YAY!!! it’s that time of year again for the annual pilgrimage to Tintaldra ***happy dance*** and it’ll be Dudley’s first time 🙂
Friday morning with the two boys (Trevor & Dudley) packed and ready to roll, Karl and I head out of town to rendezvous with our friends Mark, Esther & Rob in Hume ACT. I’m going for a ride so naturally we had some rain til we got to Goulburn and then it was like someone turned the hose off and let “the sun shine through!”
Fuel and quick hellos and we are off. It’s still a little cool but will warm up soon enough….the sky is a beautiful pale blue with fluffy white pillows – lovely!
The Monotonous Highway never really changes and soon we are into Cooma and wave goodbye just as quickly heading towards the turnoff to Adaminaby – The Snowy Mountains Highway or better known as “Kimmies Favourite Road”.
Karl knows only to well how much I love this stretch (44km) of road to Adaminaby and kicks me through. It’s not long and I’ve rounded up Esther and then chase Mark down. My happy face is “on” (despite a kick arse headache) and I can feel that Dudley is excited to have a crack at this piece of road. We round Mark up lickity split and I ask Dudley “are you ready for this?” As I down a gear and open up the mighty triple he roared with anticipation to get his teeth into this ride………
We were in flight, taking the sweeps and curves with the hungry eagerness of someone starving for excitement!! Not having his suspension set quite right had us backing off a few times as the front was a little flighty at times which was a little unnerving. Mark was hot on our rear tyre and was happy sitting at a nice $1.50 (anything over that was a bit hairy). Adaminaby for lunch and a fist pump as we roll into town – I, sorry we (me and Dudley) “lurve” that stretch of road. Dudley’s ride of firsts includes a photo op with the Ada Trout.
Dudley & The Ada Trout
Off through the Kosciusko National Park and High Country. Unfortunately we were advised Cabramurra Way was closed so we had to take Elliot Way. Unfortunately, we think Rob missed that bit of the discussion at lunch cos we got to the Southern Cloud Lookout and no Rob but we picked up Don. The roads are great, the sun is shining, my head is pounding but we are riding and therefore the world is good!
Southern Cloud Lookout
Southern Cloud Lookout
We figured Rob took the alternate (closed) road and we would meet him in Tintaldra so we press on. Karl takes the dirt option at Tooma while Mark, Esther & I take the sealed route through the farmlands. Over the hill and down the dale and the tall trees that line the road leading to the Mighty Murray / Border and Tintaldra are in sight and it’s like the weight of the world is lifted off my shoulders – I have reached “serenity!!”.
What seems like eternity rolls by and no Rob! We manage to get his phone number and start leaving messages and texts before going – nup we are heading out to look for him. Not long as the boys head out he rolls in…phew! Turns out he did take Cabramurra Way all the way to the end (it’s not closed) and then turned around when nobody was there and came back down Elliot Way.
Our lovely hosts from the Clearwater Caravan Park, Rick & Eilsa greet us with huge hugs and smiles and we settle in for a meal fit for Royalty and a night of stories and laughter.
Settling in for a great night
Saturday is the mighty breakfast for champions and the ride plan for the day is set. Walwa – Granya (including a stop at the Granya Pub – Tallangatta (headache pills for me, fuel for others) – Eskdale – Mitta Mitta. Some of us have trouble reading signs and Esther flew past (I’m told…I was behind her riding like a nana), I stopped just past the sign and did a uey and we waited for Bubba to chase Esther down and bring her back.
Granya Pub
Nice ride of twists and turns with the sun bearing down on us.
A pleasant lunch at Mitta Mitta
river at the back of the pub
and some of the guys decided they needed an afternoon nana nap (I’m gonna cop it for this one).
Poor old dears…..lol
…..before we head out to Dartmouth Dam for a photo op
then it was back over Granya. My head is not feeling any better and I have to stop, so Karl and I head for the Granya Pub again for a cold drink. Rocket Rod arrives and we have a rest before heading off again for fuel in Walwa and an ice cream. Doesn’t matter how many times you do these roads you just wanna keep going back to do them. The scenery is spectacular, the roads are windy, dappled with the suns rays and peaceful!
We finally arrive back at Tintaldra and I NEVER get tired of taking this photo……my happy place!!!
The Mighty Murray @ Tintaldra
and we are ready for another fabulous meal, more stories, laughs and the Crew Photo!
The Tintaldra Hotel has “live” music tonight – Duncan & Macca are playing covers. Most go on up to join in the festivities at the pub but we decide to hit the hay instead for an early night.
Sunday and all the happy faces appear….not – we all have to go home today 🙁
Karl cooked breaky for us today and we noticed that Don’s tent, bike & Don were missing!!! On closer inspection of his campsite we found a note in the tree. Apparently someone woke him super early so decided to get going.
The trip home through Cabramurra Way – Adaminaby – Cooma – Bungedore where we stopped for lunch and Karl helped a poor bugger fix his flat rear tyre (which mind you he’d been battling with for 2 days). When he saw how Karl repair it says “I’ll have to get me one of the repair kit things”….seriously, you should already have one (were my thoughts)….anyhoos….
Arrive home and Ella-Jane is so glad to see us. Tintaldra Pilgrimage done for another year.
Capturing those special moments of the weekend!
Tintaldra 2016
