North Coast Loop
North Coast Loop
It would seem that the Rain Gods had taken pity on your humble servant and had granted me 3 mid-week days of sunshine, with no rain forecast.
So without further ado, I pulled out my remaining Grand Tour riding plans, and over a glass of a fine Shiraz, considered the "pros & cons" of each route.
The South-West Loop was a no-go, for while the weather was going to be sunny, it was not going to be warm. The forecast was for overnight temperature down to minus 4*C (25*F), with daytime temps only around the 10*C (50*F) mark.
That will be a "pass" for me.
The Western Loop was not much better with a temperature range forecast of 0*C ~ 12*C, so again I passed up the opportunity for hypothermia.
That just left the North Coast Loop with temperature forecasts of 5*C ~ 17*C (40*F ~ 65*F), and while this is considered "cool by some and cold by many", it would be tolerable if I "layered up".
The downside was that the North Coast Loop was my least favourite as it meant a lot of motorway riding.
My North Coast plan was for a 3-day ride, involving a 600 km ride up to Grafton along the M1, turning around, and riding the 600 km back home, again along the M1.
The only interruptions would be quick visits to GLMC towns along the way for bonus photos and 2 overnight stays in Kempsey.
Basically, a "there and back" ride rather than my preferred "loop" ride, but as they say in the classics, "any ride is better than no ride" and 3 days of sunshine is hard to come by at this time of the year ( my Winter ).
On a Tuesday morning, at first light, I rolled the N1K down the driveway and hit the starter button, and immediately, the engine burst into life and settled into a steady idle, ready, willing and able to start another adventure.
From home, I made my way through the northern suburbs of Sydney to Berowra before heading north along the dreaded M1 Motorway, which, for once, had light peak-hour traffic. So much so that the ride was almost enjoyable.
After about 1 hour's riding, I pulled into the old Oak Milk Cafe at Freemans Waterhole for a large hot coffee and a bite to eat. My choice was the breakfast of champions, a Chicko Roll.
From Freemans, I made my way along the M1, through the Hexham Bridge by-pass construction zone and on to the 12 Mile Creek turn-off to Gloucester via Bucketts Way.
As I have mentioned in a previous blog, we tend to use road "names" rather than "numerals".
I mean, most people familiar with the area will know The Bucketts Way, but probably not the "TR 2" designation.
Some weeks ago, Bucketts Way was flooded during a particularly nasty East Coast Low rain event, and the 30 km of road between 12 Mile Creek, through Limeburners Creek and onto Stroud, suffered considerable damage (potholes and wash-aways), so my progress was slow with multiple stops at construction zones.
Once past Stroud, the road condition improved and I made good time to Gloucester, a distance of about 50 km, and the first bonus photo of the ride, the Avon Valley Inn.
After a much-needed bio-break and a cup of hot coffee (in that order), I turned north and continued on Bucketts Way to Krambach before heading down to Nabiac and back onto the M1 Motorway.
Bucketts Way is a great little back-road, in good mostly pot-hole free condition, that winds its way from the foot-hills of the Barrington Tops to near sea-level at Nabiac.
Once at Nabiac, my next stop was Cundletown, about 35 km away, for a bonus photo and some lunch. Unfortunately, the General Store, which does serve hot food, had no food-related signs visible outside, so this bonus photo is probably invalid. Oh well, win some / lose some.
From Cundletown, I headed to the village of Lansdowne (pop = 352) and their very small Bowling Club.
The Clubhouse is a nondescript grey building, with no visible signage, and which could easily be mistaken for a warehouse/barn/workshop. But after a few minutes searching, a suitable sign was found for the bonus photo. ( fingers crossed )
The highlight of the leg between Cundletown & Landowne was the time spent playing "race the train" as I had to make multiple railway crossings and there was a very long, slow goods train travelling in the same direction, beside me.
From Lansdowne, I turned southwards and headed down to Coopernook and another bonus photo.
The last bonus photo of the day was of the Cottage Cafe in the village of Moorland (pop = 516)
From Moorland, it was an easy ride up to Kempsey and my first night's accommodation.
I even collected a couple more drink coaster from the Kempsey Return Services Club, where I enjoyed an excellent dinner of BBQ Pork Ribs, and a glass or three of a reasonable Merlot.
Day Two's ride plan was to head north to the bonus locations of Gladstone, Macksville, Coffs Harbour, Moonee Beach, Corindi Beach, Grafton, Coutts Crossing, Glenreagh, Coramba and Greenhill, but the Moirai (the three Goddesses of Fate) had other ideas.
I was woken from my slumber by a pre-dawn phone call from my wife, alerting me to a family matter of some importance and requesting my immediate return home.
This changed my plans completely.
Instead of heading to the bonus locations mentioned above, my plan now was to make a "head down ~ bum up" ride straight home at the highest "legal" speeds permitted.
I quickly packed my saddle-bag, dropped the room key off at the deserted front-office, and I was rolling out of the motel's car-park right on sun-up.
The only saving grace of this rapid ride home, was that I was able to snag another bonus photo while I refuelled at Coolongolook.
September 30 is now just over 11 weeks away, so there is still plenty of time for another bonus ride or two.
Let's just hope that the Moirai agree.
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