I decided that I would check out the back road from Jerry's Plans to the Bylong Valley Way, once there well Rylstone looked good and so it began......535k's and home.
(http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd399/Black9cat/5-03-20127-40-05PM.jpg)
I left Singleton and headed towards Jerry's plains via Putty Road and the Golden Hwy, at Jerry's Plains I turned off and headed to Bylong Via Bureen Rd, Martindale Rd, Yarrawa Rd & Bylong Valley Way.
Sunshine with a light breeze, some cloud starting to appear, very little traffic, Yarrawa Rd had some gravel.
Bureen Rd & Yarrawa Rd had no center line, flowing water over the road in several places along the way and gravel washed across the road on the hilly bends.
(http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd399/Black9cat/5-03-20127-21-18PM.jpg)
(http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd399/Black9cat/5-03-20127-21-55PM.jpg)
(http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd399/Black9cat/5-03-20127-22-48PM.jpg)
Bylong to Rylstone Via Bylong Valley Way, The weather was fine but cloudy, light breeze and flowing water over the road in low areas, gravel washed onto the road on hilly corners from previous storms, very little traffic, stopped at Rylstone and fueled up and a cold drink as it was humid.
Headed off to Running Stream Via Bylong Valley Way, Cooper Drive and Castlereagh Hwy Cloudy and moderate breeze, weather was looking like it was going to turn for the worst, I rode into Kandos and took Cooper Drive to link back up with Bylong Valley Way only to find the road closed.
There was bridge work ahead on Bylong Valley Way as there had been a lot of rain over the past couple of days, my heart sank as I did not want to back track, my guess was the detour was underwater.
As I was high up I saw past the Bridge works a vehicle, so I figured the road was open on the other side, so I though I would just ride down for a look.
The road detour was over an old wooden bridge, the water was flowing fast but had dropped and the bridge had sustained some damage it was passable for a bike, I don't think a car would have got across as part of the bridge was washed away and the side barriers were moved into the center which meant I had to weave around them on the bridge.
No photos here, I sort of sat there and looked at it (the bridge) and made a off the cuff decision and road over, in hind sight it was probably reckless but it all turned out OK.
There was 4 vehicles on the other side, I let them know what it was like and headed on my way to Running Stream.
Good road with sweaping bends & light traffic, there was still water running on the road in some of the hilly sections (seepage) and some gravel that had washed onto the road as well, mostly on bends.
Running Stream to Lithgow Via Castlereagh Hwy and the Great Western Hwy, A good ride, Moderate breeze, cloudy but no rain....luck with the weather was still holding out.
Lithgow to Colo via Via Bells Line of Road, Comerley Road, East Kurrejong Road and Putty Road.
Bells Line of road as always is a nice ride, I decided to swing into the Mount Banks Picnic Area as what I could see from the road looked very scenic, the dirt road was total crap, rocky and bumpy but worth the trouble.
(http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd399/Black9cat/5-03-20127-17-54PM.jpg)
(http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd399/Black9cat/5-03-20127-11-14PM.jpg)
(http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd399/Black9cat/5-03-20127-13-30PM.jpg)
(http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd399/Black9cat/5-03-20127-12-40PM.jpg)
(http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd399/Black9cat/5-03-20127-09-07PM.jpg)
(http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd399/Black9cat/5-03-20127-09-51PM.jpg)
(http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd399/Black9cat/5-03-20127-08-28PM.jpg)
(http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd399/Black9cat/5-03-20127-07-46PM.jpg)
(http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd399/Black9cat/5-03-20127-04-51PM.jpg)
Comerley and East Kurrejong roads were OK but the Putty, that's the home stretch for me, some good straights and moderate twisties at this end.
(http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd399/Black9cat/5-03-20127-20-36PM.jpg)
Colo to Singleton via Putty Road,
Some good long straights with twisties, but the good stuff starts after the old half way servo, I do like the Singleton end of the Putty. The weather was threatening rain and the wind was gusty and some water was still running over the road in places, nothing deep just seepage, stone had come down in the cuttings, and a few boulders as well... keeps you alert dodging potholes, loose grave, rocks and branches etc.
Made it home, no rain but a bit windy.
Love those PR3 tyres, they are worth the extra for wet roads.
Nice write up - it's 1 degree in central London with tiny snow flakes.... My GTR has been in hibernation since November last year!!
535kms is a nice decent ride out - takes me 2 hours to get through 5 kms in in in London!
I live in a regional area so traffic is not such a problem for me,
However it's pretty much the same here in the state capital cities during peak hour, I try to avoid it as much as possible.
If I am going through on a LD ride I generally time it for the wee hours.
nice pics :yes: see you have a greenie one :sad: sorry rog, rusty,geoff,andy :grin: "highett" is that you standing on the rock looking rather wind swept :smiley: weather been :shit: here! so not got out for a decent since running my zzr1441 :smiley: :smiley: in 6 weeks ago :sad: but looking forward to some un- :shit: weather
That's a great write up ...love the photos ... Especially as it looks so warm where you are ! Keep it coming and thanks for sharing it all with us here in the UK :cool: