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An early Easter and the hopes of warmer weather the road runners ride was back to Jindabyne and the fabulous snowy mountains roads for our 2008 Easter escape. Once we all got together the group would be 22, three more than last year. We meet up with some riders and others arrived late. When we all got together the group consisted of eighteen bikes and three pillions plus one car with Mark and his still mending broken collar bone.
As seems to be the case with our Easter trips it had to rain as we left Sydney – just a small shower but the sky was threatening for the whole trip most keeping there wet weather gear on at Peasants Nest meeting point. On Good Friday morning as mentioned the first meeting point was the Mobile Service center at Pheasants Nest on the Hume Highway, just out of Sydney. The weather was overcast and threatening to rain a check of BOM in the morning at home showing rain to the west and north but as I left home it started to rain so a quick stop to put the wet weathers on and I was not even a kilometer from home. I took the M4 and M7 to get to the meeting point through a few showers of rain the two freeways gave me an easy hour ride. Mark and I arrived at the meeting place around 9am. As in previous years I was not sure how many were going to turn up as Peter and Luke were going to meet Johan at Wollongong and possibly go along the coast or up through Macquarie pass with a group. A few had said they would meet us at Pheasants Nest. At 9.15 ready to head south was Brad, Garry, James, Mark, Michael, Neil, Rowan, Stephan and Tony. We figured Noel was late and would meet us latter. Luke had advised he was leaving latter as his dog was not well and he would wait a while. At the appointed time of 9.30 with 8 bikes we set off for Goulburn. We decided to stay in wet weathers as the sky was not looking that great. The rain managed to stay away and the traffic was not that bad at all and we made excellent time arriving around 10.30 at the service station in Goulburn. After fuel we stopped for some food and coffee taking over a large table in the road house. There was no sign of the other group and we left phone messages. To see what was happening I rang Troy in Canberra to tell him we were leaving and would see him some were on the way as he was showing Geoff some of the country roads on the way down and Noel was not leaving Sydney till after 12 noon. The group set off for Queanbeyan via Targo and Bungendore. It was a small line of bikes, that snaked its way around the back of Goulburn and we virtually stayed as one line all the way to Queanbeyan. James led the group along he must have had the anti-takeover barrier fitted to the BMW as we all sedately motored our way along the country roads. At the Targo right turn there was no need to stop as we were all together. At Queanbeyan we all pulled into the service station for quick refuel. No word from the coast group at this stage so we set of Cooma and lunch. From Queanbeyan the ride to Cooma was a little cooler, still overcast but no rain which made riding pleasant. The ride was uneventful and the traffic very light allowing us to make exceptional time. We arrived at Cooma at 2pm and meet Troy and Geoff in the cafe for lunch just as we were finishing Luke arrived, his dog being better he was able to get away. The group split into two for the final stretch to Jindabyne. One group was going via Dalgety lead by Troy and the rest of us just headed straight down the road to Jindabyne. It was a pleasant ride south with virtually no traffic again and the group was mostly all together for the first turnoff at Jindabyne around 3.45pm and the short ride to our accommodation at Sonblick Lodge. The only incident was Brad’s bag decided to break a zip and his wet weathers came out. Michael pulled up beside him and warned him of the problem while Tony picked the fallen wet weathers. Bev and Ken our hosts came out to greet us as. They welcomed us back to Jindabyne and Sonblick as if it was a family reunion Bev and Ken were keen to make us feel at home. After unpacking and settling into our pleasant accommodation we all congregated down stairs for a pre dinner drink and talk about the ride down. The coast group arrived about 4ish. We had some snacks and sweets and settled in for the night with dinner being served at 7pm. Noel arrived at 8pm. It was very relaxing for all and much discussion about anything really. Saturday the start time was set for a departure from the petrol station at 9.15pm. Saturday – as always our full cooked breakfast was awaiting us at 8am. As the group slowly walked in at varying times to the dinning room Bev and Ken our hosts made sure we were well looked after with toast, cereals and breakfast of eggs, bacon and cooked tomatoes. After breakfast we got ready for the days ride remembering back to last year and the horribly cold weather that hit us at the start. 18 bikes plus the Honda luncheon car set off for Adaminaby from the Jindabyne petrol station, stopping at the Berridale turn off to make sure we were all together. James had headed out early to position himself in East Jindabyne to take photos of the group as we rode out. The ride to Adaminaby was uneventful except for the mist/rain. Arriving at Adaminaby I said to Noel something was different this year we seemed to be too early. Part of the reason was the whole group almost rode together as one, we arrived early and it was also daylight saving time so arriving at a bit after 10am was really arriving at 9am. After about 45 minutes taking in the sights of the Adaminaby Easter Show, we thought it was time to move on. (The groups view was the coffee has not improved). The planed ride for the day was along the Snowy Mountains Highway to Kiandra, then left turn to Cabramurra down to the top of the Tumut pond dam over the dam wall –were we stopped for photos and a wee break and then the plan was to stop for lunch up on the high plains area of the snowy mountains before heading on to Khancoban and a fuel stop before the climb back to Dead horse gap and Jindabyne. It was a grand ride out along the Snowy Mountains highway and the rain had gone away and the sky was staring to brighten and again virtually no traffic. A great ride up through the forests taking in the great scent of the eucalyptus over the top of the mountain and down to Tumut dam. Unfortunately for Brad a bug crawled down the front of his leathers and bit him. This caused a minor delay trying to get rid of the offending bug. The plan for lunch was to ride back up to the alpine tundra and stop at a rest area near another dam for the lunch we had brought with us. Only problem I could not give accurate directions on were to stop and the lead group went too far and so when we got to the spot I had thought of all were not there. It was decided to ride and get the others and go on to Khancoban to refuel and then go down to the Khancoban dam for lunch just on the outskirts of town. We found the other group stopped two corners on and so all headed of to Khancoban were the petrol station owner had trouble keying in the correct amounts for fuel. It was good thing we brought lunch as the Khancoban shop was closed. A short drive and we were at the boat lunching ramp and the picnic area with tables nice trees for shade and even toilets – very nice rather than the dusty stop I had picked out up on the top of the mountain. The lunch Bev had prepared for us and carried in the car by Mark and Paul. A great thanks to Mark for setting up and clearing away lunch for all was great and although Peter did not get to have the jellybeans then (they were for Dead Horse Gap) we all had a nice break under the trees and a much faster lunch break than the normal Khancoban stop that has at times taken up to 2 hours. The next part of the ride was up to and stop at Dead Horse Gap for a photo of the group. A police car was busy booking a four wheel drive vehicle as we rode past in the 60 zone that seems to be getting longer and longer on the down hill side of Khancoban to GeeHi. A number of the boys stopped on the way for photos. The road was a not too bad except for the 4WDs that think the only place for their car is in the middle of the road. At Dead Horse Gap the stop for photos again we were very early the sun still shining and the area not in shadow it was nice and warm unlike other years when it felt like it was snowing. But when the sun fell it got cold and we quickly made our way back to Jindabyne and our accommodation. Even though some of us have done it for a number of years the road is still one of the best rides. That night after much talk about dinner and the problems with the bowling clubs food we could get no bookings so went to the Brumby bar and bistro –got in a 6.15 and took several tables then at 6.30 joined the queue for food. The food was called food Ok, most were still on a high from another great ride in the snowies. There were lots of different conversations some planning for Sunday others talking about the days events and other topics of conversation. Others can write about the Sunday experience and the Monday ride home Thanks for all the messages saying you had a great time and got home safely. It was another great Easter weekend. The question is what destination next year? Your ideas are welcome See you next Easter, Rowan
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