Our ride left from the Bungendore Caltex petrol station - the weather was cool but with the hope of warmer temperatures on the coast. Before starting off the group gathered for the ride briefing discussing the need to ride responsibly, keeping within our abilities and to look after each other. I had ridden the ride route to Moruya on the Friday before just to check out the road conditions – all was good. It was nice to see a few new riders with us this morning - Nadaav only took a short ride to Braidwood as he was running in his new Ducati - we hope to see them again on other rides in the future.
We started off travelling along the Kings Highway riding towards our first coffee stop at Nelligen, where our group enjoyed the peace of the river while waiting for our food and caffeine hits.
We continued after the short break weaving our way down the road towards the Adelaide Hotel at Moruya. The biggest surprise was the different weather and reduced temperature as we came down the escarpment. This possibly contributed to a reduced amount of traffic which added to the enjoyment of a lovely stretch of road with a great selection of curves dotted along the way.
We rode into the carpark at the rear of the Adelaide, walking into the hotel to find our table reserved for us. Anticipating what was on today’s menu we started off with cold drinks to cool us down while listening to the diverse conversations, tales tall and true, over our lunch break.
We traveled back to our homes in different groups with some of the off road bikes taking the alternate route through Araluen. Others went via Nerriga to add a different spin to their journey.
As usual for a Sunday we encountered some traffic traveling west with us, slowing the ride back to Braidwood. I left the group at Bungendore and trust that everyone made it safely home.
Once again we had a great day out with good food and friends - we hope to see more of you on our next ride.
M.W.
Riders:
- Michael Winters Triumph Trophy
- Neil McRitchie GTR 1400
- John Howell R1200RT
- Bill Henshaw Ducati Multistrada 950
- David Dawson Explorer
- Scott England R1200RT
- Garry Mc Curley VRF 1200
- Robert Jones Suzuki Bandit
- Mick Beltrame R1250GS
- John Grace Tiger 1200
- Chris Dietzel GTR1400
- Andrew Campbell FJR 1300
- Dave Jones XT1200
- Nadaav Thiry Ducati Panigale V4S
Sunday morning saw ten intrepid riders gather at the Caltex Nichols awaiting our fearless leader who may or may not be coming due to a flat battery. Maritta did arrive on her bike and she proceeded to brief us on the epic but highly dangerous journey to the mostly deserted and most likely haunted township of Burrinjuck Dam. She painted a picture of moss covered icy and twisty roads, unpredictable rock falls and wildlife hell bent on causing havoc and mayhem by ambushing unwary riders from the forest shadows. And not to mention the speed limits changing every thirty metres or so along the Burrinjuck Dam road.
Suitably inspired and galvanized, we headed west along the Barton Highway after Jenny Carlin farewelled us and then south on to the Hume to the turn off seventy five kilometres from our start. The ride along the Burrinjuck Dam road was lovely. Long straights were raced before the road narrowed and hairpins, stylishly decorated with mirrors, slowed our pace. Several boat towing vehicles made us drift towards the perilous drop to our left but no casualties ensured. A few malevolent macropods were passed before the final hairpin and ride up to the township.
We parked our bikes in the Emergency Assembly point for the town and wandered back down the street to Jeff’s place. Jeff was waiting for us with the BBQ befittingly flashed up and sausages sizzling contently on his patio which overlooked a rather depleted Lake Burrinjuck. While we waited for our snags, Jeff regaled us with tales of some seriously weird comings and goings that happened in the hamlet. For instances, one night about a year or so ago someone stole all the pews from the village church and another time a couple of youngsters from the nearby caravan park had decided to take one of the dam’s trucks for a spin as someone had left the keys in it.
Sausages were served up on buttered bread and Maritta distributed soft drinks to all before elegantly decorating the front of her jacket with tomato sauce. Then she produced a wonderful orange sponge cake in honour of Doug’s birthday which we only discovered after Maritta produced the cake and we needed a volunteer to cut it.
Aptly replenished, we remounted our trusty steeds for the perilous return journey back to the relative safety of the Hume Highway at various levels of rapidity. We departed ways here as several felt the need for caffeine and Gunning was chosen as a suitable venue while nearly everyone else headed home. Maritta said she was turning off at Murrumbateman to take the scenic route back to Queanbeyan.
It was a lovely day’s ride and a big thanks to Maritta for orchestrating it and Jeff for supplying victuals.
Peter T.
The Riders were:
- Maritta Heiler Kawasaki 900 Vulcan
- Mark Micallef Suzuki M109R
- Warren Richer Triumph Thruxton R
- Doug Cawley Honda VT750 Shadow
- Peter Thomas BMW F700GS
- George Attard Triumph Tiger XRT
- Jeff Heiler Bunnings Gas BBQ
- Mick Beltrame BMW R1250GS
- Andrew Campbell Yamaha FJR 1300
- Jeff Jarvis Harley Davidson Softail Deluxe
