C
Clowndog
Guest
On the Dec 27th I embarked on my longest journey to date, spending a total of 13 days sweeping my way around NSW & VIC while covering over 4000k in the process. The route included freeways, highways, backroads, dirtroads, long hot straights and seemingly endless twisties. I managed to stick fairly closely to my intended route but it was by no means a tour on rails, with each day bringing new options to be considered and decisions to be made. I stayed in motels, hotels, cabins and campsites, ate from bakeries, bars, bistros and bags.
I will post a day or two at a time until the report is completed, so here we go !
Day 1 - Sydney to Yass via the freeway * Yass to Tumbarumba via Wee Jasper, Tumut & Batlow - 500k
Day 2 - Tumbarumba to Tintildra via Cabramurra & Khancoban * Tintaldra to Tallangatta via Murray River Rd & Granya Gap - 300k
Im going to use the google maps "terrain" feature as much of the trip was high country, a good thing considering the heat over new years
The decision to camp & cook part of the time unfortunately more than doubles my luggage but sometimes camping can be pure bliss
My first reasonable picture opportunity since leaving Sydney is found just beyond Yass after leaving the freeway and beginning my trip in earnest as I head towards Wee Jasper
Yass to Tumut via Wee Jasper is one of the many rides listed in the Australian Motorcycle Atlas. I managed to work about 10 of these rides into my route
The section between Yass and Wee Jasper is mostly tar and Im glad to be leaving the rain of Sydney behind me before I hit the dirt sections
As I recall most of the dirt was after Wee Jasper, not before it. This must have been a small section
This looks gloomy but things clear up the further I move away from Sydney. In the coming days the weather man starts punching out some 35+ degree days, even hitting 41 as I arrive in Melbourne
At's Wee Jasper right enough lad !
After about 35k you actually get the option of sealed or unsealed
The sky clears as I head towards Tumut
At this point I had already done about 400k for the day on two coffees and a McMuffin. I took the soft option and headed down the sealed road towards Tumut
I stopped for a moment to ponder the two weeks ahead of me, who would I meet ? what would I see ?
One of the last stretches before Tumut. I eyed a lovely looking tourist park in Tumut with loads of shade and ear marked it for investigation next time I happen by, but today my target is Tumbarumba, another 70k south.
I met my first travellers in Tumut, just down this road. A couple of lads from Holland, you know the type, blonde haired, blue eyed, athletic adonises. Lucky bastards ! $^#$^^
I tried to capture this hill in the background. It caught my eye for some reason but unfortunately 2 dimensions diminishes it somewhat.
With no hurricane or storm warning present I guess this was a bush fire but I must have been too far away to smell the smoke
I was not content with my good quality, proven, wedge tent. It was just slightly too small for comfort. Unable to upgrade to the tents I wanted due to availability I purchased a $50 Jindabyne which promptly broke a pole after the first night. In hind sight, hanging 2L of water inside the cheaparse tent may have had something to do with it.
The trangia cooker has not let me down tho, far from it. The BonCarno food products are also good if a little weighty. 15 minutes in hot water and youre ready to eat. They cook while sealed and can be resealed after you eat the contents, both good features that help keep insects at bay.
I have a small tailbag with a small soft esky inside. Together they weigh very little and provide good storage when not filled with ice. I can do without television, dvd's, radio, internet, phones and all the rest, but a cold drink after a long hot ride is magic for picking up spirits, or chilling them
~ where do you camp in Tumbarumba ? ~ where do you camp in Tumbarumba ? ~ where do you camp in Tumbarumba earlie in the evenin ? ~
I will post a day or two at a time until the report is completed, so here we go !
Day 1 - Sydney to Yass via the freeway * Yass to Tumbarumba via Wee Jasper, Tumut & Batlow - 500k
Day 2 - Tumbarumba to Tintildra via Cabramurra & Khancoban * Tintaldra to Tallangatta via Murray River Rd & Granya Gap - 300k
Im going to use the google maps "terrain" feature as much of the trip was high country, a good thing considering the heat over new years
Day 1
The decision to camp & cook part of the time unfortunately more than doubles my luggage but sometimes camping can be pure bliss
My first reasonable picture opportunity since leaving Sydney is found just beyond Yass after leaving the freeway and beginning my trip in earnest as I head towards Wee Jasper
Yass to Tumut via Wee Jasper is one of the many rides listed in the Australian Motorcycle Atlas. I managed to work about 10 of these rides into my route
The section between Yass and Wee Jasper is mostly tar and Im glad to be leaving the rain of Sydney behind me before I hit the dirt sections
As I recall most of the dirt was after Wee Jasper, not before it. This must have been a small section
This looks gloomy but things clear up the further I move away from Sydney. In the coming days the weather man starts punching out some 35+ degree days, even hitting 41 as I arrive in Melbourne
At's Wee Jasper right enough lad !
After about 35k you actually get the option of sealed or unsealed
The sky clears as I head towards Tumut
At this point I had already done about 400k for the day on two coffees and a McMuffin. I took the soft option and headed down the sealed road towards Tumut
I stopped for a moment to ponder the two weeks ahead of me, who would I meet ? what would I see ?
One of the last stretches before Tumut. I eyed a lovely looking tourist park in Tumut with loads of shade and ear marked it for investigation next time I happen by, but today my target is Tumbarumba, another 70k south.
I met my first travellers in Tumut, just down this road. A couple of lads from Holland, you know the type, blonde haired, blue eyed, athletic adonises. Lucky bastards ! $^#$^^
I tried to capture this hill in the background. It caught my eye for some reason but unfortunately 2 dimensions diminishes it somewhat.
With no hurricane or storm warning present I guess this was a bush fire but I must have been too far away to smell the smoke
I was not content with my good quality, proven, wedge tent. It was just slightly too small for comfort. Unable to upgrade to the tents I wanted due to availability I purchased a $50 Jindabyne which promptly broke a pole after the first night. In hind sight, hanging 2L of water inside the cheaparse tent may have had something to do with it.
The trangia cooker has not let me down tho, far from it. The BonCarno food products are also good if a little weighty. 15 minutes in hot water and youre ready to eat. They cook while sealed and can be resealed after you eat the contents, both good features that help keep insects at bay.
I have a small tailbag with a small soft esky inside. Together they weigh very little and provide good storage when not filled with ice. I can do without television, dvd's, radio, internet, phones and all the rest, but a cold drink after a long hot ride is magic for picking up spirits, or chilling them
~ where do you camp in Tumbarumba ? ~ where do you camp in Tumbarumba ? ~ where do you camp in Tumbarumba earlie in the evenin ? ~
I choose the tumba tourist park. A few riders on Adv bikes were just leaving as I arrived, the owner said they had been looking for a cabin.
The park itself was fine if not a little noisy but there was some shade to be found and amenities.
The park itself was fine if not a little noisy but there was some shade to be found and amenities.
Tomorrow is Elliot way, Murray River Rd & Granya Gap, time for some shuteye.
My thermalrest mattress did not agree....
More to come, obviously....
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