Day 5: Sydney to Tarago
17 March 2017
Click on the image for a detailed map
Early the next morning we were off again to meet Inhouse Bob. Nothing was left to chance and we left Pterodactyl’s house fully armoured against the rain. Inhouse Bob was similarly prepared when we arrived.
We set off in overcast, but not too appalling conditions and made our way out of Sydney. Our planned ride had to be changed as an inlet in the Royal National Park was closed by flooding, but we had an alternative that would at least allow us to see the southern part of the park. By the time we got to Waterfall, where we entered the park, it was raining again and we dodged the leaf litter and debris as we made our way along what would otherwise have been a most agreeable ride.
At Stanwell Tops we stopped to show Bob the view …
Photo courtesy of Pterodactyl
… before making our way down the hill to ride along the Seacliff Bridge. There are some photos of that bridge towards the end of this post but, even though there was much less rain at sea level, my camera was deeply buried.
A quick ride up a hill from which we were going to see nothing, and down to sea level again to refuel and meet with aussie59 and his wife. Prudently, they did not arrive on aussie59’s CB, although it would have been good to get a photo of this low-mileage machine. We had to make do with photos of aussie59 and his wife in the dry of the Figtree branch of Macdonalds.
aussie59, Inhouse Bob, Cormanus, Pterodactyl
Inhouse Bob, Mrs aussie59, Cormanus, Pterodactyl
The obvious lesson from the morning’s ride was that height and rain intensity were directly proportional. Macquarie Pass — a splendid and beautiful ride from near to Figtree to Robertson — was closed due to flooding, another omen that climbing the range again was not a good plan.
But, unencumbered as I was by reflection on the morning or contemplation of the omens, I led the team up through the Jamberoo Valley to Robertson. It was raining properly at Robertson with reduced visibility and a certain relentlessness. We soldiered on and turned down into Kangaroo Valley, a new road for me and an otherwise pretty and entertaining ride. The nearer we go to the bottom, the more the rain eased and the final leg of the ride to Bomaderry was mostly dry.
Following Tezza’s excellent instructions, we found his sister’s house and were greeted by Sue and Lou with a cup of tea, scones, jam, cream and an inspection of Lou’s car restoration business. Thank you Sue and Lou. It was a welcome respite.
We were also greeted by a limping Tezza. Gravel, rain and weight had conspired to land a heavy weight on his leg. It’s his story to tell.
From Bomaderry we were four on the ride to Tarago. It didn’t rain, but there are no photos as we weren’t game to take off our wet weather gear and my camera was buried somewhere in my luggage.
There’s only this photo as we arrived at the here.
End of Day 1 at the Loaded Dog, Tarago
Four fifths of the rally contingent aboard, one mildly injured, we spent an agreeable evening, warm, fed and lubricated.
