Natureland Rally
20th Natureland Club Rally
The Natureland Classic Motorcycle Club’s 20th annual rally was a terrific success with participants enjoying a brilliant couple of days riding on the Mid North Coast. The weather turned in our favour on Friday after a couple of very wet days. It was a relief to wake up to blue skies and sunshine with around 120 visitors from other clubs registered for the rally. The Friday run is gaining popularity and is now an integral part of the rally. This ride is usually a midday jaunt along local roads meandering the back roads between Crescent Head and South West Rocks with scenery that’s hard to beat. This year some 80 riders participated travelling from Hat Head beside picturesque Kinchella Creek before turning towards Smithtown and then taking Summer Island Road into South West Rocks. Everyone congregated at Back Creek where a new café has gained popularity with locals and visitors alike. A delicious cuppa and slice of cake fortified participants for the return journey to Hat Head. Saturday was a cracker of a day with everyone raring to head off.
Sylvia Lewis, whose husband Ron ran the first rally, flagged everyone off. Saturday’s route took in Belmore River, Crescent Head, Kempsey and Euroka before heading west to Sherwood where morning tea was catered for by the Hall Committee. Those country folk sure know how to put on a spread! With everyone fed and watered the ride continued west past Willawarrin to Bellbrook where the judging and lunch provided a chance for everyone to talk bikes.
After the recent rain the countryside was dazzlingly verdant and the Macleay River, that meanders through the valley all the way back to South West Rocks, was in full flow. Anyone able to take their eyes off the road for a few seconds appreciated the scenery. By the time everyone got back to Hat Head they had traversed around 200 kilometres. Thankfully all completed without mishap and only a couple of bikes having to avail themselves of the breakdown trailers.
A great selection of bikes participated from as early as a 1927 Indian ridden by Ken Hoad who took out the 1st prize in the Pre 1930s category. It’s always terrific to see these old bikes still going strong especially those in original condition like Hayden Kelly’s Matchless. He won the trophy for the most original bike in the rally. Some of the later model Japanese entries from the seventies and early eighties looked better than when they came out of the showroom and were a credit to their owners. 150 people sat down to dinner on the Saturday night at the Hat Head Bowlo and were treated to a hearty meal accompanied by the usual raffles and prize giving. Sunday morning proved a little inclement with the riders deciding to opt for the farewell brunch rather than brave the conditions. See you next year – same time, same place, November 4-6.