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[Cormanus]

Friday 15 August 2014

How long does it take to poach an egg? I reckon I can get it done and tidied up in about 15 minutes at home. Not at the Henry Parkes Motor Hotel. Even though I arrived at breakfast a moment or so after 7.00 am, I was still there at 7.40. I’d woken early and decided to get going. It was cold and a bit miserable and the sun had yet to make an appearance so I decided to eat at the motel rather than gear up and then have to stop a few minutes later when I found a café.

So I was grumpy and there were signs of rain. I left my wet weathers off, crossed my fingers and headed back to the Bruxner Highway for the trip down the hill. I’d decided to go this way rather than the quicker New England Highway because it would be warmer off the range; the Bruxner had been fun on the way up; I wanted to ride the Mount Lindsay Road again; and the alternative route from Stanthorpe to Woodenbong had been described as a death trap. I was also not prepared to ride the Woodenbong Road again, so I was taking the longer route via Casino.

About 15 or 20 minutes out of Tenterfield the fog and rain appeared so I stopped and put on the wet weather kit I’d persuaded myself I wasn’t going to need. I needed it all the way down the really twisty bits of the Bruxner, which I took pretty carefully as there had been very little rain for a long time. But, by the time I got to Casino, the rain had stopped and I packed the wet weathers away when I filled up.

I think I’ve talked about these roads before. Suffice it to say they’re good quality and flat, travelling through northern NSW farm land. I passed through Kyogle where I’d met Pterodactyl, passed the turn off to the Lions Road and headed towards Mt Chinghee.




Here’s a couple more photos of the Mt Lindsay Road, which was just as good the other way.
















What else is there to say? The road home was mostly highway and uneventful. I was glad to get there. Other than taking photos and refuelling at Casino and Brown’s Plains, I didn’t stop on the way.

It was another great ride over some great roads reminding how much I like the northern NSW countryside. It was also excellent to catch up with both Pterodactyl and Enzo again.

Even after adding another 2,438 kms by the speedo, I’m still loving the CB1100.

Actually, I did take a wee detour and stop once more on the way home. That was to pick up oil, a filter and a crush washer from the dealer. It was mid Friday afternoon and the young sales assistant was not sure what oil to give me. I spied the head mechanic, who happened to be in the Parts Department.

“What oil I should put in my 1100?” I asked.

“That’s the CB1100, isn’t it?”

I nodded.

He handed me 4 litres of 15W-50, “This. And it’s your lucky day. It’s on special.”

“But Honda says I should only put 10W-30 or 10W-40 in it,” I said.

“Not in this climate, mate. This will be fine.”

And on that possibly discordant note, dear reader, I’ll end my tale.