A few weeks ago I set out on an overcast Sunday morning, intent on heading south towards Cowra. I stopped off at Carcoar for a brief trip around the town and headed up to the old Railway Station on the hill which has a great view over the town.
My motorcycle outside the historic Carcoar Railway Station
A view of Carcoar from the Railway Station
The Catholic Church and Convent
From Carcoar I headed down to Woodstock and followed the road across to Wyangala Dam, which is still very dry. I think on the day I was there it was about 10% of capacity. The weather was starting to come in and rain was threatening as I left Wyangala for Cowra and lunch. I stopped at my usual "haunt" the Rose Garden Cafe, had a sandwich and coffee and watched the clouds get darker and rain start to fall to the west. I decided to head straight home to Bathurst via the main Mid Western highway, as I didn't fancy getting caught out by the rain and having wind my way cross country from the Cowra - Canowindra - Orange road.
As could be expected, about 10kms north of Cowra the heavens opened up and it started to rain steadily for my entire journey home. I was nice and warm and dry, well apart from my hands, as my gloves, which are waterproof, filled up with water run off from my jacket sleaves because I had the sleeves inside the gauntlets :( Hmmmm - a wet, cold lesson to learn!!
This is the route taken
Last Sunday I decided to head for a quick ride over to Orange via Milthorpe, Spring Hill and Bloomfield. The return trip I planned to do via Suma Park, Emu Swamp, Rock Forest and the Ophir Road to Abercrombie and Bathurst.
It was a great day for riding. Clear skies, not too cold and dry roads. The trip across to Orange was event free, and I stopped at Milthorpe on the way to have a little trek around the town.
Orange Railway Station
From Milthorpe I continued on to Summer Hill, a brief visit to the Orange Airport for a peek at the planes and then on to Orange and Roberts Bakery on Piesley Street for lunch.
After lunch I headed out towards Suma Park on the Icely Road. I continued on to the Whiterock Road then the Ophir Road, taking me through Rock Forest, Dunkeld and then in to Abercrombie and Bathurst. I was a little worried the road might be a tad wet and soft because of the recent rains we had had, however the small patch of unsealed section was solid and firm, and the GS handled it with ease, if I did go a tad slow just in case :) All in all, a great little ride :)
This is the route travelled:
