June weekender - Shooters, State Forests and Fog

Despite all the planning and ideating the weeks prior to the June long weekend the final route wasn't finalised till midnight before the ride. A few hiccups along the way included initially mapping out a route that potentially had no water refills, then accidentally creating a route through the restricted area around Lake Burragorang.

In the end it was decided 5:20am train to Lithgow and ride out to Mittagong.

Day 1 - Lithgow to Shooters Hill via Jenolan Cave
​Strava link
Distance: 66.87 km
Elevation: 1,568 m
Riding time: 4h 28m

Beautiful bits: the decent into Jenolan Caves, wedges at the cafe at Jenolan, camping in the state forest

Shitty bits: the freezing cold chill (the kind where you think your fingers and toes will snap off), big vehicles on the narrow roads, guns shots in the middle of the night (thankfully I didn't actually shit my pants but I was close).

Food
 Breakfast: avo bagels on the train
 Morning tea: apple pie from the Lithgow cake shop, picked up more rolls for later
 Lunch: Avo + tuna rolls, Avo + tofu rolls
 Afternoon snack: Soy chai, coffee and chips at the Jenolan caves kiosk
 Dinner: Lentil dhal and rice in one pot.

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Day 2 - Shooters Hill to Wombeyan Caves through state forests
Strava link​
Distance: 74.93 km
Elevation: 1,189 m
Rolling time: 5h 8m
Ave speed: 14.6km/h

Beautiful bits: Morning sunrise in the state forest, lunch by the fire at Werong camp site, decent into Wombeyan Caves, 2 ice-creams at the kiosk
Shitty bits:  coffee in oats (very, very bad), google navigating onto private roads, drones and dirt bikes on the camp site

Tips: If lost, look out for the Bicentennial trail signs

​Food
 Breakfast: oats + nuts + coffee
 Morning tea: Jules' muesli bars
 Lunch: Avo + tuna wraps, Avo + tofu wraps
 Afternoon snack: 2 ice creams each from the Wombeyan kiosk
 Dinner: Coucous with sultanas, fried eggplant, felafel in tomato sauce

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Day 3 - Wombeyan Caves to Mittagong via Wollindilly River
Strava link
Distance: 65.77 km
Elevation: 1,049 m 
Rolling time: 3h 57m
Average: 16.6km/h

Beautiful bits: breakfast with the roos, slow gentle climbs, lunch at Wollondilly lookout

Shitty bits: freezing hands

Food
 Breakfast: oats + nuts, coffee (separately)
 Morning tea: Jules' muesli bars, trail mix, dried avos
 Lunch: Avo + tuna wraps, Avo + tofu wraps
 Afternoon snack: beer from the Mittagong pub

Tips:
1. Check the restricted areas / access with NSW Water
2. Check if hunting is allowed where you're camping, the Department of Primary Industries website
3. Check if google has mapped you onto a private road on six maps