100 | AUSTRALIAN ROAD RIDERToward the middle, just before Upper
Rocky River Rd branches off to the le , we
all stop in the shade by a wooden bridge.
It’s a very cool and picturesque se ing for
some respite and a short photo session.
I position the Strom on the bridge and
walk along the creek’s edge to get a pre y
picture. But the rocky creek edges are
mossy and I slip over and slide straight
into the cool and refreshing waters.
Instead of just dropping to my hands
and knees, though, I’m trying to hold the
camera up out of harm’s way so my whole
body slides underwater. I’m not concerned
about my phone or wallet as they are in
the waterproof pockets of my Dririder
jacket. However, I hadn’t thought about
the lens cap, which was in the unzipped
pocket of my trousers. It’s fallen out and
washed downstream and no amount of
searching fi nds it.
Meanwhile, the boys are standing under
the trees wondering why I’m taking a bath.
A couple wander over to fi nd out what’s
going on and we continue our vain search
for the lens cap. I get someone to take
some shots of me emptying out my Axo
adventure boots — waterproof unless you
let the water run over the top!
I give up on the lens cap, arrange to
get some action shots taken of me riding
across the bridge and rejoin my colleagues.There’s some talk about heading
down Upper Rocky River Rd, but we’ve
tried that before and it goes nowhere,
although enticingly close to the Gwydir
Highway. There’s also talk about some
other turns south that head into
Washpool National Park, but no one
seems to obey the cornerman rules so
that plan slips away as well.
Instead, we set off in wide gaps toward
the western end of the road, in and out
of forest and open farming country. It’s
at one of the la er se ings where I come
over all Great Escape on the open hills set
against the backdrop of the high Great
Dividing Range. It looks like the jump
scene from the famous 1969 movie and I’m
just too weak to resist the temptation to
go rollicking along the open ridges. TheDL rider joins me for a quick romp and
we even contemplate jumping the barbed
wire fence, but sanity prevails.
From here, it’s more forest and winding
roads with heavily corrugated surfaces. I’m
now at the back of the pack and too tired
to fi ght my way to the front, so I se le in
to enjoy the ever-changing scenery. And
that’s why I didn’t see Mrs Roo and her
joey until it was too late. Mum had the
good sense to bounce out of harm’s way,
but young joey decided a race might be in
order so he jumped ahead of me as I tried
to decelerate, brake and steer at the same
time. All was going well until joey tripped
and sprawled right in front of me.
This tale doesn’t end badly, though.
Somehow the awesome brakes on the
twin-disc Strom pulled me up fairly
promptly even though you can’t turn off
the ABS. It also allowed me to steer while
under heavy braking, so I was able to avoid
ski ling the fumbling fauna.
A er a couple of stops to check text
messages as we returned to phone signal
and to assist with the DL650’s fl apping
chain guard, we fi nally regrouped where
the road returns to tar and ambles into
Tenterfi eld. This is where you could easily
refuel, u-turn and do it all again. But on
this day, we have to part ways. I’m headed
home for a family gathering and the rest
are off on further adventures south.
Later that a ernoon, as I’m processing
the photos and mulling over the
competitive abilities of the Strom, I get an
email that tells of the many stops for more
punctures and running repairs. My guilt
is somewhat allayed. I wasn’t the only one
holding them up.
Although there were no further reports
of impromptu baths! ARR“All up they are only about
150km, but it took us two
half days to complete them”■ Shady and slippery when wetARR112_094-100_Sydney Off Road.indd 100ARR112_094-100_Sydney Off Road.indd 100 2/3/2015 9:52:05 AM2/3/2015 9:52:05 AM