Day 10: Sydney - Gloucester
13 June 2014
Master Map
Plan B — getting the doctors' surgery to fax a prescription to the local pharmacy — sorted the medication problem and I finally got under way about 10.30 am. On Pterodactyl's recommendation, I retraced my steps to our last coffee stop so I could tackle the Putty Road which leads out of Sydney to the north and is much enjoyed by motorcyclists.
The bike loaded and ready to head north for home
It was overcast, but pleasant enough and I stopped for coffee and something to eat at the Grey Gum International Café, a popular haunt for travellers and kindly towards motorcyclists. They even have a concrete strip along the front of the place reserved for bikes.
The Grey Gum Café — not quite in the middle of nowhere
Not long after leaving the Grey Gum, I found an abandoned roadhouse with a remarkable statue which prompted me to pull out the camera. Having turned it on and discovered I could at least take pictures wearing thick gloves, I left it hanging round my neck and took some.
Australian bush — there is something very special about it
In the 10 Mile section of the Putty Road: motorcycle heaven
Before Singleton, the road straightens out across a plain, now largely cleared for farming.
After refuelling at Singleton, I set out up the wonderfully named Buckett’s Way to Gloucester, my destination for the day. It’s a very pretty drive — some plain and some hill and modest ravine country climbing again into the Great Dividing Range.
I came across the unassuming looking bridge above and a sign flashed by telling me it was a world first. So I stopped on the other side to take the photo and read information about it. Apparently, when it was completed in 1994 it was the largest cellular stress laminated hardwood bridge deck in the world. It’s 60 metres by 8.5 metres and was assembled on one of the approaches. It was “... launched into position with the aid of hydraulic jacks & bailey rocker rollers. Weighing in excess of 200 tonnes this was the largest or heaviest structure ever launched in this manner.”
An altogether less impressive construction, but pretty nonetheless
NSW has many of these signs warning motorcyclists to be careful
Approaching Gloucester: these striking mountains are a lovely backdrop
Gloucester’s Roundabout Inn had a motorcycle parked outside so I went in and booked a room. They kindly gave me space in their garage to park the bike and I enjoyed more crumbed lamb cutlets, beer and red wine before falling asleep in front of the television — the first I’d watched since leaving home.
