(see also part 1 of the trip)
The 4 Geese were joined by a long time friend of MacGoose, Steve King who attends the Snowy Ride every year and stayed in an adjoining unit at the 'Lantern Apartments' in Thredbo so for now he can be KingGoose and rides a new Yamaha FJR 1300.
Monday the 7th saw 5 of us hit the Alpine Way for Khancoban for a cuppa and then down from the Snowy region to Towong, Tintaldra, Walwa and along the 'Murray River Rd to turn off near Bungil for Tallangatta on a great bit of road and then a stop for lunch at Tallangatta before heading up the now sealed 'Omeo Highway' via MittaMitta, this road has to be one of the best bike roads we have ridden, plenty of curves and magnificent scenery. We stayed at the Hilltop Hotel in Omeo and with new owners giving it a makeover we will use it again.
Late afternoon view of Omeo from the Hotel Balcony
Tuesday 8th saw us head from Omeo to Bruthen, for a cuppa then to Metung, Lakes Entrance, Nowa Nowa, Marlo, Cape Conran, Cabbage Tree Creek along the Princess Hway to Orbost for a afternoon snack before hitting the Bonang Rd to Delegate, The Bonang Rd still has some dirt but is definitely worth a ride and an overnight stay at the iconic Delegate Hotel.
Cape Conran on the Victorian Coast
Wednesday 9th took us over to Bombala for fuel before heading down the Monaro Hway towards Cann River and taking the Imlay Rd over to Merimbula, Eden, Narooma and meandering up the coast through wet roadworks to our overnight stay with a couple of southern Geese at Tuross Head. We didn't get to bed early....
Thursday 10th it is raining as we take off plus more road works and by now the bikes are fairly dirty and covered in bugs, and we headed up the Kings Highway to Braidwood for coffee and a snack before a break up, JagGoose to visit a friend overnight south of Canberra and WhiteMike to get a new tyre while the rest went to visit a friend of MacGoose with a collection of bikes and cars in Canberra, staggering is a word for the collection. i.e. Brough Superior, Ariel Square Four ,Vincent HRD, Matchless G8O, Triumphs, Suzuki's, Hondas, Indians,Harleys, BSA's, approx. 35 bikes which was only half his collection, the other half yet to be seen, a 1934 Rolls Royce only driven 4000 miles, 4 Packards and lots and lots of automotive collectibles.
After viewing the collection we headed up the Barton Highway and Lachlan Valley Way, by this time White Mike had joined us and we got into Boorowa at the Boorowa Hotel for our overnight stay.
Friday 11th we headed over to Crookwell for a coffee and headed up through Trunkey Creek, Tuena and into Bathurst, with a great road and scenery but about 5 km of dirt in the middle and more roadworks, fuel and a rest break in Bathurst where KingGoose left us to head home to Nth Richmond and JagGoose joined us. A run up through Sofala and then Kandos for a coffee and into Rylstone and across the Bylong Valley over to Merriwa at the Royal Hotel for the night and large overnight storm brought plenty of lightning and rain.
Saturday 12th and it is still raining heavy so a later than planned start but by Coolah the rain is gone and once we got into Gunnedah the wet gear was discarded as the weather cleared and the heat started to build up, so a late breakfast before heading over to Manilla and more wet roadworks aaaahhhhh...up through Barraba to Warilada and into Texas in 36 degree heat, and now on fairly straight roads....heated grips were not being used.....
Sunday 13th last day, it is going to be hot so an early start with a watchful eye for Kangaroos saw us into Warwick for breakfast by 0800 and heading home via Gatton, Esk, and Kilcoy for a final cold drink together before heading our own ways home.
Some serious bike cleaning to be done.
Dirty bike !!!!
Lots of great roads ridden,good food, good drink in reasonable quantities, and very good company for 14 days and over 5500km travelled.