Monday, February 4, 2019

Putty Road Memorial Ride

Sunday was the first chance I've had to get out on the bike since last year. It's a sad story really......
But anyway I got a text from Doug who organised a ride and well I got the weekend mixed up. The looks I got from the missus when I told her and she said "You mean to tell me your not coming to your child's little athletics carnival" Those married guys will know the look I'm talking about. I haven't been on a ride since November so bugger it I'm off with the boys it's been far to long.

The plan was to meet at Maccas at McGraths Hill at 10:30am. It turns out there was the John Grace memorial ride on leaving there at 11am heading to the Grey Gums Cafe on the Putty road. We revised the time to 10am with departure not long after to avoid the crush. Arriving at maccas and there was a lot of bikes already.

Boys at maccas 
 Being mindful that there was going to be lots of bikes out today we kept the speeds down as this many bikes usually brings out the boys in blue, but we didn't see any all the way to the cafe. We stopped in and parked the bikes in the shade in an open area where there were no other bikes. I gave us a chance to look over Doug's new steed, a BMW S1000. Nice bike too.

Doug's new steed.
 We wandered over and found a table before the main group of rider arrived. It was busy but nothing compared with what it was about to be in an hours time. We had a bit of early lunch with a coffee and the best ever home made sausage roll, it was huge too.

Around midday all the bikes in the main organised ride started arriving, then the place got packed.




When we parked our bikes here an hour ago there were only the 4 bikes in the car park.

Where's me boike?

Found them
 It was starting to get really hot now and the temp gauge on the bike was reading 34°C. I was sweating like mad in my leathers. I should have taken my mesh jacket like the others and just wore jeans. Doh! Or at least take my camelbak. Anyway we continue up along the Putty rd through the ten mile and crossed over into the the hunter valley for fuel at broke. From Broke we made our way down through Wollombi and stopped at Laguna for a drink and break from the heat.

Laguna




From here we continued along down through Central Mangrove and peats ridge until we came to the Old Pacific Highway. There only seemed to be a handful of bikes on the old road today. Doug lead us on into Brooklyn to the Anglers Rest where we stopped for a quick beer before making our way home via Galston Gorge.


Beers and good times.

Cheers for the great day out boys. Definitely have to do it again soonish.

11 comments:

  1. Steve, laughed out loud at your first paragraph. Had the same problem last year with our granddaughter's ballet show. Got a decent-sized bollocking! Felt for you in your full leathers as I had the same at the weekend. Will buy a mesh jacket next summer. How do you feel about those big group rides with people you don't know? Over here, you always seem to get a few clowns seem hell-bent on wrecking it for everyone.

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    1. Yes, it's not like I'm out riding every weekend either, its been 3 months. I get lots of bollockings here. Cant win, go figure.
      Group rides, I hate em. To many idiots get attracted to those things doing stupid shit, it in these rides you see people that shouldn't be riding because they clearly have no idea how to ride. Luckily we avoided it by leaving early before the main group and had a goo unhindered ride.

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  2. I could do with a ride like that Steve and a cold beer on hot day. 6 degrees today.

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    1. Oh thats pretty cold. I think I could put up with 34 rather than 6. My camelbak would have made it much more bearable.

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  3. About time you got out. Just remember to wear the appropriate gear for the weather or suffer the consequences. Where are the Galston Gorge photos? I haven’t been through there since the early ‘90s and it would be nice to see it again.

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    1. Too hot to stop for pics in Galston Gorge and I was in a hurry to get home. Had to go to a christening at 6pm for one of Mrs Chillers friends.

      Galston Gorge and Old Road Ride

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  4. Not been for a ride since last year...so you dudes don't like riding with the monkeys either eh?

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  5. yes steve bout time you got out on the "loungemobile"....bikes are xcuses to escape the the missus and family duties remember....thats why god invented them..

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  6. Looks like a great ride. I those of us in the northern hemisphere are living vicarious through your weather. Snow in the forecast and below freezing today. Sigh.

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    1. Snow, by crikeys thats too cold for me and for riding in general. We do live in the lucky country, not the freeze your ass off country.

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