There was a large turnout today for a “southern” ride – generally only four or five venture down towards Macksville when there is a ride in this neck of the woods – so it was good to have 11 riders take off from Nambucca Heads Visitor Centre to cycle to Gumma near Macksville.
Given that it was pretty early on a Sunday morning and not much traffic, the group went straight down the highway, using the cycleway south of Nambucca Heads and turning off at Nursery Road to avoid traffic where we could.
Over the Macksville Bridge, a turn downriver along Gumma Road took us away from the highway and with a gentle breeze at our backs we zoomed along at over 40km an hour until reaching the small hill where the road leaves the river.
Two visiting cyclists took the lead at this point and left the regulars in their dust. The rest of the group eventually caught them at the end of the bitumen where we turned around for the ride back into Macksville for coffee.
The gentle breeze had by this time turned into a howling south-wester, ripping across the Gumma flatland and the river and really making riders battle their way back. It was ok if you were lucky enough to be sitting behind someone bigger to use as a windbreak, but a bit tough if you were on your own.
We finally made it to shelter at a local café on the river, with one couple’s quiet Sunday brekkie destroyed by our arrival, but we greatly enjoyed the huge cups of coffee and the brilliant view of the Nambucca River glinting in the sunshine.
Four riders left the group at Macksville while the rest toiled north to Nambucca Heads via Wirrimbi, doing a total ride of about 45km.
Next week’s ride is out to Glennifer again, via North Bank Road, with coffee at Bellingen. Everyone’s welcome for our Sunday social rides – see www.dubbug.org.au for a list of our upcoming rides. Wednesday and Friday rides leave Urunga BP for rides of about 30km and everyone’s welcome on these too.