Buckett's Way + Thunderbolt's Way - Ride Report & Pics

[tenacious]

Fresh the whole Taree-Gloucester-Walcha-Wauchope loop Tuesday 27/1 to break-in the new wheels and I submit to you my ride report. Before I start let me just let everyone know that this is only my opinion and is does not reflect how better or worse the roads potentially are the eye of another rider. Also it was pissing down rain from Walcha to Wauchope up and down that mountain (whatever it's called?) and through Ginger's Creek so that probably sways my judgement a little bit. Light rain on and off from Taree to Walcha didn't exaclt mean I could flat out either but anyway here it is....

So from Taree to Gloucester must start off by saying that the scenery was spectacular if you're into that sort of thing (did impress me). However for me personally the roads did not reflect the quality of the scenery. All the best corners had filled-in potholes all over the place so did not exactly make for great cornering. On the approach to Gloucester (about 20kms out) there were some nice corners and a few nice straights were you get a chance to be a little more enthusiastic with the throttle if you catch my drift

Gloucester to Walcha was equally if not picturesque (remember one of the stops where I took a couple of photos at a bridge with a chicane was fantastic). The road surface was a lot better than Taree to Gloucester and there were plenty of corner and ample opportunities to wind er' up.

Walcha to Wauchope would have been the highlight of the trip for me had it not been pissing down the aforementioned rain. Plenty of fantastic corners would have shown me the R1's potential but alas I was relegated to almost tip-toeing around the roads in some places where it was just about flooded. Must admit though that I don't think the roads would be as fun with a Hayabusa - some of the corners were just a little bit too tight and not really Hayabusa material in my experience.

Given the chance I reckon think it would be great to stay at Ginger's creek for a couple of nights and really explore the roads but had to be in Coffs by nightfall for a few with my best mate so alas it wasn't to be.

On the front only so 1 cop on the whole route about 15kms out of Walcha. Fortunately I just eased off about a minute beforehand so count myself very lucky

In conclusion I would definitely recommend the roads to anyone but my advice is to take something a little lighter and better handling if you've got it. Being a Hayabusa forum I know that's unlikely but the roads from Walcha to Wauhope just need a little bit tighter cornering that I've found from experience can get you into trouble with the Bus.

Will post up a couple of pics in the next day or so.

Cheers,
tenacious

[BUSGO]

Thats a fair assessment from a 1st timer on that run, especially in the wet.
You will find it a whole lot of fun in the dry and once you learn where the hazards are, it is terrific, regardless of the bike you ride.

[tenacious]

Pics up

Think the last one is the bridge where the V-star guy ran wide?

Pics taken at the rest stop just past Gingers Creek probably don't tell the whole story of just how wet it was - the road was basically flooded in places

[simmo]

& you were worried about , good to see your still up-right

[Gnarbunkle99]

Nice asphalt, shame about it being wet though, regular patrols on the fast bit so keep is slow.

[BUSGO]

The Vstar guy ran wide at the concrete ford with no side barriers at the base of the Bretti Reserve. Very dangerous corner and bridge combo.