2022-04 Off-the-Bitumen rides from Binnaway
During the last week of March eleven of us ventured to Binnaway in the Central West. We stayed at the restored railway barracks which proved ideal for our needs. Wherever possible our rides were on gravel with us riding about 800 kms in three days. We rode to Gulgong and return, Gilgandra and return and Spring Ridge and return. This was fabulous riding and we have decided to make this an annual ride.
Morning tea on the road, this time at Merrygoen on Day 1, heading to lunch in Gulgong. The rain is just about to hit.
At Merrygoen we have tea, coffee and banana bread by the side of the railway with the old water tower in the background. Here we have John, Mark, Chris, Gordon and Ian.
Enjoying a late afternoon chat and drinks at the Binnaway Railway Barracks after a great day on the gravel we see Gordon, Chris, John and Bob.
After lunch on Day 3 at Spring Ridge is a line-up of Ian, Ian, Chris, Peter, Mark, Norm, Steve, John, Gordon and Bob.
At dinner on the last evening at The Exchange Hotel at Binnaway is Gordon, Norm, Mark, Peter, Steve, Ian, Bob, John and Ian.
Steve and Ian enjoying the trip to dinner at the Exchange Hotel in the back of Gordon's 1945 Jeep.
Gordon's Jeep, as did we all, got through this road that had no sign at the start, just at the finish.
Norm, Steve and Peter enjoying morning tea at Merrygoen on Day 1.
Gordon, Steve, Norm, Bob, and Chris at the barracks chatting before Monday evening's barbeque.
After morning tea on Day 2 in Mendooran, Peter and Mark prepare their Suzukis for the ride to Gilgandra.
Chris prepares his Suzuki for the gravel to Gilgandra after a Mendooran morning tea of coffee, tea, banana cake and chocolate brownies.
At Mendooran, John (Suzuki) and Steve (Yamaha) prepare for the brilliant gravel ride to Gilgandra that was one of the best sections of all of our rides out of Binnaway.
Also at Gilgandra, Gordon and Bob prepare our support vehicle, a Gordon's 1945 Jeep.
Norm (Yamaha), John (Suzuki) and Steve (Yamaha) ready to 'hit the gravel' out of Mendooran.
Mark, Peter, John, Gordon, Steve, Ian, Chris and Bob lunching at the Spring Ridge Hotel after morning tea at Tambar Springs and lots of gravel in-between and to come, on Day 3.
Norm, Peter and Mark after lunch on Day 3 at Spring Ridge. The next gravel section to Binnaway awaits them - the last section of our fabulous week in Binnaway.
