The Easter long weekend in 2024 was upon us, and with a favourable weather pattern across the four days we anticipated a lot of riding was going to take place.
Little did we know that the toll of a very busy ongoing work schedule meant that as we entered Good Friday we found that we had little desire to ride, rather we decided to let our bodies tell us what we wanted to do, and ultimately that led to pretty much chilling out across Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Generally speaking I am a big believer in seizing the moment and living your life to the fullest, on the flip side I also believe in resting when your body (and mind) are telling you to rest… they are doing so for a reason.
So, with three days of chilling out behind us we decided to head out on the bikes on Easter Monday to the Wollombi Tavern for lunch.
Wollombi is a small village in New South Wales, Australia, and dates back to the 1820’s. Wollombi is approximately one hundred and twenty eight kilometres north of Sydney.
The route that my wife and I generally take is through the beautiful town of Yarramalong, then past the famous Jerry’s Cafe at Kulnura which is a bike mecca, then into the Wollombi valley which is a very scenic run with a rural atmosphere.
This route is perfect for all riders. There are very little straight bits of road, and plenty of climbs, descents and twisties to put your bike through its paces.
Whilst this run is not considered a long one for us, it still provides an opportunity to breathe the country air, stare at wildlife and feel the thrill of manoeuvring a motorbike through a rural setting… not to mention what awaits you at the destination.
Along the way we tend to stop here and there to simply get off the bikes and experience the quiet. This is essential, even if the total journey is not a long one. I love taking the opportunity to take pictures where possible, and these short stops are great for just that.
As the road turns into a fifty kilometre per hour section you eventually arrive at the township of Wollombi.
You do not have to look far to see where the majority of bikers are located, because the Wollombi Tavern is immediately on your left if you have travelled from the east and instantly you will notice the line of parked bikes right outside the tavern.
This tavern has had a few renovations over the years, none better than the improved beer garden where there is plenty of room for riders and families alike to chill out with good company, good food and good beers.
There are a few great cafes just around the corner also, and some funky arty shops if that interests you.
This is a great stop as the final destination, but also if you’re intending to ride to Broke and beyond, either way it is a fantastic way to spend some quality time on the bike and with loved ones or friends… this is what life is all about.
So, after a relaxing afternoon at Wollombi it was time to head home back along the same roads that we came in on. Not only did we get to ride these great roads twice, but we also decided to stop in at Jerry’s Cafe on the way back for a quick coffee.
Jerry’s Cafe is like a biker’s institution in these parts, and there’s always an opportunity to look at other bikes and strike up a conversation with like minded strangers.
What a great day! We are very lucky to have so many great destinations within relatively close proximity to where we live, and the run out to Wollombi and back never disappoints.
Sometimes you need a really long ride to dust off the cobwebs and clear your mind, other times you simply need to be on the bike, no matter how far or near, and when you have these roads, pubs, cafes and people as part of the adventure, life is good my friends.
Thank you for reading the blog, hope that you enjoyed it.
All images taken with my Fujifilm X100F.
Roger Brooks.