Adventuring Off-Road on the Oaks Trail
’See that big pile of rocks on the left? Traditional Aboriginal ceremonies were often held near high ground like that. If you climb up there, you’ll see an overhanging rock that looks like it is balancing all on its own. Do we have some time now? I left my glasses up there, last time I was through here.’
That's the sort of chatter you hear when riding 'off-road’.
We were riding through the Blue Mountains National Park, down from Woodford to Glenbrook, along the Oaks Trail, a wide smooth gravel road. Most of us had mountain bikes and a few had gravel bikes. The lucky ones had batteries to help push them up the sharp climbs at the start, but we all had enooormous fun gliding down the lonnng gradual descent. 10 kilometres of gently-sloping, smooth firetrail.
Our snack break was on a large open rock with contours that look like humpback whale skin magnified. We passed evidence of recent bushfires, dams where bush fire fighters fill their tankers and staging areas where they can store their equipment.
Then, after an optional detour to a fascinating Aboriginal art site, we rumbled through some beautiful forest on ‘single-track' wide enough for each of us to negotiate comfortably. ‘Wow! That was the best part of the whole day!’
And, as we prepared ourselves for the steep climb back up to Glenbrook and the pie shop which was our ultimate goal, we heard: ‘Do any of you like curry pies? I’d better get there first to make sure I get one.’
Phill Hart
President
president@bikenorth.org.au |