Marys View Ride with the Coffs DD Dirt Bikers

The Coffs boys were keen to see some Macleay Valley trails.

Mark Mac reckoned they'd make good time down the back roads from Coffs to Willawarrin.

An early start should see them at Sherwood by 8.30am, where Eric and I would meet them.

Well.. the best laid plans often go astray.

2 hours waiting later I managed to make phone contact to find they'd had a few dramas.

But we were all dressed up with nowhere else to go so we arranged to cut some of the track out.

We met them higher up the Armidale Road and headed into Temagog from there.

Eric and I on time for once

Here comes Mark. Look ma, no hands!

So introductions made, we head down the road to Toorumbee.

We pulled up at Cilla's and knocked some mandarins out of the tree.

Cilla is kind enough to allow us access through her property.

The wind had been roaring these past few days, leading to many trees over the road.

A few hands on deck were needed to shift this one over.

I got stuck in the head of this tree. It was more resilient than I expected.

Burkie Senior picked up a bit of vine. He needed slowing down anyway.

Burkie Junior kept the 300EXC zipping along.

Kookaburra Scout Hall for a break.

The Husky decided to lay down on the job.

The DR looks a bit out of place amongst all that orange.

Mark having a laugh.

Not something you see up here very often.

One of the best views in the valley. McMillans Hut.

McMillans Hut View.

Nothing wrong with getting comfortable.

You're blocking the view boys.

Here comes a Berg 570.

Whats up with the Husky? Its having another lie down?

It's ok, the rider was feeling a bit poorly and had an upchuck.

Two old traction engines.

One old traction engine.

The boys paddock bashing Daisy Plains.

The EXC gets a bit of air.

You would not believe how green he looked.

Here's what we came for. Marys View.

There's nothing quite like adventure riding.

Spanners on the Berg again?

We regrouped at the hut again. Well, 3 of us did.

Someone forgot his backpack. So Cain carried the load.

Crackin on the Berg.

Team orange. With a little bit of red. Hang on, where's Eric?

I'd better go back and look for him.

Cain lent me his SPOT tracker so I could call it in if he was in strife.

Oh, Eric lost his bag and had to backtrack. Which meant he was low on fuel.

Luckily the DR650 has a decent sized tank fitted.

So we let the Coffs boys make their way to Bellbrook.

I followed Eric to Willawarrin to make sure he could get fuel.

The store was closed, but we hung about in the driveway for a while and the owner opened the bowsers.

Then I ran Cains SPOT tracker back to him at Bellbrook.

I copped a flatty at Temagog and hit it with a C20 cannister which allowed me to make it home.

Another great ride done and dusted. 

Thanks to the Coffs Dirty Dog Dirt Bikers for joining us.

We will work out another ride soon.

Cheers.

Moree July 2014

It's that time of year again.

Time to brave the cold wind off the Moree plains.

I packed my Hilux and made good time after leaving at 4am.

I got to Wollomombi as the sun crested the hills.

All was well in my world, until..

Boom, followed by a lurch and wobble at high speed.

The tread had delaminated on the Firestone Firehawk left rear.

This blowout gave me a bit of a heart starter.

Nice place to break down though.

I set to jacking the whole rig up.

You used to be able to camp in TSR's.

The hill above Armidale. Looks smoky down there with good reason.

A Sulphur Crested Cockatoo enjoying the morning sun.

A heap of bikes were pulled up at Warialda.

This BMW in particular caught my eye.

Here we are again. At the gate of Mungyer.

It feels like coming home to me.

Em was "helping" her dad unload the trailer.

I set up my camp quickly, as the sun was fading.

Johns Camp.

Jake, Kyle and Zach.

Craig pulled in with the Polo Crosse Hilton.

I went down to the artesian bore for a bath.

Caught the sun in my rear view.

Soaking in the hot bore drain.

Watching the sun go down while having a scrub.

Kevin tips some hot water out of "Bender".

Lach, Em and Jake.

It got a bit nippy through the night.

Craig makes a business call.

Loyd shows us his new phone.

El, Kurt, Sunny and Kyle.

Phones should be banned in camp I reckon.

The old traction engine.

The run down shearers quarters.

I put the yabby traps in here by the reed bed.

Another sulphur crested cockie.

Part of the old bore workings.

The artesian bore. Soon to be capped.

You've got to have water out here.

Boys will be boys.

Another spectacular sunset.

Kevin captures it in panorama mode.

Kurt in the ute.

Kyle all rugged up.

The second wheat silos.

Kyle and Zach.

The big 475 Komatsu.

Bit of a family shot.

The big tree.

Cotton rolled up at the gin.

Big shed at Grawin.

Old tractor at Warialda.

Another old tractor at Warialda.

A shed at Delungra.

I stopped at Inverell for a look at the park.

I could not go past the DR650 lolly shop. Vince Strang Motorcycles.

This thing looks pretty fast.

3200kms on the clock. All the good gear.

Watching the instore TV scroll images I saw my bike and a few others I know.

Here's a great start for anyone considering a dual sport motorcycle.

Here's an interesting house at Tingha.

Just this side of Armidale is Thunderbolts Cave.

I had to have a look at this as I've driven past it too many times.

At least State Forests aren't as miltant as NPWS yet..