Day Two     Jindabyne                                    Saturday 26th January, 2008

Big Breaky in downtown Jindabyne after filling up for a 9.00am  off to explore the roads to the coast with a lunch stop in Eden planned.

The players, relying on memory, but Ben will confirm: Ben CBR954 Leader, Dave CBR600RR, Cliff GSXR1000, Renzo VFR750, Rob BMW GS1200, Tony KTM 950, Jean Bandit 250, Nic CBR600, Pina R6, Misho GSXR750, Geoff R1. Catching up later in the day, Marty, BMW RS1100.  

Ron and Julie Johnston in their Hyundai did their own thing, Ron still nursing a problem digit and missing the two wheel buzz.

Out of Jindabyne, past the Sport and Leisure Centre and to the first corner mark at Dalgety where some spanner work was carried out on Tony's KTM to correct a rotating mirror. The result of a "stoppy" going a bit "pear shaped" at Tom Groggin on the run up on Friday.  No correct spanners on Rob's BM or the KTM but a 14mm out of the R1 kit did the trick.

Dirt road to Nimmitabel, 1.5k of dirt then 3K of bitumen followed by 9k of dirt. The surface OK allowing speed to be maintained at a "brisk" level. Some dirt road learning curve stuff for Pina on the R6 which seemed to have suspension settings of the "nervous" type giving her some interesting moments.

Joining the Snowy Mountains Highway at Nimmitabel before dropping down Brown Mountain, Dave's requested piece of bike heaven.  

A stop at the lookout for photos and then first break for fuel at Bemboka (if needed, I always needed) and food and drink.  Weather clear and sunny and warming as we dropped down off the cooler high country and headed to sea level. right turn off the highway, along the twisty ridge road to Candelo before dropping down to Wyndam through forest. After Wyndam a grouse piece of smooth bitumen with equal radius corners to Cathcart opening up for the run to Bombala. Running at the rear means I can only guess at what was going on up front.  Lean angles acute judging by the amount of scuffing on tyres noted at the next stop, Bombala.

Tyres on Nic's mind as his front Pilot Power surrenders to the pace and cries "enough". Time for some tyre hunting as the only tyre in Bombala is not for sale despite some offers of inducement. Nic heads for Canberra after some phoning around but gets a Dunlop fitted in Cooma and rejoins after lunch.

Rest of the MSR mob heads south out of Bombala on the Monaro Highway to Rockton Junction to pick up the Imlay Road across to the coast. Heavy log truck use has damaged the road especially in the direction the trucks run loaded and the complete length, 57k of once fantastic sweepers is now a road works in progress. Engineering of this road to survive the log truck attack not up to standard.

Princes Highway, double demerit point weekend in NSW, so a careful run to Eden with sea views and seafood lunch at the wharf. Fish, chips, oysters, prawns, yum yum although Rob was not happy with the dim sim situation and moved  around the corner to a more upmarket eatery on the water.

More twisties after fuelling at Eden sees us back at Wyndam and Cathcart where a black wallaby  raises Ben's heart rate and tickles Dave's funny bone before doing a nose dive to escape the flying Hondas.

Marty joins the ride after coming up through Cann River on the Monaro and slots in at the fast end.  

Bombala and Nimmitabel,  dirt road again but at a faster pace than the morning and back to base. As if that lot was not enough, some of the group coughed the $6 for the blast up Charlottes Pass to view Mt Kosciuszko from the boardwalk. Rain at the pass but drying on the return run.

Food at the Pizza joint after the wait for food at the pub appeared to have no end.  Marty holding court as only Marty does, then home to hit the sack.

I guess between 500 and 600k. Best roads anywhere and lots of lively banter at the stops, most of the worlds problems solved and many interesting observations   "What goes on on the trip stays on the trip"

More of the same tomorrow.

 

Geoff Jones