Kate and Troll Tours www.trolltours.com.au contacted me to do a 4 hours guided tour which is to include Kangaroo Valley. I check my route planning and it would take 3 hours 50 minutes with no stops. Well that was what my research indicated.
So Saturday morning arrives and it's an early start to where I am to meet Stacey. Along the way I fuel Show Pony aka Silver for its going to take a least a tank of fuel.
I arrive at Stacey's house a few minutes early then the arranged time and she is outside with her uncle. I think she was having a smoke to steady her nerves for the ordeal her son had bought her, that being a 4 hour Harley Davidson ride.
We gear up with Jacket, gloves. helmet with a Sena communication attachment for the guided tour component. With my rides, its a guided tour on a Harley not just a joy ride.
We travel to the M5 and had south for Melbourne but will not be going there today as that is a good 11 hours each way. Instead we turn off at Picton Road and head for the Coast just north of Wollongong. We take Highway 1 to the Albion Park turn off and travel through to Jamberoo.
Jamberoo is often a stop on a lead ride but we have no time today and instead climb to Saddleback Mountain Lookout. Show Pony gallops up the Mountain road and near the top we find a cyclist. Through the Sena, Stacey questions the guy's sanity of riding up a mountain and in the heat of this day.
We stop at the lookout and view the valleys and coast north to Wollongong with Kiama to the East.
Back on Show Pony and its down the coastal road and a right turn before Kiama proper. Oh dear, we have to travel through the Kiama bends, shame about the 'people mover' who sat in the right lane but we are here going for a tour not a race.
The road works at Gerringong continues with the railway bridge nearing completion. We take the second turn off and try to bypass as much of Gerringong Shopping Centre as possible. Right turn at the round around on to and through Gerroa. Next turn at the Beach Road and we pause at Harley Hill Cemetery just 'cause we are on a Harley.
Into Berry and out the other side as we have no time to stop to check all the touristy things, a turn to the right before the 50 kilometre per hour speed camera and onto the Kangaroo Valley Road. Always an interesting road to ride with questionable surface at the hairpin corners. Along the ridge we turn left and onto the Tourist Road to the Cambewarra Lookout. The view sweeps from the Shoalhaven Heads across to Nowra and beyond to the south. The road into Kangaroo Valley is better then the Kangaroo Valley Road we were on though the bike did a little step to the right which Stacey didn't notice. Fear does that!
Returning to Show Pony and Electro Magnetic field has not effected the electronic ignite as warned by the signs in the car park, we head for Kangaroo Valley but again no stopping for Touristy things we are going to the Barrengarry General Store to stop and try the 'World's Best Pie". OK, they are very good but I have not travelled all the world eating pies to be able to comment accurately. They also have Lollies (sweets / candy) Locally produced Honey, Jams and other bottled delights. The Turkish Delight isn't half bad which I brought home for my wife. I also pick up an apple pie to take home. Good news for me but bad news for Stacey, they don't sell cigarettes.
Back on the road and up the escapement, past Fitzroy Falls on the Sheepwash Road which joins Kangaloo Road and right at the Old South Road. Near the airfield we slow as there is a police officer talking to a driver and the road is narrow.
Right turn onto the Old Hume Highway through Yerrinbool then Yanderra and we continue heading for Picton but we have to make a stop. Show Pony I discover has a low fuel light, just as well as the fuel gauge always shows full. We make it to Tahmoor, whilst I refuel Show Pony Stacey gets the opportunity to buy a pack of cigarettes for 'past ride recovery' of course.
We travel through Picton, see the old cars at the lookout on the top of Razorback as we pass.
At the Camden bypass an interesting event as a Mazda CX9 moves into the left lane at the traffic lights where I had planned to be. A weekend warrior on a Harley goes up the kerbside and when the lights change, the Weekend Warrior' s Harley under power goes slighty sideways and heads for the CX9 which isn't as fast as it's driver thinks it was going to be.The Harley recovers and gets past the CX9 in the meantime I in now in the right lane with the left lane closing. As I pass the CX9 he indicates something with his hand which I think was not a pleasantry. Oh the joys of the Road.
Stacey is returned to the starting point and says she has enjoyed trip or as I would say a Ride with DBR.
So where did we go?
Equipment: Samsung Galaxy S5
2005 Harley Davidson Softail Deluxe
Sena bluetooth intercoms
A packet of cigarettes with only one in it. Emptied at Saddleback Mountain Lookout.
Final note is an email Stacey sent to Troll Tours after the ride.
So Saturday morning arrives and it's an early start to where I am to meet Stacey. Along the way I fuel Show Pony aka Silver for its going to take a least a tank of fuel.
I arrive at Stacey's house a few minutes early then the arranged time and she is outside with her uncle. I think she was having a smoke to steady her nerves for the ordeal her son had bought her, that being a 4 hour Harley Davidson ride.
We gear up with Jacket, gloves. helmet with a Sena communication attachment for the guided tour component. With my rides, its a guided tour on a Harley not just a joy ride.
 |
| Stacey is ready to ride like the wind. |
Jamberoo is often a stop on a lead ride but we have no time today and instead climb to Saddleback Mountain Lookout. Show Pony gallops up the Mountain road and near the top we find a cyclist. Through the Sena, Stacey questions the guy's sanity of riding up a mountain and in the heat of this day.
We stop at the lookout and view the valleys and coast north to Wollongong with Kiama to the East.
 |
| When photographing scene check what is in focus. Lovely bush on the left and out of focus view. |
 |
| Definitely the view has improved. |
The road works at Gerringong continues with the railway bridge nearing completion. We take the second turn off and try to bypass as much of Gerringong Shopping Centre as possible. Right turn at the round around on to and through Gerroa. Next turn at the Beach Road and we pause at Harley Hill Cemetery just 'cause we are on a Harley.
Into Berry and out the other side as we have no time to stop to check all the touristy things, a turn to the right before the 50 kilometre per hour speed camera and onto the Kangaroo Valley Road. Always an interesting road to ride with questionable surface at the hairpin corners. Along the ridge we turn left and onto the Tourist Road to the Cambewarra Lookout. The view sweeps from the Shoalhaven Heads across to Nowra and beyond to the south. The road into Kangaroo Valley is better then the Kangaroo Valley Road we were on though the bike did a little step to the right which Stacey didn't notice. Fear does that!
 |
| Stacey photographs the view from Cambewarra Lookout. |
 |
| Stacey then becomes part of the view. Nice complimentary water bottle. |
Back on the road and up the escapement, past Fitzroy Falls on the Sheepwash Road which joins Kangaloo Road and right at the Old South Road. Near the airfield we slow as there is a police officer talking to a driver and the road is narrow.
Right turn onto the Old Hume Highway through Yerrinbool then Yanderra and we continue heading for Picton but we have to make a stop. Show Pony I discover has a low fuel light, just as well as the fuel gauge always shows full. We make it to Tahmoor, whilst I refuel Show Pony Stacey gets the opportunity to buy a pack of cigarettes for 'past ride recovery' of course.
We travel through Picton, see the old cars at the lookout on the top of Razorback as we pass.
At the Camden bypass an interesting event as a Mazda CX9 moves into the left lane at the traffic lights where I had planned to be. A weekend warrior on a Harley goes up the kerbside and when the lights change, the Weekend Warrior' s Harley under power goes slighty sideways and heads for the CX9 which isn't as fast as it's driver thinks it was going to be.The Harley recovers and gets past the CX9 in the meantime I in now in the right lane with the left lane closing. As I pass the CX9 he indicates something with his hand which I think was not a pleasantry. Oh the joys of the Road.
Stacey is returned to the starting point and says she has enjoyed trip or as I would say a Ride with DBR.
So where did we go?
 |
| Click on the map to find out. |
Equipment: Samsung Galaxy S5
2005 Harley Davidson Softail Deluxe
Sena bluetooth intercoms
A packet of cigarettes with only one in it. Emptied at Saddleback Mountain Lookout.
Final note is an email Stacey sent to Troll Tours after the ride.
Hi Kate,
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
I had the best day. David was fantastic, very entertaining and a
great adventure tour guide.
Simply awesome 😃
Stacey
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