Preface
In early 2018, Pterodactyl, NoRoomtoMove and I managed to entice AussieFlyer to take to the road with us. We introduced him to the Great Alpine Road, the Omeo Valley Highway and the Bogong High Plains Road. The ride didn't last as long as expected, so we agreed that we'd try again another time. Soon. Aussie Flyer and I had a plan to ride together for a day in 2019, but it was so hot we abandoned the plan and went out to lunch instead. En route to Tasmania in early 2020 I was joined by Pterodactyl for a day or two and then a day or so later by Aussie Flyer and NoRoomtoMove on some of the better local roads to the north of Melbourne.
Then there was covid during which Aussie Flyer and I attempted a ride but aborted when his city locked down.
Then I had both knees replaced.
Surely, almost four years later, it was about time to make a valiant attempt to put the band back together?
A note on maps
The usual map rules apply except that, in this case, there are two master maps: Map #1 covering most of the journey ...
... and Map #2 covering the homeward section.
Chapter One
Warming Up
Day 1: Brisbane to Walcha
2 February 2024
Master Map
As mid 2022 was the last time I'd been on a long-ish ride away from home (see here), I was concerned about my 'ride fitness'. First, obviously, I hadn't ridden much long distance since mid 2022. Secondly, I've had new knees fitted. Thirdly, my new year's present was a first dose of covid with after effects that were lingering a month later. Clearly, before saddling up with the blokes, I needed a warm up ride.
My wife and I had arrangements to visit old friends on the south coast of New South Wales (about 1,600 kms as the CB1100 travels or 1,210 kms by freeway. Mrs C declined to join me on the bike. I figured three or so days in the saddle would either sort me out or I'd have to stop for a rest and be late.
So, it came to pass that at 0600 on 2 February 2024, I pointed the CB south, took the freeway to Grafton in Northern New South Wales to get some easy kms under my belt before taking to the hills and roads worth riding. The freeway's the freeway, although probably quiet by the standards of more populous countries so 4 hours and one fuel and coffee stop later I was 300+ kms down the road and refuelling again to be sure I'd make it to the next bowser.
A couple of shots from the freeway. In the second a recently built ridge climbs nearly to the height of the old lift bridge.
'Up the hill' was the Armidale Road from Grafton to Armidale — long a favourite road, badly hit by fire in 2019-20. For a little over 100 kms it winds diagonally up the side of the Great Dividing Range to Ebor, a small town with police, a school, a motel and Fusspots Café. After that the road makes it way another 70 or so kms to Armidale. Since I was last on the stretch to Ebor, a bridge damaged by fire had been replaced and work had been done on the surface. As usual it was a great ride, although hot. Lunch and a cool drink at Fusspots was welcome.
These pictures will give some idea of why I like the road from Grafton to Armidale
For some reason it appeals to me that Ebor's major street is a dead end
After lunch I rode the rest of the road to Armidale. It runs across the plateau of the Great Dividing Range and is fast and enjoyable. My right wrist was sore so I stopped at the motorcycle dealer in Armidale and bought a wrist rest. It took some getting used to, but provided considerable relief for the rest of the trip.
Just under 60 kms further down the road, and 587 kms from home, I stopped for the night at the Apsley Arms Hotel in Walcha.
Not bad for a first day back.
