The wash up…..literally
Another fantastic ride, wet weather aside.
I knew it was going to be a fantastic event when Paul Rumble rang me to say he was in a 7 car convoy heading up the mountain. Many leave passes were obtained from very understanding wives (wedding anniversary, a wife out of hospital Wednesday, a daughter’s birthday Sunday to name a few…..thanks ladies).
This year we had 24 riders, 2 support, 6 base campers, many repeats from last year (and a few apologies from those going to Bathurst), but plenty of new faces.
A dozen or so guys went for an “inspection” ride on the Friday afternoon after setting up camp. Some went out three times…..having far too much fun! Conditions were cool and damp but still very rideable, and this time... no snow.
On Saturday morning it was up early whilst the rest of the crews started rolling in. Bacon and egg rolls for everyone before heading off at 9.00am. It had rained fairly heavily over night, but at least it wasn’t snowing and there was no wind.
We headed out and after a couple of kms of reasonably quick warm up we got straight into the single track, ducking and weaving, dodging the deep wet ruts and bog holes. Conditions were cool and slippery which was all the more fun. After 45 minutes` of single track we hit the first two small hill climbs which managed to claim a couple of scalps…….
Onto some wider quicker trails, interspersed with an astonishing number of downed trees that required work arounds, before ducking into another round of single track. By this time everyone was starting to find their rhythm.
Out onto some open fire trails before we arrived at the dreaded “water crossing”……cold and deep if you fell in. A safe crossing was had by all.
Half way to Cullen Bullen and only two more mountains to cross. Up some steep and down the other side. Unfortunately a huge downed tree meant the support vehicle had to turn around and find another way to CB, for the bikes, up the bank and around another huge tree.
Along the telephone tower trails and back into the bush. It was at this point that the corner man system was put to the test with the sweep losing a tyre, and Hamish feeling sore after a fall and the pub within reach. When the corner man before me rode up 15mins later and said he thinks the sweep has taken his vest off because it’s been so long…..I knew we had a problem. I rode back to find Stu had his tyre back on and pumped up….no problem.
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