The first “official” ride for the year…..kicking off in a lovely part of the country in the little town / hamlet of Dartmouth.
I asked Dad along for this one…nice weather in February and he hasn’t been out for a bit of adventure for a while . The planning of course had to take in the distance that dad is capable of doing..not always an easy task.
Google maps and a range of ~500km max a day for dad had his plan landing him in Cooma on Thursday for the night. Friday he trundled around the Alpine area (which he hasn’t done for many many years) and propped at The Mountainview Motel in Corryong, where I would meet him that night.
For the first time in “a very long time” I planned the most boring ride for Friday. My local Shell knows me well for mid-day starts and with docket in hand off I head for the M2 and the ever so boring run down the highway of doom. I really didn’t put a lot of thought into this plan and while looking at the spreadsheet in my tank bag cruising on the freeway couldn’t figure out why I had plotted my route in that way……plan out the window – “Lets Wing It”!!
It’s really uneventful except for the volume of truck heading out of Sydney until Sutton’s Forrest – every one jostling for the vacant space…..reminded me of the old game Frogger…lol
Yass for fuel and I really have to slap myself yet again for stopping here. I say this every time and yet I’ve done it again…..argh!
Can’t help but notice the plethora of enticing signs waning on my sense of having some fun….turn off Kimmie, come and play on my twists and turns they are saying. Dudley is chomping at the bit, come on Kimmie ya know ya wanna……next time mate. *sad face* Next stop is Albury for dinner and fuel. Finding fuel turned out to be more of a challenge than I thought. Albury a big town and they hide the bloody fuel…WTA! Got fuel – phew and asked the lady where the local Macca’s was. Turns out there is a NEW Macca’s at East Albury and guess what…next door is a brand new BP *face palm*. Check in with Karl and Dad and get back on the road.
The Riverina Highway, what a lovely road and I was so glad to have something interesting to travel along for the rest of todays journey. It’s amazing the change in ones spirit with a change of scenery 🙂 Down into Lake Hume and the bridge is closed so a u-ey and back out along the Wondonga road…..turns out this is the road I shudda been taking in the first place…he he. Come through Edben then turn left onto the Murray Valley Highway for the last stretch into Corryong.
I’ve ridden this road many many many times with zest in my wings and a gallop in Dudleys legs but alas as I watch the sun sink slower into the horizon, I remind myself of the wildlife that like to come out and play in this area. I see it all too often the following morning as motorists have an encounter of the furry kind. I don’t plan on being one of those thanks, so we settle back into a nice rhythm and take the curves and a gentler pace….absorbing the surroundings like tasting a fine wine.
Fuel at the Mount Mittamatite Caravan Park before rolling into the motel where dad is waiting for me. We have a bit of a catch up on his travels down, how’s mum doing and the low down on the pub grub and town happenings….dad likes to have a chat to the locals……who’d figure….LOL.
Dad’s a bit excited and to be honest I am a bit myself to head off this morning for our little 300km stint. Love morning riding and the crisp smell and feel of country air. We travel past Tintaldra into Walwa before winding our way around the mountain on the Murray River Rd – dad hasn’t done this before. Sitting on the limit cruising and outta no where a mob of Roos come bounding from the right – target Kimmie!!! Managed to miss them and watched in the mirror as dad also missed them…thankfully he was travelling far enough back to a bit more time to prepare.
Sunrise with Dad – Murray River Rd
The northern turn to Granya and dad has to change glasses – photo op.
This is a nice bit of road if you get the chance and before long we wind our way to the Bellbridge Bridge.
Back through Ebden for me and we turn right and head towards Yackandandah where we get fuel and have a lovely breakfast in the old shop on the left as you come into town.
Time to get our skates on and my plan has us weaving here and there with a couple of detours on unfamiliar roads….oops. Back onto Lockarts Gap Rd and it’s a lovely scenic run onto the Omeo Highway before turning on to Dartmouth Rd and leading a few other riders into Dartmouth Pub for FRE #48.
The usual catch up with friends and meet a couple of new ones before checkin opens.
It’s wonderful how every single rider welcomes dad to our catch-ups even though he doesn’t hold a FR # and he “LOVES” it!! Riders are really the most wonderful and welcoming people.
We have lunch, well we share and before long the group that was, was no more as the crowd dissipates into the haze of the start of a hot day. Thankfully we are only heading back to Corryong as dad is getting weary. Dad heads up the pub (as you do) and I head to the pool to cool down 🙂 . Although to dads disappointment the pub wasn’t open yet…oops so we have a chat and get ready to go back for an early dinner.
Sunday breakfast is at the Black Sheep in Corryong. It’s not a big day today as it’s starting to take its toll on dad so Goulburn is our goal for today.
Travelling the well worn Goats Ridge Rd to Cabramurra but not before stopping at Tumut Pond Dam – photo op.
Can you see the smile on dads face !!!! I Can!!! Gotta love this man – he IS a legend!!
Twisting and turning our way through and around the mountain and we come to Three Mile Dam and in the distance there are some Brumbies….not a sight you see very often. They are magnificent and I can’t not stop to get a pic.
And of course, a pic of Dad
Come on kid…..I can hear the words again as I type….he he he.
I had a bit of fun through here and had to slow a few times for dad as he doesn’t recall the last time he’s done this road and just takes it easy.
Up through Selwyn, then turn onto the Snowy Mountains Highway and we meander into Adaminaby for a brief stop.
Too early for lunch so we forge a plan to stop in Bungendore at the Gunna Doo cafe. The beauty of today is we don’t have to rush. The day is heating up and thankfully we have the most of it behind us before it gets too hot.
From here it’s an easy run up through Tarago and into the Astor Hotel Motel for the rest of the day and a cold beer for us both. The stretch here wasn’t terribly exciting, but the distance was starting to show on dad…just little hints he gave out.
We check in at home, kick back to watch some telly then , it’s an early night for the both of us and the final stretch home tomorrow.
Breakfast across the road at Tatts Cafe – highly recommend if you are in Goulburn. It’s a pretty ordinary run up the highway this morning but the air has a bit of heat in it, so I am glad we are out early to beat the traffic and the heat. We stop at Pheasants Nest for a short stop and bus loads of kids are everywhere!!! Dad and I say our good byes as we won;t be stopping before he turns off at Pennant Hills Rd.
Pheasants nest final stop
Heaps of traffic on the M7 which was a bit unexpected considering the time but we eventually clear that and motor on down the M2 and wave hoo-roo at Pennant Hills Rd as planned.
I’m into the driveway at lunch time and Dad pulls at his home a bit later.
A fabulous weekend riding, catching up and spending quality time with my Dad!!
Thanks for reading.
