​Bridle Track Adventure.

Day 3: Orange to ACT - The Final Stretch Home​

Dirt = 60-70%
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Today started off on a better note—no headache, thanks to a solid effort at staying hydrated with plenty of water, two Hydralytes, and a Powerade.
Leaving Orange, I was surprised by how long it took to hit dirt roads. Back in the ACT, I can usually find dirt much quicker! Eventually, we got off-road, bypassing Millthorpe and Blayney as we made our way south toward Carcoar.
In Carcoar, we stopped at the Stoke Stable Museum, but unfortunately, like the Rockley Museum, it was closed. One of the challenges of weekday travel! A quick navigation slip had us briefly backtracking from what looked like the highway entrance. Looking back at the map, we could have followed Fell Timber Rd to reconnect with our original route near Mandurama.
We passed through the small towns of Mandurama and Lyndhurst, then hit more stretches of dirt heading south toward Wyangala Dam. Along the way, we checked out Tanisa Pools, the Helm Standing Stones, and Elliots Lookout, which had a fantastic view over Lake Wyangala.
When we reached Wyangala, we stopped for fuel, a drink, and a look at the dam wall. Unfortunately, the maps misled me, as I thought we’d be able to cross over the dam wall—but we had to reroute around the township instead.
Continuing south, we rode through some amazing twists and turns, paved but starting on dirt. Not too many road bikes would likely tackle these curves! Then it was back to dirt again through Reids Flat and Frogmore before reaching Boorowa, where we enjoyed a well-earned stop for some delicious baked goods.
Dave was running low on fuel, but he had just enough to get to Yass, so we pressed on through Rye Park and took the dirt roads to Yass. Here, Dave had a mishap—overdoing it on one corner and running off the road. All we heard on the radio was some colorful language, so we turned back to check on him. I reached him first and found him lying in a ditch under his bike, winded and nursing a sore leg and chest. Fortunately, he was okay overall. We lifted his bike back onto the road, assessing only minor damage—a broken blinker and a scratched Barkbuster.
After a break, we fueled up in Yass and geared up for the final dirt stretch back to the ACT, covering Gums Lane, Long Rail Gully Rd, Dog Trap Rd, and Kaveneys Rd.
Finally, we rolled into Gold Creek McDonald’s to call the ride complete.
This trip was a fantastic loop, and checking the Bridle Track off my bucket list was a real highlight. Next up: an overnight camping trip!