It’s been 7 long months since my last long ride, so when I saw Drains post about a gathering at Netallie Hill on the 29th of December I didn’t hesitate.
Timing is everything in life and so it was with this ride. Pillion Piglet would be in Sydney seeing her mum so I made sure I escorted Pillion Piglet to Sydney, and then at 3:45am the next morning I rode the GSA out of the mum in laws garage and headed west for Wilcannia.
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My route. Canberra - Sydney - Wilcannia - Canberra.
Feeling nostalgic I opted for Bells Line out of Sydney. It was a good run up the hill in the pre-dawn darkness, just me and the odd car coming the other way. Near Lithgow the temps plummeted to 9 degrees with a few light showers to keep me on my toes. Sunrise and I stopped briefly for a coffee in Lithgow before heading onto Mudgee. The sun came out and it was a pleasure to just meander through the NSW countryside.
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A sunny morning in Mudgee, breakfast time!
Mudgee and it was time for some brekkie, a croissant and coffee were wolfed down in no time. The temps were now high teens, heading into the low 20’s so I shed a layer and changed into summer clothes for the back roads to Dubbo. Dubbo was a shock to the system after the last few hours of no traffic, it was busy! Fuelled up, and continued on my way, places to go people to see!
Forever westward, Narromine, reliving memories of past rides through this area, stopped to take the obligatory picture at the town entrances before rolling on westward on the Mitchell Highway. Trangie, then Nevertire. I always wonder where the name of Nevertire came from? The town sign makes for a great picture.
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Nothing but wide open spaces and sunshine
At Nyngan, I had hoped to get a sandwich, but the only place opened was packed with queues out to the street, so I snacked on a Cliff bar as I turned onto the Barrier Highway heading for Cobar. This felt good, finally heading west on the Barrier.
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Cobar!
Cobar was fuel for bike and me. The servo sandwich and lemon tea hit the spot, perfect for the final leg out to Wilcannia. The countryside was looking great, the recent rains have reinvigorated the vegetation, and there was even some flooding in the low lying areas of the Highway. Stopped briefly at Emmdale Roadhouse, the place was looking tired and is for sale.
Arriving at Wilcannia to find the Liberty servo was out of fuel so it was around to the BP auto pump to fuel up. This all worked well and then back to the Liberty servo to collect my key for the motel. Jeff arrived at the same time; long time no see Jeff! Drain and Ron were already at the motel. Once settled in it was off the golf club for a quiet drink and a catch up. We had a lot of ground to make up. Found out Hackle had battery troubles and wouldn’t be joining us but Ox was a surprise attendee due about sunset.
Back the motel we met Ox and then feasted on pies and pasties (thanks to Drain for being our UberEATS rider!) Into the evening we sat in the carpark in the hot dry western NSW heat swapping stories and just enjoying each other’s company, before the mossies drove us inside.
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Dawn at Netallie Hil IBA Memorial Site. L-R Drain, Ox, Ron and Jeff.
There is something about hearing motorcycle engine(s) start at 4:00am, we all rode out to Netallie Hill together a conga line of aux lights reaching into the darkness of the Barrier Highway. At the Hill, there was a lone Toll B Double truck parked, driver asleep. Bikes parked we made our way out to the Memorial site in the stillness of the night, dawn still an hour away. The stars were etched brightly in the sky and we could see the odd satellite tracking across the heavens. Slowly but surely, we could see the first hint of light across the eastern horizon, followed by the glorious pink/red corona that signals first light.
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Time to mount up and head home - Drain eagerly anticipating the road ahead
With daylight we all made our farewells, as we each made our way home on our own routes, the better for having spent some time with our fellow long-distance riders. Many thanks for the attendance of Drain, Jeff, Ron and Ox. Hackle, hope to see you next time!
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Homeward bound on the Kidman Way.
The ride home was a simple one of 1,200kms, riding into Canberra from Gunning on a warm summers evening, it was one of those days you wished the road would never end.
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I diverted south to Narrandera, any excuse to keep riding.
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A warm summers evening on a back country road, absolutely bliss, I wished the road would never end.
All up 2,500kms for the two- and a-bit days, a good stretch of the legs and great to see the fellas after 2 years of pandemic. Let’s do this again soon!
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Exactly 2,500kms for the two and a bit days. Not too bad I suppose
Timing is everything in life and so it was with this ride. Pillion Piglet would be in Sydney seeing her mum so I made sure I escorted Pillion Piglet to Sydney, and then at 3:45am the next morning I rode the GSA out of the mum in laws garage and headed west for Wilcannia.
My route. Canberra - Sydney - Wilcannia - Canberra.
Feeling nostalgic I opted for Bells Line out of Sydney. It was a good run up the hill in the pre-dawn darkness, just me and the odd car coming the other way. Near Lithgow the temps plummeted to 9 degrees with a few light showers to keep me on my toes. Sunrise and I stopped briefly for a coffee in Lithgow before heading onto Mudgee. The sun came out and it was a pleasure to just meander through the NSW countryside.
A sunny morning in Mudgee, breakfast time!
Mudgee and it was time for some brekkie, a croissant and coffee were wolfed down in no time. The temps were now high teens, heading into the low 20’s so I shed a layer and changed into summer clothes for the back roads to Dubbo. Dubbo was a shock to the system after the last few hours of no traffic, it was busy! Fuelled up, and continued on my way, places to go people to see!
Forever westward, Narromine, reliving memories of past rides through this area, stopped to take the obligatory picture at the town entrances before rolling on westward on the Mitchell Highway. Trangie, then Nevertire. I always wonder where the name of Nevertire came from? The town sign makes for a great picture.
Nothing but wide open spaces and sunshine
At Nyngan, I had hoped to get a sandwich, but the only place opened was packed with queues out to the street, so I snacked on a Cliff bar as I turned onto the Barrier Highway heading for Cobar. This felt good, finally heading west on the Barrier.
Cobar!
Cobar was fuel for bike and me. The servo sandwich and lemon tea hit the spot, perfect for the final leg out to Wilcannia. The countryside was looking great, the recent rains have reinvigorated the vegetation, and there was even some flooding in the low lying areas of the Highway. Stopped briefly at Emmdale Roadhouse, the place was looking tired and is for sale.
Arriving at Wilcannia to find the Liberty servo was out of fuel so it was around to the BP auto pump to fuel up. This all worked well and then back to the Liberty servo to collect my key for the motel. Jeff arrived at the same time; long time no see Jeff! Drain and Ron were already at the motel. Once settled in it was off the golf club for a quiet drink and a catch up. We had a lot of ground to make up. Found out Hackle had battery troubles and wouldn’t be joining us but Ox was a surprise attendee due about sunset.
Back the motel we met Ox and then feasted on pies and pasties (thanks to Drain for being our UberEATS rider!) Into the evening we sat in the carpark in the hot dry western NSW heat swapping stories and just enjoying each other’s company, before the mossies drove us inside.
Dawn at Netallie Hil IBA Memorial Site. L-R Drain, Ox, Ron and Jeff.
There is something about hearing motorcycle engine(s) start at 4:00am, we all rode out to Netallie Hill together a conga line of aux lights reaching into the darkness of the Barrier Highway. At the Hill, there was a lone Toll B Double truck parked, driver asleep. Bikes parked we made our way out to the Memorial site in the stillness of the night, dawn still an hour away. The stars were etched brightly in the sky and we could see the odd satellite tracking across the heavens. Slowly but surely, we could see the first hint of light across the eastern horizon, followed by the glorious pink/red corona that signals first light.
Time to mount up and head home - Drain eagerly anticipating the road ahead
With daylight we all made our farewells, as we each made our way home on our own routes, the better for having spent some time with our fellow long-distance riders. Many thanks for the attendance of Drain, Jeff, Ron and Ox. Hackle, hope to see you next time!
Homeward bound on the Kidman Way.
The ride home was a simple one of 1,200kms, riding into Canberra from Gunning on a warm summers evening, it was one of those days you wished the road would never end.
I diverted south to Narrandera, any excuse to keep riding.
A warm summers evening on a back country road, absolutely bliss, I wished the road would never end.
All up 2,500kms for the two- and a-bit days, a good stretch of the legs and great to see the fellas after 2 years of pandemic. Let’s do this again soon!
Exactly 2,500kms for the two and a bit days. Not too bad I suppose
