Aust Solo Speedway Champs

Each year I run a ride to follow the series of meetings being held to decide the Australian speedway solo champion. This year it was run over three rounds, held in Brisbane, Kurri Kurri and Adelaide.
Glitch had recommended some good roads in NSW, so I have strung them together to make an interesting journey to Brisbane and back.
For various reasons the usual crew couldn’t join me, so I headed off on my own, planning to meet up with JC in Brisbane, after he had been enjoying a family time in Noosa.
One of the highlights of touring, for me, is the vast array of wildlife I encounter. I get great pleasure seeing the animals as I pass through their environment. I am terribly saddened by the amount of road kill I see, and I try to help them if I can.
Another of my hobbies is geocaching (www.geocaching.com). It fits in very well with touring, so I planned to pick up several during the ride.

Friday December 30. I left home about 0630 and headed up my usual way to Mansfield, taking in a couple of dirt roads that cut off some of the boring stretches.



Along the way, I realized I had lost my mobile phone and became quite worried about where it was. I called in to Rex and Robin Salt’s caravan park and rang the number, trying to see if it would ring on the bike, or on me. No luck. Phoned home and Sally had it. I had left it on the table. I organized for her to send it priority paid to Rylstone, nsw, where I expected to be on Sunday night.
I had arranged to meet friend at Jingellic, between 1200 and 1300. Due to the hold up over the phone, and a bit of a chat after it was sorted, I was running behind my schedule, so had to miss out on crossing the Murray on the Wymah Ferry, and riding along the northern side to Jingellic. I arrived at 1315, and Neil was still there, so I was back on track again.
We set off to Tumbarumba and I was able to show Neil my route over the logging roads to Wondalga. We picked up a couple of caches near Tumut, before traveling across the Wee Jasper Rd, and down to Micalong Creek, where we joined a large group of people for the new year rally.
I was keen to meet up with Doctor, from the ADVriders group, as he had mentioned looking for a couple of caches along the way from their home in Bathurst. The first people I met were Dick and Therese, who go by the name of Scenic Routers. They are also Doctor on ADV. I really enjoyed my time with them.

Saturday December 31. After a leisurely start, sitting around yarning, I headed off on my bike and followed Nottingham Rd through to the Brindabella Rd. This had been on my wish list for quite some time, so I was pleased to find it suitable for the gs.











I decided to follow the bitumen logging road back to Tumut, and pick up a cache we missed on the way up. I also fancied an ice cream. Well, I found the cache and stopped at the bakery for some lunch. While there, I dragged out the netbook and downloaded a couple more caches to find on my return ride to the rally site. An ice cream seemed a bit decadent after just having lunch, so I restrained myself and hit the road. Upon my return I.hiked along the river, with Neil (Mulga Bill) and Dick and Therese, to retrieve another cache together.
Neil had prepared some lovely lamb cutlets, and, after he had cooked them, he kindly gave me a couple as an entrée. They were superb. My offering of macaroni, cheese and tuna, as a main course, fell far below Neil’s standard, but it filled us nicely.
We stayed up for the new year, yarning with various people, then hit the sack very shortly afterwards.

Sunday January 1. I had a fairly leisurely pack up, then headed off to Yass to refuel, before breaking some new ground, riding through some of the lesser used roads to Abercrombie Caves, where I stopped for lunch in a very pleasant picnic area. Upon my arrival in Bathurst, I cut my usual lap of Mt Panorama race track, and headed up to Sofala. I had just finished logging a cache there, when a Victorian chap on a Harley turned up. We had a yarn and he was heading for Wyong. I was able to recommend a shorter way that he didn’t know, so I took him to Rylstone and headed him up the Bylong Valley Way. I booked into the pub, had a nice shower and went down for dinner.
Another motorcyclist, Joseph, turned up, so we had dinner together and planned to explore some of the area in the morning. Therese had pointed out that tomorrow is a public holiday, so the post office wouldn’t be transporting the mail, so I figured I was there for two nights waiting for my phone to catch up with me.

Monday January 2. What luck. The post office is run by the newsagent, and he is open this morning. I walked down to check on the mail, only to be informed that Friday was a postal holiday too. My phone was still sitting back in our post office in Melbourne, and wouldn’t arrive until at least Thursday. I can’t wait that long, so I sent an email to Sally, asking her to retrieve it from the post office. I will be meeting up with another friend, John Cocks, in Brisbane, so had wanted the phone to make contact. We’ll just have to achieve it some other way.
Joseph and I rode along the Bylong Valley Way to visit Fern Tree Gully. It was another glorious day weatherwise, so we decided to do a 2km walk through the valley. It is a very impressive valley with many long tree roots reaching down over the rocks to gain some sustainance.

















We spent so long pottering about there, that I decided not to explore the Glen Davis area where they extracted shale oil many years ago. I’ll go there on another trip. Joseph headed back to Sydney, and I rode to Bylong for lunch, then across some back roads to Scone, and did some food shopping to top up my pannier supply.
Heading out of town for Moonan Flat, I had expected dirt roads, but it is sealed all the way. What a beaut little town. I got a very nice camp spot over the bridge, with toilet, shower and a swimming hole nearby. I had a walk around before having dinner and a relaxing night at home, in the tent.



Tuesday January 3. Leaving camp, I rode up through Ellerston. This is where Kerry Packer’s family owns a huge property, with gatehouse, manicured fields and chain mesh fence for miles. It sure looks nice. The road had changed to gravel soon after I left Moonan Flat, and I rode through cattle grazing country all day, and it is most impressive.



I had the option of going a shorter route to Nundle, but the way through Barry had been recommended to me. This track was not of the standard of the previous roads, with rocky creek crossings to contend with.



The bike was heavy with all my camping gear, and moved around a lot on the rocks under the water. On one occasion I became stuck as the rear wheel chewed out the smaller rocks and the back went down. I eventually extracted it by pushing and using the motor. I hope no water has got into the final drive, through the breather. I had water cooled feet for some hours after that. It was a relief to get to the other end of that section.

















I took a trundle into Nundle to top up my fuel, but none was available there. I had a second-rate sausage roll and continued on to Woolomin, 22kms towards Tamworth. I came upon a poor old goanna that had been hit by a car. Unfortunately he had passed away, so I moved him off the road. I was to see a few goannas and snakes during the day, as well as a couple of foxes and a tortoise. These were all alive thankfully. On the way back I took the dirt road through Bowling Alley Point. At Hanging Rock, above Nundle, is an interesting cemetery with strong links to Ashton’s Circus. Well worth a look.



From there, some sections of the road were quite nasty, being made with embedded rocks and deep, sharp edged holes which were difficult to see in the shadows from the trees. I spent much of the time in second and third gears, but still managed to find a couple of the holes. I don’t like stressing my bike with these conditions.
I eventually got into Walcha and used the highways to get to Armidale. Leaving there, I had a wonderful bitumen, sweeping road to Rockvale. Interesting because there seems to be nothing there. I have been surprised at times when expecting to find just a rural area, and there is a town there. I have also found the opposite. Keeping to the east of the hwy, I wandered through some great pastoral properties, over several mountain ranges, before going into Glen Innes for the night.

Wednesday January 4. Before heading off today, I spent some time checking on the status of a fire burning in the Guy Fawkes National Park. I wanted to ride the Old Grafton Road, which runs near the top of the park.







I was assured that it was safe, so I set off. It’s been quite warm today, and it was uncomfortable wearing my jacket whenever I stopped.
About 10kms in there was a turn off to Tommy’s Rocks Lookout, so I had a shot at getting the bike up there. It was four kms of steep climbs with large berms about every 50 metres. I managed to get right to the final parking spot and the view was tremendous. I’m glad I put in the effort now.

















Before I left home, I looked at the brake pads. The rears only had about a millimeter left, and I decided they would see me through this trip. With all the unmade back roads I am taking, I think that was a silly decision. Trying to save a few cents of pad wear, I am risking damaging the rotor. Dumb move Derek. Oh well, we’ll see how it goes. I could mention that I have 2 sets of pads sitting on the shelf at home too.
The ride today was another good one with wonderful scenery. Not long after I left Glen Innes, I came upon a lizard in the middle of my lane. I thought he was dead, but went back to check anyway. I rode up to him and gave a nudge with my foot. No response. Oh well I thought, I’ll just lift him off the road anyway. When I picked him up he was alive and started wriggling. Just having a snooze when I disturbed him. I hope he got back to sleep again on the verge of the road.
I spent the whole day on the Old Grafton Rd. It was a wonderful ride down the valley, alongside the Boyd River and through a convict made tunnel carved out from the rock.













I stopped for a yarn with an old bloke clearing burrs beside the road. He was an interesting fellow who had lived there all his life.
I’m at a caravan park in Grafton tonight. I’ve done my laundry and had a swim in the pool. I’m going over to the camp kitchen to cook my dinner next. Catch you tomorrow.


Thursday January 5. I had a nice chat with a Pakistani family over dinner last night.
After packing up my gear, I headed back along the Gwyder Hwy for a short time before turning northward on the road to Tabulum. For most of the day I rode on unsealed roads, with sections of bitumen, of varying quality, interspersed. Not long into the day I found a goanna that had been hit by a vehicle. I lifted him off to the side of the road and sat with him for a few minutes. I wish I could do more for these victims.
I spent quite a long time plugging along in first and second gears, trying to miss the worst of the rough patches. The scenery in places is wonderful as I progressed through farming areas.









It is interesting to note that the cattle are frightened of the bike in these less used places. On the roads that carry more traffic, the cattle are not concerned by my arrival.
After crossing the Bruxner Hwy I encountered my first little pocket of tropical rainforest at the appropriately named “Pretty Gully”.















On arrival at the Mt Lindsay Hwy, I turned left and rode through Legume to Killarney where I had planned to spend the night. The lady behind the bar didn’t seem very friendly, so I just bought a drink and sat on the verandah catching up on some emails. A Ulyssian couple came by and we had a chat before I continued on to Boonah. The Spring Creek Rd heads over the hills and is a superb ride with some lovely views. It is narrow and twisty, but sealed, and I enjoyed it immensely.











The weather was starting to look threatening, so I decided to try for a pub room in Boonah. No success there as both pubs said that they do hire out rooms, but they aren’t doing them at the moment. What is it with these Qld hotels? Usually people are happy to see me and pleased to earn some money from room, dinner and drinks. I topped up my larder at the IGA and rode out to the camping ground at Lake Moogerah. Ah! Finally some friendly folk. As I was setting up my tent, using the you beaut little plastic hammer I have been using for several years to knock in the tent pegs, the head broke off it. Within a couple of minutes, a bloke came over with a hammer for me to use. He, and his group, stopped for a yarn before I continued building my house. I got my dinner cooked and eaten just before darkness set in and sat doing some computer work. Three different people came over to chat about motorcycles and were amazed at the gear I am able to carry. It was a pleasant evening. Checking the weather radar, it looked like we were in for a pasting in the next few hours, so I had everything stowed and went inside for the night.

Friday January 6. I don’t know how, but the rain totally missed us, and I awoke to a hot sunny morning. Having an extra day up my sleeve, I thought about staying at the lake for another night, but I couldn’t see myself surviving the afternoon heat.
I packed up and got away quite early as Qld is not on daylight saving time, and I was.
With all bitumen roads, and only a small distance to travel, I enjoyed a relaxed ride and found a few caches along the way, before riding up beside Wivenhoe Dam and came in north of Brisbane on the Mt Glorious Rd.
Luckily I had prepared some route notes before I left home and, following them, I found my way to the track where the speedway meeting will be held tomorrow night. I spoke with some officials there to confirm I had the right track, and they told me that there is a Qualifying round there tonight, to select those who aren’t automatically seeded through to the meeting. I found a local motel and got out of the heat. So here I sit typing this before going out to watch some action tonight.

Saturday January 7. Today I met up with a friend who is joining me for a few days. JC has spent some days with his family in Noosa, and he is now staying with a friend, Graeme, in Manly, a suburb of Brisbane, for the weekend. I have been invited to join them, and we will all go to the speedway tonight.
I had a leisurely start before riding the short distance to Graeme’s house where we spent a pleasant afternoon extending his dog kennel, with JC in charge of operations.
The speedway meeting, round 1 of the championship, provided some excellent racing. Unfortunately one of the riders had a nasty accident resulting in a broken femur, so he won’t be riding for a while.

Sunday January 8. John and I left reasonably early and followed the freeway and the main road to Rathdowney, where we turned off on the Lion’s Rd. Once again it was a lovely ride with more motorcyclists using it than I have ever seen before. The day was sunny and quite warm, so I suppose that is what enticed them out.
We stopped along the way at a new café for a cuppa, before pulling into Kyogle to refuel. Taking a back road, we wandered through some nice farming areas to Casino, before taking the main road towards Grafton. We turned off to Lawrence and crossed on the ferry before following the Clarence River into Grafton.
We are now in the same caravan park I used on the way up, and have had a swim and a counter tea.

Monday January 9. We had a great ride through some wonderful country today. Started on the road from Grafton to Armidale, before turning down to Dorrigo, where we had brunch at the mini motorcycle museum/café. After running down to Bellingen, the plan was to take the road across the hills to Bowraville, but the road has been closed for some time due to landslides and a big tree across the road. We had to head out onto the Pacific Hwy and head south before turning off to Bowraville. After stewing in our hot clothing, the rain arrived, dumping a considerable amount of water on us. By the time we reached the town, we were drenched. Deciding to continue on, we found a pub in Macksville where we settled in for the afternoon and night. The intention is to head further into the hills and camp the night. We hope the tracks will not be too slippery tomorrow.

Tuesday January 10. We left Macksville early this morning and headed out past the Pub With No Beer at Taylors Arm, and on to Bellbrook, which is a very pretty little place.





We followed the road through some magnificent country, beside some lovely rivers, until we arrived at Waterfall Way again.
Stopping at Armidale for lunch in the park, we decided to download a couple more caches. By the time we found them, we were stewing in our clothing again, so set forth for Walcha and the Oxley Hwy.
We enjoyed a relaxing cuppa at Ginger Creek before continuing riding through the twisties. It’s a great bike road.



Just before Long Flat, we stopped for a few moments and John’s bike refused to start again. After push starting it, we only made a few kms before it expired again. John had experienced this problem when he was touring at Ayres Rock, and he had a pretty fair idea of the offending part. Total Care came to the rescue and the bike will be dropped at the Suzuki dealer in Wauchope tomorrow morning.



The plan was for John to ride with me until about lunch time tomorrow before cutting for home. It seems he will miss the morning ride and I will go exploring on my own again.
[FONT=&quot]It’s been good sharing with John and we’ve had a good time and seen some good country.[/FONT]

Wednesday January 11. John’s bike is being looked at this morning, and a diagnosis made. We went out together to find another cache before I headed off on my ride through Comboyne and Wingham to Nabiac, where I stopped for lunch.













Riding around through Forster Tuncurry, I found a beaut little camping area at Neranie at the top of the Myall Lakes. After building the tent, I had a relaxing swim and read my book. I think I’ll stay here tomorrow if the weather remains fine.









Thursday January 12. Today is our wedding anniversary (39 years) and I wish Sally was here to enjoy the beauty of this place.
A goanna liked to wander around the camp area looking for any unattended food.





The wind blew up during the night and it was just as well I was inside the tent, or it would have been blown away. I was concerned about the possibility of branches falling from the trees, but decided I couldn’t do anything about that now. I went to sleep thinking that, if a branch fell and I got killed, I wouldn’t know about it. If not, I would wake up in the morning and all would be good.
A couple of girls came by about lunch time. They are riding push bikes from Tea Gardens to Nambucca Heads, a ten day journey. We chatted for about an hour before they hit the road to make some more distance.
The southerly breeze kept up all day so it was not a suitable day for swimming. I climbed a hill nearby and retrieved another cache before going for a ride to Seal Rocks and walking out to the lighthouse at Sugarloaf Point.









Friday January 13. My lucky day, Friday the thirteenth. I didn’t have far to go today, so just loped along picking up a few caches. It seems it’s easier to put up a sign warning of rough roads than actually mending the roads.



This is a rail/bus interchange. They’re big thinkers up here!



On arrival at Kurri Kurri I rode out to the speedway track to check it out and, on the way back, I met up with Eddy Jager on his Ural outfit. We agreed to meet at the track at 1700 to find a good viewing position. As I was staying in a pub on the other side of Cessnock, I headed across there and booked in. The weather was quite warm, so I sat in my room for a while enjoying the overhead fan. Too tight to spend the money on a motel room which would have had an air conditioner.
Arriving at the track before Eddy, I managed to get us some space for our chairs in a restricted area, under some shady structures reserved for the rider’s families. The under 16 Aust Speedway Champs were run in the evening with some very good riding. The future of speedway riders from Australia looks assured.

Saturday January 14. I had all day to potter around and do my laundry again.
I met Eddy at the track a little after 4pm to get a good position for watching the racing.
It was another cracker night with Chris Holder top scoring with an unbeaten run through the programme.
I said goodbye to Eddy here as he is heading off to Adelaide for round three. I’ll be going home tomorrow.

Sunday January 15. Not a lot to say about today. I left my pub at 6am with the plan of arriving home in the evening. As it was just over 1000 kms, I kept plugging along at the speed limit and made it home in just over 11 hours, averaging 93 kph even with my fuel and food stops, so I was happy with that.
There was considerable wildlife to dodge as I rode across to Wollombi in the morning and, as I rode down to Sydney, I hit rain and got soaked as I had not put my liners in the riding gear. I eventually stopped and donned some warmer kit which kept me comfortable until I had cleared the bad weather. By the time I reached Holbrook, where I always stop for a feed, I had to take off the warmer clothes again, and I stewed for the rest of the ride.

So that is it for this year. I am going on a memorial ride next weekend, so I won’t get across to Adelaide for the final round. These things happen.

[FONT=&quot]I’ve been through some wonderful countryside, and it is a pleasure to see so much greenery after the dry years we have just been through. One of my first jobs when I reached home was to replace the rear brake pads and check the oil in the final drive. I’m pleased to say that the pads had not worn completely away, although they were well past the wear indicators. The oil in the final drive looks very good. No sign of water ingress, so all is well[/FONT]

Good stuff Derek.

Crustyvarmint said:

.... I am terribly saddened by the amount of road kill I see, and I try to help them if I can...

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But I don't like these critters - dead or alive .....

Good writeup Derek and some excellent photos of your trip.

I was to see a few goannas and snakes during the day, as well as a couple of foxes and a tortoise. These were all alive thankfully.

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I can't agree with you about it being good seeing live foxes; I much rather see dead ones.

Along with feral cats they are one of the biggest killers of our smaller native wildlife.

Jeff

This ride gets better every year Derek.

Thanks for sharing your report and photos Derek, they were great.

Congratulations to you and Sally on 39 years of marriage. Maybe she will join you on your adventures when you get the chair fitted.

Williamson said:

Good stuff Derek.



But I don't like these critters - dead or alive .....

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In the past couple of years I've seen more snakes while riding my pushbike along the Plenty river bike path (easy slithering distance to your house, Michael) than I've seen on the road on the motorbike bike.