All Weekenders
- Michael and Tracey Winters – a blue bike
- Ian and Sally Paterson – another blue bike
- Chas and Jen Towie – a red bike
Overnighters
- Andrew Campbell – a blue bike
- Trevor McLeod – a maroon bike
- Peter Arday – a red bike
A few phone calls on Thursday night saw
the planned ride to Eden and Mallacoota cancelled as the weather
wasn’t looking too inviting and a trip to Griffith was hastily
arranged with Ian sourcing accommodation in the town. As we left
Bungendore on Saturday it started to sprinkle – fortunately the wet
weathers were already on so no delay to us. We met Ian, Sally, Chas
and Jen at Nicholls and were on the road to Griffith just after 9am
with the clouds looking threatening.
We took the road to Binalong where we
passed historic Gilbert’s Grave (Sullivan’s mate?) and the sun
shone briefly as we neared Harden. Certainly the main income for both
Harden and Cootamundra Shires must be canola. The crops were in full
bloom and the fields golden and lush. We stopped briefly in
Murrumburrah just for a quick break. We ladies watched as a much
younger, inadequately dressed and certainly more supple pillion went
past clinging on to the back of a Ducati (built for one) – it
certainly didn’t look very comfortable.
We then followed the Burley Griffin Way
to Temora for lunch in a local café. If you have small children
(small , very noisy children) then this café can be recommended to
you. It came with an enclosed playpen littered with toys and toddlers
whose mums were taking advantage of a coffee and a break.
Hamburgers, wraps and coffee were the order of the day for us. While
we lunched a storm passed over but fortunately was gone by the time
we came to leave. The roads into and out of Temora are very straight
and very boring (even for a pillion).
We turned at Ardlethan, stopping at
Barellan to have a small breather where we took photos of the giant
tennis racket celebrating Evonne Goolagong, who grew up in the town.
Chas had heard on the CB that there was a mobile radar in the area
and we passed a police car on the other side of the road hidden under
a tree – the overnighters confirmed he was still there when they
travelled through on Sunday. Being law abiding riders we were well
within the speed limit so were allowed to pass unimpeded.
We rode into Griffith under cloudy
skies riding past wineries with vineyards that stretched as far as
the eye could see, with many citrus orchards mingled in between. The
orange trees were heavily laden with fruit.
After checking in at the Motel, we
decided to stretch our legs. A quick visit to the Information Centre
was followed by the boys being drawn to the Victoria Pub (where they
stayed). We ladies continued our walk, then settled down for coffee
and iced chocolate at La Tavola Café. After waiting some time for
our husbands to join us, we gave up waiting and went back to the
Motel. (The men had made “friends” with a local who treated them
as long lost friends insisting they inspect the accommodation offered
– anyway, that’s their story as to why they took so long).
That night we went back to La Tavola
(locals had recommended it) and for a very reasonable cost we had a
bottle of wine, OJ, breads, pizza, fettuccine, deserts and coffee.
Early to bed with many thanks to Ian for sending us a text at 10pm
reminding us to put our clocks forward one hour.
Sunday we woke to clear blue skies and
warmer weather walking to the Scottish café for breakfast. Overnight
metal structures of different shapes had been installed on the main
street median strip. These structures were covered with rubber bands,
through which an army of volunteers were attaching oranges and
grapefruit to make Citrus Sculptures. After breakfast we spent some
time looking at the memorial to Donald Mackay before heading off to
the Rotary Markets that Ian was very keen to see, insisting we linger
for as long as we wanted. This was followed by a ride to De Bortoli’s
winery where some sampling occurred with a box of same posted back to
Bungendore. We then went on a short ride through town looking for
the elusive Hermit’s Cave. Back in town lunch was a choice of
Subway or pies and sausage rolls from the highly recommended
Bertoldo’s Bakery eaten in the local park. By now the Overnighters
had arrived so we spent some more time looking at the Citrus
Sculptures, again followed by more coffee at La Tavola while Chas and
Jen rode away for a small sightseeing trip.
Later in the afternoon after some
discussion over drinks outside our rooms, a table was booked at Il
Corso Café for dinner - another great Italian restaurant where we
tried the veal, steak, spaghetti and pizza washed down with a red.
With the end of the long weekend
looming we returned to the Scottish restaurant for breakfast on
Monday, to find the renovations of the building were continuing (not
being a public holiday in NSW). Monday’s breakfast was much
noisier than Sunday’s being accompanied by lots of very loud
hammering encouraging us to leave early and hit the road.
We travelled along the Irrigation Way
through Leeton and Narrandera (where a kindly highway patrol overtook
Chas and then travelled behind us for some time waiting to book a car
as we overtook it). We then followed the Canola Way (you can guess
how this road got its name) through Grong Grong, Matong (a rather
dilapidated town where a horse grazed on the weed strewn AFL
grounds), pretty Ganmain to Coolamon for morning tea.
After a short break we travelled
through Junee and Nangus to Gundagai. As the petrol at the Dog on the
Tuckerbox was closed, we purchased petrol at South Gundagai where
some stayed at Hungry Jacks for lunch, while we travelled past
Jugiong to hopefully get a sandwich at Barney’s café at Bookham.
Alas it was temporarily closed for refurbishment so we rode on,
parting company from Andrew, Chas and Jen at Murrumbateman. We
arrived home in Bungendore to weather exactly as it was when we left
– some light sprinkles of rain.
A fabulous weekend with great company
and food - a trip to be recommended.
Quote of the ride – “There’s
nothing worse than a cold crack!” – you’ll have to ask the
riders who said this and why….
Tracey Winters
