Recce to Epic Ride
Asking WCR these young cattle kept running alongside checking out the black bike with horns I suppose. Fortunately, I arrived at the turn of as two trucks and an escort vehicle were entering, so I had cover. Passed my first "No Public Right of Way" and "Beware of the Dog" propaganda.
Immediately, the road up looked "interesting". Within a kilometer I had negotiated a series of really steep bits, followed by a bend and another really steep bit. Strava says the grade is 12%, I had to walk the final section, the front wheel was popping and I was pooping out.
As it leveled out the surface degraded quickly from sealed, to gravel, two track to rough trail with washouts. There were few homes, mostly shed accommodations, no people or dogs. Ok, fairly early after making my way up the first slope, I considered that i want going to throw away this hard won elevation, I might as well push on. My map reading had described a single through trail with two possible descents. Soon after, my phone padded out so no position fixing and no podcast entertainment. It looked like I was having quite the adventure anyway.
Right at the top, due west of the mountain I realised that "sumitting" would be achievable on foot, but may take time. Without a phone or GPS there was also a little risk of getting lost.
The trail turned to paddock and I negotiated a rusty gate before entering a kind of plateaux typography. It was quite beautiful and felt much higher than 400m, the views to distant ranges were through trees, but looked lovely.
Okay, after passing a small natural swamp, I began dropping elevation. At times the trail became quite technical and my tyres were bottoming out (no spare). Just a we passed a rusty car hulk c.1950s, I spied a possible trail down to the left and pulled up quickly and for the first time being unable to get my cleat to release. My right knee took the brunt, but mostly it was a scare. The trail descended really steeply and for the next k or so I had to hike over washed out trail and loose stone, almost like scree. My cleated mtb shoes, with their hard soles were treacherous.
Way down of the top came a gate. Pool fencing, with a heavy chain. Bwa ha ha. More hiking, this time not so steep but with larger rocks, think fall, puncture, fall from trail into steep ravine. This gullet was steep and narrow, facing the NW with the mountain sheltering all sides, it was lush and beautiful if a little difficult to negotiate. I heard a chainsaw, but saw no body, no houses until it leveled out. More abandoned caravans on disheveled properties, but as we neared the paved road the houses got more plush with manicured lawns with signage aimed at discouraging roving cyclists. Huh.
My Strava padded out half way, but it said 34k for the for hour or so ride. That only tells a party of the story. Now I can look out from my verandah and say, "been up there".
Cheers.
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