Club Ride to ‘The Fish Shop’ Burrill Lake, 22 September 2019

I don’t know how it happened. A ride led from Bungendore without Mick Winters as ride leader. Nevertheless, I headed out to Caltex at Bungendore early, to find a few already there. The nicer weather today must have awoken the slumbering Ulyssians as, before long, there were 14 of us (and Margaret as the only pillion). We didn’t hang around long after the prescribed departure time of 10:00, as the café owner next to the servo was chomping at the bit to get us out of her car park so her clientele will have somewhere to park. A few quick words: ‘anybody feel like coffee at Braidwood? – No, OK, so we’ll gather up again at Nelligen then head north toward Ulladulla. Questions?’. There were none, so off we went at about 10:02.

The route was predictable – Bungendore to Braidwood as we do so often (but it’s good today with the spring upon us), and down the Clyde. The ride was, well, cautious. Very wary that the boys in blue just passed as out of Bungendore, they must be setting up somewhere. None seen by the time we reached the escarpment. One very cautious tin top driver at the top decided not to move over at Poo Bear corner, so with some deft overtaking (oops, sorry, I’m not hanging around here – I let the air horn let the guy know I’m passing) we nipped by and from there it was an absolute dream run down the mountain. This road is just sooo good when it’s not a long weekend or holiday. As promised, I pulled over at the entrance to Nelligen where the pub is.
 
We turned left and headed north on Hwy 1. Here too the road was pretty clear, and turning left after the bridge at Burrill Lake and left again, we found ourselves at “The Fish Shop”. I’ve not had lunch there before, but it is as is advertised. There were several people queued in front of us waiting for their orders, and it was only 1145 or thereabout. 

The lunch was great, best fish’n’chips I’ve had in a long time. Not many places to sit down to eat, some chose to eat at their bikes, others found a spot at a park bench at the waters’ edge and shared a yarn and some of our lunch with those ever-present seagulls. They really must know when the shop is open, and where to get an easy feed (silly humans, this lot, don’t they know fish and chips is bad for the wildlife?).

A few headed early – Mick B, Rob J and Dave J decided that northbound to Turpentine Road and Nelligen is the way home for them. I bailed as well – I’m off overseas on Friday for a month and decided I will head back south to Moruya to catch up with daughter at the Skydive Oz drop zone – she’s nuts, has her skydiving D license now and has done close to 280 jumps in around 12 months. Arrived just in time to see her drop in, pack chute again and up again for the 4th jump in the day. Kris J followed to fill up with fuel at Mogo.

The ride back up the Clyde was just as enjoyable as the way down, with little traffic. Later in the day as I was arriving into Bungendore I noticed Kris J again on my tail – must have spent some time chilling at the coast area herself, before heading home.

A great ride out, thanks to all for the company. Spring is out, come on out, all you riders that have been hibernating for the winter.

Chris Dietzel

Riders:

Kevin Sherman: Indian               Dave Jones: XT1200
Robert McNeilly: VFR800             John Grace: Tiger 1200
Chris Dietzel: GTR1400               Steven Bardwell: MotoGuzzi V7
Kris Jirasek: GSX1300 ‘Busa        Ian Paterson: GL1800
Mick Harvey: FJR1300                 Scott England: R1250RT
Mick Beltrame: R1250GS             Neil McRitchie: GTR1400
Rob Jones: KTM1090R                 Derek & Margaret Titheradge: Spyder