Australia Day long weekend. The hordes of traffic returning from their holiday down the coast. Double demerits, extra highway patrol cars.
Unmarked police cars, hot as—who would be silly enough to venture on the roads today? Perry, Shadow, 3-wheel Dave, 3-wheel Gary, Andy HOG.
Doc Martin and Whispers attended the venture.
Six of Ulysses’ finest. Where to go? A short ride down the coast would be the most practical, so Austinmere was the first choice if we could park. Down the OPH, down Bulli Pass, back on the Coast Rd. When we reached Austi Café, not a parking spot was to be seen. An Australia Day ceremony was held in the park opposite, and about 200 bikes that passed us at Loftus were parked there with the campers for the weekend.
Plan B. Perry had heard that the Imperial Hotel at Coalcliff, recently renovated, was a good choice recommended by another group who share Loftus Oval with us on a Monday. Continuing north, we pulled into the parking area where there was plenty of space. Several small rooms were available for small functions, but we sat in the main restaurant with views over the ocean, which were supplied free of charge.
Breakfast consumed, we discussed how much traffic would be in RNP and figured most would be traveling south, so it shouldn’t bother us.
Through the Bald Hill roundabout, I made a spontaneous decision to veer left at the Otford turnoff. Not having been down there before but recommended by Perry, a pleasant tour through Otford then Helensburgh was ridden. Not quite the ride through the park, but back on the OPH to Heathcote, where our goodbyes were exchanged and the traffic was already building up.
Home about 11.00 when the temperature was rising.
Cheers, John “Whispers” Warren.
