Of all the places in Australia I’ve been too on my motorcycle over the past 10 years, Tintaldra is my most favourite place. My haven of tranquility, where everything could go wrong in the normal world but there I have no cares or worries in the world.
Out the door at 7:00am in the rain and off we go. Pretty uneventful ride down the highway and the cruise control is already paying for itself. For the first time in, oh, I don’t know how long, Karl sat behind me all the way to Bungendore. Gunna-Doo cafe for morning tea….coffee & donut. Karl turns off at Queanbeyan (the super tanker doesn’t need fuel) and I carry on to Hume for fuel and we meet back up in Cooma.
Onto the Snowy Mountains Highway, yes, you got it, my favourite piece of road to Adaminaby where we find our friends from Canberra sitting around finishing lunch. It’s still a bit cool but I know the weather will improve once we get over the mountain a wee bit. After our lunch we all head off, the Canberra crew taking Elliot Way while Karl and I take Cabramurra Way to the Khancoban turn off then enjoy the trip into Corryong for supplies.
His packing and her packing 🙂
Sweeps and curves, bends and twists lined with mother natures finest wilderness. Dappled light and roads to ourselves, what more could you want. Supplies obtained and we high tail it out to “my haven, our haven”. We are staying at Betts B&B this year while everyone else are staying at the caravan park. Bett’s place has the best spot in town we reckon, overlooking the Murray River with a beautiful backyard hidden behind the Tintaldra Tea Rooms (which at 90yrs old she also runs).
Pizza night at Clearwater by the Upper Murray surrounded by like minded friends = an awesome time. Catching up and a few drinks, its like this every time. Yowie and Fudge love the attention (although they are not the security guards they used to be) and lets face it, we love spoiling them with hugs.
Tucked away in our own little Betts Hideaway we had a glorious nights sleep and woke to a beautiful sun rise. A cuppa tea and wonder down to the park for a full breaky with everyone before suiting up for a stunning days of riding fabulous roads with great mates.
Destination decided on is Bright……on a bright sunny day! Awesome! Along the river road into Walwa and I say I’m going ahead to take some pics. Just into Tholongooloo and I find a spot where I can hide on the bank and take pics of my friends coming round a bend. With Dudley parked safely down the road, I go back, set up and wait. Now, I took some pics, they aren’t great, it was my first time taking pics like this….oh well, lesson learned…..leave it to the experts! LOL
Short detour to look for Ree’s petrol cap (lost on Friday) and Karl and I head off down the Cow Rd before getting to the Bright turn off. We had the Cow Rd all to ourselves….it was lovely, even better we got to ride together (which we haven’t done for such a long time). What a beautiful morning as we turn up Tawonga Gap Rd and look forward to the curvaceous climb to Bright. There are quite a few cyclist most were accommodating but there were more that purposefully blocked the road…PITA! Bright’s busy – market day and god knows what push bike event (they were everywhere). Parked up and off to the River Deck cafe for lunch but not before a spot of shopping. Picked up a lovely besoke skirt – win! Lovely lunch with friends and then we are off again. Back down Tawonga Gap Rd (damn shame really) and then up the highway a bit and Karl turns off and I have no idea where we went….I just followed him and it was wonderful. Kinda like date day! Twists and turns, lovely scenery – perfect day.
Back into Tintaldra and me good ol’ mates Diesel, Growly and Mrs Growly have arrived – awesome!! The rest of the crew arrive and the introductions are made before setting in for a night of shenanigans. The group piccy is done before we have to many cordials and before long dinner in served. God bless Rick and Ailsa, a scrumptious baked dinner and dessert, it was the quietest we were all weekend. Diesel was all set up over at camp “Diesel-Land” complete with everything bar the kitchen sink…lol.
Now speaking of cordial, young Esther packed a bottle of schnapps from the Wild Brumby Distillery as a treat for us. Sckull they say and so I did. Holy mother of hot chilli’s!! Just a tad hot *breathing fire* as one is unable to speak, all captured by me good ol’ mate….thanks.
Sunday morning, packed and down for the breakfast fit for a king and queen. It’s sad, we have to head home which means we have to say farewell until next time…and…to think some of these friends only live an hour away.
Another glorious day and as hard as it is to leave this little piece of paradise we have to go home and back to Ella-Jane. Through the crisp morning air to Khancoban for fuel before the climb up The Alpine Way, through Thredbo, Jindy, Cooma before stopping for fuel and lunch in Queanbeyan.
The trip home from here is almost like running on auto-pilot and we have been lucky that the looming dark clouds have stayed at bay.
Back home to a very happy Ella-Jane.
Til next year, unless I win the lotto and buy a little piece of my heaven 🙂
The Tintaldra Crew 2017
