Ian Scott

Not sure how come I ended up writing today’s ride report as I didn’t start and finish with the group!

As Coffs BUG was riding from Boambee East Community Centre to Bellingen via North Bank Road, I decided to start the ride with the Coffs BUG group as the starting point is just around the corner from my place. About 20 Coffs BUG riders plus myself left the Boambee East Community Centre at 7:30am. Very chilly morning but not a cloud to be seen. We headed south along Pine Creek Way. I assume six riders left Urunga BP at 8:00am.

Both groups met up just at the bottom of Perrys hill. Three riders joined us at North Bank Road. We split into a fast group and a slow group for the ride into Bellingen. First rest stop was at the top of the first long climb. Most of the usual suspects were first up the hill with one notable exception. Mike decided to do the social thing and stayed back talking to a couple of Coffs BUG riders.

We continued on the Bellingen and coffee at the Butter Factory. The Coffs group had planned things a little better than us and had already pre-booked a table at another coffee shop. Of course everyone forgot about Mother’s day but we were lucky enough to get a table before the main rush.

After coffee and excellent scones it was back on the road again back home along North Bank Road again. We picked up John Gray in the middle of town. It doesn’t seem to matter how often we do this ride, the hills don’t get any easier!

What a magnificent day for a bike ride! After a chilly start the temperature was just right in the low twenties and not a breath of wind from any direction.

At the old Pacific Highway, John and myself turned left and headed back to Coffs, everyone else headed back to Urunga.

Next week’s Ride: Nambucca to Gladstone and return (160 Kms!) starting at Nambucca Tourist Office 8:00am. Alternate Ride: BP Urunga to Bellingen via South Arm/ North Bank roads 7:30am

Regular Wednesday and Fridays rides from BP North Urunga starting at 8:00am More information 02 6568 2115

It was the shakedown tour for Deb, Betty Anne and Dave, who head off to Europe shortly, the first time to try out all their gear and identify what they should have brought but didn’t. Betty Anne discovered that their two-person tent was just that – two people and nothing else, like panniers, would fit. Luckily, the back of Herb’s station wagon was available for this trip, but they’re going to have to figure out something else for Europe. Deb, who has cycled Europe before, didn’t have any hiccups and can hardly wait for departure; she wore a permanent grin all weekend.

Phil was also in the group, building on his long-distance cycling experiences, having done Armidale a few weekends ago, and travelling up and down the Gold Coast before that. Apart from a couple of pesky flat tyres on the first leg of the cycle from Urunga to Hat Head, no hiccups for this seasoned cyclist either.

Herb and Allan B drove down from Urunga and did the day trips out from Hat Head; their back-up with vehicles, camping gear, food and tarps to keep off the rain were invaluable. And Colleen and Mike came from Scotts Head, doing a tandem car driving/bike riding stint with the group on the way down.

The tour: Thursday morning, Phil cycled from north of Urunga, picking up Dave and Betty Anne along the way. Deb joined them at Valla and Mike joined them at Macksville. Mike and Colleen swapped transport at Clybucca so Colleen could cycle to Hat Head with the group. By the time the group got to the Hat Head caravan park mid-afternoon, Allan and Herb had already arrived and were setting up “Herb Hilton” (see photos). All the tents were up quickly as it looked like there was wet weather on the way. Pre-dinner catch-up was under two large beach umbrellas while water ran down the backs of those not lucky enough to be inside the drip line. Dinner at HH Bowling Club was the first of two great dinners there. Dave can vouch for the sticky date pudding, which he had every night we were there!

The Friday ride was a 9am departure to destination Gladstone, via Kincella Creek, a 12km loop. When we arrived, the café of choice in Gladstone was packed with a group of cyclists from up Mclean way, some of whom had organized the Big River Ride that Herb, Allan, Mike and Colleen went on last year. After a quick catch-up and coffee, our group did another 20km loop (Austral Eden) and then headed back to camp for lunch. Total distance was about 60km. A bushwalk that was supposed to be 3km but felt like more made sure we had worked up an appetite for dinner at the Bowlo again, and we were down there early. Lucky thing too, because people who ordered dinner early got free tickets in the Jag the Joker. We threw in five more dollars and had heaps of tickets, one of which won us the meat tray. Deb was up in a flash to claim the prize, but had a momentary panic when she couldn’t decide which card might be the joker. She called for help, and Herb was persuaded to go to her rescue, being mistaken for “hubby” by the MC, which he didn’t live down for the rest of the weekend. Lucky Herb has a sense of humour!

Saturday’s ride was to Southwest Rocks and it was heaven on the way in as there was a stiff tail wind pushing us along. A quick tour of the town and it was out to the Gaol and coffee at the café on the way back. The tail wind that had helped us into Southwest Rocks wasn’t going to help us out. Mike and Colleen ended up pushing a bit faster into the wind – just enough that Phil couldn’t catch them and ended up battling back 14km into the wind on his own – while the remaining five formed a solid peloton that worked like a machine, giving each rider a set time at the front and then switching so a fresh rider could take the lead. Another good, long ride at 60km or so once we got back to Hat Head. Then it was our last night BBQ, complements of our lucky ticket, and we shared chops, steaks and sausages (Deb had fish!) and a few drinks, agreeing that Hat Head should become an annual event.

Sunday saw us break camp. Deb, Betty Anne, Dave and Phil loaded their bikes for the long cycle back to Valla and Urunga. Mike joined them as far as Macksville, and Herb and Allan accompanied them as far as Clybucca then turned around and cycled back to Hat Head to pack their cars and head home.

We missed having Sally and Anna on the ride, who will also be cycling in Europe shortly. Many thanks to Allan, who organized us all and kept us on track without being a dictator! His truck, which seemed a bit like a magic pudding at times, provided us with all the camping gear we couldn’t or didn’t bring with us. At Deb’s suggestion, we agreed that we should do the Hat Head trip again in October as there are still many rides that we could do and it is such a beautiful area.

The international travel enthusiasts, Bettyanne, Debbie, and David, rode to Hat Head from Urunga on Thursday, with all their gear in panniers.  They camped there until their return journey on Sunday.  They were accompanied on those rides by Phil, Mike, and Colleen on the trip down and back, and were joined at Hat Head itself by Alan and Herb, who took the easy vehicular option.  Rumour has it that Colleen may have succumbed to vehicular temptation occasionally but information on that seems to be classified.  We are inclined to forgive her as she is in training for the Sydney Half Marathon and needs to conserve some of her, otherwise boundless, energy.

Once settled in they made a number of days trips from their camp and had “a wow of a time”.  Debbie came close to making the trip a financial bonanza by coming “oh so close” to winning a car at the local club.  Ah well, a meat tray consolation prize is not too bad.

Four of us mere mortals, who stayed home, made the trip to Bellingen via South Arm and returned by North Bank.  Whilst not in the heroic mode of our mad Hatters (Hat Headers) we had a pleasant and uneventful ride with the obligatory coffee stop at the Butter Factory.  David and Chris were the pace setters but showed mercy to George by not going too fast.  Graham occupied Herb’s usual role of tail-end-Charley – this means he rode with George.  The weather was great the company great, and the coffee too was great – what more could we ask for?

Next week’s Mother’s Day ride is along the Old Highway to meet up with the Coffs Group and then to ride Northbank with them to Bellingen returning to Urunga again by Northbank. Start BP Urunga at 8 a.m.  The Wednesday and Friday ride start at Urunga BP at 8 a.m. as usual.

All four riders managed to get to the summit of Red Hill and then traverse the other hills on the Mt. Browne loop which made the ride a short  but a very testing effort. As usual after a breath taking sprint down the return side of Red Hill, a rewarding coffee and fine stories were enjoyed at Gloria Jeans being a fitting conclusion to the Sunday ride.

Next Sunday there is the choice between two rides both starting at 8.00am, one from the Top Pub at Dorrigo to Megan and Lowanna and back to Urunga via Coffs with gravel sections. The other begins at the BP Urunga out Southarm Rd. to Bellingen for coffee and return along Northbank Rd. to Urunga. The weekday rides start at 8.00am. from the BP Urunga on Wednesday & Friday for about 36km.

Alan Brighton and Herb Simpson, who had just returned from three days cycling in the Armidale district, decided to save their weary legs and turned back at Bunning’s.  Phil Jones who, it seems, is made of sterner stuff added the 90+ kms to his Armidale tally with no apparent difficulty.

Heavy rain on Friday caused some washouts and left lots of road debris but the coastal views were magnificent!  Garden Mania, with its old world charm, lifted our spirits and quelled our appetites on the way back to Urunga.

George Smith relished his role as “Tail-end-Charlie” following Herb’s departure.  It gave him an excuse for arriving last at every catch-up stop.  He was ably assisted in this onerous task by Bettyanne Austen.

The Armidale trip proved a great success.  Five of our riders attended and have clearly stated their intention to repeat the experience in the future.  The autumn colours were “amazing”.  The weather was great and not too cold.  The company was, of course’  “fantastic”.  To top it all off Coleen Henry celebrated her birthday. (The age achieved is “classified”).

Those of us who missed out are very miffed.

Next week’s ride is another epic. Urunga BP to Mount Brown and back – about 90 kms again – starting at 0800.  The usual Wednesday and Friday rides also start at the Urunga BP at 0800

Colleen Henry

Even after wholeheartedly assuring George S. that I LIKED doing the ride report and no, I wasn’t missing Sunday rides just so I wouldn’t have to write it…

Even after spending two hours cleaning my bike of all the dirt, sand and cow manure that I had accumulated on today’s ride…

Even after reflecting once again on Sunday afternoon that it had been such a great day for a cycle….

I still forgot to do the ride report. I forgot to do the ride report right up until the moment my eyes flew open at 12.46am and then I couldn’t stop thinking about the bloody thing, so here it is….

George S and Betty Anne looked like the only starters this morning, under the grey skies and falling rain at Urunga BP, until Mike and Colleen showed up a few minutes late and Dave rocked up while they were getting their bikes off the car. George S. and Dave were both on their mountain bikes, as there had been an off-road ride planned for that morning, as well as the alternate South Bank/North Arm road ride to Bellingen. But seeing there were so few of us for either ride, George and Dave did it tough and pushed their heavy lumps of metal to Bello. The knobby tyres perhaps felt a bit safer in the rain and on the downhills as the road was muddy and rocky in places.

The rain eased once the Fearless Five left Urunga, but didn’t stop entirely until we got to the ever-welcoming Butter Factory, where scones and macadamia nut bread were inhaled (they disappeared so fast). It was a shortish stop – riders were keen to get back on the bikes before we got too cold, even though the café proprietors had a stack of blankets handy for those hardy outside diners. I gingerly put one on my legs, trying not to think of the wet, sweaty, road grime traces I was no doubt leaving behind.

The weather fined up on the way back and the hills provided a welcome way to warm up. The ride was as gentle as the rain had been – no one seemed to want to go very fast (apart from George who wished he wasn’t on his mountain bike) and we were happy tootling along, which made the ride very enjoyable.

Next week’s ride begins at 8am from Urunga BP. I’ve been asked to emphasise that because there was a bit of confusion about today’s ride starting at 7.30. The ride next week, according to my ride roster, is up to Coffs and beyond to Bruxner Park to Bucca T and return to Coffs Surf Club for coffee and back to Urunga. And the usual 8am rides on Wednesday and Friday from Urunga BP. Some of us will be going to Armidale to do some rides around there, so see you when we get back.

The weather was good and everyone refreshed after an extra hour in bed but probably due to it being April Fool’s Day, one rider forgot his helmet and the ride began with a short detour to Phil’s place to get a spare. What a great ride, the countryside was green and lush making it highly pleasurable even taking into account the effort required to conquer the never-ending hills. Deb. our ride leader, did have a little trouble with the chain coming off a couple of times but under Herb’s expert direction, Steve performed the intricate adjustment necessary to provide trouble free cycling for the remainder of the ride.

Coffee at the Butter Factory as usual, but Dave must have over done it with strong coffee and muffins causing him to lose balance and having to remount from this embarrassment. A surprise on the ride back was passing the other Dave with Janine on a tandem heading in the opposite direction, it is hoped this combination will join us on coming rides.  We finished the 45km. ride at Urunga about 11.30am.

Next Sunday the ride is to Coffs Jetty and Toormina starting at 8.00am at the BP Urunga.  Wednesday and Friday rides from the same place and time.