A group of senior cyclists are using the Parkes Shire as their backdrop this week as they explore and enjoy a beautiful part of our country.
Every year these cyclists, who on this occasion total 50 men and women aged in their 70s and 80s, pick a rural town to visit and gather for a week of daily rides, visiting tourist attractions and doing whatever they like really.
At night they come together at their camp for a community-style dinner.
They're on their sixth ride and this year is Parkes' turn.
They arrived in town on Sunday and will be here until Saturday, staying at the Spicer Caravan Park.
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Months out from the trip, organiser Bruce Manning searches and visits towns that may be suitable for their annual ride.
He said he purposely picked Parkes because of its roads - and the camp kitchen at the caravan park.
"We come from Lismore to Melbourne and all in between," he said.
"You guys have lovely roads here, they're very consistent and easy to ride on.
"We don't like gravel and some riders get scared of bitumen but we show them there's nothing to be scared of.
"And the camp kitchen at Spicer Caravan Park, there's enough space there you can have 50 people for dinner.
"We self cater and there aren't too many towns that have space like that."
The group consists of old friends and friends of friends who have all been riding for decades, most belonging to their own little riding groups in their area.
They also have a support crew of about eight people and some partners have tagged along too.
They've travelled from Lismore, Northern Rivers and the Central Coast, Northern Beaches and Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne.
They cover 50km each day - Monday it was along Eugowra Road before heading to the Parkes Visitor Information Centre seeking areas to explore and activities to do while they're here.
Visitor centre volunteer and former Champion Post editor Roel ten Cate enlightened the group with his in-depth knowledge and a tale or two of the shire he's called home since he was a baby.
On Tuesday the cyclists rode out to the Parkes Radio Telescope, fondly known as The Dish for morning tea and Wednesday they headed to the bush, taking in the surroundings of Gunningbland State Forest.
They also had the opportunity to see how the Parkes Special Activation Precinct is forming.
"While we self cater, we shop local," one female member of the group said.
Another man said the visit to Parkes has been wonderful.
"We're loving it here," Bruce said.
"We'd like to thank Roel for his time on Monday and Sharon at the visitor centre too, she's been great.
"And to the courteous drivers, they all have been beeping their horns and moving over to the other side of the highway for us.
"It's a bit different to down on the coast where they wished you weren't there," he laughed.
The annual ride grew from one person to then a small group from the Central Coast called the Retired and Telsta Surplus, the RATS. Now it's 40-50 riders.
"We try and do it every year around this time before winter," a support crew member said.
The ride has previously stopped in Mudgee twice, Cowra, Corowa, Beechworth in Victoria and now Parkes.
