Wannangatta Ride

29th November to 3rd December, 2001

Bike: 1995 Honda XL600V Transalp

Words and Pictures by Craig Sinclair

Day 1

Left Cowra at 2.30pm to head off to Majors Creek via Reids Flat, Dalton, Gunning (fuel), Collector, Tarago and Braidwood (fuel). Greg Aldis had arrived earlier and was waiting on the local pub's front verandah talking to the locals.

The pub had only recently changed hands and we were 'entertained' by the new owner, a few locals and their dogs! An interesting evening! Although the pub has accommodation for only six visitors it is highly recommended ($20 per night). There is space for camping across the road if needed.

Day 2

Greg and his 'broken' Africa Twin on the Braidwood-Nimmitabel Road

As we were advised not to leave too early because of the danger of wild life we packed and decided to have breakfast at Nimmitabel.

Greg's Africa Twin decided it didn't want to co-operate and blew a few fuses when the starter button was pushed. After clutch starting the beast it decided to behave, so we headed off on the dirt towards Nimmitabel. Having travelled about 30kms Greg stopped and said he was going to call it a day - one of the mounting bolts holding on the fairing had disappeared.

The combination of the blown fuses and now the missing bolt seemed to be a bad omen. He said he would try and get some fuses and a replacement bolt back in Braidwood and then make up his mind. So Greg and I parted. I felt sure he would continue on our trip after returning the 50km or so back to Braidwood so I continued on, taking it easy, thinking he would eventually catch up - we didn't see each other again until we reached Maffra.

After a quick 'breakfast' at the bakery at Nimmitabel (recommended) I continued on to Bombala where I fuelled up.

Greg and I had previously said we would head down the Bonang Highway to Orbost as neither of us had been on this road past the McKillops bridge turnoff. On every map I have seen, the Bonang Highway is predominately dirt - its not! The Bonang Highway just past the McKillops bridge turnoff Apart from 11km between Delegate and the border and a further 8km near Bonang the rest is tar. Apart from the scenery, the road is fantastic. I was grinning the whole 105kms!

I had lunch at Orbost and then headed onto Bruthen where I bought fuel. It had started raining soon after leaving Orbost and continued to until Stratford testing out my Dryrider Arctic jacket - it passed.

After refueling at Maffra I headed on to Paul and Tamsyn Dandy's house and arrived there around 6pm. Unlike a number of others, I found the house easily :-)

I was first there but was followed closely by Greg. I lost count but I think there were nine visitors that night at the Dandy's house - a big thank you to the Dandys for their hospitality! It was great putting names to faces and listening to the famous (infamous?) Ian Drysdale talk about bikes.

Day 3

The next morning the numbers grew and we headed to the mountains - 4 x 600 Transalps, 2 x 650 Transalps, 1 x 650 Africa Twin, 1 x 750 Africa Twin, 1 x XLV750, 1 x CX650 (with passenger!) and two 'support' bikes - a KTM 400 and a Yamaha 250.

We followed the Marathon Road north climbing until we reached the Pinnacle which is used as a bush fire observation lookout during the summer months.

The view from the Pinnacles looking east The bush fire lookout at the Pinnacles

Greg talking with Caroline and Ralf with their Transalp 650s Peter and Andy

The trip so far, apart from one hill, had been fairly easy and the views were magnificent. After having a bite to eat it was decided to head down Billy Goat Bluff track to the valley floor. That's when things started to become interesting ....

Doctor Paul with his injured patient The first part of the Billy Goat Bluff track climbs up a rock (boulder?) shrewn track before descending into the valley. Unfortunately, it was here that two German tourists, Ralf and Caroline, both riding kitted out new Transalp 650s collided. Caroline's bike tipped over, twisting her ankle beneath one of the panniers.

Doctor Paul was called to the rescue! He expertly diagnosed the problem and strapped Caroline's ankle. It was at this point that I realised that Caroline couldn't continue and both her and Ralf would need some assistance in getting both themselves and their gear back to Maffra (I also realised that my limited riding skills were being tested to the extreme and rather than wait until I crashed and burned (no crash bars and no insurance) I decided to withdraw from the ride.)

The collision had bent the pannier frame on Ralf's bike so the panniers and frame were removed and hidden for later retrieval. Again Doctor Paul came to the rescue and made a quick ride back up to the Pinnacles where he phoned home to arrange for Tamsyn to drive up to a meeting place with a bike trailer.

Peter, Martin and Peter

Paul and his Transalp and Ian and his CX650 Caroline and Ralf

With everything organised, Ralf, Caroline and I waited at the rendezvous point while the rest of the 'gang' headed off for further adventures.

A nearby creek was found for Caroline to rest her injured ankle in the cool water while we waited for Tamsyn. Tamsyn arrived with the family four wheel drive and bike trailer. The panniers and bike were soon retrieved and we headed back at a much more leisurely pace to Maffra. It had been a long day for all of us and I'm sure we all slept well!

Day 4

Rising early I slipped away while the others still slept. I had the option of making a dash for home - about 700km - or taking my time - the Bonang Highway was calling again! I decided on the second option. Retracing by trip back through Bairnsdale, Orbost (fuel), the Bonang Highway and Bombala (fuel), I then headed towards the coast, turning off just past Cathcart and headed to Candelo on the dirt (recommended). There I continued on to Bega, up to Cobargo and turned off on to the dirt at Digmans Creek. Here I rode through a state forest coming back on the highway north of Narooma. I stayed in a pub in the main street of Moruya. A total distance of 550km for the day.

Day 5

Took the great dirt road from Moruya up to Araluen and then on to Braidwood (fuel). Storm clouds were brewing in the area but apart from a few drops between Araluen and Braidwood I avoided the rain. Next I headed for Nerriga and the road down to Nowra. It was hot, humid, windy and dusty. The road was a disappointment. I had expected a winding road down to the coast with temperate rainforest - instead I got an awful road (IMHO) that was either sandy and loose or hard and rocky.

I then headed back up the escarpment through Cambewarra, Kangaroo Valley to Fitzroy Falls. Good roads with great scenery. The plan was to go to Mittagong and then across through Wombeyan Caves. I got to Mittagong but missed the turn off to the caves so I headed south along the freeway. By now the wind had increased considerably from the west and I found it very difficult to maintain a speed of much more than 90kph!

The excitement(!) of the freeway ended at Gunning where I turned off and retraced my route back through Dalton to Reids Flat and home to Cowra by 6pm. 580km today for a total of just over 2000km for the trip.

The highlights were certainly the hospitality of Paul and Tamsyn, meeting fellow riders, Saturdays ride into the high country and 'discovering' the Bonang Highway. The low points were the Braidwood-Nowra road and the windy ride along the freeway from Mittagong to Gunning.

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