Good things come to those who wait and I am so glad I got there in the end!
Cast your mind back to a cycling adventure way back in March 2023. It all ended in tears when it turned way too hot. It was mid-Autumn for goodness sake – more like an Indian Heatwave than an Indian Summer – and a head cold that I had been nursing for the previous +300km, caught up with me. This unhappy combination meant that I just couldn’t push another pedal and I pulled out halfway through the final Wellington to Gulgong stage.
But, I came back, baby! There was no head cold or weakness of any sort other than a distinct lack of training. It was the middle of Winter – about 9°C – so heat definitely wasn’t an issue either.
The sun was shining, I snagged a tailwind and all was right with the World.
Join me on the last beautiful stage of the Central West Cycle Trail…
Logistics:
Day: 7
Date: Friday, 19 July 2024
From: Goolma, Central West NSW To: Gulgong
Official Distance: 31.3km Actual/Garmin Distance: 27.1km – (freestyling, yet again)
Total: 368/400km (maybe a little too much freestyling? I definitely didn’t take that many shortcuts! Who knows where those missing kilometres went?)
Time: 1h56m
Ascent: 254m Descent: 225m
Average Speed: 14kph Maximum Speed: 41.7kph
Weather: Cold and clear. A magical tailwind towards the end of the stage.
Stayed At: Home.
General Comments:
- I am a finisher and I hate leaving anything half done. Getting back on the bike and riding this last section had been sitting in the back of my mind for nearly 18 months. It was just a matter of snagging a window of fine weather to finally tick it off the list.
- It was a very chilly morning, but clear. I rugged up with four layers on the top and two layers on the bottom, wool socks, gloves and a beanie. Yep, I was unzipping and delayering with every kilometre I pedaled. 😊
- I was never a purist about this trail, so I started today’s ride about 2km east of Goolma. Those 2km are very busy with speedy truck and car traffic and it has very little verge to escape to on the side of the road. I was not sad to miss out on yet another small section of the official trail.
- It was a beautiful morning for this last beautiful section and I am so glad I committed to finishing it, regardless of being less than bike-fit. I was the only cyclist out on the road. Just me, a small handful of local utes and trucks, and a large handful of cows and kangaroos.
- Terrain: the road undulates all the way to Gulgong with a few long, slow ascents to remind me about all that training I should have done. There are stretches of good asphalt, but mostly it is dirt road which varies from good quality to teeth-shattering corrugations.
- I loved the early morning wintery colours of the clouds and valleys. The track took me into parts of the region I had never seen before – past well-established farms and rough weekender shacks. I was surprised to see an old railway bridge, part of the never-used Sandy Hollow railway line, which helped clarify my location in the landscape.
- I thought of all my international friends as I pedalled along. Kangaroos hopped along in the paddocks beside me – racing me and winning, of course. At one stage I rode past an old wallaroo grazing right next to the road and he just blinked, and kept on eating as I pedalled eastwards. Another time, a much younger and more energetic wallaby shot out of the scrub and nearly collided with my front wheel. Very different cycling hazards than most people may experience on a ‘normal’ ride. 😊
- The early morning birdsong was also a highlight. Kookaburras, galahs, King parrots, magpies, finches, pee wees and bloody choughs all sang me on my way.
- It was a very good day to be alive!
Top Tips for this Section:
- A gravel bike or mountain bike would be best suited on this section due to some loose, sandy patches and plentiful corrugations on the dirt road.
- There are absolutely no facilities along this section. I didn’t check my phone, but I imagine that mobile phone service/range would be patchy at best until you get closer to Gulgong.
- There are no watering points either, unless you managed to get some from a random creek. Beware, its quality may be questionable if there is run-off from one of the many cattle paddocks. Make sure you carry sufficient water if you are riding in the warmer months.
- Waymarking: Signage is pretty good on this section and the route is very straight forward with few twists and turns.
- As you get closer to Gulgong the amount of traffic on the road increases slightly due to the commercial quarry and solar farm located nearby. Luckily, the road is wide and in pretty good condition, with clear sightlines.
- Gulgong: Reward yourself with a restorative coffee and cake when you arrive in Gulgong or a big pub feed at one of the many old pubs. I can recommend the Prince of Wales Hotel. They do a good pub lunch.
- Or, if you still have some pep in your legs, push on to Mudgee – only another 30km away. It is yet another gorgeous stage (our stage 1), but beware, it has some very stiff climbs complete with frustrating false summits! 😊
So, that’s a wrap for my Central West Cycle Trail adventure. I would do it all again in a heartbeat (in the middle of Winter, of course) and it will be the perfect training ride for a HUGE cycling adventure we have planned for 2025! Gulp!
I have said it before and I’ll say it again, if you want to see rural Australia at its best, enjoy some great pub meals and cold beer, and you don’t mind the odd hill, then get the Central West Cycle Trail on your Bucket List! It’s a cracker!
Happy trails to you!
Previous Stages:
- Day 1 – Mudgee to Gulgong – HERE
- Day 2 – Gulgong to Dunedoo – HERE
- Day 3 – Dunedoo to Mendooran – HERE
- Day 4 – Mendooran to Ballimore – HERE
- Day 5 – Ballimore to Wellington – HERE
- Day 6 – Wellington to Goolma – HERE
Resources:
- Central West Cycle Trail – find out more – HERE
- Overview of the Central West Cycle Trail – find out more – HERE
#travelinspo #CentralWestCycleTrail #Gulgong #adventurebeforedementia #Goolma #australianbush #cyclingadventures #bikesintheBush #destinationnsw #greatoutdoors #crosscountry #exploreonbike #visitnewsouthwales #cycletouring #bikepacking #visitmudgeeregion
Life...one big adventure 
Your perseverance paid off. That was a beautiful ride. Skipping the traffic makes a lot of sense.
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It made me want to get out and do more bike riding, although that rush of enthusiasm got lost in the daily grind. 🙂
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it certainly has been cold out there on the bike. Recently we needed every layer we owned on the Victorian Murray to the Mountains Rail Trail. Maybe this will be our next challenge.
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I don’t mind the cold if I can keep warm and I was definitely warm by the end. 🙂 Yep, add this trail to your list. It really is a good one and takes you down and around some gorgeous back roads.
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You are very determined! I am glad you got to finish this final leg and that the weather was kinder this time. Do you do most of your adventures solo?
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Yes, I seem to head off on adventures on my own a fair bit. I am not anti-social, it’s just that my timing may not work for other people. 🙂
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Good for you! No shame in deferring due to a head cold. Those buggers can be nasty!
I don’t like having things like that left undone either. In fact, in my early 20s I had bailed on the final climb of my 2.5-month Outward Bound expedition due to a sore ankle. (It was climbing the lower 48’s second highest mountain, Mount Elbert.) It bugged me so much that a few years later I returned to “get ‘er done,” but we took the wrong trail and could only make it to the south summit before turning back. THAT stayed with me and we returned again and finally climbed it for good.
Love the scenery and especially love the marsupial encounters!
Can’t wait to hear about this huge, gulp-worthy cycling adventure you have planned for 2025!! 😉
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Ah, we are so cut from the same cloth, it’s not funny! 🙂
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Like you said, you’re a finisher. Congrats on completing the adventure.
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Ta, now I need to look for another adventure. 🙂
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Very different cycling hazards indeed! I’ve certainly never had a near-collision with a wallaby (nor have I even seen one, I don’t believe). Congrats on persevering to finish this trail! It must feel so good to be able to check that one off the to-do list.
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and I get freaked out when you North Americans refer to bears out on your trails!! I would prefer a wallaby any day! 😉
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Wow, what a fantastic adventure. Staying mentally strong and motivated on long-distance bike tours can be challenging. When undertaking a journey that’s longer than anything you’ve done before it’s inevitable that there will be ups, downs and unexpected occurrences. This is normal. Managing oneself when things don’t go your way can be especially challenging when travelling solo, requiring patience and self-respect. Your passion for such adventures is truly inspiring. Thanks for sharing, and have a good day 🙂 Aiva xx
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Thanks, Aiva. On this trail I shared the previous 6 stages with another couple and my husband. It was lovely to have their company AND their patience as I was dragging the chain! 🙂 Have a good day.
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🥰🥰🥰
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There you just prove it again Mel … you don’t give up! Well done for going back and complete the trail. Ha, I can’t say that a kangaroo has ever crossed my path when walking or cycling – like you said, you’re one lucky duck!
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Yes, but you would have had a whole range of other amazing animals out on your walks! 🙂
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True. However, I hope not to see all of them on my walks – you know … like the lion!
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well, in that case…walk very, very fast! 🙂
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😂
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An amazing achievement, especially after the set back the first time. Those cakes at the end look VERY welcome 🙂
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Ooo, Yes! Cake always tastes even more delicious after a good bike ride or walk. 🙂
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Congratulations on persevering and completing your cycle ride! It’s an incredible achievement. Your photos of the scenery are beautiful.
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It’s a magical part of my region, but then I am a tad biased! 🙂 Have a good day.
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Enjoying your satisfaction at a job well done, Mel.
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Yep, ticked that box and now onto the next adventure. x
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We bike a lot at home, but definitely don’t see your type of wildlife. What is a wallaroo? Mix of kangaroo and wallaby?? Good for you for finishing! Maggie
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Yep, a mix of wallaby and kangaroo. They are a much stockier animal and are a dark grey/brown colour, have a shorter and fatter nose. I certainly wouldn’t want to hit one on a bike! 🙂
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Looks like a fun and adventurous loop! Your photos and the food look fabulous!! 😍
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It was lots of fun and the cake at the end, made it even better! 🙂
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