Magic Monday

I had set my alarm for 4am on Monday morning so that I could get up early to watch the Indianapolis MotoGP. The alarm didn't go off for some reason and I awake around 4:30am. I looked at the clock and it blinked back at me. It's to early and cold to get up I told myself as I drifted back to sleep. I'll have to get myself a hard disk recorder so I can watch it at a decent hour.

I finally got up just after 8am, a sleep-in in my books, but I was quick to get ready. Why was it a magic Monday you ask. Three sweet little letters. R.D.O. Yep it was my rostered day off and come hell or high water I wasn't going to spend it doing the 40 million chores I have around the house at the moment. 'Fuck that' I said to myself it's time to ride.

I wasn't sure where I was going to go but I was getting my shit together so I could get the hell out of here. I was thinking of a run out to Oberon and back but thought against that as it might be a bit on the brisk side in the Blue Mountains being winter and all so I took of and headed for the low ground down to the Old Road and then the Wisemans Ferry loop.

First stop was at the bottom of Galston Gorge to let some traffic go so I could have a clear run.

Galston Gorge has some of the tightest switch backs I've ever ridden. Not my favourite road but twisty all the same.

Turn off after the gorge was a quick trip up to Berowra and a stop for a splash of fuel as there's not much on the way around to Wisemans Ferry. The winter sun gods were smiling down on us today and there were quite a few bikes out on the Old road not to mention the HWP. With a recent spat of accidents requiring 2 heli lifts in 2 weekends the HWP are foaming at the gib to book people which is pretty easy with the ridiculously low speed limit on the old road.

The stretch of tarmac from the Pie in the Sky down the hill to Brooklyn has to be some of the best set of twisties around. Super smooth surface, wide twisting road with great views. What else could a biker ask for.

Eddies Corner

Stopping in at the estuary cafe there was nobody there and it was closed, so it was a quick photo stop then onto the Road warrior cafe for a drink and check out if there were any bikes there. Turns out there was a few and I ended up chatting with a guy with the new R1. We got to talking about settings, suspension and mods. It was an interesting chat that's for sure, we both had similar views on the bike.

Another crossplane beauty

Here's my arty shot for the day, why? because I can.

I got the full old road experience today and even took some pics of the new bike in the tunnel. Didn't know there's a tunnel on the old road? You've not had the full Old road tour then.

Leaving the old road behind I'd decided it was time to get cracking and hit up the pub at wisemans ferry for lunch. It was already 1pm and I'd only done less than half the trip. The wisemans ferry road flows through the mangroves and low hills and around the Hawkesbury river. There are a couple of small villages along the way.

Spencer Wharf

I meet a couple of guys out for a run in their sports cars, who when they saw my bike came over and had a chat. Turns out they were both bike riders owning beemers.

The river was beautifully still today, with not a skerrick of wind to disturb the waters surface. Temp was about 20°C(68F). Did I happen to mention it was Monday and most of you lot were working whilst I was riding in perfect conditions. "Muuhahahhahah" - Dr Evil.

There was a short line up for the ferry of about 5 vehicles. We had to wait for the ferry to cross and pick us up. It was half way across by the time I got my camera out.

Wisemans Ferry

The township of Wisemans Ferry is right on the other side from where I'd boarded the ferry so it was only a stones throw until lunch. I was famished by now as I didn't both with breakfast this morning and I didn't stop for a Pie on the old road either. I love the really old stone work in this pub, its a fantastic little stop. 

I'd ordered the last pot pie for the day and got a icy cold beer. I'd not long sat down to indulge in this bliss and another guy on a bike sat at the next table. We inevitably sat down there shooting the breeze about bikes, beers, roads and divorce. I'm sure this is how it all starts anyway.

The pot pie tasted as good as it looks in the pic and topped off with a 150 lashes Pale Ale. Does it get any better than this.
Maybe I could call in sick tomorrow and just keep riding?

Technology, the old and the new.

After an hour at the pub relaxing with a nice meal and talking bikes it was time to get going if I was going to beat the traffic back into Sydney's burbs. The climb up the hill out of wisemans revealed a bit of a hidden cave right at the top of the climb. I'd not noticed before now as I'd normally be zooming along bloody fast..... er I mean carefully paying attention to the road.

I was home about an hour later, helmet cleaned, gear put away, bike safely stored away in the garage ready for the next outing. I love RDO Monday's.