Another great trek

I’ve just got back (early) from another great bike trip; the annual “Trek” held over the Melbourne Cup weekend. This years trek involved 18 folks on 16 bikes, some great weather and the usual brilliant roads.

Day 1 – Melb to Tallangatta

We met at Skips workshop for the usual pre-trek gathering, ginning and some minor repairs. For a change we got away pretty close to the 10am scheduled start time. It wasn’t until we rolled through Ringwood that I realised how big the group was with sixteen bikes (including two pillions).

The first leg was a transport stage up through Yarra Glen, the fire devastation up near Mt Slide and then along Brumby’s pipe to Yea. I was a mazed at how much greenery was about; the drought may not have finished but I think it’s taken a break for the last few weeks. This was a casual run to get the cobwebs out.

We arrived at Mansfield to find the town had some cup weekend festivities on, with market stalls, historic trucks and C-grade radio announcers blaring from all points along the main street. The plan was the fuel-up there and continue to Whitfield for a late lunch at the pub.

The Mansfield to Whitfield road was sealed a few years ago and is now a popular route to get into the high country with bikers. This day was no exception with all sorts of bikes coming and going. The scenery in places along this road is great and with the spring rains there’s a lot of colour around.

It was the first bit of serious twisties in the ride and I was starting to get into it. Unfortunately Sheamus was a little too enthusiastic and “failed to negotiate the bend” about 25klms short of Whitfield. Other than a bit of glass and metal filings, some bent bars and pegs, and a bruised arse (allegedly), the only serious damage was to Sheamus’ ego. But it did put a bit of a dampener on the rest of the run to the pub.

After a long, but filling, lunch, we continued from Whitfield, through Milawa and then down the Alpine Hwy to Myrtelford. After more fuel we turned left an headed through Happy Valley. I hadn’t been through here since doing one of the Great Vic bike (bicycle) rides twenty years ago. I’d forgotten how picturesque this rarely-travelled valley is with tree covered hills lining the bright green pastures. Halfway along there’s a climb and and over a saddle which is a great little bit of road.

From there we wound our way around to Tallangatta and the Tallangatta Pub, our home for the night. We’d not stayed there in the past; the town is one of those you’d pass by most times. But it was a great place to stop on a bike trip. The publicans really looked after us and $30 for bed and cooked breakfast was a great deal. Given the heat of the day we wound down enjoying the cool evening air outside the pub, with Skip holding court.

Day 2 – Tallangatta looping around to Beechworth

This was to be our big day of twisty roads. After breakfast, fuel and a slow start we headed to Corryong. After that it was over the NSW border and up in to the Kosciuszko National Park to Cabramurra, the highest town in Australia.

We’d come down this road many years ago on the original trek, but I’d not been up it. It didn’t disappoint. It’s very narrow, with the road winding up through sheer cuttings where you hope not to meet a 4WD coming the other way. But the sky was blue, the air was clear and full of the smell of the scrub. I was getting into the road, but caught up to our leader and decided not to pass.

When you get up to the top of the plateau you enter this eerie world of dead silver tree trunks that often cover the road. This is amazing country; I’ll have to spend some time here one day. The group stopped at one of the Snowy Scheme pondages and then continued up to Cabramurra. Most of us indulged in an ice-cream. It was still cool but we expected it would get warmer.

From there is was down past the entrance to the Tumut underground Power station, part of the Snowy Mountains Scheme. I don’t know what I expected, but it was more than the big door in the mountain side. Oh well, on to lunch at Tumbarumba (best pie I’ve had in ages).

It was getting very warm by this time and we did the short run the Jingelic Pub. This is a peaceful spot on the NSW-side of the Murray River with the pub sitting uphill from the caravan park on the river bank. This was the site of the old Clubman/Pubman rally many years ago and is still a popular stopoff for bikers.

Rather than getting settled in, we crossed the river and followed the Murray Valley Hwy (Murray River Road) which has some great fast sweepers. I recall getting my old R100GSPD very excited on the original trek through here many years ago. Unfortunately between the long day and the heat, I was struggling to focus properly and enjoy the road. When we stopped at a lookout, I found I wasn’t the only one struggling to focus. We’d also made a wrong turn and had to back-track over the Murray and into Wodonga via Bandiana and Bonegilla (which brought back memories from my Army days).

More fuel and then on to Beechworth for the night. Ange had us booked into the motor in down the bottom of the main street and right beside a pub. The pub had an “anyone can try” night and there was some interesting music being played (some very good). The Kookaburra steaks (Porterhouse with Mushroom sauce, bacon and cheese) were great but filling. Another big evening with various folks coming and going, like the couple in the 1970 Mustang as part of a historic rally groing through town.

Day 3 – Beechworth to St Arnaud or home

I decided to head home on Monday to spend some time with my family, given that I’m in Canberra fulltime at the moment. So as the guys headed off to St Arnaud for the night, I trailed along then headed down the Hume Hwy to home. I’d forgotten how boring it is. It was also heavily policed, I saw atleast three cars backed up into the bush or hillsides in the median strip; luckily none thought my 115kph too much to worry about. Hopefully the guys have a good time on the way; I expect the roads will be pretty boring after yesterdays run up and down the Snowy’s.

We had great weather, if a little hot on Sunday arvo, good accommodation, great roads and the usual mix of characters. Bring on Trek ’10.