23rd October.

 

What a beautiful day!

I woke late, close to 8 AM having slept so well. I’m certainly catching up on lost sleep!

when I got up I noticed mud all over parts of my bike, it didn’t take me long to figure it out. kangaroos had come in the night and leaned on the front bumper the saddlebags and on the side of the tank. the little foot marks clear in the mud markings! what a sight it would’ve been, seeing roos pouring over the victory like motorcycle aficionados!

I made a cuppa and took my time drinking it down by the river. with no clear plan in mind for the day, I didn’t know if I’d be back or not so I want to breath it all in. the roos were back, with close to the same numbers of the night before. it is such good pastureland there for them there is no need for them to go anywhere else.

I saw two bunnies a fairy Wren and numerous types of parrots and bird I wish I knew what it was, it was so sweet.

I didn’t rush packing and it was after 10 when I pulled out. the roos lined the road on either side as if saying “you have no idea which way we will jump do you? and we love it!”- cheeky buggers!

what a fantastic spot if you get to Camp there, do it.

the track in is easy even with a heavily laden cruiser and it’s a magic place- running crystal clear water, leaping fish, hundreds of kangaroos and not only drop toilet but also tank water to wash your hands in as well -such luxury!

I headed off to Khancoban for fuel, thinking Cabramatta, the road I went on all those years ago when I first started riding, might be called for. I dropped in at the chemist shop and the chemist was so full of the enthusiasm on seeing my personal EPIRB and my backpack, telling me how well prepared I was and then marveling at what I was doing. “you have the spirit of a real adventurer don’t you” he stated, not asked. it left me feeling chuffed and we had a really friendly and quite lovely chat.

after filling up it was off to Cabramurra, a lovely ride with some beautiful scenery. I had ridden here for the first time years before, doing only 20 or 30 km an hour the entire way – I swear! I was petrified!

I had never seen anything like it. recently fire had swept through leaving a barren landscape, a moonscape almost, with the ashen dead trees. it was freezing and my teeth were chattering though I had every item of clothing on that I owned. I recall a driver pulling up next to me to check that I was okay “I’m all right” I shuddered to him through chattering teeth, “I’m just a new rider” I was dying of embarrassment. this time was so different. I knew how to ride these roads, I knew how to handle my bike not let it handle me. I was on a bike I love to whip around these sorts of corners and I thoroughly enjoyed every one of them. This time, instead of being too afraid to pull over to take a photograph in case someone ran me over, I could see and pull into the best places for photos.

One such photo however, sort of got me into trouble. Two Sports bikes slowed down to check that I was okay, which was nice enough, but I had turned the moment I heard them coming and given them a big smile with my helmet open and a clear thumbs up to indicate all was well. “These idiots don’t know what a thumbs up means” I thought as they came up right next to me before getting the message and moving on.

I thought they’d be well past me, I messed around a lot but I caught one of the guys on the next lot of corners doing 20 km around 35km corner -on the wrong side of the road. I soon was relieved to pass him- only to come across his buddy, with a girl on the back, all over the road, slow as a turtle and spending more time on the wrong side of the road than on the correct side which all made passing him very dangerous. I honked to let them know I was passing and both of them jumped visibly as they didn’t know I was there despite me trailing along behind them for at least a few kilometres. I felt scared for the next riders coming in the opposite direction who were also on the wrong side of the road and I hope no ambulance was needed for them today. there are some people on the road who should not be there without some sort of training – in particular those with pillions.

I was off feeling pleased leaving two sports bikes in my dust, but in truth I think I think they got their license last week.

I pulled into Cabramurra scared that these riders would take the left instead of right turn going the way I was going to go, but if so it would just mean honking at them again to overtake them.

The ride I really wanted to do today though, was after stopping for photo at this, the highest town in Australia. From Cabramurra when you turn left instead of right, towards Tumut amd Tumbarumba rather that Cooma, was a Road I remember riding years ago, in a storm in the first or second year that I had started riding- so with no experience at all. I was terrified and described it to Peter as of there were trees falling around me every ten feet and wild horses and deer crossing my path just as often! Well, though the first part of the ride is delightful with lots of fabulous corners the rest is long and though pretty, rather straight. But even so, it’s a little scary. You see, the last part of the ride has a sign I remember I wanted to take a photo of the first time around, showing a wombat and a wild horse and there is horse poo EVERYWHERE. Not far after the sign- which this time I photographed- there was a not long dead horse on the left, just off the road. Oh, and at this point, I’ll mention the live one on the same road as I can around a steep corner with rock cliff face on one side and a sheer drop on the other side. Luckily he was on the opposite side, the cliff side, but didn’t he give me the Willy’s?! Just standing there, at the edge of a cliff. I made it safely, not hitting any wombats or horses and easily avoiding a pretty yellow and black lizard crossing the road. It was a short ride, only a few hundred kilometres, but through some stunning countryside. I fueled up and grabbed two bread rolls thinking i might chance some bland food on my poor tummy tonight and after being warned of police “sitting up the hill” (which hill/mountain I was not clever enough to ascertain) I stuck to the speed limit going into the park. 60 and 80 km. It made for the most boring ride on one of my favorite mountain roads. I don’t think I touched the brake once other than to ensure that I wasn’t over the speed limit. I can do most of the corners through there much faster than the posted speed limit- what a joke! Why must they limit the speeds for the lowest common denominator? Send them to bloody cornering class instead and stop putting the rest of us in danger by making us take our eyes off the road to check our Speedo’s constantly! Anyway, rant over 😡

I pulled into the first camping area, Geehi flats camping ground, not thinking that I would stay there, just wanting to take a look. But it was so delightful I stayed. I am sitting closer to the river than I was last night and surrounded by just as many kangaroos, drinking icy beer chilled in the river – and, no, my tummy is not complaining so far- bonus. Having said that, I think I’m going to get rained on tonight. Oh, and my power adapter in my bike died today so it’s to a town for an auto electrician tomorrow . I had to beg the loan of a car lighter socket from my neighbors to blow up my bed tonight!