YAY, another FarRide to yet another town that I haven’t been too!! Lake Cargellico.
Plan done well in advance and taking Angel for the run since I haven’t had her out for a decent run in way too long and I need to see how I handle her since she will be going to Darwin in June.
Friday 23rd May – 12:01pm
Start docket date & time stamped – check Fuel – check Plan – check GPS programmed – check SPOT working – check – Let’s GO!!!
Up the Putty Rd, not stopping for a coffee today but I did stop for a pic with this shinning young man.
The Shiny Man at the Halfway House
Note to self, watch the gravel on the way in if you stop there again. The site isn’t looked after at all, I’m surprise the guy advertising that bacon & egg rolls does any business at all (I didn’t see him BTW). Now I’ve been watching the GPS and it’s doing some real funky stuff so I decided I’d be making an unscheduled stop at Bulga to re-key the route and see if things get better.
Another pic that has eluded me for many years the sign at the start of 10-mile (which for those unedumucated = 16 kms).
start of 10 mile
It’s a very easy run cos Angels dance shoes need new soles but I need to get this trip out of them, so there’s no pushing any envelopes this trip.
Into Denman, lap of town and out to Muswellbrook before stopping in Singleton for the scheduled fuel and snack stop. The bugs I collected on the way.
my bug collection
Now it’s out to fight the traffic – peak hour ARGH!!! I’m cruising along watching the day slowly change through the dusk hues.
changing hues on the Hunter Expressway.
Sunsets as I’m heading down the new Hunter Expressway – excellent piece of road! Traffic starts to thin out but the poor GPS is lost it keeps telling me to turn off at all these roads that are no longer accessible. I figure I can’t get lost on here and it’s not long before I see the sign Sydney exit 1km.
Sunset on the Expressway
Heading south now on the home stretch M1/F1 whatever you want to call it these days and it’s amazing how quickly that last light disappears, almost like turning the light switch off…lol.
I’d told Karl I would be home about 8-8:30pm (allowing a buffer in case I had a problem) but I arrived home at 6:40pm (35 minutes ahead of the plan). I had a baked dinner (baked beans on toast) lol and chilled out for the night.
Saturday 24th May
Dark o’clock (or stupid o’clock as my friends say) and I’m surprised it’s as warm as it is for 3:30am (as we roll out the drive). Plan is up the highway to Lithgow taking it easy. Unable to light the road up to see, I decided to play it safe and sat behind a truck which led me all the way up to Mt Victoria – thanks mate! No stopping until I get to Bathurst, cos it’s soooo chilly I needed a hot chocolate and a rest room.
An extra layer and hot chocky
An extra layer to get me through, the warmer neck warmer and to warm the cockles of my insides the regulation hot chocolate. Watching the sunrise is always a beautiful sight and this morning was no different…..Good morning Saturday!
Lovely and chilly.
Next stop is Manildra for fuel and I’ve been pretty lucky I haven’t encountered any wildlife….phew! A few riders pass me while I’m in the servo. I wanted to get pics of Angel with town signs this trip, but the signs were either too far off the road or in spots that I wouldn’t take Angel. I did managed to get a couple though.
Condobolin
Not having been out this way before, I had a chuckle when I saw this next town sign…….lol
Bogan Gate ….lol
The long and winding road……ROFL!! not likely.
flat as a tack.
I’ve completed a few FarRides now but I still can’t help but get excited when I see other FarRiders on the road, knowing we are all heading to the same destination – why – because….”It’s Just A Road” 🙂 and this long distance riding family that I have are truly inspirational.
Arrived at the BP, along with many others that were already there at aprox 10:40am. Fuel, say g’days and head off to the Lake Cargellico Golf Club for the check-in, more socialising and lunch.
The line to check-in
Two riding friends from Sydney, Richard and Andy also made it on time and we proceeded to line up for check-in. The lines never seem to get any shorter but it’s great to ‘avachat with everyone while waiting.
check-in
Checked in with these two handsome young men 🙂 and then off for more socialising, the group photo and then lunch.
Peter – Reader57
Thanks Peter for organising another great event. Sorry I don’t have the group shot, but I think there was about 109 attending FRE #29.
Andy was dashing off after lunch to hopefully complete his first IBA ride and everyone else Richard and I spoke to were dashing off to elsewhere too. We were under the impression folks were also staying for dinner and so we’d booked accommodation at the caravan park. Nevermind, we get checked in and decide to wonder around town.
Our home for the night
We bump into Gags and Heather who were watching the local footy before they headed off. A stroll along the lake and it looked lovely – peaceful and inviting. But NO, you can’t swim there or drink the water due to Blue Green Algae…YIKES! for a temporary period of time (which wasn’t disclosed and there was no date on the sign to know how long it had been there), just a little disturbing. Anyway, we continued on our walk and came across a lovely elderly lady (who we named Ethel) in her mobility scooter. Now Ethel is 94 yrs old and thought it was grand that a lovely young couple like Richard and I would come and visit her town. Neither of us had the heart to tell her our partners were at home…..LOL!! I reckon another half hour chatting and she’d have invited us back for scones and tea!!!
Ethel on her way.
Not much is open here on a Saturday afternoon and it seems that even during the week everyone shuts for lunch (might have to recommend that to work when I get back).
typical store sign
Richard spotted the best bargain in town…….
Sale of the Century…..lol
Now, this fellas name is Trevor and he’s from Melbourne although he didn’t have much to say and I think he’s been waiting for something a very long time…..what do you think?
Trevor.
The only place open for dinner tonight (other than the Golf or Sports Clubs that both do Chinese…go figure) was the local fish n chip shop called Fisho’s. Although, it’s really a bit of everything shop – coffee & cake shop, pizza shop, very general grocery, steak and chicken kiev (to name a couple of meals) and of cause fish n chips and reguar take away food. Five star dining at it’s best…..lol. It was ok, but I wouldn’t travel that far just to go there for dinner, ok. Biggles wondered in, we had a quick chat, wished each other a safe journey home before we headed back to relax.
Sunday 25th May
Yawn, yawn, time to head home. Went to open the door and Sylvester Pussy Cat was sitting right on the step to say “good morning”, noice. Packing the bikes up, it’s still a bit dark out.
6:15am Lake Cargellico
Lucky I have the reflective tape on the top box and seat bag otherwise I might not have found Angel….lol.
Good morning Sunday! What a view to see the morning in with! Sunrise and sunset when I’m riding are two of my favourite times of the day. Amazing.
Sunrise
Mind you pulling up here, there were all big rocks over the road which had me let out an almighty scream which almost had me ending in tragedy.
Richards leading the way today and it’s kinda similar to sitting behind Karl (very comfortable). I would ride with Richard any day, all day. Sorry digressing. Turn off to Forbes and the roads are wet….argh! Angels dance shoes aren’t feeling the best and any confidence I’d thought I had was now dwindling away. Forbes for fuel before stopping in Eugowra to check out some wall art that Richard had told me about. Pretty amazing stuff really, the detail is remarkable.
Eugowra
It’s fresh out this morning and Richard had promised a nice breakfast in this swanky place (that’s he’d researched) in Orange, so we didn’t stop long cos we needed coffee and food. It’s a nice stretch of road between Forbes and Orange and I shall go back there with decent shoes on next time to truly enjoy it. Unfortunately, today the road is wet all the way to Orange.
Orange, YAY! Park outside the swanky spot and WHAT – it’s CLOSED!!! Richaard!!! What happened to that research man. Apparently the website says open Sundays but the sign on the door said CLOSED Sundays and there were no lights on and nobody was home 🙁 Thank goodness Bensons Cafe was open and we had “hot” coffee and a great breakfast.
Poached Eggs…YUM!
Feeling warm and fuzzy now and looking forward to getting home to Karl. Richard and I make a plan. I put on the tank and seat bag covers cos it looks like we are going to get rained on (I was secretly hoping that putting them on would frighten the rain away…he he). We’ll say our good byes in Bathurst (last fuel stop) and then separate at Lithgow where Richard will take Bells Line and I’ll take the highway (only cos of Angels shoes). We did get rain (but not much) and we are soon in Lithgow with a wave and a toot good bye for the last leg.
I’m reminded why we always take Bells Line – the highway is rubbish. Road works, idiot drivers, traffic lights, stop start, stop start, it’s enough to drive you insane. Not to mention that on this side of the hill the temperature has risen and I’m slowly cooking as still have all my layers and thermals on. Eventually, I make the M4, then M7, M2 and finally at 2:40pm I roll into the driveway – home to my Sweety – YAY!!!
Around trip 1637 kays for the 3 days. Not allot by some standards but a good warm up for the next adventure.
Angels dance shoes and buggered, but she did get a bubble bath as soon as we got home (she had bugs in her teeth after all).
Till the next adventure…..on a road somewhere!!!
