Hunter Breakfast Blast
17 May 2017 / Article: Josh Fitzgerald Photos: Grnat Webber
The air was fresh for the 7:00am meet at Cessnock McDonalds, but to our surprise not fresh enough to keep 22 cars and 37 attendees away from an early morning blast to breakfast down the Putty Road.
Beanies, scarves and gloves were on with the anticipated cool of roof down wind in the hair through the canyon. We were hoping this would be a preview to the temperatures experienced on the Brass Monkey run however the sun poked its head up making it quite pleasant if not just a little cool. We had a new member to the club and some guests join us, who along with a couple of other members, had never driven the Putty Road before! What a way to experience such a great road for the first time!
With the technicality of the Putty Road in mind, a show of hands was asked for those who would prefer a more leisurely run to group together towards the back. We waited and waited and not a single hand went up! A few asked to go towards the front, so on we went – thankfully turning out of McDonalds in the right direction this year!
Picking up 2 more cars along the way at Broke, including Brian Thomson who drove all the way up from Kariong that morning, soon enough we were on the Putty Road and the convoy turned into a waypoint with a regroup at Grey Gums Café. With a clear road the canyons were as enjoyable as ever and before we knew it we were at Grey Gums for a quick toilet stop and photo op. As we pulled up to park, one little red NA seemed to have developed the sound of a worked monster under the hood, then the explanation to the scrambled message received earlier over the CB; the exhaust had fallen off mid way through the canyon!! Oops.
With tummy’s rumbling and a certain level of “hangry” (hungry/angry) kicking in, we made hast towards our breakfast destination of Colo Riverside. The roads south of Grey Gums are more open and sweeping and bar the exception of one member of the public who thought they’d be quicker in their SUV (they weren’t), it was a clear run all the way to breakfast.
And what can we say about Colo Riverside, what a reception we got. Tess was ecstatic to have us and the staff cooked up a storm with members lined up out the door to order. Coffees came quick, breakfast soon followed. With the number of orders, they did well to keep up and everyone enjoyed a very well prepared breakfast. Definitely a place to drop into for coffee or food if you ever find yourself on the Putty Rd.
After breakfast and coffee, everyone made their own way with some heading home back up the Putty Rd, others heading into Windsor to explore, with the rest heading towards Sackville Ferry and onto Wisemans Ferry before continuing on home.
It was great to see so many members out so early in the morning enjoying themselves.
More of Grants photos: HERE
