It’s been very hot. Not the best
weather for fun riding conditions. There have been fires in and
around Bungendore and Yass (lucky we did the Burrinjuck ride before
Christmas, as the Burrinjuck road was under threat). Mick Winters
rang a couple of days before advising I might need to change the
destination. “OK” I said, “I’ll wait till the day and check
that morning”. Check I did, and rang Stables Tavern (about the only
thing there that would have any food). Assured all was well, and yes,
they do have food!
The day arrived, temperatures were
cooler, and the Regional Fire Service web site suggested the risk to
that area had lessened. 10 of us (plus a dog!) convened at the
Nicholls Caltex servo, and I mapped out the route – Nanima Road and
onto the Murrumbateman – Gundaroo Road, then Gunning (this stretch
took us past some blackened farming land), and onto the Hume for the
boring bit (only 30km) to the Yass Valley Way. By the time we got to
yass, it was evident that there is no fire risk here – for a fire
that was burning eastward from Black Range Road / Burrinjuck toward
the Yass township, one would expect more smoke. There was none to
speak of.
The road from Yass to Wee Jasper is
pleasant, though a little bumpy (which road around country NSW
isn’t?), and some care is needed for the short stretch of winding
road riding up out of the dip at Mountain Creek, and into Wee Jasper
(don’t look down!), and there are some of those convex safety
mirrors to glimpse at. Stopped for lunch at the pub (Stables Tavern),
and was kept intrigued by the lady that owns the place – Do you
know she has had some repeat break-in’s by thieves that keep
knocking off stocks etc – they target the CCTV cameras first and
then make off with their booty, after destroying the TV’s. A few
suggestions go around the table here as to how this could be resolved
‘you know there are wild pigs out here; how about getting a few pig
dogs, that should fix them’.
Pizza’s and cool drinks (Bundy...
ginger beer of course), some chicko & sausage rolls. Mick
Beltrame bids farewell (he’s taking another route home), and
Kerrey, Janet and Michelle decide to check out the campground on the
Tumut side of the crossing and make their own way home. The rest of
us discuss which way home. Gary is insistent that he will return via
Yass, and I said I’ll lead the remainder along Mountain Creek Road
“I’m sure there is less than 2km of hard-packed dirt. No
problems”. Gary’s decision to stay on tar is vindicated – it
was 16km of dirt all-up, and very little was hard-packed!. While
Mountain Creek Road only had less than 2km, when we got to the
junction of Uriarra Road and Fairlight Road (to the left, back toward
Uriarra Crossing), I find my error – It’s dirt in both
directions. Remembering the corrugations all too well from my
previous sojourn on Fairlight Road, we ride ahead on Uriarra Road.
All is well for about 7km, and then the corrugations begin. Shelley
is not happy when we finally get to hard pavement again – the bikes
are dirty, but although we’ve been rattled to the bone, no damage
done. At this point Rick heads left to Uriarra Crossing and into the
Belconnen area, while Kevin, Shelley and I turn right, through
Uriarra Village and through a nice series of twisties leading down to
the Cotter Road. This takes us past the viewing point (no standing
zone here though) of the Cotter Dam. Following this we ride down into
Curtin to refuel, and I give Kevin and Shelley directions from here.
Distance travelled 250km.
Chris Dietzel (Sorry, camera is on
holidays in Thailand with my better half – no photo’s)
Riders:
- Chris Dietzel (ride leader) - Yamaha FJR1300
- Mick Beltrame and Kipper - BMW GS1150 with Kipper chariot
- Rick Costan – Ducati Monster
- Garry McCurley, Honda VFR1200
- Terry Mills – Honda Shadow 750
- Michelle Mount – Suzuki Burgmann 650
- Kerrey Mulgrave – BMW R100RT
- Janet Mulgrave – Suzuki Burgmann 650
- Kevin Shanley – Suzuki Bandit 1250
- Shelley Shanley – Kawasaki ZX6R
