Paul and Dixies Eskdale-ent adventure-10 days,many K's

Paul n Dixie

Part of the furniture
Paul and Dixies Eskdale-ent Adventure.


I,ll be riding solo for the next 4 days, then meeting up with Dixie in Victoria and then rendevous with Pete,Goodie and Eivind and making our way across to Eskdale for the 10th anniversary meet.


Monday 18-02-16 8AM and the Beast is loaded and ready!

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Odometer reading recorded ;) we wonder how far will we ride on this trip..



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Day 1 Alstonville to Quirindi.
https://goo.gl/maps/Ug5Rm9sxT9y


8:10 am and I,m on my way! A few local backroads to Woodburn then I join the Pacific HWY till the turn off to Maclean.


Looking across the river into Woodburn village and the Pacific HWY


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Harwood Bridge and sugar mill at the turn off to Maclean.The air was sweet with the smell of the sugar refining process.
The steam from the mill is visible in the background.



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Maclean is a beautiful little town on the banks of the Clarence river. The river is trawled for prawns – YUM!


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The wide river also hosts the Grafton bridge to bridge ski classic, with the boats and skiers passing here and heading up to Harwood bridge in the previous image.
I cross the river and take a fast scenic backroad to Brushgrove, a tiny village that has an excellent pub,motorcycle friendly,cold beers,good food and accomodation ;)
Not to mention a beer garden and boat ramp that backs onto the river ;)



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River view from the rear of the Hotel
http://s1361.photobucket.com/user/paulcavanough67/media/Austouring%2010th%20anniversary%20Eskdale%202016/P1040242_zpswstsmexp.jpg.html] [/URL]


I was hoping for a bacon and egg roll at a great cafe we know at Ulmarra, but alas they dont open Mondays or Tuesdays :(
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Good pub here ;)
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Also a ferry crossing joing a backroad to Grafton.
http://s1361.photobucket.com/user/paulcavanough67/media/Austouring%2010th%20anniversary%20Eskdale%202016/P1040244_zps0zvbjfeu.jpg.html] [/URL]


I rejoin the Pacific HWY and have an unrewarding sausage roll and chocky milk at a Grafton roadhouse :(
Fast twisties and mixed country now heading through Nymboida,mainly eucalypt but a nice rainforest part just South of Nymboida river.
Recent rain had left a bit of leaf litter about..
http://s1361.photobucket.com/user/paulcavanough67/media/Austouring%2010th%20anniversary%20Eskdale%202016/P1040250_zpszfuzvxho.jpg.html] [/URL]


Obligatory bike shot.
http://s1361.photobucket.com/user/paulcavanough67/media/Austouring%2010th%20anniversary%20Eskdale%202016/P1040252_zpsmidfz2xa.jpg.html] [/URL]


Having ridden this road dozens of times, I finally stopped to take a picture of this eclectic collection of roadside letterboxes :)
http://s1361.photobucket.com/user/paulcavanough67/media/Austouring%2010th%20anniversary%20Eskdale%202016/P1040254_zpspnmkg2s8.jpg.html] [/URL]


A little further up the road and these figures fashioned from naturally formed trees always make me smile :)
http://s1361.photobucket.com/user/paulcavanough67/media/Austouring%2010th%20anniversary%20Eskdale%202016/P1040256_zpsc5sge8th.jpg.html] [/URL]


http://s1361.photobucket.com/user/paulcavanough67/media/Austouring%2010th%20anniversary%20Eskdale%202016/P1040257_zps1ofrsij7.jpg.html] [/URL]


Typical views :)
http://s1361.photobucket.com/user/paulcavanough67/media/Austouring%2010th%20anniversary%20Eskdale%202016/P1040258_zpszgdnrdgx.jpg.html] [/URL]
 

goodie

...
Re: Paul and Dixies Eskdale-ent Adventure (Day 1) Alstonville to Quirindi

Great start, Paul :thumbs:
NSW looks very green and lush
 

BB63

SV, DRZ & now DL Rider
Re: Paul and Dixies Eskdale-ent Adventure (Day 1) Alstonville to Quirindi

 

Paul n Dixie

Part of the furniture
Re: Paul and Dixies Eskdale-ent Adventure (Day 1) Alstonville to Quirindi

I turn off here towards Armidale and notice the beautiful open lands and wildflowers.
http://s1361.photobucket.com/user/paulcavanough67/media/Austouring%2010th%20anniversary%20Eskdale%202016/P1040259_zpsubggwmxn.jpg.html] [/URL]


http://s1361.photobucket.com/user/paulcavanough67/media/Austouring%2010th%20anniversary%20Eskdale%202016/P1040260_zpswecdtcit.jpg.html] [/URL]


Having ridden past the historic village of Wollombi many times, today's the day I check it out.
http://s1361.photobucket.com/user/paulcavanough67/media/Austouring%2010th%20anniversary%20Eskdale%202016/P1040261_zpsdojcodrg.jpg.html] [/URL]


The general store/cafe is now just a bare as bones post office. And not worth an image, the church still stands proud.
http://s1361.photobucket.com/user/paulcavanough67/media/Austouring%2010th%20anniversary%20Eskdale%202016/P1040262_zpswclmmttj.jpg.html] [/URL]


Apparently the water around here has a lot of “body”
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I,m not thirsty at present..


Next destination is Gostwyck via Dangarsleigh, This will thankfully allow me to bypass the highway between Armidale and Uralla and ride some dirt ;)



Very nice fast open roads with beautiful views stretching for miles :)
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I snapped this memorial but didnt make time to have a closer look – another day ;)
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AHHH some dirt!
http://s1361.photobucket.com/user/paulcavanough67/media/Austouring%2010th%20anniversary%20Eskdale%202016/P1040271_zpswlqxgsv9.jpg.html] [/URL]


A little more ;)
http://s1361.photobucket.com/user/paulcavanough67/media/Austouring%2010th%20anniversary%20Eskdale%202016/P1040275_zpsts7wtemv.jpg.html] [/URL]


There are quite a few impressive homesteads around the New England region.This is one of the lesser ones...
http://s1361.photobucket.com/user/paulcavanough67/media/Austouring%2010th%20anniversary%20Eskdale%202016/P1040272_zpshihbcmr1.jpg.html] [/URL]


I expect this building has something to do with shearing?? the high roofs may be designed to vent rising hot air?
http://s1361.photobucket.com/user/paulcavanough67/media/Austouring%2010th%20anniversary%20Eskdale%202016/P1040276_zpsfyqiovyt.jpg.html] [/URL]
 
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Paul n Dixie

Part of the furniture
Re: Paul and Dixies Eskdale-ent Adventure (Day 1) Alstonville to Quirindi

Entering Gostwyck, I have a choice- The bridge so thoughtfully constructed many years before,



or this, beside the bridge..
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common sense prevailed ;)


The stone church at Gostwyck and the surrounding land-including a good section of the road is actually on private land.
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The trees lining the road around the church are massive! And welcome shade for many sheep today, as temperatures were around 36 degrees.
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Along the way into Uralla I saw this old timer proudly displayed at the entrance to a local farm, I think of the day the farmer bought this truck home when new and what a source of pride it would have been. Kids and produce getting carted around on the tray ;) (yep I,m a nostalgic romantic lol)
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A very decent and generous freshly made chicken and salad sanga (real chicken) from the
White Rose Diner -highly recommended – friendly service and very reasonable price ;)
had me refuelled and enroute to Quirindi,
An easy ride down the New England to one of our favourite Pubs and stop over places, Bendemeer.
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The bridge here has some history, but today it was a quick beer I was after ;)
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A little down the street and this store cafe does a great breakfast! The young lady who runs the place appreciates motorcyclists and is very friendly. Bendemeer is a great place for a stopover :)
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Williamson

Part of the furniture
Re: Paul and Dixies Eskdale-ent Adventure (Day 1) Alstonville to Quirindi

..... The bridge so thoughtfully constructed many years before,


From the other side of the bridge with nicer (artificial) autumn colours.....





Wot a spot Gostwyck is!!! Thanks to Nev for showing it to some of us a years or so ago.
 

Paul n Dixie

Part of the furniture
Re: Paul and Dixies Eskdale-ent Adventure (Day 1) Alstonville to Quirindi

After Bendemeer I passed through Tamworth and followed the route to Quirindi, passing beautiful pastures and ploughed fields.



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Last edited:

glitch

Mapping the next ride...
Staff member
Re: Paul and Dixies Eskdale-ent Adventure (Day 1) Alstonville to Quirindi

Hi mate

Go to "edit" your last post and check what I've done to your first 2 links (that show up as pics)....compare very carefully to the rest of the photo links.
Then edit those to match the pattern.
Remember, one single empty space, dot, upper-lower case mixup and the pic won't show.
 
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