We met at BP Watson and everyone commented on what a beautiful day and looked forward to an enjoyable day riding. After a briefing from Chris, we set off for our first coffee stop at Marulan. We went via Tarago to the Hume Highway. This is where Jenny left us and went on her merry way elsewhere. One down 6 riders left.
Arriving for coffee at Marulan, we were met with new facilities. According to the lady behind the counter, the old buildings are being demolished to make way for a carpark. So, the café was all shiny and new. I decided to get a mocha for a change and ended up with a sugar hit from it as it was so sweet. Think it was a hot chocolate with a bit of coffee in it instead of what I thought would be a coffee with a hint of chocolate. After that, felt very wide-eyed and bushy tailed from that sugar hit.
Onward bound towards our lunch stop. The twisty part downhill on the Illawarra Highway is challenging but the road is in good condition. As Chris said in his report, not long ago, not good for less confident riders. Turning left onto Noble Street from the highway is the Sea Vista Café. The food is good, and the service was reasonably quick. I’m sure the loo at the café has the best view of all the ones we have ever visited - sorry, forgot to take a pic. Like last time, we had a nice sunny outdoor lunch on the balcony.
For those who would like to know exactly which way we went, this is with thanks from Chris D:
BP Watson > Macs Reef Road > Bungendore > Tarago > Hume Highway (via Braidwood Road) > coffee stop Marulan > turn right Tablelands Way, through Penrose, Bundanoon, Exeter. Turn left to Illawarra Highway, turn right through Robertson, right at the Robertson pie shop (just short of Macquarie Pass).
Road is Jamberoo Mountain Road, Right through Jamberoo, then toward Kiama. Go under the Princess Hwy and immediately left through narrow 1-way road, doubling back left onto the Highway heading south towards Nowra (Kiama Heights, where the twisties are, turn left to Gerringong (Fern Street).
Lunch at Sea Vista, then continue south toward Nowra, right toward Berry, through Berry and back onto Princes Highway. Refuel at South Nowra, through Ulladulla, turning right (Nowra south to here is about 100km) back up the hill through Nelligen, Clyde Mountain to Braidwood, Bungendore and home.
We left Steve behind in Nowra to go visiting. So that left 5 of us. We had a good run up the Clyde – so much easier when on a bike to overtake 😉. In Braidwood, Chris said he needed to stretch his legs and would wait for Neil and Les. I said thanks for the ride and ‘bye and left to catch Andrew.
To end the day for me, as I was opening the garage door, I felt a bit of a sting. It kept stinging so when I got into the garage I got my helmet off asap and realised I had been stung by a wasp(?). Got the lavender oil straight onto it and it felt soothed pretty quickly. Glad it happened there otherwise it would have been torture to ride with!
Anyway, had about 560km or so on the clock so it was a BIG, enjoyable day.
Kris Jirasek
Riders
Chris Dietzel: Kawasaki GTR1400
Kris Jirasek: Suzuki GSX1300 ‘Busa
Andrew Campbell: FJR1300
Steve Hayes: Vstrom 650
Neil McRitchie: GTR1400
Les Robinson: Triumph Trophy 1215
Jenny Carlin: BMW 700
