Day 17 - Sydney to Maitland

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Sydney to Wisemans Ferry
Not wanting to spend more time in the traffic of Sydney than necessary I plotted a course out via Berowra Waters where the bike and I had our first nautical experience together on the ferry crossing.
The road north traversed a mixture of farmland and bush, and the rain was restricted to an occasional light shower which barely dampened the road surface.

Wisemans Ferry to Maitland
The road out of Wisemans Ferry is quite picturesque with the wide expanse of the Hawkesbury River on the right and the sandstone valley walls on the left, with a variety of river flats, farms, fishing shacks and mansions in between. The only negative aspect is the road surface itself which, although sealed all the way, is mostly uneven and bumpy with many patched areas adding to the rough ride. My wrists and back were taking a beating there for a while.
I eventually reached a good stretch of The Great North Road which was originally constructed on the 1830s to allow settlers to more easily reach the Hunter Valley area. The roadway has been upgraded many times since, but some of the original constructions are still preserved and in very good condition.
Just before I reached Cessnock the magic powers of my wet-weather gear finally failed and the rain began in earnest. While I remained dry (apart from an occasional annoying cold drop down the back of my neck) it was becoming difficult to see in the approaching twilight so I pulled in to the first motel I could find for some relief from the cold and wet conditions. It was only after I stopped that I realised that my gloves had lost their water resistant abilities and were soaked through.

Distance Travelled Today - 258km

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