Annual leave is booked but I have had my doubts that Karl & I would actually get away (the reason is a whole other story). Anyways, Saturday 29th Dec arvo rolls around and Karl says “guess what, we are going tomorrow”! YIPPEE!!! Oh no, I still have washing, ironing, packing and stuff to do. Frantic Kimmie swings into action / confusion / holy crap mode. A late night and Angel & I are all packed ready to roll in the morning. Wee Jasper and Tintaldra here we come!!!
Sunday 30th Dec 12
Kimmies going camping…la la de la la…lol
We only have to go to Micalong Creek Reserve today, which is about 6-8 kays south of Wee Jasper down a dirt road…..yep that’s right dirt, what am I thinking.
Lunch in Yass at the Liberty take away (note to self – don’t stop there again, it was pretty ordinary to say the least) and a stop at Woolies for some supplies before we head on down what turned out to be a beautiful piece of road to Wee Jasper.
Lunch at Liberty take away Yass
The Yass-Wee Jasper Rd, what a hidden beauty. Not very wide but a decent surface that meanders through the countryside of grazing land. Look, this is not a road for “carving it up” but one to enjoy and view our country. It’s hot (not unbearable but uncomfortable) but Karl & I pull off the road anyway for a photo op.
Yass-Wee Jasper Rd
Jeep Jeep and Angel with a beautiful backdrop while we check out the view on the other side.
View on Yass-Wee Jasper Rd, spectacular!!
Noice hey!!! It’s like this all the way to Wee Jasper, breathtaking. Now, as you know I’m not a huge fan of dirt, any dirt but this road down into Micalong Creek isn’t too bad (I’d hate to do it if it was wet though). Nice and steady and we get there, Phew and YAY!!! Now to find a camp site.
We find a nice spot under an old tree for our camp site and unpack our stuff, then kick back and relax…ahhh
Micalong Creek campsite
In holiday mode
chillin’
Now, this is my first ever time camping….can you believe that..wow! I’m excited. Micalong has NO showers but has a toilet (thank goodness, don’t think I’d have coped otherwise), so it’s off down the track to a swim hole which will be our bathing spot for the next 2 days.
Pretty good hey!! After a lovely refreshing dip, it’s time to head back so Karl can cook us a gourmet dinner. I hear youse saying “What tha”, well don’t think just cos we’re roughing it we don’t have cooking gear…taa dah
Masterchef Karl!!!
Curly sausage, bread roll and pasta salad for dinner, whalla !! Awesome! After a little bit of socialising it’s time to hit the hay, ahm well tent..he he
Monday 31st December – New Years Eve!
What a crappy nights sleep! Look I wasn’t expecting a 5 five star night (although the thousands of stars that graced the nights sky were beautiful) but some sleep would’ve been good. The mattress and pillow were hard and the god damn sleeping bag, well I got so kabooblelatted up in it, that I had to untie myself to get out – there’s gotta be a better way. Anyway the day is gorgeous and Karl and I decide to do some exploring two up on Jeep Jeep and get ready and head off up the dirt road. I decide to take some pics from the back seat.
view from the back seat of Jeep Jeep
At Wee Jasper we took a turn up to Cravens Caves hoping to do a tour. However after dodging a few sheep and reaching the destination up yet another dirt road we find the caves closed *sad*. Never mind we turn around and decide to head to Yass. What a shame we get to view the meandering Yas-Wee Jasper Rd again…lol. Quick stop at the Murrumbidgee River Bridge crossing. The river is so dry, very depressing but beautiful all at the same time.
Murrumbidgee River crossing
a sad sight 🙁
Into Yass, check in with the folks and find out how our baby girl Ella-Jane is doing , a spot of shopping for a rashy (so I don’t get burnt) and then a spot of lunch in a lovely little cafe called Dolcetta Cafe (they make one of the best milkshakes I’ve had). Back to Woolies for some supplies for our NYE dinner tonight then back to camp for a relaxing afternoon. You know something, doing dirt on the back of Jeep Jeep you don’t even feel the bumps, almost like sitting on a cloud…well almost.
leisurely afternoon
After dinner we chat to our new friends and get some very important tips on our sleeping gear. With the advice taken on board let’s hope tonight we get a better sleep. What a bunch of great people, seasoned ralliers and Karl and I get invited to at least a half dozen rallies in 2013…..sheesh, these folks are really passionate about them.
Will we see midnight, ha I doubt it. True to form we are in our sleeping bags by 10ish but hear kids laughing and running around, people with those rattler thingys and then nothing, we are asleep…zzzz. Then I awake to hear 3,2,1 Happy New Year !!, rollover and back to sleep.
Tuesday 1st January 13
Happy New Year Sweety!!! Did you have good nights sleep, cos I had a cracker of one!! But alas, it’s time to head out today. We pack up our kit, pack the bikes and say our farewells to our new found friends. Back up the dirt road to Wee Jasper where Karl and I part ways for a few hours cos ya see, Karl is taking the dirt road option to Tumut and I’m going back up through Yass & Gundagai. The Gocup Rd to Tumut is another nice piece of road and one I haven’t had the pleasure of doing until now.
Gocup Rd
It’s getting hot, the camelbak is getting a workout but before long I finally make it to Tumut where Karl has been waiting for me for nearly an hour. The dirt track was obviously a lot quicker. Anyway, after a decent stop it’s off in search of my FarPic in Adelong, done.
Adelong FarPic
Down through Batlow and into Tumbarumba (what another noice piece of road). Orchards flanking both sides, dark and light of the shadows providing pockets of shade and only one sneaky Mr Plod parked on the side of the road with his headlights on. Tumby for lunch and the town is full, chockas due to a Rodeo…Yee Haw!!! Only place open for lunch is Mountain Mac’s take away. The heat continues to climb and I can’t wait to get my gear off!! Lunch done, gear on (it’s getting heavier) lets get goin’ our friends Rick and Eilsa in Tintaldra are expecting us.
Here’s a view of Karls butt…LOL from Tooma Rd. I hear those of you that aren’t riders saying “why do you go all that way”, well this is one of many roads that answers that question. Breathtaking views, fabulous road surfaces and fresh air, what else could you want. At Tooma (the town, well pub) Karl took the dirt road option and I well, took the bitumen.
Karl’s butt….LOL
My view approaching the bridge that crosses the flowing Murray River into Tintaldra and our destination.
Bridge crossing the border into Victoria
I beat Karl into Tintaldra by a couple minutes…he he. Yowey & Fudge (the dogs) greet me at the office door followed by Rick…..”gooday mate, long time” hugs. Me: “got us a good spot” Rick: “the best Kimmie, take your pick” Me: “thanks heaps, this is why we come here”.
Tintaldra camp site
home sweet home
Campsite Karl & Kimmie – the best home away from home in Victoria. A refreshing swim in the Murray with Karl, a drink at the pub and say gooday to Alf, then off for a well deserved shower after not having one for 2 days…..ahhhhhh
Rick and Eilsa invited us for dinner and drinks with some other friends staying and we enjoyed a nice social night. An early warm night in the tent, under the stars with my favourite bloke in a place I love = one happy Kimmie.
Wednesday 2nd January 2013
Favourite roads and FarPics are on the agenda today. Khancoban, Cabramurra, Kiandra, then onto my favourite road from Adaminaby to the Berridale turn off. Open sweepers, a slight breeze, sun = great ride day.
nearly overshot the mark…ooops
We stop in Jindy for lunch, then off to grab my FarPic.
FarPic
Down through The Alpine Way which never ceases to amaze me, it changes every time. Lots of leaf litter this time, shadows and oncoming traffic that think they deserve more of the road than me, make for an interesting ride. Into Corryong and grab some supplies for dinner and lunch for the next two days. Hmmm marinated pork spare ribs and gourmet sausages with salad and wrap bread….this is the life! An easy day and back early afternoon to do some more chillaxin’..yeah!
Now, you’re asking why aren’t you in many shots Kimmie? Well that’s simple……Karl doesn’t do photos and someone has to take them. So there are a few bad attempts of selfies to prove I was actually there…lol. Massive winds gusts blew through this afternoon and we thought the tent was goin’ to blow away….phew it didn’t.
We met some new folk at the caravan park who are canoeing their way to the mouth of the Murray, what an interesting couple. We stayed chatting to them until bed time.
Thursday 3rd January 2013
Ahhh, sleep ins ya gotta love em when you can get ‘em and we don’t get them very often. It’s our day off today, no riding just kicking back and chillaxin’ – yeah!
Karl has arranged with Rick for us to take a canoe out on the Murray….YAY!!! I’ve never been canoeing. Ahh, well, this could be a really good thing or an absolute disaster, anyway hang around and you’ll find out. With some helpful tips from Rick when he drops us off and the clear instruction to listen to Karl, off we go!!!
Yowie thought he was going too..lol
That’s Yowie with us…woof!! He didn’t come in the canoe..lol
Ok, so I’m like the Japanese tourist with a camera, the view from the front seat of the canoe as we just get started.
The Mighty Murray
How tranquil, peaceful, serene, beautiful, exotic and but what else Aussie!!! I reckon I’d have been better off taking a movie of the entire experience to explain it cos words just aren’t going to do it justice. The river was ever so gentle today and for most of it we just floated but we did have to have a little paddle every now and again…well Karl mostly did anyways…see!! I was too busy – taking photos of course…he he
canoeing 101…
It was amazing to see the amount of wildlife on the river. Here’s a swan, yep a swan “ready for take off”…. I just couldn’t believe it!!! Totally breathtaking!
Lots of cattle adorned the shoreline and even came down for a drink….secretly I think they wanted a swim cos it was pretty hot. Probably the hottest day we’ve had so far.
Here we pulled up onto a little beach for a break. This is the view from the bank – how gorgeous is it!
And I turned around and here’s the view from behind me! What a bloody beautiful country!
During our day trip I kept asking Karl “do I paddle” and every now and again I’d have a bit of a paddle. Now I guess you had to be there, but after we got back in the canoe and we’re floating and paddling a little bit we got into some faster water and Karl yelled paddle. So I paddled (as you do), then he said “turn it over” (well that’s what I thought he said) and I did exactly what he said. I pulled the paddle out of the water, looked at the flipper thingy and spun the paddle round…..LOL thinking I had it round the wrong way. All I heard then was laughter and STOP, jab it in the water!!!! This almighty splash of water covered me and then tears of laughter came down my face, while Karl was saying “what were you doing?”. Well, “exactly what you said”. Karl, “you dope, what did you think I said?”, anyway you get the idea. Kimmie = numpty, with absolutely no idea but had a bloody fantastic time and together we had heaps of laughs and a wonderfully enjoyable morning.
Here’s the view of the NSW bridge crossing the Murray as we come to the Tintaldra boat ramp.
approaching the boat ramp
With the canoe safely pulled up on the bank, we wonder down the road back to our favourite spot to stay. Now if you are ever in this part of Oz, you have to go to Tintaldra and stay with Rick and Eilsa at Clearwater by the Murray Caravan Park. It’s a beautiful spot, has nice clean cabins, comfy beds, good camping spots and is so friendly you just don’t wanna leave. You can even take your dog! Yowie and Fudge would love it.
The place to stay!!
The rest of the day we spent just doing nothing really. A spot of Reading, napping, having some afternoon snacks and chatting to another family who are staying there for a week was so good. Sooo yep, this is how a holiday should be.
Tonight is our last night here, sad panda, and our lovely hosts have invited us to join them again tonight. Home away from home, what did I tell you. How could we say no, so with our dinner supplies in hand we wonder over, where Karl does what he does best and cooks on the barbie. Another lovely dinner was had, stories told, laughs were had and before you know it, it’s time to head for bed.
Friday 4th January 13
No more sleep ins….whaaaaa!!! It’s too early to be up, but we have to start to head home now. We’d said our hoo roo’s last night just in case we didn’t catch Rick & Eisla this morning. It’s gonna be a hot one today so the weather man reckons and you can feel the heat in the air already at 6:00am!!
Our plan today, Mt Beauty, Falls Creek (for some FarPics), down into Omeo, Bruthen, Cann River (FarPic) before making our stop for the night Eden. So lets get on with it.
The road through to Granya never disappoints and the dappled light on the road shielded us from the biting sun. A quick stop at Old Tallangatta for a photo op then onto Gundowring Rd (the cow road I call it). Isn’t it great when a road is just as you remember it (but without the cow poo..lol) but we aren’t in a hurry and just enjoy the scenery.
With Mount Beauty in our sight so I could get a FarPic of the Chateau Post Office and have a rest stop….ahh! We roll into Mount Beauty and Karl says “it’s 38 degrees”, YIKES!! More water for the camelbak, grab the pic and we need to get moving to beat the heat!
Mount Beauty FarPic
Now up the meandering road to Falls creek, how god damn hot is it…have I mentioned that, how hot it is!! “Hurry up and get the pic I’m melting”, says Karl – no kidding Dick Tracey!
Falls Creek FarPic
I’ve never done the road over the top of Falls Creek down into Omeo. Karl has and said it’s not the greatest and hard to read – he was right! The souring heat, the road itself not to mention the traffic was all starting to take it’s toll. By the time we got to Omeo I was exhausted and hot and hungry and thirsty and hot and hot..did I mention how hot it was. 44 degrees in Omeo, are we nuts!! Still have mile to travel and hanging around isn’t getting them any closer to home so off we go.
Nice roads, souring temps and Plod watching made for a tiring, interesting ride into Bruthen. Fuel and time for a stop. Can you believe this guy in the servo comes up to me and says “weren’t you on ……. ride?, I recognised your bike”. I recognised his face but had no idea who he was. Anyway Karl and I take a break in the shade at the servo and tried to lower our body temps. OK, let’s go!!
Next stop Cann River but not before I get a massive body cramp which has me doubled over on the bike. A sign “cafe 2km” was the longest 2 kays of the trip. I get off the bike crying in pain. I don’t understand, I’ve been drinking my water, I’d had a good lunch….whhhhhy! Turns out I’ve leached all the salt from my body (another lesson learnt here). A stranger who was fighting peat fires says to fill my camelbak with 1x powerade + 1 x water this will replace the salt and give me the hydration I require…thanks mate!! Turns out he knows FarRider Wingman (Des).
Snag my pic and we grab more drinks before making the last 100 odd kays to Eden.
Cann River FarPic
We thought heading towards the coast it was going to be cooling, well you know what thought did. After a long hard days ride we finally pull into Eden and it’s still 39 degrees! Karl, he’s such a sweety (I think he might love me just a little bit) has booked us a lovely motel room for our last night away – you are the bestest Sweety!! As much as I wanted a swim in the pool, I really just wanted to get out of my gear, have a shower and get a feed and relax.
Ahhhh, a comfy bed, air conditioning, and a telly, the realisation that our holiday is coming to an end.
Saturday 5th January 13
Up early and we head off to get another FarPic at the Whale Museum.
Eden FarPic
Then down to the wharf for a coffee before heading homeward.
Eden Wharf
Home today is via the coast road and hoping it’s gonna be cooler today, but somehow I don’t think so….ho hum. The camelbak is full Karl and I head off. Not much happening but by the time we get to Morooya I need a girl brake and I’m hungry. We stop at the little Caltex, grab a drink, some chippies and a little girl stop, ahhh. It’s warming up already and just getting through town was an epic saga. Massive traffic jam for what? No idea…shrugs shoulders. I can feel the sweat running down my skin inside my gear and can’t wait to get some air flow. Phew out the other side and we get a move on.
Unfortunately, that traffic is gonna plague us for the trip home and with heat baring down on us makes for a loooong ride. Finally into Nowra for lunch at 1:00ish and Karl advises me it’s 39 degress…YIKES!!! so much for the coast being cooler, darn! Fuel, air conditioning and Macca’s in that order is our lunch stop. While we cool down we have a brilliant thought “light bulb above the head moment”. Let’s ring Lil Bro Dan and see if we can drop by and borrow his pool….ahhh brilliant idea. Anyways, Dan’s not available so we leave a message to text if OK.
Lunch is over and now it’s time to battle the nightmare traffic up the highway. This is not fun and it’s still hot but we trudge on. We finally pull up at Dan’s and are met with open arms and a huge welcome from the rest of the family. This family are the best, more than once now they have opened their home to us on our way home from a trip. Cosy in hand, give me two secs, cosy on and in the pool – sensational!!!
We do need to get home though, so we thank Dan and his family for having us yet again before gearing up again for the last hour home. Finally, in the drive and our holiday has come to an end L but you know what, there’s also another ride to plan.
Kimmies camping experience a great success!! Will I do it again – you betcha!! Was Karl surprised with me – I think so.
p.s Just a little tip when you’re on holidays, don’t do laundry…..it’s a dangerous task. The laundry basket attacked me…LOL
war wound….lol
