Our annual pilgrimage to Tintaldra – a culmination of 3 states, 3 forums and a world full of personalities. It started 6 years ago, of which Karl and I have attended for 5 of them and met some wonderful folk that enjoy our past time of motorcycle riding.
We have an international inclusion this year with the presence of Patrick (a family friend of Karl’s from Germany). Friday 8th March, 7:30am we are ready to roll . SPOT is a goer and flashing away. First stop Pheasants Nest for fuel and to see how Patrick is settling into his new ride a BMW GSA650 (800) *thumbs up*!
Very uneventful ride all the way through to Hume, ACT where we stop for a short break and check in with Andy to see whether he’s joining us. Unfortunately, it’s bad news from Andy and he is stuck in Canberra with a busted bike – not the best way to spend your birthday weekend – sorry you missed it mate 🙁
The cry “let’s go” rings out and we are going again. As usual Karl runs front and I run the rear making sure that Patrick is safely in the middle. Patrick’s doing ok considering he hasn’t done a lot of distance riding. Here’s Patrick heading out of town.
Patrick & the Monaro Highway
Long ribbons of tarmac lead us into a beautifully warm Cooma. What more could you ask for! Fuel and I wanna get to Adaminaby, but we ask Patrick what he’d like to do and we decide to stop for lunch. SPOT is still tracking (well the lights are flashing anyway) so let’s hope my long distance (LD) friends are watching. Ready to leave when the other group from Sydney (who are joining us for the weekend) arrive. Goodays and introductions are made but that road, my favourite is calling – I can hear it!! I tell Karl “I’ll meet you in Adaminaby at the fish”.
Snowy Mountains Highway to Adaminaby should be called Kimmie’s paradise. Going going gooooone!!!! Smooth surface, sun shining, slight breeze, rocking away to my music and on song with Angel as we caress each twist and turn of the black ribbon we are riding. A few Aussie road blocks are overcome and it’s no time before I roll into picturesque Adaminaby and pull up at the newly restored trout. A photo opportunity and stripping of layers as the temp is rising. Gods country, I tell you.
restored Trout in Adaminaby
We take a few pics for Patrick I don’t think he’s seen anything like this and time is ticking (not that we are in a hurry) but these roads…well…… Into the Kosciusko National Park and for years I’ve past this sculpture and each time thinking “I must stop and get a pic one day” well one day happened finally YAY! I’m still not sure what it is, maybe another day I’ll take a break there and find out…lol
Sculpture thingy
The boys are gone and it’s time to play catch up. We wind our way through the beautiful picturesque National Park before a regroup at Tumut Ponds. Patrick is doing really well but sends Karl & I ahead. Mate you aren’t holding us up, ride where you are comfy at and if we want to overtake you we will. Nice steady pace, light, shadows, leafy litter adorn the road as we rise and descend through the park and before you know it it’s into Corryong for some shopping. “Schnapps” says Patrick. “Mate, go for it, if that’s what you want”.
Into the driveway at Clearwater on the Murray Caravan Park- Tintaldra and time to unload, kick back and wait for everyone else to roll up. It’s good to see everyone again and have a few drinks. We receive a message that Eve has broken down in Jindabyne and she & Eamonn make the wise decision to stay overnight and have the bike repaired then head on down the next day. The rest of her group will meet us tonight, just a matter of time.
Rick and Eilsa have a fabulous roast dinner in the rotisserie going for us, so it’s time to take the first timers up to the Tintaldra boarder crossing on the bridge over the Mighty Murray River.
Karl, Anto & Don on the Tintaldra Bridge
Now you can’t come all this way and not admire the peace and serenity of this area of the country. View from the bridge just before sunset.
Just before sunset on the Murray River
Beautiful!!
A great night a reminiscing, learning about your new friends, drinking, laughing and of course story telling was had. But it’s time for some shut eye cos tomorrow we have riding to do on some more great roads.
Saturday 9th March 13.
Bacon, eggs, toast, tea, coffee, the breakfast of champions ready for a day of twists and turns.
assembling for the days ride
Who paid the weather gods? THANK YOU cos we have a magical day in the weather department – awesome!!! Our plan for today we decided on last night, Corryong, Granya, Jingellic, Tumbarumba, Tooma, Corryong and back to Tintaldra, an easy days ride but for those that aren’t used to back to back distance in the heat it can be tiring.
Patrick is settling into the group and considering he hasn’t ridden roads like this before is doing really well. Corryong for fuel and a nice steady pace out along the Murray Valley Highway to the turn off to Granya where we have a regroup and I swap corner marking duties with Brian and wait for Don. Now Granya Rd is one of those “must do’ roads. This time we head south to north and I’m not disappointed. The recent rains have provided much needed moisture and the fields are green and the Murray River is looking beautiful! Weaving through the mountainside, Angel purring and we lean in and hug the curves of this magical road. A regroup in Granya and one of the locals decides he wants to say g’day! LOL
seems we have a couple of Dr Doo-Littles in the group and I’m not sure the local is impressed.
Heading on Murray River Rd with the Murray River running alongside us, through Thologalong and this is what you see……….
amazing….
peaceful…..Murray River
I love this section of road, open sweepers, beautiful scenery and great riding buddies and we are heading towards Jingelic. Crowey & Mark are marking the turn off (it’s easily missed) and over the rise I almost have trouble hauling Angel up to take the turn…oops…he he he.
view from the Jingelic bridge
Over the bridge and onto Linden Roth Drive, next stop Tumbarumba for lunch. It’s warm and I know I am at least looking forward to lunch and a rest, hopefully Patrick is enjoying his day of riding and the new friends he has made. The 4 Bears Cafe is our destination for lunch and you can’t not have a photo with Big Ted.
Big Ted, surely lives up to his name
I think Patrick was surprised at the cafe – not something I’d imagine you see in Germany.
Patrick and furry friends..
A yummy lunch is had by all.
it’s a feeding frenzy…..lol
What was the Esther?…….I couldn’t quite understand what you said with that mouthful of sambo…..lol (I know I will pay for this later – payback is a biatch).
Ree and her little pink friend, Esther and Mark
Our group splits up after lunch with half going to enjoy themselves on the inviting Elliots Way and the rest of us decide to head back through Tooma. Karl and I are trying to show Patrick as much as possible of the fabulous roads the Snowy region has to offer. Tooma is looking luscious and the views are spectacular. I’d said to Patrick that we’d take him to this lookout that we found last year cos the views are breath taking. We pull into the carpark of the South Cloud Memorial Lookout and here is the reason why….
view from the lookout
It’s a bit warm and we take a few moments to draw in the magnificent views, have a drink and Patrick mounts the Jeep (thinking of an upgrade from the 800)…hmmm.
Patrick on Jeep, Karl & Marvin
We all arrive back and are pleased to see that Eve & Eamonn have made it safely. Drinks, nibbles, tales of the days ride from everyones perspective and relaxing…..ahhhh excellent.
The crew of Tintaldra 2013 – from left to right
Back row: Don, Patrick, Anto, Karl, Eamonn, Mark, Esther, Eve, Marvin, Joy, Sue & Bubba Front row: Joy, Ree & Me (Crowey is missing, something about “gone fishing”).
Tintaldra 2013
Sunday 10th March 13
Fabulous nights sleep, a crisp morning and unfortunately, sadly today we must leave our little Snowy gem. Hang on a minute, not before another hearty breakky for champions though…lol.
We say our fare thee wells and Karl, Patrick and I head off to tackle The Alpine Way. The air is crisp and I open my visor to take in the aroma of the country air…great start to the day. A stop in Khancoban and we brief Patrick about the magical road ahead.
ready to leave
We climb through the mountain, Karl and I are just cruising at an easy pace but as Patrick is not familiar with the road we pull ahead. The Alpine Way never ceases to amaze me each time I travel this road with the kaleidoscope of colours and shapes. We stop at Dead Horse Gap (the highest point in the area, just before Thredbo) for the tourist pic.
Patrick at Dead Horse Gap
Through Thredbo and onto Jindabyne where we stop for a break. What a beautiful morning. Oh no, Patrick has a wardrobe malfunction. The zipper on his ………..leather jacket (gotcha) has cross toothed and won’t move. McGiver Karl to the rescue and we are off again.
A quick fuel stop in Cooma, then onto Bungendore for lunch at our favourite spot.
lunch in Bungendore
Great pies, sausage rolls and pasties!!
It’s hot and humid and home ain’t getting any closer sitting around. The last stretch seems to take the most time…..I still can’t figure out why that is. Slabbing up the Hume Highway is boring but we are lucky there isn’t a lot of traffic. Finally, we pull into the Mobil servo at Pheasants Nest for our final fuel stop……where Karl boasts his extraordinary range at 619 kays!
It’s here we say our thank yous and good byes to Patrick as he is going to head straight back to his Sydney home instead of dropping off at ours on the way. Into the driveway and there is no place like home.
A great ride with great friends, great location, great hosts and lots of new memories and lots of laughs = fantabulous weekend!!!
p.s here’s our more relaxed group photo….spot the cheeky one!!! LOL
