Two of our Members, Fezzick and DZ, set off in July for a backroads adventure through Northern NSW and Southern QLD. When they got back we asked them to give us a little report on their trip. The 6 pages (of gloating) that they gave us was summarised into the following. We hope that you enjoy!

We lit out from Dapto about 0715 in the morning and headed straight for Wilberforce where we took a detour to have a look at "Ebenezer" the oldest church in Australia, with family connections. And then it was up the Putty to the Halfway House. Singleton, Dungog, Gloucester. Buckett’s Way has heaps of signs about improvements being done, but it’s still pretty rough.

Then it was up Thunderbolt's to Walcha where we were dodging thunderbolts for the whole 148kms. I kid you not, the sky was black in the west and we could see the sheets of rain falling on the tops for nearly the whole journey. But, each time that it looked like we were heading straight into the storms, the road changed direction to the North-East and we skirted around the rain, not once, not twice, but three separate times..nothing short of amazing.

Running into Walcha the road was wet but navigable and we really wicked it up for the last 50 k's or so. It was getting cold and we could sense the end of our first day drawing near.

Thurnderbolts was smooth as compared to Bucketts and the long flowing corners are really a treat on a well-handling bike.

Day 2

After being spoiled rotten at the Apsley Arms Hotel at Walcha last night, we headed off a little late this morning. We made good time to Uralla where Damien noticed that my top box had come undone. Examination proved that I had lost a brand new HJC visor and my winter gloves, so I set off back to Walcha in search of.

So, a quick blat south on the NEH to take the obligatory picture of the bikes in front of Thundebolt's Rock and then north to Armidale.

It was overcast and threatening rain, but, just like yesterday, we always seemed to just scoot around the edge of it. Armidale across to Ebor and then onto the Nymboida Highway for some of the most grand of grand touring. That road absolutely ROCKS!!! Series after series of sweeping corners joined by straights that cross the top of the Great Dividing Range. It had been raining and some of the corners were damp so our progress was probably more cautious than what we would have liked, but we pulled over at Nymboida and just looked at each other as if to say, "Did we really just do that??"

Then it was on to Grafton for lunch through a few patches of showers, but more dry than wet. From Grafton we headed up the Summerland Way towards Casino, a great road. Again, a few patches of showery activity but not enough to spoil the enjoyment. We did a bike swap on this section of around 100kms.

Then it was on to Kyogle for a pit stop and it was while that was happening that Damien got the feeling that his back tyre didn't feel quite right. A quick check of the pressure and it was 15 pounds, not good. After being referred from Mr Black to Mr Brown to Mr Green and finally Mr White, we found a great guy at the local mower shop who's a bike nut (you just knew that was coming, didn't you?)

He fixed the tyre for $12.00 and I bought a new pair of winter gloves for $55.00. How good is that? By now the afternoon was closing in fast and the rain was threatening also. The road from Kyogle to Murwillumbah winds up and down the mountain and is filled with hundreds of corners. Unfortunately, many of them are teeth-rattlingly rough on the apex and, besides, the rain had begun to set in, so caution became the watchword.

We wound down the mountain and along the flats in the hinterland behind Murwillumbah and negotiated several stretches of road under repair, which, in the rain and the rapidly-fading light, was quite an adventure.

Onto the coast and the light was gone. I only had my iridium visor and I couldn't ride with that up because of the rain, so it was up the Pacific Highway at the speed of a thousands tadpoles and onto the Gold Coast Motorway and in to Nerang just after 1800.

All up a total of 620km today though some glorious country and some treacherous roads soaked with rain. I should have added that, from Murwillumbah to Nerang it absolutely howled down rain

Day 3

We rode out from Nerang and headed up to the top of Mt Tamborine. I’ve seen it before, but, man, what a view.

Then it was down the other side of the mountain through heaps more twisties and across to Beaudesert. Then north to Ipswich where we visited the Art Gallery and saw the display of racing bikes and cars that is featured there at the moment. It includes Barry Sheenes RG500 Suzuki. Then it was east to Redbank Plains and across country by sheer guesswork and skunkery to join the Mount Lindsay Highway at Greenbank.

We then threaded our way back to the Beaudesert Road and on to Canungra. The mountain roads here are superb, as good as I remembered them to be from when I lived here 20 years ago.

From Canungra we headed up the mountain to Binna Burra Mountain Lodge. Wow, what a location. Right on the top of the range overlooking deep mountain gorges and the western sun gleaming off the high-rises of Sufferers Parasite in the distance and then back down the mountain. Corner after corner and lots of surprises (none unpleasant).

At the bottom of the pass we cut right through Beechmont and traversed the absolute saddle of the range. The road zig-zagged along the tops with huge gorges on either side and little farms clinging, limpet-like to the steep sides. Amazing to think that people live there; they are so lucky (or rich).

Then it was an exhilarating plunge down the mountain to the coastal plain again. Did I say exhilarating???

Man, that road is just amazing. It's like about 3 Macquarie Passes strung together and the surface is spotless and hardly any traffic. We got to the roundabout at the bottom and Damo flipped up his visor and said, "Wanna do that again?" Another glorious road to put into the "To be done again" file.

Final stop for the day was Lawrence Drive in Nerang, the home of the Gold Coast's motorcycle trade. About 6 dealers all within walking distance. Heaven!!

Day 4

Well, what can I say? This morning at 0900 it was back down to Lawrence Drive at Nerang and a visit to Paul Feeney's MV Agusta dealership. Last night we had dropped in to say hello and had teed up a little surprise.

Paul and I go back a long way, back to when he was a sidecar passenger for Ray Spence in Canberra in the late 1970's and, unlike some people who forget their mates when they get rich and famous, Paul hasn't.

So this morning when we arrived at the shop there was a nice new MV F4/1000 waiting on the forecourt for me to have a "test ride" on!!! I kid you not. Paul was very gracious and wanted us to have a good time so he offered Damien an MV Agusta Brutale 750 to ride along with me so that he could enjoy the ride and take some photographs. He would have offered Damien the 1000cc bike, but Russell Ingall has it at the moment.

When he asked where we were going, I said I didn't know. He asked Damien if he knew the roads around here, which, of course, he does, and Damien said that we were going to go on our own bikes today and do a loop up Springbrook Mountain to the lookout and back.

"OK, " said the man, "Off you go, and enjoy." So, 65 kms of mountain twisties later (to say nothing of a hot choccy at the Canyon Lookout, overlooking the whole of the Gold Coast) we returned the bikes to Nerang and got off, giggling like a couple of school kids who've just put tacks on the teacher's chair.

Words just can't convey it all.

Day 5

We left Nerang reasonably early and headed down the backroad through Natural Bridge and lots of swoopy roads to Murwillumbah. Then onto the old Pacific Highway for an exhilarating swoop over the Burringbar Range (taking care to avoid the two speed cameras installed thereon) and very little traffic. SOOO smooth.

We then headed west to Lismore, again by guess and and by God. From Lismore we ran back to the coast and the dreaded Pacific Highway, and on to Grafton. 90 kms of utter boredom and frustration. How they have the nerve to call that a Highway is beyond me. After about 30kms, my brain was saying, "Get me outa here!!!"

As soon as practicable we chucked a right and headed up the Gwydir Highway towards Glen Innes. This was a road that we had found on the map that shows a HUGE squiggle in the middle (look it up yourself and you'll see what we mean) and we just had to explore it. The road winds along the side of the Mann River then heads up through the squiggle (called Mulligan's Pass) and over the very top of the Gibraltar Range. 14 kms of unspoiled new bitumen...yum. Concentration was becoming a problem here...so many corners, so little ability.

At the top, we took the obligatory pictures, and then headed back down again (as one does). Back to Grafton for late lunch and gas, then hard on the throttle headed down the backroad to Coffs Harbour, through Glenreagh, more twisties, and hardly a car to be seen. This backroad touring, rocks!

Back on the Pacific (yawn) and heads down to make it to Bellingen before dark, which we JUST did.

Day 6

This morning we rolled out of Bellingen at 0750 and headed west again (getting tired of hearing that?). You see, there's a lovely 30 kms up to Dorrigo via the Waterfall Way. The last 14 kms (there it is again) is a gorgeous mountain pass, passing several waterfalls that go under the road from west to east. Very picturesque.

The road itself has JUST been resurfaced in top quality hotmix and is as smooth as a baby's bum. Even better than the Pass because you can't even see where they have joined the edges of the tar down the middle. Challenging road, no advisories and slightly damp from the morning's frost. What a way to wake up the brain. At the top, Dorrigo, guess what we did?

Yep, we took some piccies, and turned around and rode back down again!!!

Breakfast back at Bellingen and then out to the (yawn) Pacific for the run to Kempsey.

From Kempsey we did the boring run down to Wauchope (did find an interesting way of getting there too) and then it was a very spirited run up Oxley to Walcha where we had a late lunch. Got flashed by a cop car when I was doing 130k's along as straight. Flashed his lights and patted the dashboard and drove on..phew.

I am pleased to report that Damien has lightened the BM a little by scraping various bits of it off on the tar on the way up the Oxley.

Never mind. Suffice it to say that the road, along with all the others we have encountered, surrendered to the Das Panzerwagen and its Japanese ally!!

From there it was down Thundebolts, Bucketts and into Stroud on nightfall.

Day 7

After a very entertaining night last night at the Federal Hotel at Stroud, it was up early (for a change) and onto the bikes for the final leg home and GOD, it was COOOOLD!! Like, I mean Canberra-type cold. It musta been -4 I reckon. Thick frost on the ground and all over the bikes. Put on every layer of warmth I could muster and it still felt cold.

Down the rest and finally, breakfast at the cafe at Wollombi and warm selves and gloves by the roaring open fire. Bacon and eggs never tasted so good.

On to Central Mangrove and the decision to head for home rather than take the Old Road (60 km/h all the way and soaked with cops on Sundays..who needs it?) So, onto the F3 and straight through, Paramatta, Menai, Heathcote Road and the Nasho, all in totally "take no prisoners" mode.

Down through the 'Gong and up the Pass to meet the gang at the Pie Shop. What a great welcome. Tired but so satisfied.

Total mileage for trip, 3267 kms

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