Sat 7/1/17 saw the firST RTE for NSW held once again at the Tarana Hotel, thats out BathurST way for those other STates. I combined this RTE with a qualifying Hard Ass 600k ride.
As planned I left home in Picton 7.45am filled STranger at $1.45 p/ltr
took a photo for my STart checkpoint and left right on 8 am. I followed this route
https://goo.gl/maps/RNJpSfyuYbD2 along the side of the mountains across thru The Oaks Mulgoa Penrith Richmond and up over the Blue Mountains via The Bells Line dropping down into Lithgow. Then along paST Lyell Lake, and then the rough rd into Tarana. When I arrived 10.40am there were 2
parked and I went around to park beside them. As I came to a STop
I slightly hit the front brake in the fine screenings in front of the hotel, Stranger's wheel slid and
over he went. Fortunately Abe and Dodgy and 2 other bikers who saw it came to my rescue and help lift STranger.
unlucky no-one took a pic to share with you.. and the bike didnt suffer any (more) damage. phew I juST replaced the mirror and blinker cowl.
We were joined by Wilko +1 Lucas, Joso, then Knave and his mate arrived.so there were 3 ST1100's and 3 ST1300's and 2 'others',,we sat and chatted in the cool courtyard and I not feeling hungry yet departed before lunch.
I left Tarana and turned off onto Lowes Mount Rd and south into Oberon, where I STopped under the shade to get my direction sorted out..after a u-turn found Abercrombie Rd and headed for Taralga. JuST in case anyone is going this way a heads up, Abercrombie Hill at Paling Yards which is narrow and STeep will have major roadworks happening from 16/1/17 which are surely needed.The road out up the other side of the gorge becomes Taralga Rd and is rough in places..
from Taralga I had to go via Crookwell
for a checkpoint the I headed down to the Big Merino as another checkpoint
It was good to be on the highway for a bit of smooth road and I headed along the Hume to the Illawarra Hwy and across to Robertson then down Jamberoo Mountain Rd for a slow descent and a Pic at Jamberoo Action park for my second laST checkpoint.
from there it was the Princes Hwy from Albion Park in heavy traffic up to the final leg along Picton Rd to home...
607 K's but I was 10 k's from Picton when I remembered to STart the trip meter so 617k's and a hard ass completed on some of the worST rds I've riden for a while. I'm thinking of lobbying the NSW roads MiniSTer to spend some tax$$ on rural roads.
I had a good day and excellent riding weather,, arriving home around 6pm.
