When is an Adventure ride not an Adventure ride?

Easy, when you have over 150mm rain the night before the ride and all your mates bail on you. The pic below was at 7pm the night before the ride. 

Red line was original plan with 100kms dirt - Blue line actual ride

I'd organised a half road/half adventure ride with the lads down to Tumut the week before as the wife and kids were going to the Hunter Valley.

The excuses started flowing thick and fast from the lads during the week when rain was predicted on thursday & friday. I'd been watching the weather all week and Tumut had no rain up until 25mm on friday so was pretty confident it would be ok. "Oh my fork seal is leaking", "oh my chain is worn out", until finally "we are gonna pull out as we'd rather do it in more ideal conditions". The forecast for saturday and sunday was showers and 1-5mm. That's nothing, sometimes you just have to go all in, pussys.

I was greeted with thick fog at 6:30am which cleared once I got to Penrith. I'd decided to head up the Great Western Highway, good call as unbeknownst to me the Bells line of road was blocked with tree falls. It was clear blue sky's all the way across the Blue Mountains and 18°C.

I'd decide against going down via Oberon which also had 150mm rain over night and decided to head further west.

I came to a causeway on the Tarana rd which had a torrent of water running through it. It wasn't too deep but there are 2 more of these further on and those ones are deeper than this. I didn't want to take a risk being by myself so rode around via Great Western to Bathurst. I went through my first rain shower which lasted about 10 minutes and just wet my visor, road was still mostly dry. 

I then decided I would head south down the Abercrombie Rd to Crookwell. I went through another shower or 2 here that again was enough to wet your visor. Geoff called me and I answered, but the comms is pretty shit at 120kmh cause I couldn't hear him and it cutout after a bit. I could tell by his tone he had FOMO.

Abercrombie Caves park was closed today. Probably due to high predicted rainfall that hasn't actually eventuated. I noticed all the weather reports online this morning had comments turned off. Media scaremongering and climate alarmism bullshit to fit their narrative.

I continued on and had a kamikaze Kangaroo jump out in front of me. He was hopping so slowly and looked soaked haha.

Most of the ride was in sunshine with threatening looking sky's. The road was mostly dry with a few wet patches and was totally empty today and it was fantastic riding.

It's not the adventure ride I was hoping for but still a fantastic road ride in pretty damn near ideal conditions and I was loving it.

Next stop was for Fuel in Crookwell and then a feed. It's not a motorcycle tour without a bakery stop. A coffee and pie hit the spot. I was thinking the conditions would be ideal to continue the rest of the adventure ride. 

After checking the weather again and NSW Traffic app I found out that Wee Jasper road was closed at Brungle Creek. The sky's were starting to get darker and more threatening. Decision made on heading out further west through Boorowa and Harden.

More empty roads and awesome riding. The sky looked foreboding but it was much like that savage dog at the dodgy house down the street, behind that fence that's all it was threatening and nothing else.

Rolling into Jugiong I came upon this fantastic little pub, the Sir George. It's an old pub that's a little bit up market in the middle of nowhere. So I thought it's time for a beer. I even got valet parking right out the front. I can't believe we rode through here for years and never once stopped here at the pub, what a waste. That Crankshaft ale went down nicely.

Just out of town I saw a lookout by the roadside with views over the valley and hills beyond. Beautiful country out here.

It was a short stint along the highway to Coolac where I turned off again down towards Tumut all on back roads through Brungle.

I could see the clouds following me south, building blacker. The road along here has been re-tarred from the Murrimbidgee Bridge to the turn off at the farm and was in top condition also been widened.

A quick stop on the Brungle Road Bridge over the Tumut river. The water was flowing steadily but was quite clear. So quiet out here with no one around.

Getting to the Wee Jasper Road turn offit was only 4pm, so I turned to have a look what condition the road was in. The dirt looked like it had just been resurfaced and was in good condition, slightly damp so no dust and plenty grippy. I turned around after about 5km and thought it was time for a beer at the pub in Tumut.

The lookout over Tumut on the Wee Jasper Road. Awesome views. I was soon in town so filled up cleaned the visor and was ready to go in the morning. The Royal Hotel in Tumut was great. $90 for a motel style room where you could park your bike right at the front door.

Time for a beer or three, whilst I watched out the front window the rain coming down. It lasted for about an hour. Just beat it then.

A glass of red went well and this steak was one of the best I've had in years. Cooked to perfection.

I retired to the room with a bottle of red where I could lazy in comfort and watch some TV.

Sunday morning and I open the door to look outside and I'm greeted with this.......

I shower an pack and look at the weather radar. The rain appears to be heading south. I'm not going to Ride the Brindabellas today after this rain, it was the 2nd part of the adv ride I had planned and I'm not going further into the Snowy mtns either as I'm sure to be cold and wet up there. I get some breakfast at Maccas and decide on my route.

The weather today doesn't look as good as yesterday, but I head off in the dry back up to Coolac and onto the highway. I encounter a few more showers along the highway but don't get wet.

I take the Gunning turn off to Crookwell which has superb twisting flowing hilly curves where I'll get fuel at Crookwell and decide my next move. I thought I'll get lunch at the Taralga pub. Solid plan. Dodging rain along the way.

On arrival at 11:50am its closed. I gear up to leave just as they unlock the doors. I think fuck it they are not going to be doing lunch's right now if they only just opened at 12 so head off.

I keep avoiding rain showers along the road, the road is wet with occasional dry patches and vice versa.

Coming down Abercrombie Gorge I notice the debris on the bridge. Lucky I didn't try and come this way yesterday, it would have had water over the road and probably would have had to turn back.

I decide to avoid Oberon and head for the blue mountains. I'll get lunch at Mountain Pies bakery. I continue down Shooters Hill Road.

I take the Cox River road and join the Great Western Highway and cross to the Bells Line. Looks like there goes my lunch stop, I forgot about the pie shop, disaster. I have one final detour upon reaching Windsor the plains are flooded and I have to double back and adds an extra half hour. Finally reach home about 3pm for lunch and a couple of well earned beers.

Another fantastic ride, lads you missed out on a top ride. Wasn't an Adv ride but I'll take what I can, when I can these days.

Blue Mountains ADV Ride

I got messaged again for a ride on a saturday I couldn't do due to my daughters netball grand finals, and they'd be too busy at the pub on sundays. So I organised my own Adventure ride, with blackjack and hookers. Ah forget the blackjack.

So a little looking at maps on saturday night I headed out early 6:50am on sunday morning to beat the predicted 34°C heat. Heading into the Blue Mountains will also be good as it will be much cooler up there. This is going to be a photo heavy post.

Rolling along the Doom Highway towards Suttons Forest it  was pretty cold at 14°C with no liners in my suite. I was ok with it as I knew this afternoon would be stinking hot.

I grab some fuel at Sutton Forest and turn around and head back to Canyonleigh road, which quickly turned to dirt through farming land. I came up to a gate on the road, said private property  but then public road underneath, so proceeded only to find another 2 closed gates within the next 2 kms. I just kept opening and going through.

I then turned north onto Brayton road and head towards Swallow Tail Pass. The ride along here was pleasant. I could see the pass coming up as the road suddenly dropped away into the valley.

The sign says below says a lot, sub standard road ahead. Haven't seen that before but it was in better condition than some of our tarred roads. It also says how responsable australian gun owners are.

It was pretty easy riding actually descending down into the pass even though it was slow. I wouldn't like to ride in here in the rain, that could be disaster waiting to happen. At the bottom was a crossing of the Tarlo river. I stopped here for my first break, had a banana and and Iced Coffee whilst taking in the serenity.

I never thought coffee in a can would be any good, but I quite enjoyed this coffee. Small and easy to carry too. Thanks for the tip Warren.

After the climb out of the gorge, I came upon a creek crossing which I initially slowed down for it, before thinking momentum is my friend and gunned it. Water was gushing over my helmet, onto my visor, tank bag and phone. Maybe I sent it a little too hard lol. Well I'm new to this adventure bike thing after all.

From here I followed the road into Taralga. Passing a church here I thought I'd drop in, it was sunday after all.

They were closed, lucky for them or the place might have caved in if I attended. Next up was passing by Taralga wind farm. I've stopped here before on my R1 so thought I'd get a pic with my Black African.

It was quite windy today and these windmills were spinning quite quickly. I could see the flex in the big blades.

Rolling into Taralga I notice this big old church. I thought I'd stop and take a photo for my bro as he has some sort of church fetish. Enjoy bro. I don't go in for those shenanigans.

I rolled straight through Taralga, the pub was closed it was only 10am and the town was pretty deserted. I headed straight out Wombeyan Caves road, then turned up Langs road which linked to Range fire Trail. The track got a lot narrower and rocky with ascents and descents with many blind corners. Plenty of erosion mounds to jump.

I stopped to look at this Limeburners Fire Trail, I'd heard it was a good ride. It was closed and gated. The fines in this country are out of control, check that sign out.

Off I went, the road followed the ridge line along for quite some time. I only saw 2 4wd's along the whole route, and they were on the wrong side of the road as was I when avoiding a piece of trail that was a bit sketchy. Bit of a pucker on a blind corner at speed. Pretty easy riding for most of the way. The temp had risen to about 25°C and was still fairly pleasant even going slow.

I went over one erosion mound going up hill that had a huge hole on the other side with a massive mud filled puddle. The front forks bottomed out, I could hear the loud thud & crack from the front end. 

It wasn't too long before I popped out at Mt Werong and I rode around the campground for a look see. Was no one to be seen so I kept riding along towards shooters hill and my lunch stop at Oberon.

I stopped for a quick look at the information bay on the Mt Werong road. 60kms into Yerranderie and it's a dead end and you have to turn around and come back. It's part of the Warragamba Dam catchment and you can't go any further or $44k fines.

The road eventually pops out onto the Shooters Hill road, which I've written about many times on this blog. Beautiful countryside up here around Oberon. Will have to come and explore some of the forest trails.

I had a hunger for a steak sammich, but thought it would take too long waiting at the pub so opted for the bakery in Oberon. These guys are liars. Says Australia's best bakery NSW winner for 2011 on the sign. Reading that I had BIG expectations, sadly they under delivered with a thermonuclear pie and that was after waiting 10 minutes for it to cool down, then it fell apart trying to eat it top falling off and contents falling out everywhere. Pie rating - 2.5/10. I should have stayed with the steak sammich option. This is possibly the worst pie I've had in many years to be honest. 😞

After lunch I got underway quickly as there was plenty of smoke in the air from some nearby back burning. I didn't want to stand around breathing that crap so headed out for Jenolan State Forest.

This was a nice ride through the forest. There were two main route through here, I followed Ridge Road and it was a cracker, followed the ridge line through the forest. Some pretty extensive logging has been happening. That made way for views of stunning vistas.

I pressed on and got over the next hill before stopping for another photo. Up the hill the road re-entered the forest again and got very narrow and dark but nice and cool. I love these pine forests.

The road put me back onto Jenolan Caves road, which I turned north but quickly turned off again on Boggy Creek road and made my way to the Six Foot Track. I stopped at the sign. It said the creek 20km ahead is unpassable if 0.9m high and will have to turn around and come back. Check the floods near me app.

No phone reception here. Yeah great government departments at their best. There are also 2 signs pointing in 2 different directions for the six foot track. I can't remember which way and google maps not working. I check Gaia maps and it was working and showed my location and the track, beauty I left that on and kept going forward. I think I'll have to invest in a proper GPS, phone is useless out here.

There were a few sandy patches along the track caused a few wobbles. I got to this little intersection and stopped at first confused were the road went, it said walking only then I noticed the road went left over and down the hill. It looked very steep too. I took a long drink from my camelback. Then 2 guys came up the hill on the KTM & Husky dirt bikes. Both stopped to see I was ok, gave them the thumbs up.

The road dropped down the hill steeply over the next couple of kilometres it dropped 600m, steep slippery gravel, rock patches, big ruts. The rear tried to overtake the front wheel a couple of times down here. It was at this moment I realised I'd done the exact same thing my brother did a couple of weeks ago. Went riding in remote location and didn't tell anyone where I was going. I think i'll need to get a Garmin inreach now just in case. I'd only seen 2 guys for the last 2 hours.

As I got to the bottom of the hill there was a creek crossing. I stopped for a drink and a photo. After I got going again there were 3 more creek crossings. I hit a rock in the last one nearly put my feet in the water but gassed it at last moment and shot out without getting wet.

I finally got to the bottom of the hill and the end of the rideable part of the Six Foot Track. You can walk the rest of the way to Katoomba from here, but didn't have a mental disorder so keep riding along Glen Chee Road which takes you to the Great Western Hwy via Cox River Road.

The road was that small pea gravel surface and was actually quite slippery, so had to be careful. There was still stunning views all along the valley here and the riding was good.

I stopped at the little bridge above for my last couple of photos and thought I'd better get in at least one shot. On the way back up the range to the main road I took one last photo of the views over the valley. Some beautiful country in here. 

As I dropped out of the Blue Mountains back onto the western plains the temperature soared to 34°C, tiring after that ride. Finally got home around 4:30pm pretty knackered after 9.5hrs out on mostly dirt roads.

 Time to unleash the Kraken....

Cheers & thanks for reading.

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