After a week in Sydney it was time to head north.
I decided to take the train as it is by far the most comfortable option.
Train to Grafton
There was a short wait at the Central Station due to the fact that one of the XPT’s locomotives had to be replaced. One of the NSW Trains staff commented that “this was not a surprise given the age of the trains”. The XPTs are well past ‘their use by dates’ and are due to replaced in 2020, if all goes to plan.
The XPT is based on the ‘125’ trains in the UK. These trains are still being used on the Great Western line and the North East line as a result of delays in the electrification of the tracks. Albeit they are old trains, they are still pretty good.
The train was mostly full all the way to Coffs Harbour. This bodes well for the future. It is clearly a service that is needed. It was almost empty from Coffs Harbour to Grafton. The staff told me that most people prefer the earlier train if they are going that far.
Day in Grafton
I was booked in the Crown Hotel which is next to the Clarence River I have in this hotel a few times. It is a classic country hotel. The rooms are simple, but clean. It has a great balcony over looking the river.
I spent a day in Grafton. There is much to do there but is a pleasant enough town.
Ride to Lawrence
The next day I headed out of town on my Brompton. This was the first time that I had ridden it ‘fully loaded’. This meant with the 30 litre front bag packed with my computer and other ‘heavy stuff,’ and the 50 litre duffel bag full of my clothes.
The arrangement worked well. The bike does not handle very differently than if does without the bags. Keeping the weight as low as possible seems to be the key.
The route to Lawrence took me on the inland side of the Clarence River. It is a wide river at this point notwithstanding that it is only 394 kilometres long.
It is a very pleasant ride past diary and sugar growing farms. The road is narrow, but not busy.
Lift into MacLean
Shortly after the village of Lawrence there eis a ferry that crosses the river to the road that takes you into MacLean. This road is very busy.
As I waited for the ferry, I got into a conversation will a bloke driving a Ute. He was interested in the bike. He also turned out to be a cyclist and offered to give me lift into to town. He said that he never rides on this road when it is busy.
It was simple to unload the bike, fold it up and put in the back of the Ute. The Brompton has passed its second test.
Bus to Yamba
I had a about an hour’s wait in MacLean before catching the bus to Yamba. I had decided to take the bus on this leg because that part of the road is even worse for cyclists that the road into to town from Lawrence.
As I waited for the bus, I chatted with an older bloke and his daughter. He told me that he was a retired panel beater. He said that “he suffered lead poisoning” as a result of years working will leaded paint. He said that it has made him very sick and there was no cure. The whole thing clearly upset him and his daughter. I know there are a lot of jobs that are dangerous to your health. I suspect it was known that lead in paint was injurious to health low before the people who were being impacted were informed.
The bus ride into Yamba was a simple exercise. I placed the folded bike on the floor where wheel chairs go. The bags were placed on the luggage ranks. The Brompton has passed its third test.
Yamba is a Top Spot
I like Yamba. In some respects, it is still a ‘well kept secret’. It is not as popular as Byron Bay or Noosa. However, this may not stay that way. It has a lot going for.
While I was in Yamba I went on a couple of rides on the bike.
Previous Posts
There are links to previous posts about travelling in this area below.
Flickr Links
Grafton
https://flic.kr/s/aHsmxEbG45
Yamba
https://flic.kr/s/aHsmoEVCvA
Links to Previous Posts
Grafton to Brisbane April 2018
Long Ride 2013
Garmin Links
Grafton
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/3223359127
billrider2013 