Broken Hill - July 2020

 Saturday 11 July

Oyster Bay - Goulburn - Crookwell - Boorowa - Young
360 km

Click here to Relive Day 1

I had planned to travel to Broken Hill via Ivanhoe and Menindee which meant lots of dirt roads. I had thought about it for a while and this time was determined to do it. I tried to book accommodation in Ivanhoe four the second night, but couldn’t get any. Lots of RMS workers in town and apparently all 8 rooms in town are taken, I could have got a single cabin at the caravan park, but with shared bathroom facilities.  Forget it

Plan B was to go to Young first night, then Hillston which would have me well placed to travel to Ivanhoe, Menindee and Broken Hill. Best laid plans and all that.

So Day 1 was to Young following a route I had taken before. Once you get off the freeway at Goulburn and head to Crookwell, this a great ride. It was a cold morning, but I was feeling very snug in my heated jacket liner. All well through Crookwell and I planned to stop for some lunch at Boorowa. Approaching Boorowa it began to rain quite heavily so I didn’t want to stop. I carried on to Young. I was there quite early and the rain had stopped so I went to a bakery/coffee shop for some lunch before heading to the Federation Inn Motel where I had stayed previously. Got settled in and went across the road to the Ex-serviceman’s Club for dinner. The place was packed and right on 6pm there was a huge line to order from the Bistro. One brave staff member tried to encourage the people in the cue to social distance, but they all just smiled and ignored her. Made a very poor choice for dinner and paid for it. I seem to remember the same thing happening the last time I was here.

Sunday 12 July, 2020

Young - West Wyalong- Barmedman - Rankins Springs - Goolgowie - Hillston
330 Kms

Click here to Relive Day 2

There had been some really heavy rain rain overnight which gave me some concern about the unsealed roads I was intending to ride on Monday. Fingers crossed. I had ordered breakfast from the motel and had it in my room before setting off on a cool morning (7c) in a moderate fog. Slow going until the fog lifted. I noticed some very large pools of water lying about the sides of the road from the overnight rain. Not a good sign.

Silo art - Weethalle

I kept going straight through West Wyalong, Rankin Springs and Barmedman. Then Goolgowie to Hillston. This was very close to my stomping grounds in younger years in Hay. I had travelled to both Goolgowie and Hillston to watch the Hay team play football. I always had a fairly low impression of Hillston, so I was pleasantly surprised to find a nice tidy little town. I was in a very new Motel and was able to walk the length of the Main Street in no time at all.

It had rained on my journey today and I was wasn’t feeling confident about the dirt roads. the first and crucial road was Mossgiel Rd from Hillston to Ivanhoe. Even without rain this is considered a fairly nasty road. The dirt out here can be sandy or clay. If it’s clay and it’s wet then it is very boggy. No fun. I called the Carrathool Council road conditions hotline and asked about the Mossgiel Road. “Nah mate. All our unsealed roads are closed after all this rain.” “Thank you.”

Time to work on plan B. That meant Cobar, Wilcannia, Broken Hill. 250 Km to Cobar and stay the night. 518 km to Wilcannia and stay the night. Or 718 km to Broken Hill and stay 2 nights. Didn’t fancy Cobar. No way was I staying in Wilcannia. Easy choice. Long ride.

Motel in Hillston

Hillston shops

Hillston

Hillston

Hillston

Darling River at Hillston

Monday 13 July, 2020

Hillston - Cobar - Wilcannia - Broken Hill
720 Kms

Click here to Relive Day 3

I decided to skip breakfast and get on the road early as I had a big day in front of me. Left Hillston at 7.30 in a thick fog. I had a straight run of 250Kms to Cobar up the Kidman Way. The fog came and went, but was there for pretty much all the trip to Cobar which seriously affected my speed. Temperature started at 6 and dropped to 5 half way along. My heated jacket kept my torso and arms warm, but my feet and hands were really felling it.

Finally got to Cobar and filled with petrol. Fog was lifting now and the temperature rose to about 12 which made all the difference to my hands and feet. Didn’t stop for food and headed towards Wilcannia. Before I got to Wilcannia I stopped at the Emmdale Roadhouse. A place straight out of the 1960s. I have stopped here before and had fond memories. Coffee and a bacon and egg role and I was good to go. Petrol in Wilcannia and then the final 200 km to Broken Hill. Temperature was up to 15c by now so very comfortable. Just grin and bear it for the final run.

Emmdale roadhouse

Got into Broken Hill about 3.30pm. Checked into the Motel, glad that I had booked 2 nights and I had tomorrow off. Yeehaa.

I didn’t get into the Motel I was after. Full house. But I did get into one that is directly across the road from the Junction Hotel, where I am more than happy to have dinner the next 2 nights.

Tuesday 14th July, 2020

Broken Hill – sleeping – reading –eating – drinking – walking
About 5 Kms

Click here to Relive Day 4

Wednesday 15th July, 2020

Broken Hill – Menindee – Pooncarie – Wentworth
360 Kms

Click here to Relive Day 5

So far my dirt road plans hadn’t worked out, but I had one left. Pooncarie road from Menindee to Pooncarie. About 100 Kms of dirt road. The weather had been fabulous for the last 2 days so I had no concern about water on the road. In fact, I couldn’t think of a single excuse not to do it.

Got away from Broken Hill about 8.30. Still around 5c and fog again, but I was coping with that pretty well. Nice run to Menindee. Sealed road and flat countryside. There was actually water in the Lakes this time after the rain so far this year.

I stopped for petrol and a toilet break before setting out on the unknown, unsealed Pooncarie Road.

I hit the dirt a short way out of town and it seemed pretty good. Mostly hard packed clay. A big wide road. Plenty of room for trucks and caravans to get past.

I was tootling along nicely at about 80 Km/h when I hit the first sand patch quite suddenly. I was in it before I knew it. About 2 inches of sand on top of the road. The front wheel seemed to lose all control and jumped from left to right. I was fairly sure I was going to hit the ground at that point. I managed to slow rapidly and continue through the sand very slowly until I came out the other side. Shaken and stirred.

Pooncarie Road

Pooncarie Road

That continued to happen on a regular basis. The main problem was I couldn’t really see what was sand until I was right on top of it. Very little colour variation. I went through patches of more hard packed clay, some gravel and then more sand. Certainly kept me on my toes and kept me moving very slowly. So slowly that at one point I was overtaken by a 4WD towing a large caravan. I must say I thought that if Mossgiel road and Ivanhoe-Menindee road had been like this, then I was OK about not having been able to ride them. A sook I know.

Finally got back on the bitumen just before Pooncarie where I stopped at a nice café on the Darling river where the old paddle steamer wharf used to be. Very happy to sit down for a while with some refreshments.

Pooncarie to Wentworth is a 120 Km run on bitumen though some nice country, following the Darling river all the way down to where it joins the Murray at Wentworth. Got in about 3.30, checked in and had a nice stroll around the river and town before finding a pub for dinner.

John Egge Statue - Wentworth

Darling River - Wentworth

Street Art - Wentworth

Tractor in a pub - Wentworth

Thursday 16th July, 2020

Wentworth – Euston – Balranald – Hay – Narrandera – Wagga Wagga
580 Kms

Click here to Relive Day 6

I knew this would be a bit on the dull side and if there hadn’t been a pandemic that closed the NSW-Victorian border, I would have crossed the Murray and done some of this trip in Victoria.

Never mind, let’s get on with it. Another heavy fog as I left Wentworth. As I went through Buronga I could see all the flashing lights of the police roadblock approaching the bridge to Mildura. Left for me and on to Euston. A cool morning but pleasant riding. The first hour or so I was looking into the sun rising in the East. A bit tricky.

From Euston I went straight on to Balranald where I stopped for petrol and coffee. I found the tourist Information center in Balranald which looked quite new and I had not noticed it before. Big car park, Nice café with good coffee and clean toilets. Everything I needed. The also had a temporary Covid-19 testing station set up in the car park, but I opted out.

From Balranald it was over the flat, treeless Hay plain. Home territory. Nothing changed here except it was green. Not the usual state at all. I didn’t stop in Hay. Straight through until petrol stop at Waddi, which is just a petrol station on the Sturt Highway near the Darlington Point/Griffith turn off.

From there it was on through Narrandera and into Wagga Wagga for the night. The Club Motel, which I have stayed at a few times, is right in the middle of town and very convenient.

Another foggy morning - Wagga Wagga

Friday 17th July, 2020

Wagga Wagga – Gundagai – Yass – Goulburn – Oyster Bay
450 Kms

Click here to Relive Day 7

Very cold morning in Wagga Wagga and more fog. There had been fog every morning I was away. Once I got out of town the fog was only thin, but then as I went through lower valley areas, it became very, very thick and I had slow down a lot.

An uneventful trip on the freeway. One stop in Goulburn for petrol and coffee and home around 2pm. 2,849 kms. Another successful trip

Metung Adventure

Saturday 15th March. 2020



 Oyster Bay - Nowra - Nerriga - Tarago - Bungendore - Queanbeyan - Cooma



420kms

I managed to squeeze in a week before it got too busy at work and home. I was keen to get down to the snowy mountains before it got too cold and to see the results of the devastation fires over Christmas.

Got away from home about 8.30 and it was very overcast and cool. It was a tossup to wear an extra jumper underneath the jacket. I did, but it still wasn’t enough. Around Kiama the rain started as a drizzle and the temperature kept dropping.

Through Nowra and on the way to Nerriga and it was cold. 8c and steady rain. I was feeling the cold. I had my new 12v heated jacket in the bags but I couldn’t stop and get changed in the rain or I would have been soaked. I also decided it was too wet to take the dirt roads through Braidwood so I carried on through Tarago, Bungendore and Queanbeyan. I stopped at Bungendore for lunch and it had stopped raining so got into the heated jacket liner. Wow. What a difference. My trip from Bungendore to Cooma was very pleasant. I think that jacket was a great investment. I’m sure I will be getting plenty of use out of it.

By the time I reached Cooma the sun had come out and the temperature was up to 15c. I‘d almost forgotten the cold miserable part of the journey.

 Sunday 16/03/2020

 Cooma- Adaminaby - Tumut - Batlow - Tumbarumba - Jingellic

270 Kms

Not my biggest day, but certainly one of the most spectacular days of riding I can remember. Great roads, great weather, great scenery. the perfect recipe.

It was 2c when I ventured out for breakfast in Cooma at 8am. A bit cooler than I had planned for. But a clear blue sky with no wind. I left town about 9am and headed up The Snowy Mountains highway. This is a great road at the best of times. But today was just perfect. It was cool at 7c but my electric jacket was working like a treat. I was very comfortable and loving the ride. straight through Adaminaby and on towards Tumut. Not much traffic and I kept finding my speed creeping up. Yee-ha.

The most eye-catching sight was the forests burned in the recent bushfire. Trees blackened but still standing. Although there were many lying on the ground. But the blackened trees had lush green shoots emerging from the trunks from top to bottom. Added to the blanket or rich green grass on the ground from recent rain and the whole picture was quite magical.

I stopped in Tumut for a coffee and while there I heard some gentlemen chatting and one said that there were 200 motorbike riders headed to town on the Black dog ride. Just out of Tumut I started passing them fortunately they were headed in the opposite direction. They were spread over a long distance although there were a few clumps that were riding very close together. Glad I wasn’t one.

One thing that stood out in this area was that every now and then I would go past a house and/or shed that had been destroyed by fire. Usually a brick or stone chimney still standing at one end surrounded by a pile of crumpled corrugated iron. Very eerie.

The perfect riding continued on to Tumbarumba where I stopped for some lunch. Then the final 40 Kms to Jingellic.

Lunch at Tumbarumba





A couple of years ago I stopped at the Bridge Hotel at Jingellic and was taken by what a pretty location it occupied. A tiny community with a lovely pub on the banks of the Murray River. There is a small public camping area next to it on the banks of the river. I was booked into a cabin belonging to the pub and it was very comfortable.

I am writing this in the beer garden looking over the camp area with the river in the background. The Murray is gurgling away with good strong flows from the recent rain. I have been watching a group of men about my age setting up their tents and swags beside their motorbikes and thinking how lucky I am to have a nice, cozy room to fall into at the end of the night.

Cabins at Bridge Hotel, Jingellic

Old guys setting up camp at Jingellic




Murray River at Jingellic

Setting up camp

Dining Room, Bridge Hotel

Bridge Hotel

Parked at Bridge Hotel





 Monday 17th March






 Jingellic – Corryong – Mitta Mitta – Omeo – Bruthen – Metung





415 Kms

A nice brisk, sunny morning to leave Jingellic. No breakfast available at the pub so there was no point hanging around. Fabulous riding with sun coming up and glistening off the dew covered green grass while the cows and sheep enjoyed breakfast.

Followed the Murray through Walwa and Towong and on to Corryong where I planned to stop at the Black sheep cafe. Unfortunately the cafe had the “closed Mondays” sign up so I kept going headed for Mitta Mitta where I thought the pub might have something to offer. It didn't, but the general store did a handy bacon and egg roll. Mitta Mitta is such a pretty place that I am always happy to spend some time here.

After Mitta Mitta, the road is very twisty as it climbs into the mountains and heads down to Omeo. Slow and steady through this area. The last time I came this way it snowed on me. Today was very pleasant by comparison.

I stopped in Omeo for a cup of tea and a breather. Extended trips through the mountains takes it out of you concentrating on the continues cornering.

From Omeo it is all downhill to Bruthen through familiar country. The road follows beside the Tambo river for quite a long run and it is always entertaining scenery. There was still a lot of clean up crews removing debris from the fires.

Got to Bruthen and it was only 25m Kms to Metung so I didn't stop. The run down to Metung was some of the most beautiful county yet, still following the Tambo River.

Metung is a small community on a narrow peninsular surrounded by the waters of Bancroft Bay and the Lakes National Park. I was booked into the Metung Waters Motel and within 50 meters I had the pub, 2 cafes, a general store including bottle shop, a pharmacy and a take away food store. Everything I could possibly need. The pub Bistro was so popular it was booked out on Monday and Tuesday night, but as long as I was happy to sit on the deck, I was in. Marinated duck breasts with steamed Asian greens, wild rice and chili infusion on Monday night, and a whole grilled flounder on Tuesday night.

I had ideas of going for a ride around the coast on the Tuesday in Metung, but I finished up having a day off and just soaking up the atmosphere. Very pleasant. I will be back.

Metung

Metung

Metung Hotel

Metung

Black Swans at Metung

Ready for Dinner, Metung

Metung

Metung

Pub deck for dinner, Metung





 Wednesday 19th March





 Metung – Orbost – Bonang – Delegate – Bombala – Jindabyne – Cooma






415 Kms

After a pleasant breakfast at the Metung Bakery Cafe, I was on the road about 8.45am. Straight up the highway to Orbost before heading north on the Bonang highway. Another windy road with 10 Kms of gravel over the mountain before crossing the border and passing through Delegate. I have done this a number of times before and there were no surprises. After Delegate, next stop is Bombala where I stopped for a coffee only to find that local bakery / coffee shop was closed and for sale, but there was a very acceptable alternative across the road.

After Bombala I headed for Jindabyne along the always satisfying snowy River Road where you can let your hair down a little and have some fun. Unsurprisingly it didn't take long to get to Jindabyne where I filled the tank and started the last 60 Kms to Cooma. Another lovely day in the saddle.

Bombala Bakery - Closed

 Thursday 19th March

 Cooma – Bredbo – Jerangle – Captains Flat – Braidwood – Nerriga – Nowra – Oyster Bay

406 Kms

The weather was good so after a hearty breakfast at The Lott I set off determined to go via Cooma road to Braidwood. Just out of Cooma there was a large sign saying “No access to Braidwood”. I turned around and headed up the Monaro Highway, grumbling to myself that I really didn’t want to go this way.

30 Kms North of Cooma I was going through the small community of Bredbo when I noticed a road off to the right called Jerangle Rd that also said Braidwood. So I took the plunge and headed down Jerangle Rd.

After a few Kms I hit gravel, which I expected, but it was a very good quality Gravel road and I had a thoroughly enjoyable ride through some beautiful, but isolated farm country. I only passed about 2 vehicles on the 100 odd km trip.

The community of Jerangle was tiny with only a few houses around. The great country continued until I found myself coming into Captains Flat, which I was not expecting. Very quiet town, don’t think I saw any people.

I followed the sign to Braidwood out of town which took me up a steep rise to more gravel road and a stretch of about 200 meters being graded, which had a 2 to 3 inch layer of loose dirt on the road service. At this point there was another bike rider in front of me and we both slowed very quickly to cope with the loose dirt.

Once passed that section, the other rider soon turned off and I continued on more good quality gravel till I hit bitumen a few kilometers short of Braidwood. I stopped for petrol and then continued up Braidwood Rd through Nerriga and on to Nowra where I had a quick bite to eat before facing the challenge of the highway through Wollongong and home.

Got there early afternoon with 2,000 km on the clock. Time to face the new world order of Corona Virus.

Echuca and Beyond - November 2019

 

I had booked a week off some time ago not knowing where I would go or if I would be able to go at all. About 7 weeks ago I sprained my ankle walking the dog and it has been a long, slow recovery. A shoulder problem that started as a dull ache about a year ago has deteriorated to the point I had to do something about it. Apparently I have arthritic degeneration resulting in a spur on the AC joint. Something to do with age they tell me. A cortisone injection has greatly improved it, but I still tend to ride one handed quite a bit. All that aside, I hit the road anyway.

 

Earlier on I had planned a stop in Young and then north through Cobar and Bourke up to Cunnamulla and back down the New England. I realised late in the piece that would be far too hot and there are too many fires burning and more springing up every day. The plan has changed to turn south.

 

Saturday 16 November

Oyster Bay - Goulburn - Crookwell - Boorowa - Young

370 km

Day 1

 

I still wanted to go to Young as a night there had been on my list of things to do for some time. Left home about 8.3am under dark clouds. Actually got a few raindrops before I hit Wilton. After that is was pretty mush sunny all day.

 

Down the Hume to Goulburn. Worst part of the trip, broken by a pot of tea and an Anzac biscuit at the Meridian Cafe in Marulan. A quick rest for the shoulder. Not far from there to Goulburn and then off the freeway and head to Crookwell. Beautiful country roads from here on. A petrol stop at Crookwell and straight on to Boorowa. Boorowa Road is a bit rough in places but fun to ride. Through Rugby and then in to Boorowa. I found a very workable Hamburger in town before the last 50 km into Young.

Inside the Meridian

Outside the Meridian

Boorowa

I had booked the Federation Motel which turned out to be across the road from Young Services Club and was owned by the club. A very nice Motel.

Federation Motel - Young

 

I had a wander around town, and despite there being quite a lot of pubs in town, none of them appealed very much. I did walk into a couple and had a look at the beers on tap and then walked out again. I thought I might as well try the Services club as it was close to home. A nice club which started off quiet until all the kids and parents turned up for the kids dance concert. Very noisy. I got an early dinner before the concert finished as I thought it would get very busy. I can’t blame the club, but I did make a very poor menu choice which I paid for later.

Scenes From Young

Young

Young

 

Sunday 17th November

Young - Temora - Narrandera - Jerilderie - Finley - Deniliquin - Echuca

500 kms

Day 2

 

Had breakfast in the Motel room and hit the road about 9am. Great weather and cool temperature. Pleasant riding. I went straight through Temora and on to Narrandera where I stopped for Petrol and Coffee. A large group of Ulysses Club bike riders in town also having coffee. My main memory of Narrandera is the train station. As a kid going back and forth to boarding school, there was always an extended stop and change of trains at Narrandera. Going to Sydney it was dinner at Narrandera and coming from Sydney it was Breakfast at Narrandera. The breakfast was always best as it meant I was going home. They had an open fire in the station dining room in the winter months and served a very presentable bacon and eggs. After a term at boarding school it was heaven.

 

From Narrandera it was straight down the Newell Highway to Jerilderie, famous for Ned Kelly’s letter. I was going really well and decided not to stop here and went straight on to Finley where I found a Chiko roll waiting for me in the only cafe open on a Sunday afternoon.

 

Then on to Deniliquin for a petrol stop. I grew up 120 km north of Deniliquin and it was always considered the opposition. Mainly to all the sporting teams in town, but apart from that it was always looked down upon. As a result I spent very little time there. Now it looks like a thriving hub with an active cultural life and mammoth hit in the annual Ute muster that draws 20,000 people who must spend a lot of money in town . Well done Deniliquin. What amazes me even more is that only another 80 Kms south is Echuca which is a fabulous town, but as a kid I didn’t really know it existed.

 

And Echuca was my next and last stop for the day. I had booked 2 nights accommodation thinking I would have a tour around the district on the day in between. That didn’t exactly work out.

American Hotel

 

American Hotel

American Hotel

Monday 18th November 

Echuca - Barmah - Echuca

 

Geese on the road - Echuca

After a bit of research last night I finished up booking myself on to a 2 hour river cruise on the Murray through the Barmah National Park. Barmah is about 30 Km from Echuca, so it was a short ride to be there by 10am. Barmah is a tiny town with a long aboriginal history. the Murray goes through a narrow strip called the Barmah choke, the narrowest part of the Murray, for about 8 kms.on the south side is Lake Barmah and on the north side is lake Moira, all surrounded by the largest River red Gum forest in the world. Look at this.

 

The 2 hour cruise was beautiful and very informative resulting in lots of photos. I got back to Echuca about 1pm for a quiet afternoon and wander around the town.

 

Tuesday 19th November

Echuca - Shepparton - Euroa - Alexandra - Healesville - Yarra Junction - Noojee - Hill End - Moe

400 kms

Day 4

 

Another lovely breakfast at the Black Pudding Cafe in Echuca and time to go. I had spent some time programming the gps to get me to Moe and avoid freeways. I had no idea where it was going to take me.

 

lovely country roads to Shepparton and then the road to Euroa was even smaller but a beautiful ride through farming land. Crops, cattle and sheep alternated along the side of the road. Very pleasant riding indeed. Through Euroa and then down to Yarck (yes, that’s a place) Then Alexandria and on to Buxton. Crossing a bridge in Buxton I could see off to my left 2 guys in waders standing in the small stream fly casting for trout. Absolutely beautiful country. This and a few other streams I saw were running very quickly. Must be from melting snow in the nearby mountains.

Near Healsville

Near Healsville

 

On down to Yarra Junction, after which I was in mountain country, then through Gladydale, Three Bridges and Powelltown (contains a pub called the Powelly). I am including these towns so I will know how to find it again because it is a superb drive through magnificent country. Forests of tall trees with occasional views of huge valleys and the mountains in the background. Highly recommended. At Icy creek I turned south and headed down towards Moe. The country opened up to reveal incredible views of wide open valleys and farms looking south towards Wilsons Promontory. And everything green. Lush, rich greens of every hue in every direction. No drought here.

 

Got into Moe and found the motel for the night. A very pleasant room. I had to use the air conditioner to warm up. A cold night. After a quick walk around town I finished up in the Moe Hotel for a very forgettable Dinner. Prospects for breakfast did not look good.

Moe

Moe Hotel

Wednesday 20th November

Moe - fish Creek - Yarram - Sale - Lakes Entrance - Orbost

370 Kms

Day 5

 

I had as fairly short trip today only going to Orbost. So instead of finding breakfast at Moe, I thought I would take a detour to Fish Creek. This is further south and very close to the entrance to Wilsons Promontory. I knew it was a very small community with a bit of an art thing going for it. I was there about 9am. It was smaller than I had thought. Very pretty, but no obvious breakfast venues. Finished up with a bacon and egg roll at the back of the service station opposite the pub. I’ve had worse.

Fish Creek

Fish Creek

Fish Creek

 

From there it was a fantastic ride through Foster, Yarram, Longford and Sale. I only stopped at Sale to program the GPS to try and avoid some of the highway to Lakes entrance. It worked. I went through Perry Bridge, ignoring all the signs that said “local traffic only’, coming out at Bairnsdale. A quick run down to Lakes entrance and I stopped for some lunch at my usual breakfast cafe.

Lakes Entrance

Lakes Entrance

My favourite café Lakes entrance

 

After that it was a short run to Orbost and in for the night. The fish and chips at the Orbost Club was pretty good.

 

Thursday 21st November

Orbost - Bonang - Delegate - Bombala - Nimmitabel - Cooma.

280 Kms

Day 6

 

Heading north from Orbost on the Bonang Highway is always interesting. 80 Km of very windy bitumen, 10 Km of gravel mountain road and then on to the usual country roads from delegate on. I have done it a few times now. So far on this trip I had spent at least 50% of the riding time with cruise control on resting my right arm and shoulder. I couldn’t do that on the windy roads or the dirt. I did manage about 15% which was just enough to get me through. I was glad when I reached the end of the dirt. One kangaroo tried to get me, fortunately I had both hands on the bars and was able to brake very hard. Missed him by about a meter.

 

Had a coffee at Bombala and had to make some decisions. It was already 30 c at 8am before I left Orbost and by the time I got to Bombala it was 36c and blowing a gale. I had planned to go to Jindabyne and then on to Cooma, but I knew the fantastic wide open riding of the Snowy river Road to Jindabyne would be a real pain in this wind. I decided to go straight to Cooma through Nimmitabel getting me to Cooma about an hour earlier. That was the right decision. An air conditioned motel room awaited me. As I write this at 5.45pm, it is still 36c.

 

Friday 22nd November

Cooma – Numerella – Braidwood – Nerriga – Nowra – Oyster Bay

400Kms

Day 7

 

Very pleased to wake to a cool morning in Cooma and after a light breakfast, set off about 8 am. I had considered not taking Cooma Rd, my preferred option with about 60 km unsealed, but I just couldn’t face the thought of battling the cars on the Monaro Highway. I was also concerned about how much I would be able to do the one handed trick to rest my shoulder.

 

In the end I took the plunge and I was very glad I did. No traffic, great scenery, an enjoyable ride. Lots of wildlife along the road, but I was already going slow on the dirt. Plenty of Wallabies keeping an eye on me and great to see a live wombat wandering around on the edge of the road.

 

A quick petrol stop in Braidwood and then up Nerriga Rd with some more dirt, although it is less every time I take this road and there is always roadwork underway as they seal the full length of the road and build a new bridge over Mongarlowe River.

 

I was soon back in Nowra and then had to join the frantic traffic on the Princes Highway. No fun here. Grin and bear it back to Oyster Bay. Home about 1pm after a very successful 2,400 Kms.

Full trip