Snowy Mountains Ride Part 3

 Day 5

After a great cooked breakfast we were heading across to Adaminaby then onto Kiandra. It was nice and cool this morning in the mountains, but was expected to get into the high 30's today.

I was enjoying the ride on the Snowy Mountains Highway far to much to stop and take photos, just about every corner you come around is something interesting to see. You could literally stop for photos every kilometer. I did stop for the views over the valley, how could I not. It was spectacular. 

We stopped at the usual pull off area at the Kiandra turn off. A quick break and photo stop before we keep going. 

Today we were heading down Elliots way. It's been so long since I'd been down here I couldn't remember the exact route. It's pretty easy though as its left to cabramurra or straight. There was another thousands photo opportunities' but again was having too much fun to stop except the odd spot.

We stopped briefly at a lookout over one of the Snowy Hydros spillways. Such spectacular scenery up here in the snowy mountains. Is it any wonder we keep coming back up here every year.

There's a bridge at the bottom centre of the photo below over the Tumut River. We would drop down there just past Tumut 2 underground power station. The road follows the river gorge along for some time crossing several bridges along the way. I think riding down is better than riding up as you see more of the scenery going down.

After 4 or 5 bridges we start climbing back up the ridge line, with even more spectacular views over the tumut river as it flows into the Talbingo Reservoir. Simply Stunning scenery.

We stop in Tumbarumba for lunch at the bakery. No pies for us as everyone gets a salad roll. It's damn hot again now as its heated up into the mid thirties. After lunch we crack on into the heat along the Rosewood raceway, no pics today and then into Tumut for fuel. We didn't hang around long due to the heat. Most of the guys turned towards Gundagai, Stu and I went via the Brungle road, but instead of turning left and going over the bridge at the murrumbidgee we went straight and along Gobarralong  Rd which was superb riding after about 15km of tar it turned to even more superb gravel road through lush farmlands. 

We came into Jugion via the Bundarbo Bridge and looked for a beer at the Sir George but it was closed so we high tailed it along Mcmahons reef rd on some more backroads to Galong and then Boorowa. It was so hot I was sucking down the water on my camelbak it was now 38°C and we were cruising on about $130 just to get there quicker and out of the heat. The first beer at the Boorowa hotel didn't even touch the sides. It was good to be out of the heat. The Boorowa hotel is always a good stop, good rooms, good food, cold beer and friendly staff. They also now installed Air-conditioning in the rooms so that was a bonus and did we have them cranking. 

DAY 6

After a late one last night everyone was looking a bit second hand, me included. I walked across the road to the bakery for the last breakfast pie and coffee of the tour. We took the road across to Crookwell where half the guys head north on the Goulburn Rd to Bathurst and Scottay and I decided on heading across the Blue Mountains via Shooters Hill. Only took 1 photo today, wasn't my day for it.

 Geoff legged it back up the freeway and with hindsight I should have done the same. Scottay and I continued in the 33°C heat up and over Shooters Hill, the temp dipped back to about 30°C before we came into Cox river road where the temp soared to 35°C and it was only about 11:30am. Yeah it was hot.

Scottay got stuck at some roadworks lights but I didn't stop until Bell where I waited for 10min. When he didn't come I decided to keep going as its too hot to sit here, so continued on then got stuck at more road works. I emptied my camelbak sitting in the sun for 10-15m before the traffic started moving, I could feel my energy levels getting sapped by the heat as I left my jacket completely unzipped now. 

 I decided to stop at Bilpin for an Apple pie & a coffee for a pick me up. I also downed a 600m gatorade in a matter of seconds. I felt dehydrated despite the fact i'd drank 750ml from my camelback, a 600ml gatorade and a coffee(not the best choice as coffee dehydrates you). About 1hr 20m later I got going it was tough going from the air-conditioned cafe out into the heat again. 

Mountain Bells Cafe - Photo from previous ride

As soon as I dropped down the eastern escarpment into the Sydney basin I was blasted with heat, the dash read 39°C and now I was really cooking moving in slow stop/start Sydney traffic, plus the engine heat coming out onto my legs.

I had to stop at McGraths Hill at the petrol station as I was not feeling well, light headed I thought I might pass out. I downed 2 bottles of water and another gatorade in no time at all and dumped water all over my head and shirt. I had overheated, I had to get out of my gear so stripped down and put on my shorts and thongs. I spent the next hour standing in the Air conditioned servo trying to cool down. I couldn't finish riding in the heat, as I decided it too unsafe and had to ring my wife to come pick me up, needless to say there was a lot of eye rolling and a bollocking followed by the silent treatment. I left the bike in the servo and came back at 9pm to get it. It was still 29°C at 9pm it was a scorcher of a day.  

Not the graceful finish to the ride I was hoping for and a valuable lesson for me riding in such heat with adventure gear that really doesn't breath and is really made for winter conditions. Make sure to keep your camelbaks fully topped up, not half full like an idiot. Will definitely have to look a bit harder at what gear I have and simply not ride when it's so hot.

Cheers and thanks for reading.