BMBEN
Registered user
Wednesdays Ride
20th April 2011
Rockley, NSW, Australia
This week however, I was fighting fit and wasn’t going to miss it for anything. I rode around to Maccas to find a sizeable group of riders already there. There were two Als (big and little), Dave E, Dave C, Tom, Eric, Les, John Mac, Bob and Ross who was a new face. I thought Eric looked very fetching with his new black leather chaps. I should perhaps clarify here that I am not referring here to the type of young men seen frequenting gay bars in Oxford Street, but the kind that cowboys wear.
Nobody had any idea where we should ride to so Eric suggested we ride to Rockley. This was approved and following usual procedure, he was elected ride leader. (When this happens to me I like to be called road captain).
We left Blaxland in mild autumn conditions but by the time we reached Blackheath it was winter. This may have been due to our slow progress through all the roadworks. Anyway we pushed on through the chilly weather and pulled in at the servo at Sth Bowenfels for smoko. At this point Eric locked our destination into his GPS as we were all a bit hazey about how to get there.
We then set off along the Tarana road and ran into a light shower of rain, but by the time we cleared the Tarana CBD it had just about stopped. We pushed on through O’Connell (no traffic lights yet) and out to the T intersection at The Lagoon. Here we turned right (even though I thought we were supposed to turn left) but Eric and his trusty GPS didn’t let us down and we all arrived at Rockley for lunch in the park by the river.
Over lunch we discussed our options for returning and we decided to go back via Black Springs and Oberon.
Eric led us off heading south and about 5kms down the road we passed a turnoff signposted to Black Springs. Eric and the group rode straight past this and I was sure we should have turned off. I was convinced we were going the wrong way so I turned on my hazard lights and started overtaking the other riders yelling out “WRONG WAY, WRONG WAY” as I passed each one. I finally caught up to Eric and pulled him over to point out his mistake. He then informed me that the turnoff we had passed was a dirt road and that the turnoff we would use was a couple of kms further on. Feeling rather embarrassed I looked behind us. Not another rider to be seen. Oh dear! What had I done. While I waited shamefacedly by the side of the road, Eric proceeded to turn back and round everybody up again. Well we finally made it to Black Springs and then on to Oberon where we took the Duckmaloi Road to Hampton and then the Great Western Highway to Mount Victoria for afternoon smoko at the servo there. Here I made my apologies to the group.
After Mount Victoria we separated, some going by the Bells Line of Road and the rest of us going back down the highway through all the roadworks. I arrived home at Blaxland a little after 4pm having ridden 348 kms. It was a great ride. My contribution to the day: Mass confusion.
Hopefully see you next week.
Peter M
Info about Rockley
Situated 35kms south of Bathurst and dating back to 1813, surveyor Evans’ discovery makes this unique area one of the oldest settlements west of the Blue Mountains. In 1818 land grants were made in the area to William Lawson. However, the actual site of Rockley on Peppers Creek, was kept as a government stock reserve. The Summer Hill copper mine opened in 1848 when gold was discovered in the district. The township of Rockley was settled in July 1851.
Today Rockley is a delightful place to visit with a large array of facilities, attractions and events with an historic flair.
There are still many historic buildings including churches, banks, a hotel, shop fronts and private dwellings that have been restored to their former glory. The Rockley Mill, once a flour mill, is now a museum, not to be missed, containing historical mill machinery and clothing, old police records from the district and old newspapers. A crowd drawing event is Rockley’s famous Rodeo held during February or March every year. Rockley is home to world champion riders who have competed for American and Australian titles.
Thanks to
www.maps.google.com.au and www.visitvineyards.com for the map and info
Regards Franz (BMBEN)
20th April 2011
Rockley, NSW, Australia
This week however, I was fighting fit and wasn’t going to miss it for anything. I rode around to Maccas to find a sizeable group of riders already there. There were two Als (big and little), Dave E, Dave C, Tom, Eric, Les, John Mac, Bob and Ross who was a new face. I thought Eric looked very fetching with his new black leather chaps. I should perhaps clarify here that I am not referring here to the type of young men seen frequenting gay bars in Oxford Street, but the kind that cowboys wear.
Nobody had any idea where we should ride to so Eric suggested we ride to Rockley. This was approved and following usual procedure, he was elected ride leader. (When this happens to me I like to be called road captain).
We left Blaxland in mild autumn conditions but by the time we reached Blackheath it was winter. This may have been due to our slow progress through all the roadworks. Anyway we pushed on through the chilly weather and pulled in at the servo at Sth Bowenfels for smoko. At this point Eric locked our destination into his GPS as we were all a bit hazey about how to get there.
We then set off along the Tarana road and ran into a light shower of rain, but by the time we cleared the Tarana CBD it had just about stopped. We pushed on through O’Connell (no traffic lights yet) and out to the T intersection at The Lagoon. Here we turned right (even though I thought we were supposed to turn left) but Eric and his trusty GPS didn’t let us down and we all arrived at Rockley for lunch in the park by the river.
Over lunch we discussed our options for returning and we decided to go back via Black Springs and Oberon.
Eric led us off heading south and about 5kms down the road we passed a turnoff signposted to Black Springs. Eric and the group rode straight past this and I was sure we should have turned off. I was convinced we were going the wrong way so I turned on my hazard lights and started overtaking the other riders yelling out “WRONG WAY, WRONG WAY” as I passed each one. I finally caught up to Eric and pulled him over to point out his mistake. He then informed me that the turnoff we had passed was a dirt road and that the turnoff we would use was a couple of kms further on. Feeling rather embarrassed I looked behind us. Not another rider to be seen. Oh dear! What had I done. While I waited shamefacedly by the side of the road, Eric proceeded to turn back and round everybody up again. Well we finally made it to Black Springs and then on to Oberon where we took the Duckmaloi Road to Hampton and then the Great Western Highway to Mount Victoria for afternoon smoko at the servo there. Here I made my apologies to the group.
After Mount Victoria we separated, some going by the Bells Line of Road and the rest of us going back down the highway through all the roadworks. I arrived home at Blaxland a little after 4pm having ridden 348 kms. It was a great ride. My contribution to the day: Mass confusion.
Hopefully see you next week.
Peter M
Info about Rockley
Situated 35kms south of Bathurst and dating back to 1813, surveyor Evans’ discovery makes this unique area one of the oldest settlements west of the Blue Mountains. In 1818 land grants were made in the area to William Lawson. However, the actual site of Rockley on Peppers Creek, was kept as a government stock reserve. The Summer Hill copper mine opened in 1848 when gold was discovered in the district. The township of Rockley was settled in July 1851.
Today Rockley is a delightful place to visit with a large array of facilities, attractions and events with an historic flair.
There are still many historic buildings including churches, banks, a hotel, shop fronts and private dwellings that have been restored to their former glory. The Rockley Mill, once a flour mill, is now a museum, not to be missed, containing historical mill machinery and clothing, old police records from the district and old newspapers. A crowd drawing event is Rockley’s famous Rodeo held during February or March every year. Rockley is home to world champion riders who have competed for American and Australian titles.
Thanks to
www.maps.google.com.au and www.visitvineyards.com for the map and info
Regards Franz (BMBEN)
