CWC | FindPenguins

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Trip start
September 12, 2023
CWC Traveler
Day 1 - Mudgee to Birriwa 75k
September 11, 2023 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 12 °C
A cool start for the day - but nothing like temperatures from just a few days ago with -4° minimum.

Our first turn was a wrong one - but that was to be our last mis-step - we hope.
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CWC Traveler
Champagne gravel
September 12, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C
I didn’t know what that was. I do now. I love it

This stretch is called Canadian Lead (… no I don’t know why)
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CWC Traveler
Gulgong
September 12, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C
Is there a competition for cutest town in the west? This must be a front runner.
Gorgeous.
Lunch at the Butchers Cafe. Excellent coffee.
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CWC Traveler
Ooops
September 12, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C
Rode this piece of road twice. Nobody is accepting responsibility for misadventure.
No harm done.

The river is called Talbragar at Merotherie.
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CWC Traveler
Talbragar
September 12, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C
Heading back to the route
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CWC Traveler
Mayfield Station
September 12, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C
End of the riding for Day 1.

“Welcome” says Susie. And she really means it. The sliced fruit, home made cakes and jams, cram packed pantry and fridge with fruit, farm eggs and treats.

The farm is of undetermined size, carrying 450+ Angus located on Birriwa Bus Route South.

We are domiciled in a cottage, country styled and cute as a button. Everything is here that we could possibly need including chopped kindling and wood for the fire pit.

We have met the station dogs and we’re all good friends. Settling in now for fun around the fire.Read more
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CWC Traveler
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Day 2 - Birriwa to Mendoran 89k
September 13, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 9 °C
Good morning campers.

So warm this morning. After the conditions over in Bathurst on the weekend with the Antarctic cold cell this is an absolute treat. Starting without arm warmers?

But first another heartwarming chat with Susie. She will be hosting a group of 9 cyclists for brunch in the hand built shed which is on the site of the first building on Mayfield in the 1890’s. An interesting feature of the new shed is that the roof Timbers are all un-milled poles and the whole thing is mortised joints without use of nails.

We came away with a supply of home made jams, pickles and chutneys.Read more
“Bah Sheep” 🤣 [Rick]
10/5/23Reply
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CWC Traveler
Dunedoo
September 13, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C
Funny name that.

Funny experience at the White Rose Cafe.

A sign on the wall whilst waiting to order proclaims: “I can make you hear, but I can’t make you understand”. Hmm. A cafe is a temple to customer service isn’t it?

- Ollie was snarled at for trying to order a meal to eat at the cafe and one to take away.
- I stood at the counter for an extended time while I was astutely ignored.
- my order of a Long Black and Oat Flat White became a (not very) Black with a splash of oat - errk.
- you would have thought I had insulted the Queen Mother when I described their Orange Cake as Carrot.
- the multiple Gluten Free options on the menu did not eventuate.

The food was actually very good. In proper cycling spirit we made it a pleasant stop and then pressed on. The track from here was excellent with the gravel starting again from the very edge of town.Read more
TravelerA "great" memory. It made an interesting story.
9/18/23Reply
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CWC Traveler
Mendooran
September 13, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C
Pretty hard ride that, but I think everyone is in good condition with much anticipation of the Forrest trails tomorrow.
Regina and Ian stayed in the Royal Hotel, where the Steaks are from a Brontosaurus.
Barbara and Rick in the Motorhome and Eileen and Smoky in the caravan and Ollie in the tent are domiciled in the free camp nearby. It’s a 4.5 star free camp - everyone is happy.Read more
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CWC Traveler
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Day 3 - Mendooran to Ballimore 58k
September 14, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 10 °C
That is the hardest recovery ride I’ve ever done. Only 58k, but a couple of solid climbs, long rocky sections, sand sections and corrugations topped of with 27°.
All that equals a nice challenge.
However it is not all grind and toil. Breakfast, cheese shopping, emu chasing, track side picnic are all fun. If you are on your bike it is all good - right?Read more
Say cheeese [Rick]
10/5/23Reply
Sheltering next to the pink Barbie bus [Rick]
10/5/23Reply
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CWC Traveler
Flamingos
September 14, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C
We have met a group of 6 women who are riding the trail. They started at Wellington and we have leapfrogged with them since Mayfield station.
On their last day between Ballimore and Wellington, one of their number suffered a slashed tire and we received an emergency call for assistance from one of our vehicles. Ric was able to shine his Knightliness and offer assistance.
Because they ride bikes we have become new-best friends.
Wellington might get a bit of a shakeup tonight as they celebrate their end-of-tour.

ps: They are not really called Flamingos - but their jerseys are pretty cool.Read more
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CWC Traveler
On the road (Trail) again
September 14, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C
The great emu chase.

We saw them up ahead so I had time to grab my phone. Off they go! There was movement at the station…… and all that.
They got up to 32kph, but I think they were playing with me and just looking for a place to jump off the track.Read more
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CWC Traveler
River
September 15, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
It’s the Macquarie.

This chap has his name on a lot of landmarks.
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CWC Traveler
Wellington
September 15, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C
Set up at the Wellington Riverside Caravan Park.
Got the tent set up, airbed pumped and that is where we have stayed. Beers cooling in the camp kitchen - life is good.

The last 10k into town was great. About 2k of climbing of Mount Arthur that maxed out at 12% then a loooong descent and with a long river flat into town.
Wellington is a cute place. A country town with a feeling of well-being and prosperity. A great vibe.

The camp-ground is positioned between the road and the rail line. Some nice bridge perspectives.Read more
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CWC Traveler
Day 4 - Ballimore to Wellington 61k
September 15, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C
We decided on a little shortcut for this sector. But after the “rest day” yesterday we will need a little reprieve.

In the wash up, it was a good option. Fast smooth gravel and some long bitumen descents.

After the brunch stop we crossed and followed the Macquarie River before a loop around Mount Arthur before the climb over it.Read more
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CWC Traveler
Day 5 - Wellington to Goolma
September 16, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
Adieu to Wellington after a final coffee at Jesspresso.
A fairly long bitumen section takes us all the way to the high point on the day. I think the temperature might have reached its zenith as well at that point.
The climb is followed by a mostly gravel descent and river flat of 10+k. Gorgeous granite country.

This was our shortest day of the tour. The original plan was to stay further up the road at Gulgong. That plan was scuttled by a car show coming to town. That will make tomorrow much longer and hillier that expected.
Tonight O, R and I are staying in a big shed with the van and motorhome out back. We will have a country shindig tonight with a slap up home cooked meal.Read more
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CWC Traveler
Mount’n
September 16, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C
Hills - up and down.
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CWC Traveler
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Saved
September 17, 2023 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 12 °C
We met a recumbent riding father (Hayden) and gravel bike riding daughter (Eilish) at Goolma just after we arrived. Dad was down the road a bit fixing a puncture - “no help required thanks”. With dusk approaching we saw them briefly at the toilets across the road from the hall before they disappeared into the gloaming.
Next day at another toilet block at Gulgong, we met again and got their story. Hayden and wife (name undisclosed) completed a 3 year tandem bike tour of Australia starting from Kununurra. Eilish was born along the way so its probably not surprising that they are on the road together again. Sadly they has spent most of the previous day and a good part of this, fixing a front flat.
What was surprising is that recumbent has a 16” x 1.5” front tyre. Way too narrow for the conditions, supporting the bulk of the weight which must have been a horror on some of the sandy & corrugated sections. He was carrying just the one spare which was long gone.
We found them with 25k to go to Mudgee declining help again and intending to walk even though Hayden is wearing thongs and a baseball cap and Eilish is looking quite pink. The recumbent would be very difficult the transport in any of our vehicles.
Eventually we prevailed to assist by pleating a 29” French valved inner tube into his tiny front wheel. The air went in, the bead stayed in place, and off they went.
We know they made it to Mudgee and that Hayden was heard to comment “tyre is as ‘good as’. I think I’ll just leave it there”
They will set of for Dubbo on Monday morning.

Sigh.Read more
Traveler Good on you strider!
9/17/23Reply
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CWC Traveler
Day 6 - Goolma to Mudgee - 63k
September 17, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C
Last day on the road and what a treat.
Beautiful shady valley sections. Lush green farm land. Long views to hills and I plains. Quirky town with a vintage car show. Unique encounters with fellow travellersRead more
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CWC Traveler
Gulgong
September 17, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C
This was going to be our last night on the road - but a car show came to town and the was ‘no room at the inn’.
3 likes
CWC Traveler
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Mudgee
September 18, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C
Not as cute as Gulgong but way more amenities and it signals the end of our little adventure.

Sadly Eileen and Smoky had to leave to meet family on the morning of the last day. Thanks for the support vehicle, the riding companionship and the stories.

Chief wrapped up thus:

“Great job all, made it to Mudgee. Final Captains log entry. 430 km, 6 days, 1500 cows seen, 1000 sheep, 50 kangaroos, 2 snakes, 1 giant goanna and 1 spiny ant eater. Home made cup cakes and jams, great bakeries and beers 🍺 People we met on farm stay, flamingos ladies riding group and lots of randoms 😟 we met along the way. The guy and his daughter who were going to walk 25 k in midday sun today with loaded bikes until Ian fixed their tire. What about the great gravel trails and country side. Well done all and thanks for the company.”Read more
Traveler Nice photo Regina
9/17/23Reply
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Trip end
September 19, 2023