Nowra Ride Report 19-2-05 with Mark, Kim, Gary, Jeff & Scotty

Garry 05 WR450F ("Caseman")
Mark 05 WR250F
Jeff WR250F
Scotty WR250F (motocross rider come good as an enduro rider - "Clickerman" ).
Kim 05 KTM 525EXC

We left Albatross at 0845 riding some single track to Braidwood Road. Mark and I took a "secret track" but it was overgrown and we lost it. We ended up too far south - we had to make our own way north past a fence !

Along "Quicksand Trail" to the powerlines. Rode the powerlines to Deans Gap Road and down Wombat Flat Road to the Basswood turnoff into the bush where Mark and I caught up with the others. I had pumped my tyres up to 20lbs/sq inch as on my previous ride I had dented the front rim with 16lbs/sq inch. The bike was bouncing more than usual and I needed time to get used to the different feel of the bike.

Along Basswood to Wombat Flat. Mark had told me how agile the WR250's are in the tight tracks, how they mean business with their manoeuvrability, how quickly they turn and how light they are to throw around. Well, about 150 metres into the tight single track I came upon him lying upside down on a bank hidden by bushes with the bike hanging above him ! It took him a while to get up (lucky it was a 250 so it was lighter to lift off the ground ha ha).

After Basswood we rode down to the creek to look at the wrecked Subaru.

Crossed Yarramunmum Creek up to Dusty's Hill. Scotty nearly made it to the top, got caught in a hole, turned the bike around and rode back down. Garry tried the left track, launched the bike into the air, and punctured the right side casing when landing on a rock !  Garry removed the casing (using KTM tools - that's why they have blue handles) and removed the broken pieces of casing. The cover was replaced and patched with a puncture repair patch but it didn't last. Garry rode back to Albatross and drove Jeff's car and trailer with his bike to Wandandian. Mark took a different track down the hill to us so we waited at the creek for him. Jeff and I tried to help two fourby drivers stuck with their trucks on the creek bank but we had to leave them there.

We rode the Link to join up with Monkey Gum track. Stopped at a large log crossing and Mark was suffering from a fever. He was hot and then he felt cold chills. We then rode directly to Braidwood Road and down Wandean road to Wandandian, arriving at 1330. We met Garry for lunch. Scotty, Garry and Jeff then left in the car and Mark and I went up Wandean road to Slab Hill road as Mark was feeling better (revived by takeaway food?).

We rode down to the end of Gnatilia and along the single track to Wandean road, then along Yellow Wood track to Cassia. Mark suddenly came alive and had the WR250F smoking along the single track. I came off when I was jousted by a branch on the left bicep - If I wasn't wearing body armour I would have been punctured !

Off Braidwood road we went on the powerlines to Deans Gap road. We rode into a violent electrical storm with torrential rain and hail. My goggles fogged up and Mark washed my face with roost from a puddle which went in the front of my helmet and out down my neck ! We were soaked, navigation became harder as it got darker, the tracks were flooded, we hit underwater rocks, we were close to lightning strikes, mud was roosting everywhere, the bikes were sliding but it was one hell of a ride !

 
We arrive back at Albatross at 1615, 127ks later very wet but pumped.

Kim Bazley