Posts Tagged ‘Ulan’

Day 24. 121km. Ulan – Sandy Hollow

Posted: November 4, 2020 in Australia, Cycling, NSW
Tags: , , , , ,
3

The Bylong Valley Road is stunning as it winds its way between rocky escarpments and peaks, following the Goulburn River. I cycled this road, bathed in glorious sunshine.

The Bylong Valley Way

The Bylong Valley Way


Well, actually, I spent 25km cycling along the perimeter of the Wilpinjong coal mine. The other side of the fence was another planet. An expanse of black, plied by huge lorries, bringing the black chunks to be transported on the endless coal trains.

Coal mine

Coal mine


Coal mine

Coal mine

Coal mine

Coal mine


The road followed the train line full of endless trains transporting the black coal.

Coal train

Coal train


But, after Bylong – a beautiful little village – the coal mines passed into a distant memory.

Bylong village

Bylong village


Bylong village

Bylong village


Bylong Valley Way

Bylong Valley Way


Bylong Valley Way

Bylong Valley Way

Bylong Valley Way

Bylong Valley Way

Bylong Valley Way

Bylong Valley Way

Day 23. 71km. Dunedoo – Ulan

Posted: November 3, 2020 in Australia, Cycling, NSW
Tags: , , , ,
2

I left the main road and it got hillier. I still haven’t reached the Bylong Valley Way, but am feeling tired. I stopped early at the mining pub in Ulan. Some sleep was on the menu.

Could this be the highest point?

Could this be the highest point?


I continued to meet cyclists on the Central West Cycling Trail. First yesterday in Ballimore, this morning in Dunedoo and at lunch in Gulgong. It’s a 450km odd route through the area – sometimes self supported, sometimes run by a group. There are lots of cycle friendly shops en route. It seems to be taking off. I hope more of this cycle tourism becomes popular.

I took a little side road to Gulgong. It was very pleasant, but I soon realised why the kilometre tally is less in the hills. Steep up and down is slow going.

The road to Gulgong

The road to Gulgong


The road to Gulgong

The road to Gulgong

The road to Gulgong

The road to Gulgong


The pub at Ulan was pretty quiet. They opened at 4 and closed at 8 because of the lack of people. Just a few people popped in to get a beer for the road.