HyperGez
30-08-2009, 08:20 PM
Day 1.
With two of us weary from our nightshifts:coffee:, we loaded up and headed to Porepunkah.
http://i637.photobucket.com/albums/uu93/Gez510/Day1-OntheroadbetweenMertlefordBrig.jpg
We were greeted with a perfectly clear blue sky. Checked into our accommodation, unloaded the gear and bikes and set off for our first adventure, and to break my high country virginity.
http://i637.photobucket.com/albums/uu93/Gez510/Day1-Vanpark1.jpg
http://i637.photobucket.com/albums/uu93/Gez510/Day1-Vanpark3.jpg
60sec’s from the Van park, we were in the pines. The scenery was truly breathtaking, like nothing I’ve ever experienced. Being a total self confessed gumby at hills, I stayed at the back and played follow the leader. It wasn’t long before I was introduced to the rocky ground, as we had to ride up a 5ft rock ledge to get to the first hill climb, I failed:oops:, but was helped up by my faithful companions. After this hiccup, it was smooth sailing up some nice rocky hills and along damp fast flowing fire trails with a ground covered in wet pine needles, it was slide heaven. The hills are not daunting at all, challenging - yes, but scary – no, just very loose & rocky, which I quite liked, totally different to anything I’ve ridden before. The hills just keep going, and going, and going, and just when you think your getting to the top, they keep going some more. Erosion mounds break up the climb, and make great jumping on the down hill runs.:roost:
After an hour or so, we rode one of the longest hills climbs i’ve ever experienced and had a rest at a peak that had a Sun Dial and park bench on it.
http://i637.photobucket.com/albums/uu93/Gez510/Day1-Sundialpeakinthepines1.jpg
http://i637.photobucket.com/albums/uu93/Gez510/Day1-Sundialpeakinthepines.jpg
Panoramic pic from the peak.
http://i637.photobucket.com/albums/uu93/Gez510/Day1-PanoramapicofSundailpeak.jpg
After this, we rode the pine plantations for few hours and then headed back to our accom. To Bright pub for dinner, few drinks, crap talk of how good we were:D, and to bed for an early night as the next day was gearing up to be a big one.
Day 2.
Morning came, we planned a approx route and headed off for a big days ride. We rode back thru Porepunkah and took the planned track into the bush.
http://i637.photobucket.com/albums/uu93/Gez510/Day2-EntrancetoOneMileTrack.jpg
We got a little turned around at one stage but ended up riding some of the best dis-used pine plantation roads I’ve ever been on. This track system ended up being a loop which brought us back to the approx start. We then headed to Mt Porepunkah peak, (I was hit by rock thrown by a TE510 just below my armour, it was like being hit with a bat and I have the bruise to prove it too) here we had a break and a look at the map for our next directions.
http://i637.photobucket.com/albums/uu93/Gez510/Day2-MtPorpunkapeak.jpg
http://i637.photobucket.com/albums/uu93/Gez510/Day2-PanoramaofMtPorpunkaPeak1.jpg
The next track is where I saw God, I shit you not! We had to negotiate a very steep rocky downhill section that was a good 200meters long. The first bit was ok, nice and slow. Over the first erosion mound, pretty good so far, next mound is where it all turned bad. Remember these tracks are completely covered with sharp slippery rocks that vary in size from a tennis ball to a basket ball. Rear wheel locked with front brake, all was good till I started to pick up a bit too much speed but could not slow myself down. I said good by to the world as I thought I was about to eat shit, big time! With steering from lock to lock, legs out everywhere, I just managed to get to the next erosion mound and stopped there.
After a min rest to bring my heart rate down, I noticed one of my buds was waiting at the bottom. I walked down the remaining 50 meters or so. Straight back on the bike and soldier on.
We made plans to head across to a small town for lunch but found the pub sold and the owners in the process of moving out so we had no option but to head back to Bright pub for lunch. What shame, we had to eat at the pub again.:D
Potato Wedges and beer went down extremely well, almost too well. But it was time to head to Tawonga Gap so off we went. This is a nice spot too. It’s mainly a ridge top track with views for far as you can see, awesome! We got to the car park bay/look out (Muz will know this spot) and shot straight up the side of the hill to continue on the loop which took us to a rest stop at a peak where the high voltage power lines run overhead.
http://i637.photobucket.com/albums/uu93/Gez510/Day2-TawongaGaptrackrestarea.jpg
The view. Look at that bitumen down there, motard heaven.
http://i637.photobucket.com/albums/uu93/Gez510/Day2-ViewfromTawongaGaptrack.jpg
It was here that for some unknown reason, I looked at my chain to check the slack and noticed the lack of teeth on my rear sprocket, oh shit!:eek: There was no continuing for me. I had to nurse it back via the road from there to the Van. Just made it too as the chain began to slip on the rear sprocket just outside the Van park.
With gear packed away we grab’d a can each and walked to the famous water hole where stories of sitting on a inflatable raft with a 6pack in summer were told.
http://i637.photobucket.com/albums/uu93/Gez510/Day2-Riverfrontageofvanpark.jpg
Then off to the (you guessed it) pub for tea, where the chest beating and drinking continued till about 11pm.
Day three was to include a morning ride, but with a shagged sprocket on two different bikes, it was decided that we make a run for home instead.
Just as well, because the rain came down with a vengeance.
What a trip.
This is for the guys on the trip :poke:
They'll know what I mean.:D
With two of us weary from our nightshifts:coffee:, we loaded up and headed to Porepunkah.
http://i637.photobucket.com/albums/uu93/Gez510/Day1-OntheroadbetweenMertlefordBrig.jpg
We were greeted with a perfectly clear blue sky. Checked into our accommodation, unloaded the gear and bikes and set off for our first adventure, and to break my high country virginity.
http://i637.photobucket.com/albums/uu93/Gez510/Day1-Vanpark1.jpg
http://i637.photobucket.com/albums/uu93/Gez510/Day1-Vanpark3.jpg
60sec’s from the Van park, we were in the pines. The scenery was truly breathtaking, like nothing I’ve ever experienced. Being a total self confessed gumby at hills, I stayed at the back and played follow the leader. It wasn’t long before I was introduced to the rocky ground, as we had to ride up a 5ft rock ledge to get to the first hill climb, I failed:oops:, but was helped up by my faithful companions. After this hiccup, it was smooth sailing up some nice rocky hills and along damp fast flowing fire trails with a ground covered in wet pine needles, it was slide heaven. The hills are not daunting at all, challenging - yes, but scary – no, just very loose & rocky, which I quite liked, totally different to anything I’ve ridden before. The hills just keep going, and going, and going, and just when you think your getting to the top, they keep going some more. Erosion mounds break up the climb, and make great jumping on the down hill runs.:roost:
After an hour or so, we rode one of the longest hills climbs i’ve ever experienced and had a rest at a peak that had a Sun Dial and park bench on it.
http://i637.photobucket.com/albums/uu93/Gez510/Day1-Sundialpeakinthepines1.jpg
http://i637.photobucket.com/albums/uu93/Gez510/Day1-Sundialpeakinthepines.jpg
Panoramic pic from the peak.
http://i637.photobucket.com/albums/uu93/Gez510/Day1-PanoramapicofSundailpeak.jpg
After this, we rode the pine plantations for few hours and then headed back to our accom. To Bright pub for dinner, few drinks, crap talk of how good we were:D, and to bed for an early night as the next day was gearing up to be a big one.
Day 2.
Morning came, we planned a approx route and headed off for a big days ride. We rode back thru Porepunkah and took the planned track into the bush.
http://i637.photobucket.com/albums/uu93/Gez510/Day2-EntrancetoOneMileTrack.jpg
We got a little turned around at one stage but ended up riding some of the best dis-used pine plantation roads I’ve ever been on. This track system ended up being a loop which brought us back to the approx start. We then headed to Mt Porepunkah peak, (I was hit by rock thrown by a TE510 just below my armour, it was like being hit with a bat and I have the bruise to prove it too) here we had a break and a look at the map for our next directions.
http://i637.photobucket.com/albums/uu93/Gez510/Day2-MtPorpunkapeak.jpg
http://i637.photobucket.com/albums/uu93/Gez510/Day2-PanoramaofMtPorpunkaPeak1.jpg
The next track is where I saw God, I shit you not! We had to negotiate a very steep rocky downhill section that was a good 200meters long. The first bit was ok, nice and slow. Over the first erosion mound, pretty good so far, next mound is where it all turned bad. Remember these tracks are completely covered with sharp slippery rocks that vary in size from a tennis ball to a basket ball. Rear wheel locked with front brake, all was good till I started to pick up a bit too much speed but could not slow myself down. I said good by to the world as I thought I was about to eat shit, big time! With steering from lock to lock, legs out everywhere, I just managed to get to the next erosion mound and stopped there.
After a min rest to bring my heart rate down, I noticed one of my buds was waiting at the bottom. I walked down the remaining 50 meters or so. Straight back on the bike and soldier on.
We made plans to head across to a small town for lunch but found the pub sold and the owners in the process of moving out so we had no option but to head back to Bright pub for lunch. What shame, we had to eat at the pub again.:D
Potato Wedges and beer went down extremely well, almost too well. But it was time to head to Tawonga Gap so off we went. This is a nice spot too. It’s mainly a ridge top track with views for far as you can see, awesome! We got to the car park bay/look out (Muz will know this spot) and shot straight up the side of the hill to continue on the loop which took us to a rest stop at a peak where the high voltage power lines run overhead.
http://i637.photobucket.com/albums/uu93/Gez510/Day2-TawongaGaptrackrestarea.jpg
The view. Look at that bitumen down there, motard heaven.
http://i637.photobucket.com/albums/uu93/Gez510/Day2-ViewfromTawongaGaptrack.jpg
It was here that for some unknown reason, I looked at my chain to check the slack and noticed the lack of teeth on my rear sprocket, oh shit!:eek: There was no continuing for me. I had to nurse it back via the road from there to the Van. Just made it too as the chain began to slip on the rear sprocket just outside the Van park.
With gear packed away we grab’d a can each and walked to the famous water hole where stories of sitting on a inflatable raft with a 6pack in summer were told.
http://i637.photobucket.com/albums/uu93/Gez510/Day2-Riverfrontageofvanpark.jpg
Then off to the (you guessed it) pub for tea, where the chest beating and drinking continued till about 11pm.
Day three was to include a morning ride, but with a shagged sprocket on two different bikes, it was decided that we make a run for home instead.
Just as well, because the rain came down with a vengeance.
What a trip.
This is for the guys on the trip :poke:
They'll know what I mean.:D