The accepted “wisdom” is that you don’t go riding on a Double Demerits weekend but those of you who know me know that that never worries me. Since the number of times that I exceed the speed limit can be counted on the fingers of Captain Hook’s hand, I just ride when it pleases me and today was one such day. Yes it’s the Long Weekend but, who cares? It was predicted to be 19 degrees and no rain so why stay home?
I got up late and we had a leisurely breakfast so it wasn’t going to be a long ride, but it doesn’t have to be long to be good. I headed up Mount Kembla for a change and stopped at the unmarked and un-signposted lookout just before the T intersection with Mt Keira Road. Quite why Wollongong Council don’t publicise this one is beyond me. For my money the view is better though there is a little walk to get in there off the road.
There was an MX meeting on at the Moto-Cross track too, so I stopped and had a squizz.
From there it was out to Picton but, instead of heading west at the main intersection in town, I turned east and through town and out the other side. Each time I visit that road I have to keep reminding myself that, not that long ago, it WAS the Hume Highway, wow, all those cars and trucks grinding through the town. At the eastern end, the road climbs considerably up what used to be called The Razorback. It is a piece of road that is significant for several reasons.
In 1979, truckie Ted Stevens and five of his mates blocked the Hume Highway at the top of Razorback as a protest against the way owner/operator truck drivers were being treated by trucking companies and state governments. His lone hand stand rapidly grew and, soon, thousands of his fellow drivers were blocking main highways all around Australia. The blockades lasted for 9 days and almost crippled the Australian economy. But it worked and, though Ted and some of his mates paid an awful price for standing on their principles, the result was a much better deal for Australian truckies.
At the very top of the Razorback there has grown for many years, a Moreton Bay Fig tree. It was planted there by a local landowner called Anthony Horden and was, in fact, on his land. The Horden family motto was “While I live, I’ll grow” and that motto became the motto of the commercial empire that Horden created, Anthony Hordens departments stores. The company thrived for nearly a century but, sometime in the 90’s vandals poisoned the tree. At the same time, the retail giant was experiencing grave financial difficulties and the company eventually folded. Many people believed that the fortunes of the tree and the company were somehow linked and that the decline of the tree was a symptom of the decline of the company. The tree did survive though in a much reduced scale but, in 2014, it was hit by lightning and that was the end of it.
Sometime later, a new tree was planted to commemorate the original and, I am pleased to say, that it is thriving, though Anthony Hordens is now but a dim memory.
The view from the top of the Razorback is spectacular and I was glad I took the detour today to renew the acquaintance with this iconic piece of road.
From here it was back through Narellan and on to Campbelltown and Appin where I was planning a fuel stop and late lunch. BUT…..Appin Bakery was CLOSED for the long weekend, how dare they.
I dropped down Bulli Pass at Sublime Point and came home through the suburbs for a change. About 3 hours and just a bit over 160kms for the day in glorious sunshine and pretty clear roads. Speaking of which, I was amazed at how few bikes there were on the road, very strange.
MotoGP this weekend and poor Alex Marquez got binned by another rider for the third time in three races last night. He hasn’t let it spoil his sense of humour, though.
Hopefully I’ll get a few more rides in while this great weather holds.
Here’s how Relive saw my day.
