twenty creek crossings in 80 odd kilometres . Bring it on .
Sheba Dams , near Hanging Rock , provided a base for two nights camping - composting toilets and shelters made the camping experience a little more enjoyable . Threatening clouds failed to deliver any further rainfall overnight .
Waking to a misty , wet fog enveloping the campground , the first order of the day was COFFEE !
A warming fire and numerous coffees later , bikes were being packed , as breakfast was cooked . Riders no longer displaying the exuberance and frivolity of the day before .
The sound of a high-pitched tractor engine , screaming toward us at a rapid rate , ensured heads swivelled and looked intently towards the nearby road . Sure enough , a white and blue R1250GSA , with the tallest man known , flicking it around like a 125 enduro bike , sliding into camp . After a hearty feast , and an energy drink , Matthew Whitworth was ready to continue his days riding .
Today had been built up to be something pretty special . Hours of YouTube footage had been consumed , with water crossings , turns , gates , and waypoints burnt into the memories of riders . Leaving Sheba Dams , the broken and patched bitumen morphed into well-formed and maintained gravel and dirt roads . Descending into the valley , the turns became tighter , switchbacks , gates , and grids , along with tasty looking bovines who thought they owned the road , heightened senses of riders .
A couple of concrete causeways provided a taste of the upcoming water crossings , except the concrete was replaced with a collection of various sized river rocks ! Sure enough , the first natural creek crossing loomed in front . Whitworth perched on a nearby bank , camera ready , caused moments of concern . Time to pony up and nail the creek crossing !
Up on the pegs , forward momentum , weight back to lighten the front wheel , clutch hand ready to feather . Splash ! And into the water , the bike feeling like it was bucking and moving around like a raging bull , mentally thinking ‘ Don ’ t fight the bars , look forward , focus ’. And I was through ! More good luck than good skills , the R1200 GSA tractored through the first crossing , now only 19 more to go !
TRAVERSE 67