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.