Day 2: Dorrigo - Denman
9 October 2014
Master Map
It was foggy, drizzly and much cooler than the day before when I woke. I breakfasted, put the thermal liner in my jacket, donned the waterproofs and set off up the range. In spite of mist and the cool, it was a lovely ride to Ebor, where I'd had breakfast with Tony on an earlier ride, I got fuel and then pushed on. The top end of the Waterfall Way is lovely, and would have been lovelier in better weather. I must ride it again from the bottom to the top.
At Armidale I took to the New England Highway until Uralla where I turned left, heading along Thunderbolt's Way to Walcha. Most of the countryside on this road is alpine plain cleared for farming. It was much greener and prettier than last time I was here with Pterodactyl. It stays like that for a good distance past Walcha, but it's good riding and fast as there is little traffic.
The CB1100 in Walcha — first time it was warm enough to fish out the camera
It's all worth it for the descent into Gloucester, where one rides alongside twisting streams, up hills and eventually down a very steep mountain. It's a great road and heaps of fun. I felt I'd earned my late lunch. I was also more cheerful as I'd shed the wet weather kit at Walcha and the temperature was now decidedly warmer.
A view to the west from the mountains leading into Gloucester
This safety device may be common in other countries, but I've seen it only in NSW in Australia. The final picture shows a sandy ramp running up the hill into which you can steer if your brakes fail. Occasionally they're on the opposite side of the road, so I'm not sure what happens to anything in your way as you try to cross.
There is a very steep descent into Gloucester
The pretty river at the bottom of the very steep descent. Of course a climb follows.
I was looking forward to the road from Gloucester to Singleton. It's got plenty of twists and turns and a few hills — I love hills on the CB as I've yet to find one I can't accelerate up. The surface is occasionally ratty, but it's a great ride. My first post-Gloucester stop would be Dungog. As I climbed the first hill, I realised the odd mark on the road was cow shit. It quickly dawned on me that it was very, very fresh. It seemed to be worse on left-hand corners. I quickly realised why as I came around a corner and came upon a cattle truck. As it climbed the hills, the contents of the cows' bowels, deposited on the floor, all surged to the back of the truck; as it rolled on the left handers, said contents found a natural escape from the truck and flowed out onto the road. I figured it would be really slippery which reduced my pace and limited my enjoyment of the corners. I did not want to fall off and end up in the shit.
A straight appeared and I shot past the truck. Phew.
A mountain to the west of Gloucester.
A couple of Harleys in more of a hurry than me.
After Dungog, the weather cleared and the sun came out. I was saddle sore and my knees hurt. I couldn't work out why until it occurred to me that the bigger load was pushing me right to the front of the seat. There would have to be some load readjustment in the morning!
An underpass between Dungog and Singleton.
A ridge and one of the great hills between Dungog and Singleton.
After Singleton, it was a main road, past coal mines, flat and not very interesting.
It’s very much like this the whole 68 kms from Singleton to Harden.
I was happily tired when I got to Denman. It was good to stop; not only was I saddle sore, but it was getting decidedly hot. I found a room in the pub, showered and settled down to a beer. Of course, it immediately got very cold. I went inside for dinner of crumbed lamb cutlets with a creamy mashed potato. Excellent. The house red was average.
