[mjgt]

Went out for a ride yesterday, the bike said it was only 3 degrees, so I didn't go far. Hope it warms up a bit before crimbo as I like to get out on the 25th as there is less traffic. Still If I wait until everyone has an electric car the government will stop them from going out when the power grid is low so the roads will be clear.

 

[mikeS]

That sign at the Royal Cafe is just a challenge, isn’t it, @mikeS.
View attachment 117918

I notice the Panzer showing little respect for the old-school bucket of bolts beside it and snavelled its parking space.


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[mikeS]

Up early (6:30 AM) to check out the second coffee/cafe on my list for this trip. I heard that my go-to coffee stop when I'm in Port Macquarie had some major upgrades since my last trip. I was hoping the Little Shack didn’t lose any of its beach vibe/look/feel. I think the owners managed to expand the site while still maintaining its rustic charm. It's a real bonus for me because I only have to stroll about 100 meters from my hotel.

I guess spent about 45 minutes kicking back listening to some favourite sounds and watching the early-morning walkers/joggers kickstart their day. Oh, and the coffee is well worth the visit on its own. Love this little place.


Time to get LC and get going.


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[Panzermann]

The Walcha Royal Cafe is indeed a favourite, @v-rider and I always try to snag the Triumph parking spot.

It is formerly a hotel, but remains licensed to serve alcohol. In fact when Andy and I stopped by for morning coffee on return from Phillip Island recently, the Cooper’s Pale Ale tap was very alluring - I managed to resist the temptation (well, it was only 10am).

Photo of the bar, found on the internet.

 

[mikeS]

On day 2 of my three-day trip from Port Macquarie, I headed up the coast towards Coffs Harbour and a short hour's run-up via the expressway, peeling off at the Waterfall Way and on to Bellingen. A quick fuel top-up and weave my way from Bellingen to the mountain. As usual, I had a fair wait at the stop/go lights at the mountain's base and sat behind a Merc AMG SUV. Once the lights had turned to go, I tried to get around the SUV cautiously, but the driver was going to have none of that and accelerated just enough to make it challenging. However, I used this to my advantage; the driver thought I was trying to overtake him, but I was using him as an escort. I kept close enough and in a lower gear so he could hear the bikes - snap-cracking-pop noises that fired him up to accelerate, which kept my momentum at a good pace and an unobstructed way forward as the oncoming traffic gave way to him. I happily tagged along at the rear, happy to be an interloper for the ride.
Here's a YouTube clip - It's 3 mins, so watch at your leisure if there is interest.

Once at the top of the mountain, I parted company with my old-mate Merc SUV and travelled along Waterfall Way, stopping off at Dorrigo. At Dorrigo, the plan was secure item 3 on my trip list. I have had my eye on a little "No Trespassing" sign for a few years at a massive collectable/vintage store chock-full of old automotive/ motorcycles. I was hell-bent on offering the store owners an offer they couldn't refuse. But the store was closed, and to say I was perplexed was an understatement. As I was getting on my bike to leave, the guy from the bottle next wandered over to me and said the shop doesn't open, and the owner comes in from time to time to clean the windows and sit inside.

Enough said, it was time to get back on the bike for a spirited run along Waterfall way (WW), but instead of turning left to follow WW and decided to head straight onto Guyra Rd. Here are some pix along the way. Lage parts of Guyra Rd have very little mobile coverage – long, flat open road, lots of wildlife on the edges of the road, and an unbelievable amount of kangaroo/wallaby carcases over the road. I would hate to be travelling this road at night, for sure.

Silo Art at Barraba

I followed Guyra Rd to Inverell-Bingara-Barraba-Manilla and finally to my Hotel in Tamworth for an overnight stop. I arrived at my hotel with enough time to shower, change and make a dinner booking at 7:30 PM. I hadn't had food all day; I was ready to devour a three-course meal.

Cheers to you @v-rider
The following day, I checked out the weather forecaster, and there was a massive storm front developing with solid winds and severe thunderstorms. So I quickly packed and was on my way by 7:30 AM – so much for trying to outrun the storm cell. I was in and out of heavy rain for most of my run home. Here's a small YouTube clip.

 

[mikeS]

Here are a few more random pix from the 3 days:

 

[v-rider]

Thanks MikeS! Beautiful country, on a great bike, and you eat (and drink) well, the pasta looks fantastic! That beer looks incredibly refreshing, an IPA?

 

[mikeS]

Coopers Pale Ale:

Coopers Pale Ale is the original Australian Pale Ale. With its fruity and floral characters, balanced with a crisp bitterness, this is the beer that inspired a new generation of ale drinkers. Naturally fermented in the Burton-Upon-Trent style a secondary fermentation creates the trademark sediment that gives 'Pale' its fine cloudy appearance. Don't forget to 'flip it' before serving SA style.


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[v-rider]

Thanks for the detailed beer description. I'd like to go deeper into this subject but don't want to hijack this into a beer thread.

 

[Panzermann]

You could have had that AMG any time you wanted, @mikeS. 💪

 

[mikeS]

You could have had that AMG any time you wanted, @mikeS.

I followed old mate AMG for roughly 20 minutes. I was giggling to myself watching the driver react to LC’s barking exhaust note and purposeful popping using LC’s quick shifter to full advantage.

 

[r0ckrat]

Saturday (the 10th) a friend and I headed a few miles north to check out the Pelican Parts Cars & Coffee event. Crisp and cold(ish - 50 or so Fahrenheit) on the way out but the sun was rising on trip out. Didn't take any pictures, but there were a great number of Porches there from all ages. Three 959's made it, one Carrera 2 GTR, and many many more from across the spectrum. A few Ferrari made it including an '84 Testarossa. A few Alfa's, a few classic VW's, a Japanese Cappuccino import (Mazda/Suzuki mid engine with gullwing doors, looked a little like a Ford RS rally car - I forget the proper make), and a lot of modern American muscle. Short ride from Long Beach to Palos Verdes, but we just had to get out (it rained the last two weekends we had planned rides.) Hoping to get out at least once more before the end o f the year, and again early in the new year.

 

[mikeS]

Thought I would share a great little coffee stop for Aussie members travelling between Tamworth & Scone on the New England H’way - I recommend Plans Pantry in Willow Tree. Good coffee, nice cakes and they do a good selection of lunch options. It looks very well run. I stopped off on my way home yesterday and took a little respite from the rain.

I didn't realise when I took the pix inside the cafe my iPhone lens was fogged up.


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[Lee F]

. Didn't take any pictures,

We'll let it go but next time we'll expect pictures

 

[The Dogfather]

Question for @mikeS, I'm heading off on my annual trip from Melbourne to Tamworth on Boxing day, overnighting as I do in Cowra. Historically day 2 takes me via Bathurst, Sofala, Ilford and the Bylong Valley to Sandy Hollow then some back roads to join the New England North of Scone. Last year I went via Canowindra, Molong, Wellington, Dunedoo, Coolah, Spring Ridge and Werris Creek which I enjoyed and as the BVW had been reported as in poor condition after flooding. I am guessing the route I took last year is now suffering the same but I do also like to travel through these impacted towns and put some money through the local shops. I know you travel many of these roads regularly and would appreciate any thoughts. I was considering Bathurst - Sofala - Ilford then North to Mudgee then Ulan Rd to the Golden Hwy, then Scone/Bunnan Rds via Owens Gap into Scone as a change of scenery but have no idea of condition as I have never done. Cheers, Trev.

 

[mikeS]

@The Dogfather : Bylong Valley to Sandy Hollow, even before flood damage was riddled with potholes.

Your suggested route is still okay but be mindful that there will be sections with potholes, and not all have warning signs—most roads in and around the Central West/Upper Hunter/ New England have copped a pounding, and it's a bit of a moving feast. I suggest logging on to the Transport for NSW website - www.livetraffic.com for up-to-date conditions and road closures. In addition, I suggest you download the app - Live Traffic NSW from Apple App store - apps.apple.com your phone - . With the app and website, you can log a trip/route and see all the road closures, roadworks, flood issues and closures and be very handy on the fly if you have to navigate your way around a road closure. Cheers Mike

 

[Panzermann]

I travelled each of those roads on my recent Phillip Island trips, @The Dogfather, except Scone/Bunnan Rds via Owens Gap into Scone. Weather hasn’t been tooo bad since, so Mike’s assessment is spot on, I’d say.
LiveTraffic shows traffic affected at the Goulburn River near Sandy Hollow but the alternative route via Denman is viable if it happen to be closed at the time.
Be prepared for your bike to get dirty … 😄

 

[The Dogfather]

@mikeS @Panzermann Thanks fellas! It's dirty now and I'd already figured it would be a waste of good detergent to clean beforehand . And yes, BVW has been slowly falling apart in many sections pretty much since the full sealing was completed some years ago. Shame, the Bylong Cafe closed also, I always looked forward to that stop. The route last year via Wellington was a constant test of my pothole avoidance skills and I figured the surfaces will have only deteriorated further. Thanks for the heads up on the apps, much appreciated! I'll also try out that Cafe Mike recommended at Willow Tree!

 

[moto-rama]

Well, it was 37F this AM, but I did ride up to my local diner and back; froze my nurnies, too, in just a mile or so.

Tomorrow will be a heat wave, all the way to 51.

 

[moto-rama]

That Mad Cow Disease was no joke. The wife of a friend and ex-workmate of mine sadly died a very early, nasty, and tragic death from it here in Oz, but probably contracted it during the few years they lived and worked in the UK. It was a sad affair - she was a lovely, lively, vibrant, life-loving lady (I use the word deliberately) - far too good for my mate!

Donate-on, Pz!

That is SO weird. I'm sorry to hear about that, but what a weird thing.

I remember when they said prions were going to wipe meat off the menu, permanently. But I still see it in the store, for like 20 USD a lb. Then Covid19 came along and wiped out restaurants, and many other "sit down" types of businesses, not to mention the millions of human lives.
I guess that's why I rarely have it anymore, not the prions, but the prices.