Post Flinders - Barrington Tops & 20 Creek Crossings

Today's plan was to travel from Dubbo to Scone where we would leave the Prado overnight, we would unload the bikes and ride over Barrington Tops and on to Nundle at the Peel Inn for the night, then come back the next day and pick up the car, where we would both head our separate ways from there.

So we've managed to extend our ride by another 2 days, yay for us. We got up early and got going as it was about 3 hours from Dubbo to Scone through kangaroo country. There was plenty of thick fog around this morning, hanging around in the valleys as we approached Scone.

With the bikes quickly unloaded, we loaded up our gear and got changed and took off for some fuel, grabbed some lunch at the supermarket and then headed into the hills. We were surprised to find that they have been tarring Barrington tops forest road almost all the way up to the Dingo Gate. 

Near the top we looked out to the north were we would be heading later today. We could see rain showers passing across the landscape. That had me a little concerned. How full will these creeks be?

We continued up to the Dingo gate, it was damp the further up we climbed. We could see dark clouds ahead on the route we were taking.

It started to sprinkle with rain and the temperature had dropped to low teens, we pulled over so Dave could put on his rain gear. Not me, I was going to find out whether this Klim gortex gear is actually water resistant. The road started looking pretty slippery but with our knobby tyres I didn't have and slips or slides so potentially it wasn't wet enough yet.

Dave said we turn off the main road in a couple of kilometres onto Pheasants creek rd. The single lane road went off into the bush, this concerned me greatly as he had never been on it and being wet it could become very difficult. Luck was on our side and it was nothing hard, but easy going.

We came out on the Tomala road near Tomala Station. We stopped here briefly before riding on. If was pleasant farming gravel road along here with superb views over the valleys to the north of Barrington.

We just had to stop and take in the views. We had our lunch here whilst looking over the valley. Dave puled out the drone and flew around chasing eagles thermaling.

It's a pretty steep drop down the hill from here for a couple of Kilometres, then we turned north on Hunter Road towards Ellerston. Passing by the horse studs we got to Barry Station and the first of crossing, a concrete causeway. I recognised this from multiple videos. This is the causeway that everyone crashes in due to being so Slippery, we rode through the very edge by about 1 foot then onto the grass and creek on the side, that 1 foot I was already starting to lose the front end it was that slippery.

We continued on through the 20 creeks, no problem whatso ever. Yes, that's right no problems at all, was a lot of fun. Anyone says anything else, is scandalous lies. Didn't stop to take any photo's until we were past the last crossing running alongside the creek.

The ride out of the 20 creek crossing is fairly steep, we were riding into the sun and there were a few skippy's about so took if very carefully.

We came to an intersection, Dave said lets go up here and checkout this a cool lookout. It was only a short ride but spectacular views down over Nundle to the west.

Dropping down the hill into Nundle we parked up and grabbed a beer from the bar and sat out the front. We soon unloaded the bikes and got out of our gear and tipped our boots upside down to drain the water from them, then head to the bar for a few more beers. The pub was packed today. Apparently it was their busiest day of the year, the local dog festival was on today.

Sipping a beer with my bro and watching the sunset was simply amazing after the last week of riding we have done.

The rooms at the Peel Inn are great, nice and clean, a little on the small side, but are air conditioned and nice comfy beds. Can't ask for much more, and you get a cooked breakfast comes with the room.

The meals were also top notch, fantastic tender steak was so good. I just had to try one of their deserts too, and wasn't it delicious Creme Brulee. I'm bound to put on some weight this week with all these treats and not much exercise. Oh well you have to live and have fun.

After a fantastic slap up bacon & egg breakfast we packed the bikes and headed down Crawney Pass. There was plenty of fog on the surrounding hills, gleaming in the morning light. The pass was clear at the top.

The valleys and hills around here were bright green, in stark contrast to the last week spent in the Flinders which was a dry as a chip.

We were riding in and out of fog patches for some time. Getting back to the car in Scone I helped Dave load up the Desert X and pack his gear. We said our goodbyes and I headed south towards Sydney whilst he went north to Brisbane. Before leaving I grabbed some fruit for lunch.

I went back home via the Putty road, I think I saw about 2 or 3 cars the whole trip. I stopped at one of the rest areas and had some fruit and muesli bar for lunch, that was enough after that huge breakfast.

Getting home I unloaded and checked the bike. It was looking a little sad, the rear shock was leaking oil and appeared to had no dampening. Great, wonder which days that broke on?

Cheers Dave, thanks for organising a great trip away to the Flinders Ranges. One of the best trips for a few years. Nothing for it but a celebratory home coming beer. If you got this far thanks for reading.

Cheers

Overnight Adventure to Uralla

Bruce was headed to Qld on a two week ride with a mate and had invited us to ride with him for as far as we want to go. For me it was a overnighter only and the other also did their own thing.

We met at Pie in the Sky on the old pacific hwy. I arrived about 7:45 for a quick breakfast then head off. D'oh it doesn't open until 8am so we wait and are first in line. A coffee and sausage roll hit the spot before we get under way.

Leaving our breakfast spot behind we get on the old road. Its so slow now with 60kmh speed limits, we come upon a bunch of 20 push-bike riders riding uphill into a bend two abreast taking up the whole road and they are doing about 25 km/h. Talk about a rolling road block, hold everyone up why don't you. Single file so other road users can get past safely you f#cking twats.

We ride up through Kulnura where it starts sprinkling. We pull in an I put on my wet weather top as I can't see it easing up anytime soon. I also put my phone away and do away with any navigation on my screen. Last time I rode in the rain with my phone plugged in it got water in the charge port and turned off, not going to do that again.

We ride out through Jerrys Plains and back roads to Denman in light rain. From here no one knew where they were going to get to Aberdeen. So I put my phone back on and started self navigating. If your going to lead a ride at least know where you're going. There was lots of turns in the next 30 minutes and would have been totally lost without gps navigation. I think a proper GPS setup would be much better idea than trying to use the phone. In wet conditions the phone it pretty much a fail a proper bike GPS is always on and waterproof.

We stop in Gundy at the pub for lunch where we meet up with Doug. He wasn't riding today as he was living nearby in Scone and drove along with us in the ute.

I had about 4 litres of fuel left and the next place was Nundle 80kms away. I was hoping we could make it. We found out that there was fuel in Nundle so I put 2 litres in just incase. I shouldn't have worried, when I filled up in Nundle I had 3.9 litres left, Plenty. It was sprinkling most of the way so didn't stop to take any photos. We head out of Nundle north along river road past Chifley Dam. When we get to the end we head left and up the main highway to Uralla and the Top Pub. It was getting late and I didnt want to be out on dusk riding amongst skippys. It was beer o'clock. The beer and food at Uralla Top Pub was as good as ever.

Next morning after breakfast the other guys went their own way, I was last to leave not exactly sure which way I was going to go. I head down back roads to Kentucky and onto the Oxley Highway and headed across to Walcha to fuel up. From Walcha I decide I'd head back down to Nundle and see from there, either do the 20 creek crossings or head back over Crawney pass and through Timor

The weather today was much better with blue sky's, but I saw lots of large puddles along the roadside so we must have got a fair amount of rain overnight. First stop was at Chifley Dam before heading into Nundle. I decide against the 20 creek crossing solo with a lot of overnight rain and take Crawney Rd.

The Crawney rd over Crawney pass to Timor is spectacular riding, mostly gravel for about 70 kms, but easy riding gravel with one water crossing on a concrete causeway.

I stopped at the top of crawney pass for a photo before descending the other side. Lots of pools of water on the side of the road. 

I come around a corner to see an echidna walking along the road. I pull over and grab my phone to get a quick photo of this little fella before he disappears.

The road follows the Isis river for a while with spectacular scenery along the way.

After a while the road opens up with long sweeping corners and straights over the hillsides.

Not far after Gundy I come upon the Allen Bridge Rd. I found this in the Sydney Adventure bike riders forum on facebook. Its a back road into Singleton so I decide to check it out.

The first 10km was narrow tar before it turned to dirt. The road wound its way up high into prime farming land following several ridgelines with spectacular views over the surrounding countryside. One thing I wasn't expecting as I didn't look much at the route prior but there was about 20 creek crossings and they were all concrete causeways. Some of them looked mossy and slippery, half of them were empty but I didn't have any moments. Steady throttle and through to the otherside. One of them had a 90° bend in the middle of the crossing. Top ride, will do this one again.

I got into Singleton at about 3pm and fueled up and headed for the Putty rd and home. It was monday afternoon and the Putty rd was completely deserted. I think I saw 1 car on the entire length of the road so had an awesome run, but did see 2 skippys on the road that were very close so took it easy most of the way home. Another good ride.