Jindabyne Australia Day Weekend 2009

Peter Feistl	Honda CBR100XX	Tony Stegmar	Hayabusa GSXR1300
Paul Southwell	Honda CBR1000	Ben Fuller	Hayabusa GSXR1300
Dave Ward	Honda CBR1000	Ron Johnston	Suzuki Bandit GF1200
Misho Zrakic/Pina Garasi	Honda CBR1000	Rob Jones	Suzuki V-Strom GSXR1000
Ben Warden	Honda CBR954	Rod Boulter	Suzuki DL1000
Jean Eldridge	Honda CBR600	Bronwyn Manifold	Kawasaki Z750
Peter Hill	KTM950	Cliff Peters	Kawasaki ZX10
Julie Johnston/Keon	Falcon	Danny Hawker	Kawasaki ZX10

Quick Summary: The ride was very successful with no significant mechanical breakdowns, crashes or police incidents. The roads were in great condition, little trafficked, through spectacular scenery. The weather was brilliant – clear skies, warm to very hot on the last day. Accommodation was excellent, attractively priced.

Day 1: Berwick, Tyres, Briagolong, Bairnesdale, Bruthen, Nowa Nowa, Orbost, Bonang, Delegate, Bombala, Nimmitabel, Dalgety, Jindabyne 660 km Highlights 80 km of twisty road north of Orbost, a first time for the Club in modern history. There were 11 km of good dirt before Bonang and 7 km just over the border between Delegate River and Delegate. Some very tricky corners. Add in the 1.7 km of dirt on Beverley’s road near Stockdale, and the 10 or so on the way to Dalgety and it was a dirty first day. Arrived at 6.30 pm for excellent meal at 7.15 pm. Picked up Peter Hill at Briagolong and were met by Ron, Julie and Keon Johnston at the Torino Lodge, NSW Sport and Recreation Centre, Jindabyne.

Day 2: Jindabyne, Dalgetty, Nimmitabel, Bombala, Eden for lookout and fish and chips at the harbour, Wyndham, Candello, Bega, Snowy Highway, Bemboka, Candelo, Wyndham, Cathcart, Bombala, Nimmitabel, Dalgetty, Jindabyne. 600 km, home by 6.10 pm. Main group ate at pub ($10 cook your own 400 gm steak, views across the lake), foodies (Dave, Bron, Paul) headed to Middle Eastern restaurant and later joined us at the pub.

Day 3: Jindabyne, Thredbo, Khancoban, Cabramurra, Elliot Way, Tumbarumba (“get those bikes off the footpath”), Elliot Way, Kiandra, Adaminaby, Berridale, Dalgetty, Jindabyne. A smaller group (Ben, Cliff, Peter Hill, Misho/Pina, Jean) did a run to Charlottte’s Pass in the cool of late afternoon. No tolls as it was Australia Day and free passage. Pleasantly warm and not windy at the lookout. The Mansfield Tactic (leader immediately stop, rest continue) was deployed between on the Berridale run when confronted with a bright green NSW TOG car. He continued in the opposite direction, now with lights flashing, clearly with other things on his mind. A lucky escape on double demerit points weekend.

Day 4: Jindabyne, Khancoban, Corryong, Cudgewa (U-turn in Corryong to find back road, same mistake as on Towong weekend), Walwa (temperature heading for 40 deg), Granya Gap, Tallangatta, Tamgambalanga Road to Dederang, Happy Valley Road and Rosewhite Road to Myrtleford Bakery, Whitfield (extreme heat, fighting sleep), Mansfield break-up, 190 km from Melbourne.

Bronwyn arrived with a heavy cold and considered leaving at lunchtime on the first day if she didn’t feel better. The perfect riding weather and being on the bike soon had her in better spirits and she continued as planned, leaving a day early to meet work commitments. Her bike was the packhorse with the rack and big bag, allowing Dave to travel light. With lots of dirt on the first day, she did a fine job as rear rider for most of the weekend. The order of the third day’s riding was planned such that we could accompany her down the Alpine Way (110 of twisty roads) to Khancoban from where she travelled home via the Hume.

Danny: fast, reliable, always battling the mighty ZX10 suspension, but you would never guess to see him ride. Doesn’t get to ride with the Club as much as he wishes, the tyranny of distance and work solid obstacles, but come the long weekends, he’s there with bells on.

Tony learnt the hard way that the ‘Bus is one hell of a heavy bike to punt through endless twisty roads. Both man and machine were showing signs of wear and tear early on, the man fatigue and the bike rear tyre wear. Tony sat out the third day to conserve the tyre and recover his strength for the final onslaught on Day 4, even then the bike succumbing to the ravages of high speed and high friction. Two and half days is about the tyre life for any tyre with sporting pretensions.

Ben Warden