On a crisp but clear and sunny morning Dakar, Colonel and Tunnels met with me for the 8am start. We waited a few minutes for any stragglers then set off to Heathcote Road, Prestons, The Grand Avenue of Traffic Lights, Bringelly, Mulgoa, South Penrith, Glenbrook and Springwood before arriving at TMG Coffee, Winmalee.
A good coffee, great service and good snacks to be had and we caught up with Mick Holmes (Spyder Rider) who was unable to ride of this occasion. From there, we travelled down the bends of Hawksbury Road to Agnes Banks, dodged the Richmond traffic to North Richmond, turning right after going through the village.
Some interesting roads took us through Tennyson, East Kurrajong, Sackville and West Portland where we cruised on the ferry to Lower Portland then River Road which took us to Wisemans Ferry. River Road is always an eye opener with mainly narrow to extremely carriageway with twists and crests aplenty. There is a constant apprehension that another vehicle will appear at short notice using most of your part of the roadway so you just have to remain calm and use lines which will keep you on your side of the road whilst having enough space to stop or evade.
Lunch at Wisemans Inn provided a reasonably priced and good quality repast. Returning motorcyclist and Ulysses member Garry from Drummoyne met us for lunch and a yarn.
After lunch Tunnels had to return directly home with Dakar, Colonel, myself riding with Garry, who asked if we were fast riders, towards Berowra Waters. By the time Col and I arrived at Glenorie, Dakar had left us to head home with a 20 or so minute wait and attempts to contact Garry fruitless and when about to leave on the assumption that he must have detoured from the stated route, Garry appeared and pulled to the roadside to join us, Garry related that he was still apprehensive about riding and thanked us for waiting, further stating that he knew his way home from that location.
Col and I then travelled via Dural, Arcadia, Berowra Waters and on to Berowra. For some strange and bizarre reason, we rode through Hornsby rather than by-passing on the freeway. Never again! Each and every road user with more important things to do than actually driving created a slow movement of traffic with more zigs, zags, stops and starts than a Parkinsons sufferer’s signature.
Eventually we made it through then negotiated Pennant Hills Road, Carlingford, Eastwood, Silverwater, Auburn, Bankstown and home. All in all another enjoyable 300 plus km day with plenty of variation and great camaraderie.
Cheers,
Shrek.
