The Yarra Ranges (Victoria) Ulysses Club Branch decided to hit the Snowies for their main once-in-a-year ‘Odyssey’. It began with a few nights in Queanbeyan, where we were invited to attend dinner at Walshes Hotel in Queanbeyan on 29 Dec.
I’ll leave it to Maritta to talk more about this night, but those of us that attended (including Chas & Jen Towie) had a great night. While at the dinner, Bob McArthur as the ride leader of the trip, asked who of us will be attending their ride on New Year’s Eve to Jindabyne (see flyer in RO2 December), and a good number of our Canberra Branch jumped at the chance (I got the last room reserved by the Rangers).
The Yarra Ranges Branch were keen for an early start (0830), and with the local knowledge of how close Jindabyne is to Canberra, the flyer in RO2 advised a 1030 start from Caltex Hume. So a democratic vote was had at the 29th dinner, we will meet at Hume at 0915 for an 0930 start.
I arrived at Hume right on time (unusually) to a formidable sight – some 29 bikes from Yarra Ranges (with 8 pillions); one thing I noticed is that most of the Yarra Ranger’s crew are Cruiser riders, with more than a few Harley’s. Joining them were about a dozen of us from Canberra Branch as well. Most of us were intending to stay overnight at the Lake Jindabyne Hotel, with a couple of guys as day trippers. The weather was great, so it’s going to be a nice ride (every day is, some just more so).... Eventually Bob got all of our attention (herding cats is an understatement) for the Riders briefing. Bob advised us that he will corner-mark to our first stop at Cooma (the Snowy Hydro Visitors Centre) for coffee. We locals offered a little advice that the corner markers would struggle to find something to do on this very boring stretch of the Monaro Highway.
We eventually got away at about 0945, and arrived for coffee at the appointed place. I parked the bike and made a bee-line to get to the front of the queue to warn the place that they’re about to be overrun by a bunch of disgraceful senior motorcyclists (actually, just to be a bit on the selfish side and not be waiting at the back of the line – I’d finished my coffee by the time some had just received theirs).
I had a quick discussion with Bob to suggest a bit of a detour off his planned route of the Snowy Mountains Highway through Berridale. I suggested the short detour (adds about 20 minutes to the trip), re-joining the Snowy at Berridale. We took a right turn just south of Cooma toward Adaminaby, and almost immediately took a left onto Slacks Creek Road, which runs almost parallel to the Snowy, meandering along (you guessed it, Slacks Creek) on some very pleasant gentle rolling landscape. Some 20km along this road, there is a cross road (caution here, it sneaks up on you!), where we turned left onto Middlingbank Road toward Berridale (if you go right here, you’ll get to Lake Eucumbene). At Berridale I gave the lead back to Bob, who gave me a ‘thanks’ thumbs-up for the detour as he passed. Little more than an hour later (maybe not even that long) saw us all arriving at the Lake Jindabyne Hotel. Being a very casual-paced ride, I was able to soak in the beautiful sight of Lake Jindabyne’s approach.
Lunch was in order – a few refreshing ales at the Pub with lunch (seafood platter for me), and many decided to sculk off for a bit of a nanny nap – after all, it’s New Years Eve and we want to have the energy to see it!.
At this point (or was it before lunch?) our two Canberra Branch Day Trippers (Peter Thomas and Mike Kelly) headed for home, and while I tried to have a snooze, a call from my brother in Melbourne with the news that my mum has been rushed to hospital and may not make it. No snooze for me! I momentarily thought about chucking it in and going back to Canberra to load the family back into the car for the return trip to Melbourne (we only got back about an hour before the dinner on the 29th) but common sense prevailed – what would it achieve, after all I’ve already had 4 schooners and I shouldn’t be hopping on a bike any more this afternoon. I’m going to enjoy this New Years Eve, and if tomorrow sees me needing to go to Melbourne again so soon, so be it (even if I’m not driving!).
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About 3PM and we began to gather outside the rooms on the lakeside frontage – Beautiful setting for some snacks, more beverages, and before long it was time to head back to the pub for dinner, more beers and just talking bull. The entertainment was some pretty average sound system accompanying some Karaoke. A few of the Yarra Branch gave it a shot, but not being Karaoke fans, most of us disappeared outside to see in New Year along the lake front. What a nice way to see out 2014!
0800 on New Years’ Day – Breakfast at the hotel, we from the Canberra Branch bade our farewells to the Yarra Ranges Branch at about 1000 for the ride home. With absolutely nothing open, (my) only stop on the way home was to refuel at Cooma, where we said our goodbyes.
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An absolutely great weekend (or should I say Wednesday/Thursday?) with fantastic people. Thank you, Yarra Ranges Branch. And the great news is that mum pulled through (so far, anyway).
Chris
Riders:
Yarra Ranges Branch:
Bob McAthur (BMW K1600GTL) and spouse
28 other bikes, 7 with pillions
Canberra Branch:
Chris Dietzel: Kawasaki GTR1400
Michael and Tracey Winters: Triumph Trophy
Jen Woods: VStar
Leo Farrely: BMW GS1150
Karen Clarke: Yamaha Roadliner
Rob Clarke: Yamaha FJR1300
Alan Munday: Suzuki DR650
Lyn Munday: Suzuki 250 (yes, Lyn decided to take her bike for a ride!)
Jeff Heiler: Triumph Rocket III.
Maritta Heiler: Cruiser (can’t recall if it’s a Triumph or a Yamaha).
Day riders –
Mike Kelly: BMW RT1200
Peter Thomas: BMW F800GS
