Tassie Revenge – Objective: Putty Road February 2005

Rob (Gilbert) and I departed on our trip after the Sunday 20^th Mt Donna Buang / Reefton Spur Ride, the engine still warm. Because I have a big black dog, Thor the Rottweiler, that can’t fit on the bike, and Tassie was too long to leave him alone, but I really wanted to go for a ride. Frustratingly, there was even a ticket with my name on it.

To make up for my misery, I decided to do a ride I had always wanted to do since 1998, but a bit differently: bike on trailer with dog in car and Rob coming with me. Camping and good company, doing it in style!

We stopped at Cowra, having heard about at Japanese gardens and a prisoner of war (POW) camp. I didn’t know this: about 200 Japanese POWs were killed in a mass breakout.

We camped at a lake near Blaney. The camp ground was free, with lovely amenities but no hot showers. And the roads were great for bikes. The camp site had a view of the lake and a nearby wind farm. We used the campsite as a base for a couple of nights. Next day we did a bike ride to Mt Panorama for a few laps– “just once more” making a total of about 6 laps – all at 60 km/h of course. Another goal of the trip achieved. The mountain road was steep – just as I remembered it.

On to Lake Lyall just out of Lithgow. We rode down to Janolan Caves. Wow, it is like entering another world. There was a really breathtaking blue lagoon as you come around the corner, and behind that, a massive three story cave opening that the road goes through. Within this opening is the start for all the individual cave tours. On the other side, a fantasy tourist village including accommodation, shops, and spa baths are built into the rock face.

We decided a full day’s exploration was required after doing the Putty Road, next time bringing proper walking apparel (clothes and shoes rather than boots and leathers) to explore the region properly. And, of course, to ride the ‘Take Extreme Care” road again, some 20 kilometres of tight and twisty corners, that unfortunately closes at 5 pm. They had had 6 inches of rain the week before and part of this road had collapsed in a couple of spots, removing a whole lane. Timing with the buses coming the other way was critical, and we were lucky not to meet any.

Thursday, Richmond to Singleton, via the Putty Road. I was expecting non-stop 180 km of Reefton Spur stuff. Not quite, but I enjoyed every bit of it, finally. The first and last bits were great. The middle section is open and fast and scary due to possible cop presence. The sign posting was excellent, consistent and trustworthy. Then we did the Bells Line of road to Richmond twice! It was better, but all 80 km/h and heavily policed – but not that we noticed. An easy five hundred kay day ride. Back to base, a swim with Thor, with the blow up lilo – which lasted about 30 minutes before he sunk his teeth into it.

On the way up to NSW we had stopped at CJs bike shop in Albury and had been offered test rides on a Aprilia Mille and an 05 latest model Buell – the one with a fairing. I said I would take a rain check but would be back in a week or so to take up the offer. So the plan was to put the bikes on the trailer Saturday night, read off first thing Sunday morning, stay overnight at Albury, for Monday morning test rides. That’s what we did, except Rob, by this stage was on crutches!

Heading back to Janolan caves on Saturday morning, he encountered a motorcyclist nightmare: an uphill right hand sweeper, turning to a left hander over the crest, off camber with an unmarked T intersection covered in road gravel. The only thing missing was rain and oil. It was signposted – the sign hidden behind trees!

Rob got a banged up leg - nothing was broken, but he couldn’t ride. He ended in Lithgow hospital, 15 minutes away from the crash site, via an ambulance for a check up – stitched his knee up after 7 hours, lots of other “interesting” more serious cases queue jumping. The bike (V-Strom Suzuki DL650) sustained broken indicators, gear shift lever and various scratches, all up $5,500 damage according to the quote though it would have been quite rideable with a new lever. The cops threatened/have charged Rob with dangerous driving based on speed. The fact that the bike didn’t even slide through the T intersection indicate that gravel and not speed was the cause of the accident. The corner is notorious and well known the locals. They related various crash stories on the corner.

In the meantime I loaded my bike on the trailer and then went and picked up Rob’s bike from the crash repair shop after it was removed from the crash scene by a flat top tow truck.

I still did my test rides after a pep talk on the phone with Ben. Get my priorities straight! I hated the Buell – no fairing, chunky gearbox, nothing exciting. The bike did nothing better than the Suzuki. And the Aprilia – it felt nice, great engine, but I wouldn’t swap for my GSXR1000. The Aprilia didn’t have under seat pipe or Radial callipers or any latest technology, good brakes.

Back to Melbourne on Monday after an exciting week, much better than Tassy.

Rob tells me that the RACV would have put us up for 7 nights in a motel. Bugger! Wish we had known.

Lyn Duncan