NSW Weekend Run

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Colonial

Original Poster:

13,553 posts

204 months

Thursday 22nd January 2015
quotequote all
Looking at doing a decent weekend run.

Idea is to meet at Richmond in Western Sydney, on a Saturday morning, over the Bells Line of Road to Lithgow then up to Kandos (transport stage)

From there head up the Bylong Valley Way to Denman (stunning road, heard nothing but good things about it). From there head up some decent back roads (all tar) to Tamworth for an overnight.

Can get a room for around $100 for a decent motel, cheaper at the pubs.

Next morning we have bacon and eggs to deal with the hangover and then head out east to Thunderbolts Way down to Gloucester, then Bucketts Way back to the F3 at Newcastle.

Both days are an easy 500kms so shouldn't be huge distances involved, but are some brilliant roads through stunning scenery.

Thinking late April/Early May.

Anyone keen?

Colonial

Original Poster:

13,553 posts

204 months

Thursday 22nd January 2015
quotequote all
Here's Day 1

https://www.google.com.au/maps/dir/McDonalds+Winds...

If people are adventurous we can do Willow Tree Rd from Merriwa up to Willow Tree but it is part dirt. Otherwise that route is all tarmac.

And here is Day 2 https://www.google.com.au/maps/dir/Hornsby,+New+So...

Once again, all tarmac.

The only section of road I haven't driven of these is the Bylong Valley Way. All others are relatively familiar. Thunderbolts Way is great fun, the first section of the road out of Tamworth is nice and open and flowing. But it pretty quickly turns in to quite a tight and challenging set of corners, which should suit smaller, lighter cars.

If anyone has some mates who would love to come for a drive then let them know. The more the merrier.

If people could also let me know what they would like to budget for for the overnight stop I can get some options worked out.

jagsy

1,462 posts

250 months

Friday 23rd January 2015
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Hi
We'd be interested in joining for some of the trip as we are a bit further north.

Stayed at the Willow Tree pub which has awesome steak. Need to get a cabin at the back of the pub away from the road.

Excellent roads around Nundle and Chaffey Dam.

The buckets way Walcha to Gloucester is rough and I definitely can't do dirt roads smile


Colonial

Original Poster:

13,553 posts

204 months

Friday 23rd January 2015
quotequote all
I've down Thunderbolts many a time. The stretch north of Gloucester is much better than south of Gloucester.

For those who did the Wisemans Ferry run it's no worse than that.

Forgot all about Willow Tree. Amazing stakes.

Haven't done the run down to Nundle since all the bridges were washed away 12 odd years ago. Might be good.

custardtart

1,725 posts

252 months

Tuesday 27th January 2015
quotequote all
I'd be up for this. Gives me an incentive to fit new shocks and get a cam belt service.

Colonial

Original Poster:

13,553 posts

204 months

Tuesday 27th January 2015
quotequote all
custardtart said:
I'd be up for this. Gives me an incentive to fit new shocks and get a cam belt service.
Good stuff.

Hopefully it motivates someone else to get their arse in to gear...

Hitch78

6,100 posts

193 months

Tuesday 27th January 2015
quotequote all
Would love to do this, but I'm short of a car...

Colonial

Original Poster:

13,553 posts

204 months

Tuesday 27th January 2015
quotequote all
Hitch78 said:
Would love to do this, but I'm short of a car...
Drive a manual? Have full license? Prepared to pay excess if you crash?

Happy to share the driving of the stroen.

custardtart

1,725 posts

252 months

Tuesday 27th January 2015
quotequote all
Hitch78 said:
Would love to do this, but I'm short of a car...
I hired a no birds corolla last time, managed to hang onto the coats tails and no need to worry about the thrashing it was getting biggrin

Hitch78

6,100 posts

193 months

Tuesday 27th January 2015
quotequote all
Now that's a great idea!

Google [bot]

6,682 posts

180 months

Wednesday 28th January 2015
quotequote all
Are my ears burning? wink

Very keen for this if I've managed to get over a couple of issues with the car by then.

custardtart

1,725 posts

252 months

Thursday 29th January 2015
quotequote all
Google [bot] said:
Are my ears burning? wink

Very keen for this if I've managed to get over a couple of issues with the car by then.
Let me know if you need a hand, someone to drink your beer, scratch their head and generally not be much use?

Colonial

Original Poster:

13,553 posts

204 months

Thursday 29th January 2015
quotequote all
custardtart said:
Google [bot] said:
Are my ears burning? wink

Very keen for this if I've managed to get over a couple of issues with the car by then.
Let me know if you need a hand, someone to drink your beer, scratch their head and generally not be much use?
I can bring some tools and then assist with the beer drinking.

jagsy

1,462 posts

250 months

Thursday 29th January 2015
quotequote all
Has the date been locked in yet?

Colonial

Original Poster:

13,553 posts

204 months

Friday 30th January 2015
quotequote all
May 9 or May 16 I think.

custardtart

1,725 posts

252 months

Sunday 1st February 2015
quotequote all
16th better for me.

Hitch78

6,100 posts

193 months

Wednesday 25th February 2015
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Were any dates firmed up on this? I'd like to get involved and may have some wheels by then.

Colonial

Original Poster:

13,553 posts

204 months

Wednesday 25th February 2015
quotequote all
16th of May.

Colonial

Original Poster:

13,553 posts

204 months

Thursday 26th February 2015
quotequote all
Ok, locked in for the 16th.

Been going through a few emails with Mr Bot and thought we'd lock down the route and the accommodation.

We'll meet at the Windsor Maccas because it's easy and has toilets and passable coffee.

Then Bells Line of Road, and along the Bylong Valley Way. If you have a small fuel tank fill up at Windsor, or we can stop at Lithgow. There will be no 98RON petrol until we get to the northern end of the Bylong Valley Way.

From the end of the Bylong Valley Way (little town called Sandy Hollow) we have the following options.

1) We can go up to Willow Tree, about 1hr 20 mins up the road and stay at the fancy pants pub with good steak http://www.grazewillowtree.com.au/accommodation.ht... which is about $200 a night (some rooms cheaper, some rooms more).

2) Carry on even further up to Tamworth (2hr 10 minutes up the road). Stay somewhere in Tamworth, pub, beer, steak.

3) We can do a short trip over to Muswellbrook (Scone is booked out due to some racing carnival) or even Denman and just crash in a motel/hotel and go to a local pub e.g. http://denmanhotel.com.au/

Options 1 and 2 mean a bit more driving, but give up the option of Thunderbolts Way on the way back down, option 3 means less driving, but would mean we could do Putty Rd back to Sydney.

I often do 210kms a day (like 2-3 times a week often) so long distance don't phase me, but others may have a different opinion.

So, yeah, over to you.

Edited by Colonial on Thursday 26th February 01:29

Google [bot]

6,682 posts

180 months

Thursday 26th February 2015
quotequote all
Personally I'd probably prefer one of the shorter run options, though open to any. As I said to Mr Colonial

Google [bot] said:
Jesus Christ why not make it Brisbane.
I'm only in it for the booze anyhow.