The Pancake Shop on Elephants Pass becomes the assembly point for the far-scattered troupe the next morning, and then it’s off to the South Sister Lookout north of St. Marys. The steepish track looks treacherous, I’m happy to quit on that while others try with varying success.
Some use the coastal hwy, others follow the tracks through the plantations to Upper Scamander and up the peninsula to St. Helens Point. Some great vistas here, the narrow entrance to Georges Bay:
Near the point
Maurouard Beach and Peron Dunes, the southern shores of the peninsula
A quick carve through Plastic-Glitz St. Helens out to Binalong Bay where so-called progress has turned the rickety old shop into a semi-upmarket restaurant. At least the spectacular beaches of the southern end of the Bay of Fires haven’t changed.
Along the coast to The Gardens, previously a well-hidden little place of outstanding beauty.
It still is!!
Another dirt/ road split near Pyengana for the rest of the afternoon.. merging again at the Weldborough Pub, the stay for the night.
The road to St. Columbo Falls car park is now fully sealed past the cheese factory and the Pub in the Paddock.
The walk to the falls alone is well worth the effort, what a place….the fern grove is straight out of a kids storybook!!
….while Andrew (Hayesy) and some others are playing the one-for-me, one-for-you game with Porky at the Pub in the Paddock, also stopping over at Myrtle Mountain, along the way to Weldborough.
The climb from the Falls up Mt. Victoria is a bit rough, but things pay off quickly.
Jackpot!!
The high plains are a ripper, views galore!
The quick, narrow single-laner into the Ringarooma valley is a cracker, more breathtaking views as the sun drops low, wrapping everything into a golden blanket.
Rob winding up the XT
Back onto the tar just south of Ringarooma, there’s one more perler to come: the little 1-anda-bit wide band of asphalt to Branxholm.
Pete making tracks...
The Weldborough Pub is another landmark stay….there are nice, lush and shady $5bux/head camp sites, the young couple running the joint are super-friendly and are trying hard to bring the place back to its former (well-known) glory as a bike-friendly stay….the specialty beers are plentiful and COLD, the tucker excellent.:bow:
Like the Lake Leake Pub, if you’re near, do yourself a favour and drop in… stay a night or 2, enjoy the place and surrounds.
Some facilities are basic…but they’re there!!
There’s also undercover parking in the old “bandstand” out the back.
Some use the coastal hwy, others follow the tracks through the plantations to Upper Scamander and up the peninsula to St. Helens Point. Some great vistas here, the narrow entrance to Georges Bay:
Near the point
Maurouard Beach and Peron Dunes, the southern shores of the peninsula
A quick carve through Plastic-Glitz St. Helens out to Binalong Bay where so-called progress has turned the rickety old shop into a semi-upmarket restaurant. At least the spectacular beaches of the southern end of the Bay of Fires haven’t changed.
Along the coast to The Gardens, previously a well-hidden little place of outstanding beauty.
It still is!!
Another dirt/ road split near Pyengana for the rest of the afternoon.. merging again at the Weldborough Pub, the stay for the night.
The road to St. Columbo Falls car park is now fully sealed past the cheese factory and the Pub in the Paddock.
The walk to the falls alone is well worth the effort, what a place….the fern grove is straight out of a kids storybook!!
….while Andrew (Hayesy) and some others are playing the one-for-me, one-for-you game with Porky at the Pub in the Paddock, also stopping over at Myrtle Mountain, along the way to Weldborough.
The climb from the Falls up Mt. Victoria is a bit rough, but things pay off quickly.
Jackpot!!
The high plains are a ripper, views galore!
The quick, narrow single-laner into the Ringarooma valley is a cracker, more breathtaking views as the sun drops low, wrapping everything into a golden blanket.
Rob winding up the XT
Back onto the tar just south of Ringarooma, there’s one more perler to come: the little 1-anda-bit wide band of asphalt to Branxholm.
Pete making tracks...
The Weldborough Pub is another landmark stay….there are nice, lush and shady $5bux/head camp sites, the young couple running the joint are super-friendly and are trying hard to bring the place back to its former (well-known) glory as a bike-friendly stay….the specialty beers are plentiful and COLD, the tucker excellent.:bow:
Like the Lake Leake Pub, if you’re near, do yourself a favour and drop in… stay a night or 2, enjoy the place and surrounds.
Some facilities are basic…but they’re there!!
There’s also undercover parking in the old “bandstand” out the back.