Putty road and Womerah Range trail

We continued the ride through Wollemi National Park and had some very nice cycling through the forest. Nice dirt tracks and we thought the trip had started perfect. We then got out on the Putty road, tarmac, but not much traffic and not much houses along the way. 

Our plan was then to turn of and cycle the Momerah Range trail which on the map was marked as an unpaved road and I also had read that it was a cycle trail. Was hard to find where the trail began because there was no sign showing where to turn off from the main road. But we found an unmarked road that we assumed to be the Womerah trail. But we had little water left so we decided to continue on Putty road to the next place where we could fill our water tanks.


It was a 20 km ride to Grey gum cafe, where we met some motorcyclist,had a chat with them about our tour and then filled up our water tanks. Pedaled back to the beginning of the Womerah Range trail.  We found a nice camping area some hundred meters off Putty road where we could pitch our tent. Some kangaroos jumped away just  in front of us and it was the first we saw in Australia. It actually took me almost total a year in Australia before I spotted the first ones... 

The following morning we continued on the trail, it was still quite easy cycling and it was a lovely morning. After a km there was a sign that confirmed that we were on the Womerah trail. The trail got a bit rougher as we continued but the scenery was so lovely that we didn't mind it. Stopped for lots of photo seasons. Heard kangaroos jumping next to us in the forest but the bush vegetation was so dense so we could never see them. 

By lunchtime the temperature had risen to the mid twenties and the trail had also got more challenging. The surface was now more sand with elements of rocks and more solid elements. This meant that we also had to push our bikes, we could maybe cycle for a hundred meters or so then we needed to push the bikes for about the same distance, when the surface got too soft. There were lots of smaller hills, not long but quite steep and the sand and loose gravel meant that you couldn't get a good grip for your shoes. Was really hard work pushing the bikes as they almost weighted the same as us. 

The trail goes through real wilderness area, and except from the trail you felt that you had untouched wilderness on your both sides. Got some beautiful views on top of the hills and could also see that the area consisted of lots of hills, hills and hills. Beautiful but tough terrain. We passed some rocks were we could see Aboriginal rock art.

In Australia they call bicycles for push bikes and we joked that it was a very suitable name as we continue to push our way through the Wollemah range trail. We made 28 km the first day, and camped right on the trail on top of a hill. We were rewarded with a beautiful sunset.

Next day the trail got even more rough and we had to help each other pushing the bikes up the hills. We were really tired when we came to the Heartbreak Hill rest area. Happy when it meant that we only had about 15 km left before we would reach a more road like trail.

And about 3 Pm we were glad when we finally made it out to the St Albans road after 50 km of off road trail. Took some photos of the sign as a proof of us having made the trip and when we were getting ready again to cycle a car stopped. 

It was Barry and his kids and they invited us to stay with them down the valley. We accepted it happily. Had a nice rest there