Royal Enfield Club of Australia
Hill End Ride
26th – 27th March 2022
By Craig Katen
It had been a few years since we visited Hill End, an historic town located about 75km north of Bathurst and when a few members suggested we return I organised a weekend ride, with the help of Mark Reynolds, so that we could get a few new members along.
During the Gold Rush Era Hill End had a population estimated at 8,000 served by two newspapers, five banks, eight churches and twenty-eight pubs. Nowadays it is classified as a historical site by the NPWS and is home to only a handful of residents.
We decided to meet in Richmond at the Second Home Café at 830am. Mick a new member from Shell Harbour braved the coastal rain and was already there when Jenny and I arrived. It was easy to tell his Military 500 was parked in front of the café.
On Friday night Peter and Johanne stayed with Mark and Jane just up the road and Roger and Narelle stayed with John and Viv also at Kurrajong Heights, who came down and met as for a coffee but couldn’t attend the ride. Ken, Helen, Dave and Alastair soon arrived and after some breakfast we left for Mark and Jane’s place so Peter could get on his bike and Jenny could drop her car off and get in with Mark, Jane and Johanne who were driving as the weather wasn’t looking the best.
After leaving Kurrajong we travelled thru Bilpin along the Bell’s Line of Road where we encounter some slight drizzle.
Once we reached the top of the mountains we were in the clouds at just over 1000m above sea level.
We stopped at Bell and regrouped and then continued to Lithgow where Alastair and Mick re-fuelled before heading to Bathurst on the Great Western Hwy.
At Bathurst we had lunch at the Knickerbocker Hotel, where we were joined by Bruce Butler who rode down on his Bullet 500 Trials Works Replica from Glen Davis where he had been staying at his farm and new member Roger Burrell from Orange who was running in his brand new Classic 500 Tribute.
We then filled up again for the trip north to Hill End. The petrol station was one of those “unmanned automatic pay on credit card before you can full up” ones which caused problems for a few people and they took off down the road to use a conventional service station. After filling up there I went to find them to tell them to meet us back at the first garage and in the confusion we left Peter behind. Eventually we stopped on the outskirts of Bathurst and Mark went back in the car to find him and we then continued along the Turondale Road to Hill End.
After checking in we tool a stroll down to the town and had some beverages at the Pub
Dinner was at the Hill End lodge where we were staying and we had a couple of pre dinner drinks in the restaurant
The next morning we had breakfast at the Lodge and checkout out before assembling in town for some photo opportunities
After the photos we left Hill End for Sofala for a coffee
After morning tea Mick Jones and Roger Burrell left us at Sofala heading back towards Bathurst and then went their separate ways to Shell harbour and Orange avoiding the weather
Next stop was Capertee for lunch
Bruce left us there to return to Glen Davis just up the road.
The rest of us Peter, Ken and Helen and Dave and I rode back to Lithgow and on to Kurrajong where we met the others before heading home.
Another great weekend away and good to see some new members attending. Both Mick and Roger are keen to be involved in the Club and link up with other Royal Enfield riders to arrange rides in their areas.
A good turnout with 9 bikes 5 Royal Enfield’s and 15 people
We had the following attendees
Mick Jones 500 Military
Roger Burrell 500 Tribute
Bruce Butler 500 Trials Works Replica
Craig Katen 650 Interceptor
Peter Jackson Himalayan
Dave Monahan 99 Suzuki Bandit 1200
Alastair Hogbin Mutt 250
Ken and Helen Hensby Triumph Tiger Sport 1050
Roger and Narelle Harley Road King Outfit
Mark Jane Johanne Jenny – Holden Colorado Support Vehicle
Thanks to Mark and Jane for checking out and booking the lunch venues and for help with route planning
Thanks to Narelle and Jenny for your photography
And Thanks to all those who made it a great weekend by attending