Sydney and back

I left Melbourne yesterday at 2.30 pm on my Kawasaki ZX9 and pulled into Albury at 5.30 pm. I used a mix of back roads and the freeway. I was actually chasing a guy who was three hours ahead of me but he kept going till Sydney. I had dinner in the pub and watched the girls slowly getting inebriated! I headed off to bed early, as I just wasn't sure where I was going to end up tomorrow and how many kilometers to get there. The plan was to just go wherever.

Departed Albury at 8 am. Went out to the Hume Weir, Talgarmo, Jingellic, Walwa, Tintaldra, Cabramurra, Tumut 2 Power station, Tumbarumba, Mannus, Wantagong, Holbrook where I had lunch. The whole run was a hoot, but highlights were the run up to Cabramurra then down to Tumby. But Tumby to Holbrook was mental fast. Long, snaking sweepers!

From Holbrook I then went Cookardinia, Mangoplah, Burrandana, Westby, Little Billabong, Kyeemba, Carabost, Humula, Tarcutta, Ladysmith, Wantabadgery, Nangus, Muttama, Wallendbeen, Harden, Yass. I checked to see if any Canberrans had checked in while refueling and since none had put their hand up, decided on a different route. I ducked around through Biala and into Goulburn for night two. Not sure where I'll go tomorrow. I need to be in Sydney by 10 am Monday is the only proviso. I took a couple of crappy phone camera pics which I'll try and load after dinner!

Wednesday 20^th Dec 2006: A Commitments style band kept me up late last night so I didn't leave Goulburn till 9 am. Oberon the goal, the map showing a tarred road up through Burraga and Campbells River. The road from Goulburn to Crookwell is a credit to the Mulwarre Council's road building skills! I really enjoyed it.

I stopped at Crookwell for some breakfast and a coffee. I had a fair bit of time as the meal was slow, so got chatting to some locals. The conversation turned to the roads ahead and soon enough I was glad I had talked to them. The road shown on my new map was actually no more than a fire trail apparently, and not to be tackled in anything but a 4WD or a dirt-squirt! As tempted as I was to rise to the challenge on the 9, I opted for an alternative route.

Up to Laggan, then to Golspie. This bit was fun too. Then did 19 kms of easy dirt over to Taralga. Then turned left up to Porters Retreat, Black Springs and Oberon. Apart from the odd bit of bumpy tar early on and the two dirt sections which still remain (the one closer to Oberon being the worst) the road is magic. Fast, smooth and flowing with the odd interesting turn to keep you awake. Then I cut across to Hampton and Blackheath before turning right for the run down the hill onto the M4. Arrived at the Creek to watch a mate and a few others go round and round! I really enjoyed this morning though. I will have to do that run again sometime soon.

Thursday 21^st Dec 2006: I checked out of the apartment today with the intention of doing a couple of small jobs, then heading down the south coast. The first job was to take back the visor pods I bought yesterday as one just wouldn't play fair. It was definitely a product fault rather than operator error as the new pod clicked straight in. Anyway, I ended up getting going about two-ish. Just headed down the coast but took every tourist coastal route I found and arrived at Batemans Bay at 6 pm. I managed 300 kms before hitting reserve so it was obviously a cruisy run.

I blagged a powered site right next to the toilet/shower block with free unlimited Internet access for $26. I put the tent up and unloaded the luggage and then had a hot shower. Trundled into the main street for dinner for a good old baked chicken dinner at the Sportsmans Club. Just got back, jumped in the tent, and wrote this.

I hadn't used this little tent in a while and forgot what a cracker it is. It's a black Wolf Mantis II. Light, small, waterproof, tough and enough room to put me and my luggage ... just! But it’s light and small, and that's important. I treated myself to a new sleeping bag too. I bought a good Roman Down bag which is minus 5 rated but also packs down to almost nothing and weighs bugger all too!

Not sure where I'll head to tomorrow? I have to be in Young Sunday night.

Friday 22^nd Dec 2006: Must have done a few k's today. I got sick of pulling the tank bag off! I fell asleep earlyish last night, and slept really well. It was warm enough to lie on top of the sleeping bag all night. I got up about 7.30 am and went down to the beach. The water was warm enough to stay in for a bit. There were schools of baitfish going off a few metres from shore, so I stayed in the shallows. The shark warning signs certainly get your attention!

I showered, allowing the sun time to dry the condensation from the tent. I took my time eating breakfast and packing alternately, completing the task about 9.30 am. I then hit the road to repeat the Candello/Cathcart run.

After being in Bombala recently and knowing how close the Mt Imlay Road turn off was I decided to go and do a lap. I then went back up to Bombala and ran back down into Cooma and Canberra. (Cripes that bit's boring.) Staying in Canberra tonight. Hollywooded myself up with a nice hotel room for a night of comfort!

Saturday 23^rd Dec 2006: Slipped down to Fyshwick, where all the bike shops are on my way out today. I was trying to find something to increase the comfort levels. The bike shops had nothing, but the sheepskin joint around the corner gave me an off cut and let me borrow his cutter to shape it accordingly. Worked a treat too! I recommend it to any of the other ageing 9 riders out there!

I ended up going about 11.30 am and headed down the fun stretch to Cooma. Then over to Jindabyne and Adaminiby. Tumut 2 came and went, and then the rain started. No bushfires today, as the drenching rain wouldn't have allowed it! One minute it was fine, the next pouring with rain. And it continued that way until almost Wagga, where I decided to stop and dry out my gear!

Wednesday 27^th December 2006: Retraced my steps from Young yesterday. Backroads over to Jugiong, then back roads to Tumbarumba, then back up the mountains, across to Bombala and down through Cathcart and Wyndham, then back up the coast road. Good fun apart from a couple of... err discussions with the boys in blue! S'pose ya gotta expect it this time of year. Oh...and the NSW finest aren't a bad bunch from what I saw. Discounts applied on both occasions. Most probably because they would have to lock the bike up due to the Sonny Jim speeds, and the paperwork was most likely too much!

Friday 5^th January 2007: Headed off for Canberra early this morning! I rolled out the gate at Newtown at 7.30 am and pulled up at Belconnen at 11 am to meet some mates for a ride around their local haunts. A mate with a well set up ex-Post Classic racer Z1000, another with a new ZX10R and yet another on his old Katana for the day, leaving the later GSXR750 in the shed. Yet another friend tagged along in the tin top. He took a couple of piccies as well. They tell the story really. Four guys on nice roads with sticky rubber! What more can you say! We had a ball!

Marty Thompson