Club Run

A few of the former members of the UNSW Motorcycle Club are having a ride together, the first for about 30 years. For me this also allows a dummy run of my Europe preparation.

We used to meet at the Anzac Parade gates at 8 AM on Sunday morning, and head off to Kangaroo Valley or Newnes. Today the first group (Don, Jim, Len, Peter and Geoff) met at Silverwater at 9, then rode up Old Northern Road towards Wisemans Ferry. Geoff Wiltshire and I had arranged to wait for them near Glenorie, and they rolled up at 9.50. The day began clear blue, then slowly clouded over and stayed in the low-20's.

After crossing the Hawkesbury at Wisemans,




we carefully splashed east through recent puddles on the road beside the river, then north to Spencer for a long chat and coffee. Warren was waiting patiently 40 minutes north at the Wollombi pub, and then had to endure a 90-minute lunch-break while more chat occurred. (These mates hadn't seen one another since December)

A check of the weather radar suggested wet riding ahead, and some took precautions, kitting up immediately. Others waited till they were half-drenched, then fell behind while they changed.




The rain punished us all, some more than others, but we all had reason to be grateful for the progress the last 30 years has seen in tyres, brakes, reliability and weather protection.




Naturally the bourgeoisie with their BMW kit suffered a minimum of discomfort.

Warren led us through a maze of Hunter Valley towns; Cessnock, Kurri Kurri, and the rain came and went, growing steadily. Our pause in Dungog was brief, with the thought of warmth and food drawing us on to Gloucester. Much of the road between Dungog and Gloucester is worth another (dry) ride. Although the sight lines are poor, the surface is good with wide lanes and edge-marking, there was little traffic and the swervery was great fun. Even the old guys could smile.

Don lost his sleeping bag from the back of his R1; Geoff Sim saw it fall and went back to collect it. When the others passed him, they all assumed he'd dropped his bag AGAIN. Our history does pursue us!

So on to the Bucketts Way Motel,




and a welcome small dry space for the bikes.




We're sharing the motel with the Pollie Pedal tonight, so we dined and drank at the Roundabout pub, and had fun recalling whatever we could.




Warren Sakey, Peter Allen, Long John Silver, Jim Meyer (organiser), Don Anderson, Len Eagles, Geoff Wiltshire, Geoff Sim on camera.

370 km for the day

Location:Lavers St,Gloucester,Australia