Around Australia: Day 41, Milperra to Woy Woy

Summary: Day 41 of my trip Around Australia on my Burgman 650 Executive led me through and around Sydney. What a drag! This town is chockers and the drivers are hostile. Nice on foot and when sight-seeing, but not for a motorcyclist. Occasional rain...

Diary Entry for June 3, 2010

My initial, short entry in my "Around Australia" diary for the day read as follows:

Day 41: Milperra to Woy Woy
I used to be a city boy, even live in a city today, but riding around Sydney is such a drag! Even during the day, streets are chockers, average speed is abysmal. Anyway… I collected my IBEM towns as planned, and two Bear Rides made my day: #38 Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park, and #29 Hornsby to Gosford on the Old Pacific Highway. The only downside with the latter was the fixed 60 km speed limit. I am sure there was not a 60 km/h speed limit when this road was fully operational. I am sure the bureaucrats put the limit on to piss off motorcyclists — a blunt insult as I see it. If you ride the road based on how it feels you will be violating the limit constantly, which I recommend not to do, as the revenue collectors are regularly out there — as a local assured me of.
I did not notice until tonight that today is my second last day of the trip.
The weather was mixed, rain, drizzle, sun — though more wet then dry.
I settled for the night in Woy Woy. The main reason was the scenery I would have missed by riding in the dark.

Photo of the Day

Barrenjoey Headland from West Head of Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park, New South Wales

Milperra to Woy Woy

I slept well, was up at 06:20, packed 06:35, and gone by 6:50. The day started out wet, and it looked like it would not get any better. The city had 18 °C, a temperature experienced for most fo the day. One of my daughters lives in the Blue Mountains — would dad have time to stop by? Oh, well, I was going to see her on Saturday in Brisbane, hence, I could stop by for a short visit.

I quickly visited Milperra, Cabramatta and Girraween, three IBEM locations, then onto one of the Great Western Highways, and up into the Blue Mountains, saw my daughter, and back into the buzz of the city.

This town is sheer madness, when it comes to traffic: bottlenecks everywhere. I would realise by the end of the day that I made only 358 km during 11 hours of riding. 
I revisited the Big Bicycle in Chullora; I got a night shot yesterday, but felt it was close enough en route to have another go at it.

Big Bicycle, Chullora, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

I collected the following IBEM locations: Parramatta, Kirribilli, Woolloomooloo, Collaroy and Narrabeen, before visiting the Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park.

Sydney Harbour, Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

The Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park is a little beauty. It was interesting and nice to visit, despite the rain; the latter usually puts a damper on any outdoor experience. The road into the park was lined with a lot of little waterfalls, just like the Macquarie Pass National Park I rode yesterday.

Barrenjoey Headland as seen from West Head, Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park, New South Wales

The Pittwater as seen from West Head, Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park, New South Wales

Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park is where the Hawkesbury River meets the sea: a tight cluster of secretive, winding creeks, sheltered beaches, hidden coves and wide expanses of deep blue water. You will find heathlands on the sandstone ridges, dense forests on the slopes, and mangroves on the tidal mudflats.

Rock Formations, Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park, New South Wales, Australia

Temporary Water Features, Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park, New South Wales, Australia

McCarras Creek, Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park, New South Wales, Australia

I left the park around 15:45, heading south to Turramurra (IBEM location), then north, following the Old Pacific Highway from Hornsby to Gosford, which is also Bear Ride #29. It is a beautiful road to ride. The only downside with the latter was the fixed 60 km/h speed limit. I am sure there was not a 60 km/h speed limit when this road was fully operational. I am sure the bureaucrats put the 60 km/h-limit on solely to piss off motorcyclists — a blunt insult as I see it. If you ride the road based on how it feels you will be violating the limit constantly, which I recommend not to do, as the revenue collectors are regularly out there — as a local assured me of.

Hawkesbury River Bridge, Old Pacific Highway near Mooney Mooney, New South Wales, Australia

I rode into Gosford around 17:30 to complete Bear Ride #29; the rain had picked up again. I back-tracked out of Gosford to turn left onto the Brisbane Water Drive to make may way to Ettalong Beach. I stopped short and stayed in Woy Woy for the night.

I had some nice dinner; yes, barramundi, chips and salad, my favourite — there was a restaurant / community across the road from where I stayed. Great food and cheap prices; a great way to conclude the day.

Trip Data for the Day

358 km over the elapsed time of 11 hours.

Accommodation for the Night

My room at the Waters Edge Motel, Woy Woy, New South Wales, Australia

I stayed at the  Waters Edge Motel in Woy Woy for the night. Cost: 75 AUD.

My comment: Nice, clean, quiet; friendly staff; great value for money. Would stay there again.

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