I had been contacted by Sylvio at Wild Ride Australia www.wildride.com.au to co-ride a surprise
birthday present for Graham.
Louie and I planned to meet at the service station at the turnoff to Carla and Graham's house so we could ride down together this would part of the surprise for Graham.
Whilst I waited for Louie to arrive, the service station person arrived on his motorcycle and as always happens, we got talking about all things motorcycle. He rides a 'Sports Tourer' and explained how he enjoys the corners but is getting to old for a 'Sportsbike' but not that old to get a Harley. I nodded knowingly especially when I have about 10 years on him. One day after, one corner will have him consider a slower pace of life. Hopefully his wife is as generous as mine and allows him to keep the old Sports Tourer and get a cruiser as well.
Louie arrives and as its 7:50 am and he has been riding for the last 40 minutes and he is a little cold and as we chat, he puts his gloves on top of his Harley's engine to warm them up and then hopefully his hands when he puts them back on.
Louie and I ride to Carla and Graham's home and they are both waiting for us at the door as are 2 of their children. They said they had heard us coming down the road. I hadn't realised it was such a quiet neighbourhood. After greetings, I explain the route we will be taking and we check we all have the right gear for the ride as its going to be a little chilly and there is predicted wind gusts and light rain late in the afternoon. I have worn my heavy all weather jacket just to ward off the rain but the Wind God I fear will be greater than my feeble attempt to counter him.
And so starts our 8 hour journey of discovery. We travel into the Sutherland Shire and head south to Loftus and the start of the Royal National Park www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/Royal-National-Park . This is a popular riding and driving area with a 60 kilometres (35 miles) per hour speed limit it is also popular with those, 'Just doing their job'. Today the cyclists are out and the infamous 2 abreast in the single lane only impedes our progress whilst we await their realisation we cannot overtake on the unbroken lines. Some often don’t get it and just sit there holding back the other road useers. I dream of the day when that rule can have an exception. The Northern half of the park is brisk and Carla on the back of the 'Show Pony' is becoming more comfortable. She would have sooner but I gave her one of those exciting too much back brake equals a fish tailing motorcycle earlier in Sutherland.
We emerge for the Royal National Park at Otford and stop to enjoy the view south along the coast and warm up a little. Short break then a short ride to Bald Hill and again take in the view and I explain Lawrence Hargraves’s contribution to aviation.
We head south and cross Sea Cliff Bridge which you can read about in earlier postings. With the thoughts of traffic in the suburbia of Northern Wollongong, we do a U turn and cross Sea Cliff Bridge northbound which gives a much better view. We head for The Sri Venkateswara Temple www.svtsydney.org as I had planned. . We spend about 30 minutes here and are welcomed by Raj who explains the Temple and some of the beliefs of his religion, He tells us they have a group of woman going on a pilgrimage to Nepal and the ladies are here today receiving blessings and preparing themselves.
Unfortunately we have to leave too soon to hear more as the road calls and it will soon be morning tea and I have another stop in mind.
We arrive at Sublime point and check out the view and everyone is intrigued by the locks on the fence. I explain why they are there. We take some photos and then into the cafe for hot drinks to help us warm up. I also have a hot berry muffin. Naughty with the diet but well worth the naughtiness.
We return to the bikes and head south on the Princes highway and turn off at Albion Park to travel to Jamberoo, we pass through Jamberoo, neither the pastry shop or pub we get us today and turn right and climb Saddleback Mountain, the Harleys are working hard as it is definitely a climb and we pass some people on mountain bikes. At the top, the view from the lookout is spectacular.
Returning to the Harleys we now head for Kiama and the Blowhole. Just another day with no spray so we are soon travelling south again through the ‘Kiama Bends’ then left though the road reconstruction work and travel through Gerringong and onto Gerroa. Graham has been on the back of the Show Pony since Saddleback Mountain and informs me through the Sena intercom Carla and he had their wedding reception at the Fisherman's Club as we pass it on our left. We both point at it knowing Louie will not know why but we are sure Carla will.
A right turn on Beach Road and we head for Berry. Along the way I make my usual stop and pay the respect at Harley Hill Cemetery. Graham enjoys my humour. We are soon at Berry after passing a gentleman 'just doing his job on another road user and it’s time to fill the Harleys 200 kilometres. A big climb (Saddleback Mountain) makes for a thirsty Harley. With the tanks filled we head out of town and turn right on Kangaroo Valley Road but our next stop is not Kangaroo Valley. We are going to Cambewarra Lookout to enjoy the view overlooking the area containing Nowra and Jervis Bay.
The cafe has a reputation for charging at the high end of the scale so I plan to have us eat at Kangaroo Valley as it’s a 'been there done that' town so I know what to expect.
We arrive in Kangaroo Valley and find parking just across the road from the pub (hotel). I take Carla and Graham for a quick walk to further build up their appetite as if they needed it. Louie has lost us and phones me to find out where I am. I had the phone muted and missed the 4 calls.
We go to the Wood turners to look at the handcraft then into the fudge shop. Graham and Carla pick up some fudge for the family and I pick up some white chocolate coated raspberry lollies for Kay. Carla and Graham cannot find anything if interest at Jing Jo Cafe and so we head for the hotel 'Friendly Inn’ where they decide to buy one meal and share it as they are going to eat that evening at the restaurant Graham's son works in. I will investigate the restaurant in the future and will report in on it for you dear reader.
Louie has bought a steak with vegetables and I head out for something lighter and I end up at a pie shop I saw last time I was in town.
After our late lunch I re-join Graham, Carla and Louie and we have a 2 hour
30 minute ride ahead of us. The day has gone quicker than I have planned so it
going to be some freeway (Harley Territory) on the way home.
But first we have to climb the escarpment to the Southern Highlands, at Sheepwash Road we turn right and head for the Old South Road it’s a bit bumpier than last time when I was on the Kawasaki 1000GTR. We travel through Yerrinbool and Yanderra and join the M5 / Hume Highway at Bargo.
An easy trip up the highway and we are back at Carla and Graham's 35 minutes later than our 8 hours. No one seems to mind so it was a great trip.
One last point was Graham had been considering buying a sports car, actually a second hand Lotus Elise. I warned Carla along the way, this may turn into a 'I need a motorcycle' trip. It seems there was a discussion lead by Carla about getting a motorcycle at the ‘Friendly Inn’ during lunch on the subject of motorcycle ownership.
So where do we go?
Equipment:
Show Pony is a 2005 Harley Davidson Softail Deluxe.
Louie's lady is a 2007 Harley Davidson Sofail.
The photos were taken on a Samsung Galaxy S5 phone.
Louie and I planned to meet at the service station at the turnoff to Carla and Graham's house so we could ride down together this would part of the surprise for Graham.
Whilst I waited for Louie to arrive, the service station person arrived on his motorcycle and as always happens, we got talking about all things motorcycle. He rides a 'Sports Tourer' and explained how he enjoys the corners but is getting to old for a 'Sportsbike' but not that old to get a Harley. I nodded knowingly especially when I have about 10 years on him. One day after, one corner will have him consider a slower pace of life. Hopefully his wife is as generous as mine and allows him to keep the old Sports Tourer and get a cruiser as well.
Louie arrives and as its 7:50 am and he has been riding for the last 40 minutes and he is a little cold and as we chat, he puts his gloves on top of his Harley's engine to warm them up and then hopefully his hands when he puts them back on.
Louie and I ride to Carla and Graham's home and they are both waiting for us at the door as are 2 of their children. They said they had heard us coming down the road. I hadn't realised it was such a quiet neighbourhood. After greetings, I explain the route we will be taking and we check we all have the right gear for the ride as its going to be a little chilly and there is predicted wind gusts and light rain late in the afternoon. I have worn my heavy all weather jacket just to ward off the rain but the Wind God I fear will be greater than my feeble attempt to counter him.
And so starts our 8 hour journey of discovery. We travel into the Sutherland Shire and head south to Loftus and the start of the Royal National Park www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/Royal-National-Park . This is a popular riding and driving area with a 60 kilometres (35 miles) per hour speed limit it is also popular with those, 'Just doing their job'. Today the cyclists are out and the infamous 2 abreast in the single lane only impedes our progress whilst we await their realisation we cannot overtake on the unbroken lines. Some often don’t get it and just sit there holding back the other road useers. I dream of the day when that rule can have an exception. The Northern half of the park is brisk and Carla on the back of the 'Show Pony' is becoming more comfortable. She would have sooner but I gave her one of those exciting too much back brake equals a fish tailing motorcycle earlier in Sutherland.
We emerge for the Royal National Park at Otford and stop to enjoy the view south along the coast and warm up a little. Short break then a short ride to Bald Hill and again take in the view and I explain Lawrence Hargraves’s contribution to aviation.
 |
| Otford, just outside the southern entrance to the Royal National Park |
 |
| Looking south from Bald Hill. |
We head south and cross Sea Cliff Bridge which you can read about in earlier postings. With the thoughts of traffic in the suburbia of Northern Wollongong, we do a U turn and cross Sea Cliff Bridge northbound which gives a much better view. We head for The Sri Venkateswara Temple www.svtsydney.org as I had planned. . We spend about 30 minutes here and are welcomed by Raj who explains the Temple and some of the beliefs of his religion, He tells us they have a group of woman going on a pilgrimage to Nepal and the ladies are here today receiving blessings and preparing themselves.
Unfortunately we have to leave too soon to hear more as the road calls and it will soon be morning tea and I have another stop in mind.
We arrive at Sublime point and check out the view and everyone is intrigued by the locks on the fence. I explain why they are there. We take some photos and then into the cafe for hot drinks to help us warm up. I also have a hot berry muffin. Naughty with the diet but well worth the naughtiness.
 |
| Sublime Point Lookout |
 |
| View from Sublime Point |
We return to the bikes and head south on the Princes highway and turn off at Albion Park to travel to Jamberoo, we pass through Jamberoo, neither the pastry shop or pub we get us today and turn right and climb Saddleback Mountain, the Harleys are working hard as it is definitely a climb and we pass some people on mountain bikes. At the top, the view from the lookout is spectacular.
 |
| Saddleback Mountain Lookout |
 |
| View from Saddleback Mountain Lookout |
 |
| View from Saddleback Mountain Lookout |
 |
| View from Saddleback Mountain Lookout |
 |
| View in Saddleback Mountain Lookout car park |
 |
| One way of keeping warm. |
Returning to the Harleys we now head for Kiama and the Blowhole. Just another day with no spray so we are soon travelling south again through the ‘Kiama Bends’ then left though the road reconstruction work and travel through Gerringong and onto Gerroa. Graham has been on the back of the Show Pony since Saddleback Mountain and informs me through the Sena intercom Carla and he had their wedding reception at the Fisherman's Club as we pass it on our left. We both point at it knowing Louie will not know why but we are sure Carla will.
A right turn on Beach Road and we head for Berry. Along the way I make my usual stop and pay the respect at Harley Hill Cemetery. Graham enjoys my humour. We are soon at Berry after passing a gentleman 'just doing his job on another road user and it’s time to fill the Harleys 200 kilometres. A big climb (Saddleback Mountain) makes for a thirsty Harley. With the tanks filled we head out of town and turn right on Kangaroo Valley Road but our next stop is not Kangaroo Valley. We are going to Cambewarra Lookout to enjoy the view overlooking the area containing Nowra and Jervis Bay.
 |
| Cambewarra Lookout |
 |
| Cambewarra Lookout. |
 |
| The Harleys wait patiently. |
The cafe has a reputation for charging at the high end of the scale so I plan to have us eat at Kangaroo Valley as it’s a 'been there done that' town so I know what to expect.
We arrive in Kangaroo Valley and find parking just across the road from the pub (hotel). I take Carla and Graham for a quick walk to further build up their appetite as if they needed it. Louie has lost us and phones me to find out where I am. I had the phone muted and missed the 4 calls.
We go to the Wood turners to look at the handcraft then into the fudge shop. Graham and Carla pick up some fudge for the family and I pick up some white chocolate coated raspberry lollies for Kay. Carla and Graham cannot find anything if interest at Jing Jo Cafe and so we head for the hotel 'Friendly Inn’ where they decide to buy one meal and share it as they are going to eat that evening at the restaurant Graham's son works in. I will investigate the restaurant in the future and will report in on it for you dear reader.
 |
| Kay and I had dinner hear a few months earlier. Good food and plenty of it. |
 |
| I don't think this is what Carla and Graham's lunchtime conversation was about. |
Louie has bought a steak with vegetables and I head out for something lighter and I end up at a pie shop I saw last time I was in town.
 |
| Worth the stop or wait to the General Store out of town. |
 |
| Now you see it. |
 |
| Now you don't. |
But first we have to climb the escarpment to the Southern Highlands, at Sheepwash Road we turn right and head for the Old South Road it’s a bit bumpier than last time when I was on the Kawasaki 1000GTR. We travel through Yerrinbool and Yanderra and join the M5 / Hume Highway at Bargo.
An easy trip up the highway and we are back at Carla and Graham's 35 minutes later than our 8 hours. No one seems to mind so it was a great trip.
One last point was Graham had been considering buying a sports car, actually a second hand Lotus Elise. I warned Carla along the way, this may turn into a 'I need a motorcycle' trip. It seems there was a discussion lead by Carla about getting a motorcycle at the ‘Friendly Inn’ during lunch on the subject of motorcycle ownership.
 |
| So is this the future? |
 |
| Maybe only Graham and Carla will know. |
So where do we go?
 |
| Click the map for directions |
Equipment:
Show Pony is a 2005 Harley Davidson Softail Deluxe.
Louie's lady is a 2007 Harley Davidson Sofail.
The photos were taken on a Samsung Galaxy S5 phone.
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