The 'Bogies & The Paps

[glitch]

It's not just about the views...
....it's ALL about the views!





A sprinkling of today's "rockery".
Quite intense in places

 

[nev]

A gated lane near Thornton


Views from Sonnberg Drive



Views from the Papps south



Views from the Paps north


Barjarg Road




Mt Wombat fire lookout


Tree blown apart by lightning recently

 

[glitch]

Awesome shots!!
You sure got some sweet stuff there, nice!


Been trying to get onto this since last night.
Finally found the source of the 4000rpm rattle while cleaning up the bike.... a big handful of rocks in the bashplate making some nasty noises on the home-run from Yea yesterday.

 

[glitch]

Finally off the bitumen after the traffic-free run across the Spur....and after all those years it's still a magic little spot that never seems to have drawn any attention.
Instant solitude and away-from-it-all.
GOLD .....and close the gate behind you, thanks.

Track is getting overgrown

Oops, caught you in the bath, lady

Through the cowpads and up them hills

Looking back along the snaking, little band of gravel...Rubicon and Mt. Torbreck in the background.

A happy cruiser, Goulburn River Flats and Black Range in the distance

 

[nev]

It was an awesome ride. It's been about 4 years since the last time I rode the Black Spur. I always expect it to be full of traffic and it was a surprise to find that we had it pretty much to ourselves at 7:30am. The little lane with the closed gates and the warning signs was a gem. At once stage Ian and I encountered a cow and her calf around a bend, which both got spooked and then headed back down the road directly towards Pete and a small creek crossing.
Glad we got up to The Paps. The number of times I have ridden along the highway there and looked up wondering... and usually deterred either because I was with Jo, or was on my Super Tenere, or both, and to get the chance (with a bit of backup if necessary) was worth the effort for the views. That last few metres was a doozy with rocks and chunks all over the steep track, but I found coming back down much easier (and there was a lovely smoothish line right on the inside line of the road.
Another ripper section was coming down the road from Highlands down to Yea. I love those sweepers, and for probably the first time ever they weren't littered with stones and loose gravel.
I dipped into Strathbogie to buy a sandwich while the other boys headed straight up to Mt Wombat. The old general store in Strathbogie is now a pleasant (upmarketish) cafe with the post office inside, but also the basic milk bar items. They do fancy sandwiches and burgers too, so it might be a good destination for a ride some day (since the Ruffy Produce Store closed).

The only collateral damage for the day was losing one of the screws which holds my visor and peak in. I found an old screw lying around, and used a 5c coin as a washer and think I have come up with a solution which I hope will outlast the original.


Thanks for organising the ride, the route, and the weather Glitch ! (and for getting me off my lazy arse and taking the bike out of the garage for the first time in I can't remember how long)

 

[Squizzy]

I must admit that when the alarm went off at 5.45am, I thought why am I doing this. But it turned out to be an excellent day. Riding in the early morning was great, and gave us time to explore and take a break when required. Thanks Pete and Nev for a great day.
A few photos from me, Pete and Nev have covered most of the day, thought I should post something.

I could say I tried to get the sun shining across for effect, but no, it just happened.




Eildon is just about full I reckon.




I let Nev and Glitch go up the last bit, I am the senior citizen here now.




I can look on the map now and see where we were, I know I have a GPS that tells me everything, sometimes.




Pretty much sums up the day, great scenery, great day. Cheers

 

[glitch]

Oh yeaaahhh!!
Outdone yourself by a mile with that last shot

 

[glitch]

It was an awesome ride. It's been about 4 years since the last time I rode the Black Spur. I always expect it to be full of traffic and it was a surprise to find that we had it pretty much to ourselves at 7:30am. The little lane with the closed gates and the warning signs was a gem. At once stage Ian and I encountered a cow and her calf around a bend, which both got spooked and then headed back down the road directly towards Pete and a small creek crossing.
Glad we got up to The Paps. The number of times I have ridden along the highway there and looked up wondering... and usually deterred either because I was with Jo, or was on my Super Tenere, or both, and to get the chance (with a bit of backup if necessary) was worth the effort for the views. That last few metres was a doozy with rocks and chunks all over the steep track, but I found coming back down much easier (and there was a lovely smoothish line right on the inside line of the road.
Another ripper section was coming down the road from Highlands down to Yea. I love those sweepers, and for probably the first time ever they weren't littered with stones and loose gravel.
I dipped into Strathbogie to buy a sandwich while the other boys headed straight up to Mt Wombat. The old general store in Strathbogie is now a pleasant (upmarketish) cafe with the post office inside, but also the basic milk bar items. They do fancy sandwiches and burgers too, so it might be a good destination for a ride some day (since the Ruffy Produce Store closed).

The only collateral damage for the day was losing one of the screws which holds my visor and peak in. I found an old screw lying around, and used a 5c coin as a washer and think I have come up with a solution which I hope will outlast the original.


Thanks for organising the ride, the route, and the weather Glitch ! (and for getting me off my lazy arse and taking the bike out of the garage for the first time in I can't remember how long)

Loved every minute of the day!!

Agree on the Spur, it's one of my least favourite stretches and I usually avoid it at all bearable cost.
To have a clean run in the still of the morning was just about unreal.

Glad that Paps North didn't turn out as bad as what it did some time in the past....the nature of dirt roads/ tracks.
Then again, the rest of it was way rougher than the other times I've been up there.

Smart fix on that lost screw on the visor there....love your version of a "washer"

We should do this more often....

Here's a run up the Paps North from a few weeks ago... 7.00 to 12.00mins

Got the Daewoo to just about the same spot to where he dropped the Katoom. Nearly burned the clutch trying to get purchase on the rocky bits, had to reverse for about 1km to find a spot for a 10-point turn

 

[Hytram]

Gad damn that looks like the goods..

Can you please do it again in a couple of weeks when I am back in the country

 

[nev]

Smart fix on that lost screw on the visor there....love your version of a "washer"

After a bit of mucking around with it i can see that it's just going to unscrew that bolt a little bit every time I flip the lid up. Downside of buying a helmet which isn't sold in Australia, I doubt i'll be able to get any spare replacement part cheaply.

We should do this more often....

Yeah. I do get a fair share of weekdays rostered off work. I should put them to better use.