Looks like a brilliant day for a ride. Have breakfast and a coffee and off to Heathcote for Shrek’s ride to Wingello for M/T and Calderwood for lunch. On arrival at Heathcote five bikes plus one pillion and myself makes six. Nine o’clock and no ride leader. No problem we will wait a few more minutes. Few minutes passed and still no ride leader. Col decides to call. Something along the lines of me, what today was the answer. Again no problem so I agreed to lead the ride but the new destination was Hilltop for M/T and lunch at the original venue of Plough and Ale at Calderwood.
So six bikes and the previously mentioned pillion headed out of Ampol on a perfect riding morning. The route was OPH, Appin Road, Broughton Pass, Douglas Park, Menangle Road, Finns Road, Razorback, Barkers Lodge Road and Mowbray Park Road to Thirlmere then Wilson Drive to our M/T stop at Hilltop Bakery.
After M/T the TEC and I swapped our positions with Col leading and me as TEC. We headed for Old South Road which is in good condition but now with a lower speed limit. Makes absolute sense to someone. Turning on to Tourist Road which is also in better condition than a couple of years ago we made our way to the Illawarra Highway where one bike with pillion still attached headed for home via Mac Pass with the remaining five turning right headed for Jamberoo Pass Road. Good run down the pass and along Jamberoo Road to Albion Park carefully observing the new speed limit on the way to the lunch stop.
Weather was holding up nicely so a table outside was taken and lunch and refreshments ordered. The Plough and Ale have daily specials and today was pizza. Sharing one provided a flavoursome and economical alternative. Col and I swapped again after lunch with me leading the way home via Mt Marshall Road turning left at the end to do the loop back to Fowlers Road and the freeway. We lost another bike when we took the Wollongong exit to Mt Kiera Road. Then it was Princess Highway and OPH to Heathcote. Four riders at the finish of a great days riding with approximately 350kms travelled.
Cheers Red.
