TTT and Hill End, Australia, August 2009

[DANNOj]

This ride report is a bit of a work in progress. I started it the other night, but the computer crashed, and I lost about thirty posted photos with accompanying text.

This time I'm going to put the photos in, and Josh is going to come back past and add some text!!



...ok, this is Josh (zen) as Dan, let's have some fun here eh

Dan organised a 3 day ride as an add-on to the TTT Rally.
After weeks of superb weather I left my place to light rain.
Met up with Dan & Dan’s Dad Rob, & we ducked over and met John C nearby.

Dan’s flatmate Craig had uni work + drinking to do so he was to meet us tomozza (Sun) in Bathurst




Dan led us outta Sydney via some superb backroads, through the old Rouse Hill and by the time we were on Bells Line of Road is was wet, freezing and windy.
Thought this weather would reduce no’s at the rally and it did, only the hard men and rally nuts braved it

Through Bell, more great backroads like this:



Towards Oberon it started to clear but we were well wet by then – my gauge is when my nuts are wet, then it’s a miserable ride....they were getting that way….

Dan had some gumby overalls - though I’m sure they kept him dry


Had a couple of moments coming into Oberon where the rear 908 unexpectedly broke loose more than I liked

Needless to say everyone was happy to get some grub at a local café (forget the name), but it was swarmed by ADV riders throughout the time we were there



Headed into the Blue Mtns proper



Rob and John took a wrong turn when Dan and I were waiting/chatting at an intersection so I chased them down, catching up to Rob to see him overcook a dirt corner and head straight for the trees that were dotted everywhere along the side of the road

He pulled it up after bouncing over the graded bank and chucked it down

He didn’t seem phased as I rushed over to help him pick up the Transalp that was tipped well past 90deg on the slope

We met up with Steve (Baldy) & Kurt and the four of us fanged towards the rally while the older generation cruised in at a more respectable pace to ensure that there were no more incidents














Dan & I stopped on a corner to wait for the oldies - here's a pic of him pounding a beer while waiting
best drink 'em while they're still cold eh Dan





we arrived at TTT and set-up shop



yours truly







got the fire cranking



Baldy and Kurt getting on it







the rally shenanigans and other details can be seen here:

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=501302

Due to lack of a bad hangover i was one of the first risers in the morning and the second one out - bcos of the rain overnight i wanted to get a good spot to watch any mayhem on the way out
...and of course, aid with a helping hand....once the camera had been worked out

so I positioned myself on a snotty downhill that i came into way too fast - thought i'd see some action there so i ate breakfast with the camera at the ready

here's Angus coming into it on the 110



sorry to say that Danno was the only one i saw come cracking into it with good pace

so no one came unstuck - apparently most knew of this spot from previous years





everyone else was takin' it eaaasy







tribute to the calibre of top blokes at the rally was virtually every one that rode past while i was on the corner asked me if i was OK
made me feel guilty for wanting to see someone come unstuck

but hey, gotta get the pics for ADV rider, right??!!



Rossco feeling weary after being harassed in the night



Fish on the DR, Deano & John







Dan and I blitzed outta there and had some great fun

Dan & I pulled up totally exhilarated after hammering non-stop for some time - awesome stuff

i overcooked one corner and left some tracks into the bush that apparently had Rob and John check the trees above where i ran off the track to see if i ended up in them

as we headed towards Oberon we were treated firstly with really light snow, then sleet and rain

damn it was freezing - i thought my hand was gunna get frozen with the throttle open

after a food stop we headed for Bathust where we met Craig

thankfully it was clear & warmer

we headed up to Mt Panorama




I fulfilled a childhood dream as we took a couple of laps around the circuit

damn i wish i could have opened it up (more ) around there



we headed towards Hill End and got onto the start of the Bridle track

we met some guys at TTT who came through there the day B4 us - one of them binned it in one of the many snotty clay sections and hit a rock face, poor fella

spectacular road, I absolutely loved every minute of it and can't wait to do it again







amazing how it was either quite dusty or muddy







i was actually keen to camp here since it was such a great spot but glad i didn't as Hill End was an awesome town



we camped in the campground in 'town'





proceeded to make a large pile of empties



shared the streets with waaay more 'Roos than cars



dawn the next morning

Craig shared his 'Taj Mahal' tent with a dead spider



this guy was quite large







found a few loose fasteners, was quite fun wrenching, drinking beer and talking





we left Hill End but took a wrong turn which had us come back into Hill End 20 mins later

eventually got onto some awesome dirt



















we came out at Capertee and parted ways - Rob back to Newcastle
John and Craig didn't want to tempt fate so they headed back to Syd's
Dan and I were keen for more dirt so we headed in the Gardens of Stone NP
what a majestic place









Dan loved this hillclimb so much hed did it twice so I could snap him





this shot begins to show how steep it is





KTM brethren







this looks lame after power wheelie-ing 100's of erosion mounds - Dan - just mis-timed the shot right









Dan thought he's put me through my paces and took me on a powerline track that was pretty knarley, esp when fully loaded on the 950

it was full of bogholes, massive ruts, singletrack through trees and a couple of drop-offs

came through unscathed - great fun





that extra day off makes for a super relaxing weekend

great to meet the guys you see around here in ADV in the flesh

and a great ride overall

[undersea4x2]

Hi Danno
Another great RR
I read your Simpson desert one when it came out and was impressed.
Question..........
Is the last dozen photo's on the RR of the Bridal Track?.
I was going to do that one on my last trip 2 up on a Strom and was warned off it as it had been raining.
If the photo's are the Bridal I'm glad I stayed away!
If not............disregard this mail as usless fluff

Cheers

Under

[OldOzy]

Top stuff, top pic's.... Thanks

liked this specially...

[GB]

Beautiful action! Thanks for sharing.

[mattherat]

great report and lots of fantastic pics, well done

[blackcap]

looks awesome out that way. looks like ive got my next long weekend booked up!

[DANNOj]

G'day Under! Thanks for the comments. Appreciated!

This here is the Bridal Track....



It would be fine on the Strom 2-up in the dry, but a bit of rain would make some spots interesting. Not impossible, just tricky. Do it! Its a magic piece of road that leads to some special areas.

Cheers, Dan

Originally Posted by undersea4x2

Hi Danno
Another great RR
I read your Simpson desert one when it came out and was impressed.
Question..........
Is the last dozen photo's on the RR of the Bridal Track?.
I was going to do that one on my last trip 2 up on a Strom and was warned off it as it had been raining.
If the photo's are the Bridal I'm glad I stayed away!
If not............disregard this mail as usless fluff

Cheers

Under

[DANNOj]

Originally Posted by OldOzy

Top stuff, top pic's.... Thanks
liked this specially...

Cheers Oz! Yeah Josh got some beaut photos, that one included. All of the wide or tall photos are Josh's, most of the rest are mine. Thats a great Camera Josh -- Craig and I were commenting on it the other night.

[carmima]

Hey guys...great report and pics and very envious I wasn't there to share it.

[Jason1200GS]

G'day mate,
I was one of the guys you mentioned that rode the Bridle Track, from Hill End to Bathurst, the day before the rally.Phil on the 1150 GS Adventure had the minor spill, & his heart wasn't in it on arrival at Bathurst, which I can understand, & arranged to meet myself & Ron (KTM 950) at Rylestone the day after.
I couldn't agree more, what an awesome ride that was, stunning scenery , quite spectacular.You managed to get some nice photo's, half your luck.Between the weather when were there, & our schedule, it was a bit hard, but I won't forget it in a hurry, fantastic riding.
Cheers,
Jason.

[GuiltyParty]

as always great pics mate and thanks for the RR.
did you have something wrong with your front wheel though? most of the time it was in the air!

[Dirt Doctor]

Dan

I just love your ride reports........your just awesome.

Some day when I grow up I am going to be just like you;

• except I won't crash as much
• except I won't need to shave once a month
• except everyone will like me
• except I will give my flat mates my old piece of shit bike
• except when I promise to call in and see you and all I hear is the bikes going past
• except when everyone calls me 'pup'
• except when i get a KTM
• except when I have posters of DannOJ on my shed wall

that will do............OK so I might have had a feww too beers

Nice report..........might see you at Dunns Swamp this weekend

[oziexplorer]

Fantastic RR !!
Thanks for the great pictures, and you taking the time to take them

[Hodgo]

Great RR Guys,

I need to suss out those areas i reckon.

Fav Pics are

[ChrisCrossed]

Sick of your fkn ride reports Danno. Another top one as usual....And spell the name right FFS. It's "Bridle" as in horse...Every time someone writes it as "bridal" I envisage a flock of brides being herded along the track to awaiting sex-starved miners in Hill End!

We went trough the Gardens of Stone and Blackfellows Hand too last week but the RR might be a while yet.