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Info Oxley is re-opened

Discussion in 'Rides and Events - Clubs and Groups' started by BlueDragon, Jan 10, 2020.

  1. BlueDragon

    BlueDragon Well-Known Member

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    For those who like to ride the Oxley. Apparently it is now re-opened according to NSW LiveTraffic website.

    https://www.livetraffic.com/desktop.html

    That said - it is escorted traffic from Gingers Ck to Ralfes Trail at Mount Seaview.

    I'll most likely go for a ride through to Gingers Ck tomorrow. Spend a few dollars at the Cafe to help them out as they have not had any patronage since the fires started late last year with the Oxley being closed.
     
  2. Murdo

    Murdo The Good Doctor Staff Member Contributing Member Ride and Events Crew

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    I would be interested in what you find. Planning on going next week.
     
  3. Linkin

    Linkin The Mechanic Premium Member Contributing Member Dirty Wheel Club

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    It's a 60km/hr limit right now, all the vegetation is burnt away, clear visibility of the road, ground is not too stable as there's no trees or vegetation holding it all together, potential landslides if it rains enough. Lots of critters around, too.

    That's the report from a mate
     
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  4. Murdo

    Murdo The Good Doctor Staff Member Contributing Member Ride and Events Crew

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    Still be better than the extra 130Km to go through Gloucester to get to Port.
     
    Last edited: Jan 10, 2020
  5. BlueDragon

    BlueDragon Well-Known Member

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    Is that 60 limit for the whole road through Gingers? it is an 80kph limit anyway through the curvy stuff.

    They are predicting late afternoon storms in Walcha tomorrow. But I'm planning on leaving after breakfast and go to Gingers for an early lunch and then back to Tamworth before the storms hit.
     
  6. Linkin

    Linkin The Mechanic Premium Member Contributing Member Dirty Wheel Club

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    I forgot to mention that road crews are escorting people to gingers. I think the road from long flat to walcha is still closed.

    I'd probably avoid the oxley for now if I were you.
     
  7. BlueDragon

    BlueDragon Well-Known Member

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    I'll see what happens. If it is an escort to Gingers, then I won't bother and I'll turn back around to Walcha. But according to the website, the escort starts after Gingers Ck and goes to the Ralfes Trail turn off near Mount Seaview only. After that the road is then open all the way through to Port Macquarie. Says to allow for an extra 40 min for the escort.

    My plan is to just go to Gingers Ck, have some lunch and head back home to Tamworth
     
  8. BlueDragon

    BlueDragon Well-Known Member

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    Pain of a start to the day. Planned to take the 1400 out for a run and as I was checking tyre pressures, I noticed a shiny point on the back tyre. Reaching for the pliers - yep - I picked up a small nail on the last ride and as soon as I removed it - the rest of the air came out of the tyre. Whilst I do have a repair kit, I didn't feel like fixing it this morning before a ride, so loaded up the VFR instead. The Mrs prefers the 1400 as she reckons the passenger seat is like sitting in a armchair.

    Left Tamworth this morning, nice ride to Walcha, via Daruka and then the back road to Moonbi, up the Moonbi Ranges and on to the Bendemeer turn off and through to Walcha. Topped up with fuel at the Mobil and headed out to Gingers Ck.

    Note - Apsley Falls is closed off with temporary barrier fencing, so no stopping there. But Tia Falls road is open if you want to go and take a look there - but for those who may not want to take their road bikes on some rather suspect dirt roads with large rocks - you might want to give that a miss as the first road is pretty long and arduous. Ok if you have an adventure bike or the like.

    Its 50klms from the Mobil to where the twisties start and that is also where the first bit of fire damage can be seen as well.

    Not long after that, we stopped off and took some photos below.

    Its pretty much like that all the way to Gingers Ck.

    They have reduced the speed from 80kph down to 60kph.

    Whilst I did not see any damage to the road surface, there is a lot of dirt in some places, leaves and sticks scattered around. Also in one spot there was a tree blocking one lane, which is now removed. The leaves/dirt is mostly in the middle of the road. Looks like any dangerous trees - burnt from the fire have been removed.

    IMG_5683.JPG IMG_5684.JPG IMG_5685.JPG IMG_5686.JPG
     
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  9. BlueDragon

    BlueDragon Well-Known Member

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    The road escort starts right at the entry to the Gingers Ck Cafe. Love being on a bike in this case as there was quite a line up when we got there. But there was enough space on the left shoulder of the road that I was able to go up the left side and ride straight into the Cafe car park.

    Took these photos from the carpark.

    IMG_5687.JPG IMG_5688.JPG IMG_5689.JPG IMG_5690.JPG IMG_5691.JPG IMG_5692.JPG
     
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  10. BlueDragon

    BlueDragon Well-Known Member

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    Stopped at the Cafe for a feed. Gotta say that their plain Burger is really good. Just a personal thing, I like burgers that have the bread bun as a light bread and not a heavy bread. The cafe had a nice light airy-bread and it was a great burger as well. Their Go-Fund me page is still in operation, so if you want to donate to them to help them stay open, you can. Not saying you have to... I just gave them a big tip for the meal.. LOL as my wife commented and laughed at me when I told them to keep the change when I gave them $60 for a bottle of coke.. But I figure they offer a great service to travelers and us that ride the Oxley and they are struggling with the damage the fire caused with the on-site accommodation being burnt down and only the cafe surviving.. but as you can see by the pics - the fire got to just across the road and also in the next lot of pics from the back verandah - it was on their back door step as well by the looks of it.. At least I can try to help them along by making a donation/tip, which the owner very much appreciated.
     
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  11. BlueDragon

    BlueDragon Well-Known Member

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    Pics from the back verandah IMG_5693.JPG IMG_5694.JPG IMG_5695.JPG
     
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  12. BlueDragon

    BlueDragon Well-Known Member

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    Leaving the cafe and heading back towards Walcha. I stopped at the little picnic spot just down the road.. Sometimes my wife and I stop here to have a packed picnic lunch. As she is a Coeliac and also suffers from IBS, she tends to want to pack her own food to make sure she has something to eat. But speaking to the young lady at the cafe, they are able to make something for my wife to eat now, which is good to know.

    The photos are from the picnic spot just before Gingers Ck.

    IMG_5697.JPG IMG_5698.JPG IMG_5701.JPG IMG_5704.JPG IMG_5706.JPG
     
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  13. BlueDragon

    BlueDragon Well-Known Member

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    I'm not sure what the road is like from the Wauchope side and if you travel from that side, you will need to wait at the Ralfes Trail turn off at Mt Seaview for the escort vehicle to bring you through to Gingers Ck.

    But from the Walcha side, the road is fine - just a lot of bushfire damage, as you can see by the photos. Just a heads up, though the speed limit is reduced to 60kph, from the normal 80kph. Each to their own with what speed you do through that road, but may I suggest to just enjoy the ride , as I mentioned the road surface is OK, but there is a covering of dirt in some places, along with leaves and small debris (sticks/branches). So take the blind corners with some caution.

    I know the cafe owner would appreciate the patronage, with having to close for several months, after having a chat with him and the young lady there today, they miss having all the bike riders coming through on the weekends.
     
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  14. BlueDragon

    BlueDragon Well-Known Member

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    The ride back home was "interesting".. with the wind picking up and it actually started to rain in some spots between Gingers Ck and Walcha. With the covering of dirt on the road, I took it easy as with the rain, it was going to quickly turn into a thin layer of mud in some spots. But the Pirelli's held on nicely, so no little surprises at all. A bit of light rain between Walcha and the Bendemeer turn-off and then got hit with the heat again as we came down the Moonbi ranges and then back home.

    All in all a fun ride, that my wife and I usually do every saturday, weather permitting.. great to be able to get back out there again in the corners. Hopefully they will finish cleaning up the area that the escort vehicle goes through soon and we will be able to do our normal ride through to Ellenborough Reserve each weekend. With the odd ride right through to Port Macquarie for a fish and chips lunch, then heading back through again - home to Tamworth.
     
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  15. Andych

    Andych Moderator Staff Member Premium Member Contributing Member Dirty Wheel Club

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    Just an add on to this... I had to make a quick work trip to Tamworth today and it was good to see that the Putty Road is open again as well.
    For those who are used to the Putty...it is barely recognizable at the moment...large areas Of basically scorched earth and black sticks that were once glorious trees.
    Lots of damage to guard rails on the Singleton end where trees have fallen or the heat has warped the rails..plenty of roadworks to clean it up and repair damaged (melted ) road sections.....
    No doubt Grey Gums Cafe would appreciate any business they can get... as always, take care as the Semi’s and B Doubles are back on there as well.
     
  16. Murdo

    Murdo The Good Doctor Staff Member Contributing Member Ride and Events Crew

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    Came through on Wednesday and all ok. Big rain storm from the edge of trees to Gingers Creek where I had lunch and waited for an hour for the rain to stop. Followed the escort vehicle through and open road after that. Still 60Km/h limit to end of windy road. Many crews working on replacing mangled armco, burnt and bent signs and guide posts. Still many holes in the tar that are yet to be repaired.
     
  17. BlueDragon

    BlueDragon Well-Known Member

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    Went for a ride out to Gingers Ck again today.

    So a bit of an update and some pics.

    We've had some rain over the past few weeks since my previous ride out to Gingers Ck Cafe.

    So much that Apsley Falls is once again flowing.

    Here is a photo of the non flowing falls from December 2018
    old.jpg


    Here is how it is today when I stopped by to take a look. I was told by our local chiropractor (who also rides motorbikes with her husband) that the falls were now flowing again because of the rain.

    pic8.jpg

    Both pics taken from the observation deck..

    Great to see it flowing again.
     
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  18. BlueDragon

    BlueDragon Well-Known Member

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    Did the ride by myself today. Unfortunately my wife had to go to the chiropractor this morning and after her back and C1 vertebrae were adjusted she was advised it was better to not go on a bike ride.

    The rain has also made a difference to the area with everything starting to turn green again with the undergrowth starting to grow back and the trees along the road to Gingers Ck, all looking "fuzzy" with new branches and leaves sprouting out of the blackened stumps.

    Unfortunately my camera on the iPhone doesn't show just how "green" everything is starting to become again. But hopefully you get the idea.

    pic1.jpg pic2.jpg pic3.jpg pic4.jpg
     
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  19. BlueDragon

    BlueDragon Well-Known Member

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    Arriving at the cafe at lunch time, there was no one there, which was surprising.

    But - also, no more line-up for the escort vehicle to take you through. The Cafe owner confirmed that they are all finished and the road is now open with no escort vehicle.

    After lunch, I rode for a few kays on the road towards Wauchope to see what it was like.

    Lots of new armco. Still lots of fire damage and masses of trees removed. There is a hairpin bend after Gingers Ck (Wauchope side) and before, there was a small area (half a car width) where you could pull over. But now - its like a large packing lot. I took a panoramic photo of the corner. Looks a little distorted naturally, but this is a 40/45kph hairpin bend.

    pic5-pano.jpg

    The speed zone for the whole road is still at 60kph.

    Make of that what you will. Some areas before Gingers Ck (Walcha side) are no different to what they were before, so don't quite understand why its been left at 60, instead of the usual 80kph.

    But after Gingers Ck - travelling towards Wauchope, still be careful as there are large patches of clay/dirt/stones strewn across the road and in the worst spots on corners. So don't go cranking it right over on some of those bends, you might get caught out and throw yourself the the bike down the road.

    There were also some large pot holes in the road that still need to be repaired as well.

    pic7.jpg

    I'll be glad when they get the road fix properly and get the line marking vehicle through there to mark the centre line.

    Don't know if it was just "be an idiot day" but for a little while I had to follow 2 large 4wd's - driven by someone who obviously got their licence out of a Twisties chip packet. Driving on the wrong side of the road around corners and even along some straights. I got around them when I could and left them behind.

    At least the trip back home to Tamworth was uneventful.
     
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