Helping our rural mates – Boonah to Tenterfield Part II
Technology and I remain on shaky ground. We have an understanding but we challenge each other all too regularly and the loving Julian tears what remains of his hair, out. I really do challenge him sometimes although this morning I managed to sort out the hassles I was having with accessing and uploading photographs. Tonight as I write this, I have had another round of hassles, think I have sorted them through and hopefully have not deluged you with a huge range of irrelevant but pretty photographs (I have managed to cause him another round of angst and frustration I am sure). I also think I should probably leave things alone when I am tired but that is a wholly different kettle of fish….
So, back to the ride. Day 2 of our escapade from Boonah to Tenterfield and back sees our run from Tenterfield to Boonah completed.
I realise that the tap water, at Tenterfield, has a smoky smell and almost flavour to it as a result of the recent fires that ravaged this area. I also realise that the smell of the room is a quirky smell of deodoriser, potentially, because of those same fires. In any event, the area seems to be recovering after fire then flood tore through here. The insurance company was slightly baffled, but, this is Australia, the land of extremes.
It is a brisk morning, towards the end of summer yet it is out with the jumpers and extra layers, and wet weather gear, to keep us warm as the sun tries valiantly to push through the clouds. She does not succeed until very much later in the day and even then, she is pretty well obscured by those pesky clouds that are hanging around.
Our Sunday worship, particularly relevant as we pass through town on a Sunday morning and gather outside a Normanesque styled church, is the ride, the country, the twisties and the bends as we move out to enjoy another day of exploring. We are travelling the Bruxner Highway and the riders seem to delight in revisiting some of the bends we traversed yesterday, but in the other direction.
We are stands up at 9.30am and on the explore. As we leave Tenterfield for Casino via Mummulgum and the other towns in between, we ride the ridge of the Great Dividing Range at 880m elevation. It’s a pretty amazing place to be and sight to see as you catch glimpses through the trees into the valley. At times, you would be forgiven for thinking you are in England, the hills are so rolling and green at the moment and there are even black swans on the pond type area near Tabulam, where the only post office in Australia that flies the Eureka flag is located. We pass areas where it seems mother nature has thrown her irregular shaped marbles out of the cot in her fit of pique as she formed the Great Dividing Range. It is quite something to behold.
Throughout the day we have an ongoing disagreement with the weather – will it rain, will it not, should I leave the wet weather gear on or take it off and invite a rain shower to come through. We spend most of the day dealing with pesky sprinkly stuff of no real substance. It is warm enough to mean the extra layers need to come off but nuisance enough to mean that the liners of our jackets would be a handy addition.
It is also an opportunity to review our kit and the bags we are using – they might be better served as camping bags now given they are not as watertight as they once were. Anyways, we mosey along, Julian delighting in the bends, I cannot see his face from behind however I suspect he is grinning ear to ear as he rides through this area, coming into the bends, accelerating out, and doing it all over again countless times.
At Casino, we stop at a bakery and as one does, you use the local facilities. There is a lovely little single person set up in the street. You wave your hand over the sensor for entry, the door opens and then closes whilst advising you, you have 10 minutes before the door will open ready or not, playing some accompanying music and not really providing a great sense of security. Anyways, when one is finished their task, they wave in front of the sensor over the loo, it flushes, then hands are washed and the sensor to exit it waved at, before the 10-minute mark. Quite an experience really, even for this miscreant who first saw sensor flushing loos at Raffles, Singapore, in 1995.
This countryside is simply amazing. It is so lush and green at the moment, so deceptive. The forces of nature have been quite something, as you look at the debris that remain on fences or the state of the leaves and other things that have been swept over as water torrents rushed through. It is cattle country and the beasties look quite healthy and happy as they munch away on the lush greenery.
We step up the challenge of the ride by coming back through Lions Road. Amazing scenery, simply something else, and a challenge to our riders in this miserable weather. We all survive, somewhat challenged for those on front and impressed for those watching from behind. This is a whole other level of twisties. The damp road surface does not enhance the experience, necessarily. However, I do believe that the smile remains on Julian’s face. It is a privilege to travel as a pillion, taking in the scenery, sitting there, not doing much, taking photographs and notes about what you pass. I am very fortunate. Observations from the rear seat are what I bring to you.
On we travel to Rathdowney where the final group of riders parts company and splits off to head in their respective directions, 3 to Boonah and the others who have traveled to here, on their way. At Boonah, we split again and then at Yamanto the remaining 2 split as we travel to Brassall to collect some technology, thankfully not mine, and then home.
It has been a truly spectacular and amazing 34 hours since we popped our stand up yesterday morning. We have traveled about 506km as a group from Boonah out and back again (775km ourselves). We have seen some beautiful areas that are recovering from fury and fire. I think we have mission accomplished thanks to 2 beautiful people who had a fabulous idea. They brought together a great bunch of people with a simple, generous idea.
We arrive home, a little saddle sore but delighted by the weekend away. We come crashing back to reality and observe Miss 5 from the neighbouring townhouse out in her tap shoes on the brick pavers marshalling her sister and the little boy from the other townhouse. Can I go back to riding please?
I hope you have enjoyed our escapades. Please enjoy the photographs and if they inspire you to go and explore, I am delighted.
