Friday
I couldn't get any takers for a weekend away despite an iron clad guarantee of the weather so I set off for the 31st Alpine Rally on my pat malone . Well the weather was wet to say the least , it bucketed down !
I had a few stops at the driver reviver stations for coffee and a thaw out
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Made it to Tallangatta Pub and met up with Nick from the BM club.
The pub is reasonable and has good off street parking.
Saturday
Had a bit of a sleep in and got away about nine after a light breaky at the pub. From Tallangatta we headed over the Granya Gap , a fantastic set of twisties , even if we did have a kamikaze wombat having a crack !! Thru Jingellic and up to Tumborumba for breakfast with the bears.
We met up with more riders here and rode up to Batlow and the Tumut our last stop for fuel and supplies . (The rally is held every year on Queens birthday ,and the rally site alternates between Yarrangobilly and Brindabella . This year it was Brindabella's turn )
From Tumut it is a short ride out of town and on to Brindabella Rd and out to the rally site .The last 50kms are on the dirt , a bit loose in spots , a bit greasy in others but not bad .
About 10kms out you turn off and go past the Capitol Rally site and up in to the bush .
Just after a small ford we turned into the property and followed the wheel tracks up past the shearing sheds and down to the river
Most people were setting up camp
some were doing a little maintenance
Some just wanted to have a bath in the bush
All kinds of bikes
orange
green
white
grey
and red
It wasn't all beer and skittles - this is what happens when you go a little too fast thru a ford - up comes a rock and smash goes the crankcase!
A little bit of glue ,a little bit tin , a quick whip around the site for a little oil and presto , it will be fine till he gets home .
There is a fair old mix of people who attend the Alpine , Ulyssians BMW clubbers SCUM tourers and many many more. My guess would be about 100 to 150 .
As night set in the fires got bigger and a few got rowdier . There was a good display of stones bombs, hot air balloons ,fireworks and the odd alloy engine block in the fire for a bit of sparkle.
And after a roo stew and a few ales it was time for bed
Sunday
Now if you remember I forecast fine and 32 and that it was , - well almost . The thermometers on the BMs were reading minus 6.5 which is almost 22 deg f Brrrrrr !!!!
Tent swag 2 sleeping bags - I was warm as toast !
A hot breakfast is always good
and a coffee
After a call to order and a few speeches
a presentation was made to the owner of the property for once again
allowing the multitude to descend ( and providing firewood and artwork to the dunny )
So not wanting to waste good riding time I packed up and hit the track.
I like to get any early start .
WRONG !! Bad Bad idea !!!
Remember that frost ,well after almost embarrassing myself in front of a large and vocal audience just trying to leave the campsite I found it almost impossible to get up the hill . On my third attempt , i made it and gingerly idled around the shearing shed and across the paddock and onto the road.
I had decided to go home via Sydney so headed north towards Canberra. The roads were very icy and it was a case of softly softly tread the brave.
I stopped at Collector for lunch and then on to Sydney thru the cross town tunnel ( cough cough !!! ) and to Balmain to spend a night at my sisters .
Monday
Not as cold as yesterday ! Found my way across town and down to The Royal National Park .
heading towards Woollongong
A stop at the Seacliff Bridge
I got out of topurist mode and in to travel mode and made my way down the coast to Eden
The Pub was ok , nothing to rave about .At least it had an open fire to warm me up a little
Tuesday
A bit chilly !! Once the fog cleared and the sun came out it was a beautiful day
A stop in Orbost for breaky and another for fuel and that was about it
A good weekend away !!
JC
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