Canberra to Muswellbrook vias Bathurst and the Bylong Valley Way

The long way home from the 2025 Wall to Wall Ride for Remembrance.
Yogi and I head north from Canberra through the New South Wales countryside on the first day of our loop home.
Day 1 is north through the countryside between the Federal and Barton Highways straight up towards Crookwell. Anticipated fuel stop at Gunning had burnt down so Yogi spent a while on 0km range.
Crookwell to Bathurst, for me, is some of the best riding in Australia. Fighting for top spot with South Gippsland Hwy for top spot on my list.
From Bathurst up the Sofala Road through Peel & Wattle Flat to Sofala, then on to Ilford and onto the Bylong Valley Way.
My second year in a row doing the Bylong Valley way (last year was southbound) and the scenery of this ancient landscape is magnificent. Over ridges, into open valleys, undulating, hilly, curvy, hairpins, it has it all. What is does not have is a consistent road surface to the point that this road is dangerous for inexperienced road bikes riders. In several locations a good surface leads into a seemingly full speed corner only to find that the shadows are hiding a dozen pot holes and the rest of the surface is a mosaic of uneven patches. In spots you can see brand new asphalt patches next to brand new pot holes.
Our last stretch we took the Wybong Rd, however I’d suggest following the Golden Hwy (B84) east to Denman and then heading to Muswellbrook from there, first part of Wybong Road is a rim cracker.