Wednesday, August 23, 2006

Bon Fire night 20 August 2006

Q: So what do we do out in the sticks when we find a bunch of logs to get rid of?

A: We have a bonfire!!!! over 3 nights.

Bonfire plus Camera = These pics on the first night.


Monday, August 21, 2006

Old Great Northern Road. Solo Ride

20th August. My First Solo Ride.
Plan: 28kms 4-5 hours. Old Great Northern Road. Wisemans Ferry
Starting 8:15am

After the Ferry Crossing, where I parked my car the temp gauge measured 8 Degrees C. A short ride up to the Gate of the Restored part of the Old Great Northern Road. It was mostly an uphill ride around 2Kms Past lots of Historical remanants of the old road. Finally arriving at the next gate where the remainder of the road is mainly remanants, eroded and deeply in many parts and a single track. Across this ridge heading towards the Western Commision and Ten Mile Hollow intersections. Great Views over the valleys open up and continues most the way for the next 12Kms. Sorry no photo's you need earn the view!!! so make the effort and ride/walk up there.

I have included some pictures of the track mainly technical and alot of fun. Riding up sanstone boulders and rocks. In my usual style I managed to hand plant and somewhere else up the road smack my knee in. Finally arriving at the intersection after 1.5 hours for a quick snack and break.


Turn back and hit all the Fun techi stuff again pretty much downhill for 14kms back to the ferry. hmm further it was to Clare's Bridge around another five Kms but mainly downhill. See pics. Did not see a singer person the whole morning except two walkers heading down. And experienced some technical difficulty with the rear gearset which a few pokes with a stick fixed.











Return trip mainly uphill back past intersection and onto the Western Commision track. lots of up and down along the ridge all a Hard packed graded dirt road and very scenic. I must have used the word bastard a few times each time thinking "this must be the last hill". but totally worth the effort. Some fast runs Max on computer was about 58kms/hour just anticipating a hairpin at any moment. Finally after a few more hills a fast finish down to the gate the a short ride back on the paved road to the ferry/car. And back home in time for lunch.


Result: 38Kms at 3.5hours. I would rate one of the interesting and fun rides so far. Not for the faint hearted but worthwhile.