Mr Dietzel provides us with a tale of the ride to Pambula!
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| Incriminating evidence supplied by Andrew C |
Arrived at Caltex Hume a little late (8.25, should have been there at 8.15) to the sight of quite a number of riders (19 including myself). So 20 of us for lunch at Tathra. Andrew explained the route we will take, and also that it’s not Tathra we are going to, it’s the Commercial Hotel at Pambula for lunch. Morning coffee stop at Nimmitabel (via Polo Flat road), with the only disappointment for the day being that boring run along the Monaro Highway. No tail end Charlie necessary until departing from the coffee stop, and that role was played by Ian on the ‘Wing.
Andrew made up for the Monaro bit though: “On leaving Nimmitabel, we’ll continue on the Monaro Hwy through Bombala, and then we’ll swing off through Cathcart and Wyndham, coming into Pambula from the south. After lunch, we’ll head north and turn off for Candelo at Wolumla, through Bemboka and up the Brown”. Yes! – what a lovely stretch of road (Neil G advised us that there are only a few potholes on the Cathcart road, but - note - they are there!). The price that we do have to pay for that run is... the Monaro again later in the day – but the rest of the ride made it worthwhile.
Awesome road, with some very spirited riding happening when the circumstances would allow it (lucky I saw the Highway Patrol car coming our way just outside of Nimmitabel – hard on the brakes to wash off some speed and still he gave me a second glance!). A few of us had morning tea at the Cafe on the left (not to the usual Bakery on the right). That was a win – no long queue to wait for coffee, and yes Ian, they do have pies! I had a ‘Cowboy Pie’ full of bacon, baked beans, steak and egg, and it was really good.
Lunch at the Commercial in Pambula was pleasant, although Cherita and I thought they’d forgotten us, as everybody had pretty much finished theirs before our lunch arrived. Must say the disappointment at Pambula was the service station (should have filled up before the big rush after lunch). The Shell (I think it was before – or was it a Caltex?) is now a United, and only one pump with 98 (the 95 is Ethanol mix). I ended up filling up with 91 ‘just as a one-time affair’. Tip – it didn’t do a lot for my fuel economy – by the time we got back to Canberra I was on reserve again – Only 300km therefore on a tank.
Had a rest stop at the Caltex in Polo Flat, where some gave their bikes a bit of a drink “Quick, let’s get a photo for the ride report”. Cherita and I said our farewells and left the group, arriving home at about 4PM.
A great ride Andrew, thank you, with a group of like-minded on a very pleasant Sunday.
Chris
List of Riders:
- Andrew Campbell – FJR1300 (Ride leader)
- Steve Alford – Motoguzzi V7
- Chris (and Cherita) Dietzel – GTR1400
- Trevor McLeod – FJR1300
- Gary McCurley – VFR1200
- John Storn – FJR1300
- Ian Paterson – GL1800
- Steve Hayes – DL650
- Mark Dunn – XL1100
- Manfred Halton – R1200R
- Gary Thomas – VStrom
- Sandy Fisk – Triumph Speedmaster
- Darryl Harrington – ST1100
- Suzy Arnold – F700GS
- Neil Goldfinch - CBR1100XX
- Les Robinson – 1150GS
- Darryl Cullen – 1250 Bandit
- Kris Jirasek – GSXR1300
- Graham Williams – VT750
