2022 Bridge to Bridge #5 Brisbane to Sydney Ride Report

 

The 2022 edition of Rideadv's Bridge to Bridge has come to an end and it certainly did not disappoint! Our starting point was the Gateway bridge in Brisbane and we will be travelling all over the great dividing range until we reach our destination 7 days later at the Hawkesbury River bridge in Mooney Mooney just north of Sydney, this ride had it all from the beautiful rolling hills to epic forestry trails! A big thanks to the crew from Rideadv for having us along and providing an amazing event for the riders that came along.

 

Day 0 Sign on Day

The Rideadv crew were set up at our Eagle Farm store throughout the day signing in riders and handing out a goodies bag provided by Link International, Yamaha Australia and Adventure Moto. It was refreshing to see many returning riders, familiar faces, women riders and first timers to a Rideadv adventure after a few interrupted years of border closures. The workshop was busy fitting Garmins GPS' (which is a requirement as the rides are navigational rides) and knobby tyres. The Adventure Moto crew were busy sorting out riders with last minute products before the ride kicks off early tomorrow morning. 

Rider briefing at 4 pm provided valuable information regarding the upcoming ride in the case of detours and so on.

 

Day 1 Brisbane to Stanthorpe 389kms

7:30 am sign-in at Adventure Moto Brisbane where the rider's GPS' were handed out and loaded with the upcoming route for the day and the coffee's flowing before the day's activities were ensured! One unfortunate rider on a DRZ picked up a flat on the way which was quickly sorted out by Rooster from Rideadv with a new tube and tyre. All the riders assembled under the Gateway bridge for a group photo before heading off on our way to Stanthorpe. We headed off over the bridge along the highway before making our way to Undullah road which was our first taste of dirt for the week then onto Boonah for our fuel stop for the day. After fueling our bikes and a quick bite to eat we were off again heading to Killarney for lunch which took us through some beautiful country of the Border Ranges past Lake Maroon and The Head. After lunch, we worked our way along the border through some lovely winding dirt roads before hitting Stanthorpe. Dinner was at the Stanthorpe RSL with riders conversing about the day's ride over dinner and drinks.

Day 2 Stanthorpe to Casino 216kms

We woke to a very chilly morning in Stanthorpe with ice on the bikes but that wouldn't deter us from a sunny day's riding.! With the handlebar mitts on and heated grips at full heat, we set off towards Casino. Today was a relatively short day due to some forestry closures but we got into some fantastic riding passing the Boonoo Boonoo River before heading past Drake onto Sugarbag Road which tested out some riders before having a lunch stop at Powicks Pantry in Bonalbo for a delicious toasted sandwich and coffee before being rerouted into Casino. Dinner was at The Barn Steakhouse which we all highly recommended.

             

Day 3 Casino to Glenn Innes 346kms

Blue sky to start the day and early morning laughs are always a great way to start a ride. We headed off from Casino through some back roads through Busbys Flat before hitting the famed Rocky River Road into Tenterfield. Rocky River caught a couple of riders out with one having a minor off and the other with a very sore leg which finished his ride, unfortunately. After a sausage roll and a cake in Tenterfield we made our way onto Glenn Innes through some amazing rock formations out the back of Tenterfield and a nice forestry trail into Glenn Innes which presented us with hail! That was a first for me! Also was Max's birthday today and what a way to spend it!

  

Day 4 Glenn Innes to Tamworth 444kms

Waking up to blue skies, ice everywhere and some food poisoning from some Italian the night before had me in all sorts for one of the biggest days we had for the ride but I was keen to soldier on with my riding buddy "Pasty" aka Max! It was another morning where the heated grips came in handy for the rather cold conditions that were presented to us. We headed off from the showgrounds in Glenn Innes working our way through some beautiful country towards Inverell for breakfast and coffee when a KTM 890R picked up a flat front tyre on the way in which was quickly sorted by the guys at Vince Strang Motorcycles! After a body fuel up we headed off again working our way through some nice roads through Myall Creek, Pallal, Namoi River before coming across a sorry looking KTM 690 Enduro who drowned his bike (long story) on our way into Tamworth! Billy (Lincoln from Rideadv) had the 690 running again after dewatering the bike in the motel carpark. Legend I'd say!

  

 

Day 5 Tamworth to Wauchope 378kms

We were greeted with blue skies again and a chilly morning again but nothing like Glenn Innes the day before. I was on the Tenere 700 today so one of our friends Glenn could have a rip on the WR250R for the day! The first stop was in Walcha for a warm up by the fire at the Walcha Royal which was sublime. After a tasty coffee, we headed off again working our way through some awesome forestry trails and a gnarly rocky hill climb which tested a few riders before a fuel and lunch stop at Willawarrin with a rather interesting shop "out the back". After lunch, we worked our way through the back of Kempsey down through the Rowland Plains into Wauchope for the night! Dinner was at the Bago Tavern.

 

 

Day 6 Wauchope to Scone 366kms

Beautiful conditions to start the day! Leaving Wauchope we headed through some lovely logging roads with some spectacular views before coming down the range into Nowendoc and preparing for the incoming rain clouds and quite chilly conditions which produced only a few drops! We swept through some nice forest trails and winding dirt roads before heading into Nundle for a fantastic lunch and fuel stop! This is where I discovered my clutch cable had 4 strands left after noticing earlier in the day the free play was getting greater and greater. From Nundle I slabbed it into Scone while the rest of the crew took off towards Gundy then onto Scone. The Scone RSL is where dinner was served and a quick chat and thanks from the Rideadv crew for the past weeks riding and vital instructions when we regroup tomorrow for our run to the Hawkesbury Bridge.

  

 

Day 7 Scone to Hawkesbury River Bridge 366kms

The last day has arrived! I had the keys to the Tenere 700 again today and was a cracking day of riding! Leaving Scone we were greeted with some of the best scenery of the trip! Rolling hills for as far as the eye could see! The route today took us through Rouchel and Bowmans Creek before hitting some super slippery causeways on a bend which caught a 1200GS off guard but all was fine! We cut through the back of Singleton and Cessnock with a quick bite to eat at Wollombi Tavern. After a bite to eat we made our way to Jerry's Cafe (which was pumping!) via Laguna and Murrays Run before regrouping and riding together to the Bridge for our group photo and goodbyes.