I had an RDO last Friday and I had organised an over night ride to Tumut. I'd previously in another post here attempted a similar ride but bad weather turned that ride into a road ride. Scotty and Joffrey confirmed but Joffrey pulled out at the last minute, so with Scotty as my Wingman we headed off at 6:30am. A quick stop at the Bakery in Goulburn for Coffee and Almond Danish. I'm gonna blow out my diet this weekend I can see already.
We got back on the road again and headed for Yass, wwe stopped for fuel and another Coffee and we bought a Chicken Salad roll to take away. When the young girl asked 'what do you want in the salad roll?' should have been a red flag right there. Never ever buy a salad roll from Kaffeine2582, worst salad roll both Scotty and I have ever had. Seriously how do you bugger up a salad roll, its got me stuffed. Coffee was good though.
We then turned down back roads, that lead to Wee Jasper and dirt roads beyond. Two minutes down the road and I see highway patrol coming along, and think shit what's the speed limit here? Looked down and was doing about 80kmh, but he kept going thankfully. We stopped to hydrate the grass, then kept going.
I got dive-bombed by Satan’s own magpie. As it swooped in from the side, I locked eyes with it—bloodshot, furious, pure malice, like staring into the devil itself. I slowed just enough to give the beast a chance. THUD! - a solid hit on my helmet. Nailed him. Hahahaha!
We stopped at Taemas Bridge over the Murrumbidgee River. I thought this a great spot to have our lunch. The Chicken salad roll, had Chicken, beetroot and tomato wrapped in some stale Turkish bread. Yeah it was worse than it sounds. Fuck how hard is it seriously.
I then realised how much traffic was driving south along this road. At least 100 cars must have driven past. A bunch of cars stopped waiting for a truck on the bridge, I asked 2 girls that were grooving to some tunes in their car, what's with all the traffic on this road I said to them through the open window. They replied back they were on their way to some music festival at Wee Jasper, there was going to be 5-7000 people attending. Great!!!! Bet the Distillery I was planning on visiting will be packed now.
Scotty below, realising how woeful the salad roll actually was. At least we were in a scenic location. Beautiful countryside down around Wee Jasper.
The lose plan was to ride down Mountain Creek road then turn up Sawyers Gull Rd and back to Wee Jasper road. But first we climbed up the hill before turning around and coming back. Its a good fun bit of road with some nice elevation with views of the valley. Two dozen cars must have passed by when I was stopped to take these photos. Sure is eye wateringly green out here. Must have had a lot of rain.
We back tracked to mountain creek road and all the traffic disappeared.
Some nice gravel riding along here through some scenic farmlands. The road was in pretty good shape also. Riding along Sawyers Gully Rd, I saw another of satan's magpies drop out of a tree and dive bomb me. I didn't bother slowing down for this one. Africa Twin - 2, Magpies - 0, hahahaha!
We turned back onto Wee Jasper rd. for the run down the hill into the village. More spectacular views along here.
It's been 12 years since I'd been through here on this ride. We stayed at the pub on that ride, but the pub burnt down in 2018. You can see the remains of the burn out pub behind the stables and house.
We stopped in at the Distillery as it wasn't busy at all. All the cars kept driving past going out the road to the music festival, probably to inhale some chemicals.
Even though its a new building, it has its own charm and the staff couldn't be more helpful. Explaining all about the variety's of Gin and Vodka they make. Sounds like time for a taster eh Scotty? Scotty?
Too late, he was hooking in.
A local BMW rider from Canberra came over to chat. I asked him about the road conditions on the Tumut road and the Brindabella rd. He said "Its terrible, rutted, corrigated and potholes, you'll be going slow 30kmh".
I think it was almost 3pm by the time we go away again. Heading out the road to Tumut, it was nice gravel riding through the pine forests. I wasn't expecting any traffic but there was a little, probably going to the music festival. We pushed on.
The surface was fucking immaculate, couldn't have asked for better really. Don't know what old mate was on about.
We stopped at an intersection that I wasn't expecting. I had to take a look at the map to see where we were going and take a photo. As I was doing that I could hear a bike approaching. Sounds like a Triumph. Turns out it was, looked like an 800 explorer, the white Pearl and he kept going back the way we had just come.
Stopping at the lookout on the outskirts of Tumut we took in the views. Breath-taking scenery from up here. But the pub was calling, it was beer o'clock.
We fueled up ready to go tomorrow then headed to our digs for the night at the Royal Hotel Tumut. I'd stayed here last year as well. It's a good pub with motel style rooms out the back where you can park your bike at your door. $90 for a room, with a double and single bed, its good value. There may have been a bottle of red knocked off in the motel room after the footy game.
DAY 2
We knocked down a slap up bacon & egg breakfast then had the bikes loaded and ready to go by 9am. Riding north out of town we turn east onto the Bombowlee Creek Rd. The sign says 129km to Canberra(42km unsealed).
Bombowlee Creek road was a cracking ride, winding its way through rolling hills covered in pine forests. The tarmac was super smooth, sports bike territory. Amazing riding, I can't believe we haven't done this before it was that good.
After about 26kms the road turns to dirt and becomes a gravel superhighway. The surface along here was also superb, can easily do 80+kmh before it gets to some of the twister bits. There's quite a few elevation changes along the way, with a few tarred sections.
We descended out of the hills to a bridge across the Goodradigbee river. The water was flowing fast, and would have been cold snow melt. Probably some trout in there too.
The road went back to dirt for some time, there were a lot of 4wd's coming the other way. I figured we must be getting close to Canberra for this many to be out on Saturday morning.
Crossing the border into the ACT at Piccadilly Circus. Looks like adventure riding in 4 directions from here. As I stopped for a couple of photos, a lady hopped out of her 4wd and asked to take a picture for me.
As we came down the hill turn back to tar and wound its way through pine forests again, more superb twisty riding. It felt like more than 42km of unsealed road, but it was all good riding great surface and through spectacular scenery.
We took the turn off to Cotter Dam out the back of Canberra. I'd heard that this was Canberra's "Old Pacific Hwy" where all the sports bikes come to be weekend warriors. We were on the road for about 2 minutes before a Panagali & R7 blasted past us in the other direction. Yep we are on the right road to have some fun. I was surprised to see that the road came so close to the back of the dam. Close enough to pull in for a look.
Riding out of Cotter Dam we took Paddy's River Road. This is another good twisty tar road through the pine forests. It also passes by Tidbinbilla, also know as the Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex. The radio telescopes were used in the Apollo lunar missions in a support role for telemetry and voice communications. I decided on taking a look as we were riding straight past and I'd never been here before.
We soon left and made our way back to the road, where we took to the outer suburbs of Canberra and bypassed Queanbeyan and then on into Bungendore. Original plan was to stop for lunch in Bungendore but we both weren't hungry so opted for Coffee and cake at Café Woodworks', The caramel slice was particularly tasty, washed down with a superb flat white coffee. Magnific.
We took back roads through Bungonia to the highway then through Thirlmere and to the Wallacia Hotel for wind down beers before heading home. Another ride that was over way to soon, would have loved another day but had plans to take the family to the RAAF Richmond 100th Anniversary Air show on Sunday.
Thanks for the company on another awesome ride Scotty, you were the perfect wingman.
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