As I watched a steady stream of bikes head south going to the races @ the island I wondered whether anyone else would make it. At 9:57 I got ready to leave when Les turned up on his Trophy. He had been held up by the Roadworks on Monaro Hwy near Hindmarsh. And so began the theme of this ride.
I had already decided that I was going to Yass via the back way and I promised Les that the 2.6 klms of dirt on Fairlight Rd near Uriarra was okay. Unfortunately it looked like the Yass Council had finally decided to seal the remaining dirt. This meant Roadworks complete with stop/go traffic lights, very very smooth dirt that the water tanker had just wet down (ie mud), a grader pushing loose dirt around (always fun) and at the other end down to one lane, as the other had dirt waiting for the grader. And of course the obligatory driver who did not believe in traffic rules and tried to contest the road with us (moron).
I am assuming that these works will be finished by April and I would not recommend it until they are finished.
However once past Fairlight the road was empty and very enjoyable until just past the Taemas Bridge over the Murrumbidgee. We met not one not two but three recently resealed sections complete with inch layer of loose gravel that required doing the speed limit. So far that was 4 different set of Roadworks that had effected this ride. I had decided against the area around Tarago as I knew there were roadworks on both roads.
However once the last tar gravel trap had been negotiated safely we headed into Yass. Once again the road was empty of traffic and we had an excellent ride. We decided to try Kaffine cafe near the 2nd roundabout (Lead St). The coffee and food was very good and we had a pleasant time in the outside seating. It also had off street parking.
I prevailed Les that we should go home via Jerrawa/Dalton/Gunning then the run past Sutton and home. The ride was good again nearly no traffic and the roads were mostly in good nick. But just south of Gunning, Roadworks. Not as long as at Uriarra but mud, graders and stop/go traffic control. Fortunately that was the last Roadworks as I bypassed the one on Monaro Hwy on the way home.
We had a short stop for coffee at the Sutton Bakery then on to home. A good ride, low traffic which seems a feature of midweek rides and good conversation with Les. Plus enough topsoil for the front yard when I hosed off the dried mud.
Mike K
Les – Triumph Trophy (was black finished two tone) (presumably after a clean)
Ulysses Club, Canberra Branch Website
