride went to plan, thus: Just a minute past the Glenorie Bakery, our Morning Tea Stop at the Les Shore Reserve ticks all the boxes: it’s on the left, heaps of parking, heaps of log-seating, a ...

Today's ride was a short social ride to the abovementioned golf club for lunch. We had some time to kill, so we had coffee at the PITS, and then a ride to Smitty's lookout. That was very nice. Then I took us to the Central Coast Aero Club airfield. There we saw two gliders take off and land. They take off at a pretty steep 45 degree angle. I inquired as to the cost of a flight. It's $134 for one flight and $160 for two. After an informative talk by one of the members, we went for lunch. A nice ride and the weather was not too cold. Cheers, Suitcase.

  On arrival at Maccas McGraths Hill the temperature was a brisk 6 degrees but that did not deter 14 other riders from near and far. Simon Morgan turned up on a brand new Triumph Bonneville and volunteered to ride as TEC so he could take some time to familiarise himself with the new machine. Just prior to   10 o’clock   the briefing outlined a fairly straightforward route with a pit stop at the Grey Gum Cafe although not open for business   until Friday it still works well as a good half way point if you packed a drink and muesli bar. The question of Corner Marking was raised and although the only two intersections where we turn right to reach our destination are well signposted we would corner mark just to be sure. A brisk pace was set as we headed off up the Putty. The weather was perfect and virtually no traffic however there was a report of at least 4 lots of roadworks on the Live Traffic App but there turned out to be numerous work sites but we were only stopped...

  Well, what can I say, it seems beyond belief that for a second time the Morpeth ride has led to another rider coming to grief in the corners around Mandalong. This despite a specific reminder at the ride briefing about “not crashing”. Clearly at least one rider was not listening to my entreaties, in fact I also reminded the ride group we didn’t want any more drama queens following the previous tyre inflation issues and yet lo and behold another rider managed to lose their mobile phone off their bike before Spring rd. I mean REALLY?????   Anyway to start at the beginning the weather was perfect bar the start being a tad chilly for the gather in Berowra and 18 riders assembled without managing to find any more dead people or let all the air out of their tyres, an auspicious start I thought.   The briefing was concise with first up “Smoko is at Cooranbong    Park”, my logic here was that some riders only have a short attention span so if I start with that there i...

 It was a beautiful sunny if somewhat cool morning and nine eager riders assembled at St. Ives.  MTC took this photo at St. Ives with the sun at her back!!! MTC took this photo at St. Ives into the sun!!! We headed to the PITS to pick up two more riders making a huge "eleven" riders!!! We might need corner marking??? Naaaa everybody knows where we are going.  Morning tea at Jerry's, Kulnura. It was pretty busy but everybody was served in good time with coffee, portuguese tarts and other delights. Our illustrious group at Jerry's Kulnura ... unfortunately Andy was "cropped" by accident. Keith called the Khartoum Hotel in Kitchener to book a table for us just in case they were busy!! There was much serious discussion of world affairs as we consumed our sustenance. MTC announced it was "world chocolate day" which was greeted by a huge yawn. It's always some obscure day for MTC. I think she dreams them up just for the rides. Our next leg was to the...

Started out to be the perfect day for a ride, not a cloud in the sky as we gathered at McDonalds, McGraths Hill. Our destination today was to the Mt Piper Power Station.    There were no new riders to welcome, just the same old faces, so the briefing got underway  at 9.55am . 18 bikes headed off in search of more sunshine and amazing scenery, across the turf farms to Freemans Reach and onto Bells Line of Road, Kurmond to regroup near the BP Service Station.    We barely went 200 metres and had to stop for some serious roadworks. Should’ve checked my Live Traffic App because it could’ve easily been bypassed. A brief stop for roadworks at Mt Tomah. From Mt Wilson the weather changed as the temperature dropped and the clear sky was replaced with dark clouds.   As we descended into Lithgow the temperature went down to 7 degrees. Very disappointing. To avoid about 5 sets of traffic lights we took some back streets which in hindsight may not have been a great ide...

  Thirteen gallant riders departed Berowra   at 10:00am   and charged forwards to Jerry’s for morning tea. Under blue skies and cool conditions a brisk pace was set for the enjoyment of everyone. The Gala regroup was abandoned so as not to lose momentum whilst being mindful the contingent often “moves on its stomach” as we made good progress northwards. After morning tea we set off to Wollombi, did a regroup there then tracked eastwards towards Cessnock. After going over Mount View Road (along with its 1 kilometre of dirt) all arrived safely at our destination for lunch. The return leg saw several different routes back to PITS for a debrief and a chat with Max who also arrived on the scene. Thanks to Rob T for his TEC duties. Look forward to catching up on the next ride. Cheers, Richo.

    GONBUG Northern Beaches Ulysses Ride Report 25 th June 2023               Mount Gibraltar, Sammy Gee’s Pies, Mittagong Chilly but fine – great day for an interesting place – Sydney’s Hard Rock dig-out. Who would turn up at 9 am for a ride to the Southern Highlands? Well – just three of us, and we’re really sorry you missed out on a beautiful day’s ride, taking in the ups and downs and brilliant views.   I   had reacquainted myself with Sydney’s Hard Rock Story – the Story of Trachyte, and the significance of Mount Gibraltar – that’s where the trachyte was dug out to provide strong, hard rock on which to mount Sydney’s magnificent sandstone buildings. But I hadn’t worked out the best approach - fortunately, “Mr Map-Brain” helped out and took us on some faintly familiar back-roads, out to Campbelltown area, past Anthony Hordern’s famous tree, now growing well again - who can forget “While I L...

When I checked on the interwebs where this ride was going,  I thought I should go, as it was too bloody cold last week. What I didn't check was who was leading. It was me! I only learned this after I had turned up at Berowra.  I had no idea of a route, so I took suggestions. It was decided to head up the Old Road to Calga, Peats Ridge Road and a coffee stop at "The HUB" at  Mangrove Mountain shops. After discussing world events and other things, it was on to  Wiseman's Ferry, then Old Northern Road and a short cut to Wiseman's Ferry Rd and Sackville Ferry road. Lunch was had at the old church at Ebenezer along with  tea and scones. (Not good for our image). The sky was threatening rain, but it held off with just a few spots. All agreed it was a very nice ride. Cheers, Suitcase

  The day dawned crisp and cold, perfect for a ride to Bulga Peter of the fractured finger had convinced me,   whilst having lunch at  Wisemans ferry last Thursday, to lead the ride. 12 riders were enjoying the camaraderie at Mcdonalds Windsor, until I stood up and announced that as Laurent was unable to ride, I would be deputising for him. Morning tea would be at Grey Gums. Two riders immediately said they would not go very far and would leave the ride early, great encouragement for my second lead. But  then  Kim said "I will go all the way" Bit puzzled, but I took that as a vote of confidence. Peter of the braces accepted TEC.  No corner marking needed, as it's very hard to get lost going to Bulga, despite it being over 150k. All went well until we reached the first roadworks, Andy's trusty steed promptly died. Would not start Our TEC volunteered to stay with him, whilst he tried to resolve the issue. Onwards; once we regathered at the next roadworks...

  GONBUG Ulysses Ride Report - Coffee Ride, Long Weekend 10 June 2023 Wow – what a brilliant day for a ride – no matter the destination. Not surprisingly only four riders turned up for a Double Demerits Ride. I suggested Terrey Hills for a “starter”, was appointed Ride Leader , and we used the left-left back road to get back onto Mona Vale Road then ducked around the back road behind the fruit markets, and across all the roundabouts to Terrey Hills, then I indicated we should make a longer ride by heading out past all those farmlets, horse paddocks, the Gun Club and the International School until I became a tad lost, turned around and we found the perfect sunny spot back in Terrey Hills village for coffee n cake n long-chat. Finally we re-mounted and followed Geoff W around the National Parks waterways, past Church Point and into Mona Vale, then waved goodbye – home by lunchtime. Thanks for the company on a perfect riding morning. MTC

  I had already looked up on the weather app when the rain was due to hit Oberon ( 9am ) and Lithgow ( 11am ) and realised that the ride was heading straight into the rain inbound from the southwest. I had also seen the ride leaders pleas for a substitute leader falling on deaf ears (including mine 😈). So it was no surprise to arrive at McGraths Hill   at 9:30am   to find the group sans a leader and the clock was ticking. Even though I know the predictable result I couldn’t just sit there and let what dry weather was there be wasted by prevarication so, given the lack of enthusiasm for Megalong Valley, I suggested an alternate where we would be heading away from the rain band, i.e.heading Northeast. Good idea but next week’s ride is going there someone piped up - damn! Shuffling furiously through my slightly dysfunctional memory banks for a similar but different alternative I thought of the Bulls Ridge turn off the Putty and the idea of a Wisemans Ferry bound ride popped...

  Wollombi Ride report 1/6/2023 What was to be a rather plain ride to Wollombi turned out to be more than that. Really, it was Old road to Calga for a regroup then Jerrys for smoko then off to Wollombi for lunch. For most back along the bitumen and for the few more adventurous a quick trip along the dirt to Finchleys lookout and return then off home.   So what really happened?   Ross arrived on his scooter and quickly corralled 4 young bikie chicks and fought to stop them leaving. When I say young, I mean by Ross’s standard. Eventually they got past and rode off much to his disappointment.   I was informed a gentleman in a car was not well and an ambulance was called, only to find out later that not well meant the worst possible not well in that he was deceased with his pants down and a strange look on his face.    Two cop cars arrived lights and sirens followed by an Ambulance.   I called the group together and gave the ride briefing, checked Waze for...

  Gonbug Ulysses Ride Report Glenbrook National Park( a smidgeon of dirt) Saturday 27May2023 What a magic day – cool & clear, for 3 of us ( John O , Geoff W and Herself ) to ride out west, firstly all the way along Comenarra Parkway’s gorgeously “autumnised” twisties, then along to New Line Road and some familiar roads out to Windsor, keeping it as rural as possible (avoiding the awful creeping suburbia). Enjoyed coffee/croissants in Windsor’s familiar centre strip, opposite the Macquarie Arms, then bumped along the cobbled back road, past Francis Greenway’s masterpiece,( St Matthew’s Church), then right onto the link road towards Richmond, but then left across the level crossing, out the back of Clarendon / Hawkesbury Showground (sadly, we had to miss the Orchid Show), along Racecourse Road, then across the busy main road, to aptly named The Driftway (80k limit, nil traffic), then left towards Yarramundi and up the triffik tight twisties (past the Castlereagh Lookout) , th...

  The Gloucester Glide We met at McGraths Hill 0930 on Wednesday to go via the Putty to add a little length to the ride. Nine starters with perfect sunny weather for two days. Had morning tea at the halfway house for a change. Note to self: make the stop just before, at a designated rest stop. The Putty is work in progress with lots of unmanned stop lights. The Northern end of the Road has been seriously eroded as it follows the river. Lunch at Macca's Singleton & on via Dungog. The road that has patches on its patches is being finally upgraded. We arrived too late to do the optional extension to Barrington tops.   The Buckets way motel was as homely as ever. Dinner at the pub was ok but had a very limited selection. I'll look into an alternative. Not withstanding that, a good time was had by all. The highlight being the delivery of a poem from Alan Bateman adapted from Shakespeare from the speech by Henry V before the battle of Agincourt on 25 th October 1415  ...

 Today's ride planned to visit both "Pie in the Sky's" - at Bilpin and Berowra. Only three starters and a few showers about, so agreed to only go to one "Pie" - at Berowra. Pretty quiet on the roads today, not too many bikes about. Arrived at PITS and chat with Terry, Tim, Paulette and Edwin, MTC and John W. Had a very nice apple pie with ice cream, and bought two pies to go.  That's three pies, I suppose... Home via Bobbin Head. Wow! Meat pie for lunch. Yay!

  Thank you, thank you, thank you to Lismore and Friends  -  May 2023 Go visit NSW State Parliament in Macquarie Street and the Lismore Exhibition “Through the Heart – a Flood Fears and Tears” by Photo-Journalist Jacklyn Wagner. Until 25 May. (See story “Capturing the resilience of Lismore” Sydney Morning Herald 17May23) Over 700 Ulysses Members gathered in Lismore early in May 2023 for our annual “shindig” and 2023 National Gathering. And the wonderful folk of Lismore put on brave faces, fed, watered and hosted us, and gained our enduring respect. Thank you very much, Lismore and Friends, for looking after us with such warmth and humour. MTC Margaret The Colourful     Ulysses #9797

  I arrived at McGrath’s Hill Maccas. The instructions were clear. A 9.30 departure, Frosty leading. Good old Frosty!   Only Richo was there. He wondered if he’d got it wrong? Wayne turned up a minute or two later, having dropped into Bunnings to get some polish for his knobs. So concerned was Wayne, he called Frosty. No response.    Slowly the crowd, such as it was, built up. Six of us.  9.30am arrived and according to the manual we must be gone. We quickly elected Andy to the job. Everyone was happy, except Andy. It was 9.31. Andy boomeranged the leadership role to the most pathetic rider, me, and knew he could rely on my impatience to just get going. At that point, Tony and Ross dribbled in, still looking for the right way from last week’s ride. They fell, confused, into line.   It was quite chilly, but otherwise a beautiful morning. We floated up past the grass farms, reciting “How Green is my Valley”. The sun shone, illuminating a clear blue sky. A lar...