Lost

Disaster 1:
Arriving with what I thought was plenty of time to spare, we parked at 8:20 with 10 minutes to get ready. What's this? Are there no riders here already? Looking around, Caro and I spot no familiar faces hanging around. Damn! There are the cars for people we know, but they are nowhere to be seen. A quick call by Caro to our lifesaver Nate, and it is that sinking feeling we are 20 minutes late. Double damn! The ride started at 8:00.

Disaster 2:
Riding along New Illawarra Road as a short cut to catch up, Caro was really feeling some pain now. Pushing some decent pace here on the bitumen, we could have been confused as a road scummer. But there was no lycra to laugh at. Although like a trooper, Caro did not make too many loud complaints. We push on into the single trails, and Liam has a chain failure. The power link has come apart, and the little link part has dropped onto the ground amongst the leaf litter, and gotten dirt all over it!! Trying to put the link back together, and the grains of dirt prevent the 2 sides from snapping together properly. 5 more minutes wasted, and we were making such good time too. Liam says this is already the ride from hell.

Disaster 3:
Push on again, getting directions from Nate of the trails taken by the group. Nate leaves signs showing where the group has gone. By this time, we are also looking where the 40 odd tyre tracks are going on the ground. And also stopping to smell the scent in the air. And also employing the local Aboriginal tribesman to track and locate the runaway group. Aren't we catching them yet? Nate says we need to make a right after we cross the first creek over some pallets, at another creek. Liam knows where this is. We turn right over another creek, but later determine we are going the wrong way. We turned too early. 20 minutes gone having to back-track to the original trail.

Disaster 4:
By now, Nate has lost contact with the group, and Lee has gone to look for him. Both become separated in a comedy of errors. By this time, I would laugh if I didn't spoil their ride for them.

Disaster 5:
We proceed back along the original trail out towards the creek. Having turned right there, we are supposed to go towards the intersection of the 5 trails. Surely we all know where there is a spot that 5 trails intersect? This must be the place of the famed Andy Bloot zip tie incident. Caro and Liam are still pushing along at good speed, probably far faster than is typical for a normal weekender. 30 minutes later, we arrive at the 5 trail intersection, and the group is nowhere to be seen. Inadvertatly, there was another trail behind us we needed to make a left turn on, but missed the signal. We are 3 hours into the ride now, and in all likelihood it is too late to meet the group. We make plans to dump the group, all meet up, and do our own ride.

However, what was a missed opportunity nevertheless still turn into a great ride. Nate, Lee, Caro and the Ditty rode an additional 2 more hours, scoping out some new trails, and also (accidentally) linking up some trails I didn't know how to do. For me, more of the "dots" have been joined together. We can make some fantastic loops out there in future.

Nate and Lee, thank you very much for sacrificing your fun ride for the two slow pokes at the back. I really appreciate your generosity. Sorry that we were not better prepared for this one. Next time for sure.