Ride Report - Chomp 'n Chat, Batemans Bay, 16 December 2018

The turnout today was great; 9 strong plus 2 pillions gathered at BP Watson for a 10am start. The chosen location: a little past Batemans Bay (Malua Bay), for Fish’n’Chips. After the standard brief ride brief we gathered and left, on the usual route via Macs Reef Road into Bungendore and down the Clyde, bypassing the coffee stop at the Braidwood bakery madhouse.

We agreed to gather up at the bottom of the Clyde, as one enters Nelligen, for a quick 5 minutes’ rest, which is just as well as the number of tin tops in the mood for a Slow Sunday made for a frustrating downhill run for some of the group. We gathered again at Batemans Bay before jumping onto George Bass Drive.

The weather was glorious for the ride, although as we arrived at Malua Bay it threatened to be somewhat humid. And so it was that I shed a couple of layers before lunch, and it stayed that way for the rest of the day. Lunch was as Fish’n’Chips should be at Malua Bay, nice and relaxing without the need to
find parking outside the usual place at The Bay. After a while of this, we agreed to head south a little and turn off to Mogo to fill up (fuel is cheaper here at the Independent than at the Caltex servo at the base of the Clyde).

This is where it got a bit undone; most decided that it’s too hectic trying to get in to the pumps, and some decided to not fill up at all and chance it back to Canberra. One of the number (Steve) advised me ahead of time that he is going north of the Bay to catch up with some relatives.

So it was that when we got back to Braidwood (a stop for a double scoop ice cream at the Lollie Shop) some were there, others were unsighted – largely due to the horribly slow run by the early holiday makers in their RV’s (and horse floats) up the hill.

Nevertheless, it was a great day. Thanks for taking the photos Lyn!

Chris Dietzel

Riders
Chris Dietzel: Kawasaki GTR1400
Neil McRitchie: Kawasaki GTR1400
Mick Beltrame: BMW R1200GS
Steve Hayes: BMW R1200GS   
Warren Richer: Triumph Thruxton 1200
Jo & Helen Dutton: ST1300
Alan & Lyn Munday: Yamaha FJR1300
Andrew Campbell: Yamaha FJR1300
Errol Pentland: Yamaha FJR1300