Goodbye winter.

Next morning we doubled back along the Bruxnor Hwy to Casino, then south on the Summerland Way to Grafton and via Tyringham to Dorrigo for a lunch stop.

Jacarandas in full bloom in Grafton.









And we stopped at Bonny Hills near Lake Cathie (pronounced cat-eye) for a couple of nights.



A german registered monster round the world truck arriving at the caravan park.

Next morning a short dayloop was in order. First out west to Comboyne, then south to Wingham, Nabiac and into Forster for some lunch.





Long time forum members may remember Smack, a rider who used to live near Hobart. He now runs a takeaway shop in Forster and we surprised him by showing up and letting him shout us lunch

nev said:

Long time forum members may remember Smack, a rider who used to live near Hobart. He now runs a takeaway shop in Forster and we surprised him by showing up and letting him shout us lunch

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WOT??? Smack's up there now?
Still remember flying down to Hobart for a day for his ....50th? ...90th?
Nice to see so many familiar spots...tks for the pics!

nev said:

Next morning a short dayloop was in order. First out west to Comboyne, then south to Wingham, Nabiac and into Forster for some lunch.



Long time forum members may remember Smack, a rider who used to live near Hobart. He now runs a takeaway shop in Forster and we surprised him by showing up and letting him shout us lunch

Click to expand...

Bloody posh Tradies in Forster! That burger and wrap look delicious!

Paul n Dixie said:

.... posh Tradies .... Forster ....

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There's gotta be an oxymoron in there somewhere.

Feeling the warmth , so over winter ....

Packed up and headed inland this morning. First thing, straight up the Oxley Hwy (none of the speed limits have been messed with yet... those plans are on hold pending some community consultation apparently)...







Stopped at the Apsley falls. Have ridden past this so many times and it's only 1km ride and a very short walk to the lookout. Definitely worth the stop.



An early lunch at the Walcha Royal Cafe. This has become a real motorcycle mecca under it's current ownership. There were a constant stream of bikes stopping in here for coffees and meals.



South on Thunderbolts for a very short 1km. Then turned onto the Niangala road. My map showed it was about 50% unsealed, but in reality, only a few km at the southern end are still unsealed.







Up Nowendoc Rd towards Tamworth then into Nundle via the back road





Then set up camp in Tamworth and popped into the Powerhouse Motorcycle museum for a look. The caretaker advised this is a private collection owned by the owner of the big hotel right next door. He apparently also has another 50 or so bikes in various states of restoration in a shed at his farm. All of the bikes on display here are in showroom condition regardless of age. The MV Agusta F4 in the corner has never been ridden.

nev said:

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That white Yamaha behind Jos head is my first proper bike way back in about 1974 a CT1-175.

Looks like a painting of Christo on the wall there beside Jimi and John.

nev said:

... up the Oxley Hwy (none of the speed limits have been messed with yet... those plans are on hold pending some community consultation apparently)...

Stopped at the Apsley falls. Have ridden past this so many times and it's only 1km ride and a very short walk to the lookout. Definitely worth the stop.

An early lunch at the Walcha Royal Cafe. This has become a real motorcycle mecca under it's current ownership. There were a constant stream of bikes stopping in here for coffees and meals.

Click to expand...

Some of the comments on ADV re. the proposed Oxley Highway speed limits could lead one to believe the end of the world is near. Either way, the Oxley is a good ride and IMHO will still be worth the ride, with or with the success of the Save Oxley Highway petition.

And, thanks for the pics and words.

First thing next morning we headed to the lookout over Tamworth



Morning tea stop in Quirindi



Through Murrurundi



Turned off the New England at Aberdeen and headed down the Bylong Valley Way.







Lunch in Rylstone



Another quick detour to Sofala,









At Wattle Flat we turned off the main road and took the Limekilns Rd into Bathurst. Given the state of the ongoing roadworks there i think that entire road will be sealed very shortly. There were only a couple of km of gravel road left.



We ran south and west out of Bathurst through Georges Plains and Barry to arrive at our destination for the night, the hamlet of Neville.

The accommodation is called Neville Siding, and has a train theme. The old railway station from nearby Mandurama was moved to this location along with various other train carriages and odds and ends.



There is a Goods shed, which sleeps 20something people in bunkhouse rooms,



The old station has been turned into sleeping quarters



And several railway carriages.


These were our digs for the night