Walcha to Sydney
27 January 2019
Master Map
With the forecast promising temperatures around 40ºC, I pondered which of the inland or coastal routes would be wiser. Neither looked inviting, so I chose the less trafficked route down Thunderbolts Way to Gloucester and Dungog, before heading to Maitland, Cessnock and Wollombi. I filled the bike with petrol and myself with water in Gloucester and stopped to eat in Dungog. Frequent stops for hydration were important.
Outside Walcha
A pretty stand of Eucalypt along Thunderbolts Way
Soon after the turn off to Nowendoc, the road starts to descend and the nature of the forest changes. It was cool and pleasant for riding until this point.
At Carson's Lookout I took the last photos (bar one) I was to take that day. It was too hot.
I planned to refuel at Millbank, but arrived to discover the place closed. I parked in a bus shelter and got off for a quick drink. My weather app said it was 40.7ºC. I tried to ride with the visor of my helmet open to allow air to circulate; but it didn't work. The temperature of the air made it even more uncomfortable.
A little further on, after Laguna—little more than a small shop, petrol station and bar, where I got fuel and plenty of water—it started to get cool. A change had come in and a cooling sea breeze made riding pleasant again.
I stopped for tea and a pie at the Old Road Café at Mt White and watched a storm approach. As there was no one much around, I moved the CB under cover.
I shouldn't have bothered. Not much rain fell and I soon left for Sydney where I spent the next day. So there is no Day 3 report.
