2025 (Not The) Snowy Ride - Day 5

 DAY 5

Today started pretty much like yesterday - wet, only with a misty rain on top today though. 

Bugger.

The large group of riders from the Aussie Bike Or Hike crew were assembled outside our room in the carpark for their pre departure brief. I had been hoping to say g'day to Vern last night but the group disappeared into some other room for a group dinner. This morning I just missed him as he set off before the group to most likely set up for some shots of the group. Once they had left I brought my bike up from the undercover car park so I could load it.

I really wasn't looking forward to wet roads again today. Yesterday was a major drag with massive levels of concentration required to achieve very mediocre progress. While the road out of Jindabyne was not anywhere near as twisty as the Mitta road, there were still plenty of corners to negotiate on that "finest mahogany rubber" front tyre as Stu called it.

Lots of light where rubber should be touching the tarmac.

Doug decided to peel off and head back to Victoria this morning and Bruce had sore legs from ill fitting riding pants and probably didn't want to sit in the rain, so also headed for home. This left nine of us. 

Steve had alerted me to another YouTuber's recent ride in this area, specifically the Tantangara Reservoir road across to Long Plain road and Broken Cart Fire Trail. So, I would be leaving the others for today as I also planned to overnight in Forbes instead of Boorowa with the others. I figured the distance was about the same and Forbes/Boorowa were much of a muchness in terms of staying overnight. I wanted to visit Mum and Dad as well, so Forbes would win out today.

The good new was that the misty rain stopped just a few kilometres out of Jindabyne and the road was dry just a few kilometres after that. That made me very happy!

From Berridale we turned left into Middlingbank road. Buzzing along here for a while we came around a bend  and there were boulder strewn paddocks covered in bright green grass either side of the road. I wanted to get a photo and decided that as I was doing my own thing for most of the day anyway, I would start NOW! I waved the guys past that were behind me, did a U-turn and went back for a photo.

Getting underway again I caught the group just as they were entering Adaminaby. I followed for the next eighteen kilometres until the turn off for Tantangara reservoir. 

The dirt road was very wide and very well used along here. I passed some wild brumbies right by the side of the road. They didn't spook as they must be used to all of the traffic on this road.

It turns out the dam is part of the Snowy Hydro 2.0 expansion and there were major works going on. There was a massive workers camp that the road went right by and I could see a large structure being constructed over near the dam.

Having never been along here before I was fascinated by this new discovery and the new to me roads. This is exactly why I bought an ADV bike.

I followed the trail, Pocket Saddle road, along as it passed the dam wall.

It then crossed a small stream and began to climb the hill opposite.

The trail up the hill was quite steep with very tight switchback turns at the end of each straight. They were also covered in thick, coarse gravel to help make it more fun. I passed the only vehicle I would see for a few hours along here - luckily on the straight, not at a switchback.

The trail was in very good condition and I made good time along here. Turning left into Port Phillip Trail I wasn't sure what to expect.

Looking back at the intersection.

It turned out to be slightly twistier trail but still in very good condition. It was actually quite good fun.

I soon came to a well manicured and tree lined section of road with a collection of buildings off to the right. This turned out to be an old homestead, Currango. Apparently it is a camping/accomodation setting. It looked interesting but I decided to investigate on another day.

The trees soon thinned out from here as I approached Long Plain. An interesting rocky outcrop needed investigating. 

So I investigated.

Port Phillip Trail intersected with Long Plain road. Here I turned right and headed North. The last time I had been on this trail was for my Tour Divide training ride back in April 2015. It had felt so lonely and isolated back them on my mountain bike....and I have to admit, it was pretty lonely out here today as well. I hadn't seen another soul since I passed that car back near Tantangara dam.

I continued along Long Plain road with some big hill climbs and descents that I didn't recall. No wonder I was so knackered last time on the mtb! After a while I turned into Broken Cart track. There was an immediate change to the track conditions. Whereas Long Plain road was wide and well surfaced, Broken cart track was narrower, winding and had a red clay surface. I wouldn't want to ride it in the wet.

Soon after turning into Broken cart track I passed four mountain bikes coming the other way. They weren't loaded up so they must have been on a point to point day ride. Way out here!

The trail twisted and turned through eucalypt forest so the going was quite slow. Many small puddles and sticks were on the track from the wild weather the day before but it didn't cause me any concern. Days like today are the reason I run the tyres that I do.

I was soon at the Boundary road crossing. Here I could have gone right and it would take me toward Canberra. Today I wanted to continue along Broken Cart trail to Dubbo Flats camp ground and see what was beyond that.

Dubbo Flat was only another 5.5 kilometres up the track. I was soon there and confronted with a creek crossing. It was only narrow and shallow. I could see the sandy bottom clearly so just powered through.

The trail changed instantly I was the other side of that creek. It began to climb a steep hill with many water bars. On the uphill side of each water bar were two large puddles that couldn't be seen until cresting the bar. I soon learned to stay in the centre and keep the throttle open as I climbed. I was so glad the rain was yesterday up here. Doing this in the wet on a big bike would have been very difficult.

What went up soon went down. I was crawling down the hill using mainly engine braking. It was getting hot now and I was working hard so needed to zip a few vents open.

I was beginning to get a bit concerned where this trail was actually going and what it's condition might be like. Passing huge eucalypt trees down across the track like this one had me concerned about the potential for having to turn back. Also, the long downhill had me dreading a potential creek crossing at the bottom.

A few hundred metres further on I came to the intersection with Barnetts road. 

Whew!

I jumped off the bike, got my jacket and helmet off then dropped my pants as far as they would go. 

I was cooking!

It felt sooooo good to cool off...(no photos of that special moment)

This was the crotch cooling corner.

Steve and I had constructed this route while sitting at his computer a few days prior to the ride. Being out here, on ones lonesome in the middle of nowhere is very different to sitting in a comfy chair at home, envisioning it.

 I now had a very close look at the route on my phone to 1. see if it got much more difficult and 2. to see if there was an easy way out.

The answer to both of these questions seemed to be "no". It didn't get any more difficult and there wasn't an easy option out. The route was the best way.

So once I had cooled off, had a bite and a drink I turned right into Barnetts road and got going. It was a big wide road but it was a bit rutted up on the climbs and descents. This didn't slow me up much as the DX eats up that type of trail. It was so nice to be clipping along at a good pace as the cooling effect was much more noticeable.

Eight kilometres along Barnetts road I turned onto Bramina/Barnetts road which was a huge forestry super highway. 100km/h gravel! Woo Hoo!

That then joined onto Brindabella road and I was in heaven again! Super wide, new, pothole free tarmac!

After starting to feel a bit overwhelmed because I still had a long way to go today only thirty or so minutes ago, I was now loving it. The joys of motorcycling....this is why we do it!

It was getting pretty warm now as I dropped out of the high country but I did stop along Billapaloola road to get some shots as the scenery was just so epic. Unfortunately the photos don't do it justice but I post them here as inspiration for you to go ride this road.

As it was getting very hot I didn't stop at all along Hopewell road. I sort of wish I had as it was a nice easy dirt road that ran through a number of farms. Right by their houses and through their tractor yards in one instance. I did pass another Desert X coming the other way and we exchanged waves.

I did stop briefly on top of  Roben lookout. It wasn't marked but I could see the wheel track going off to the side of the road to a small knoll. The view from here was superb in all directions but man, was it hot!

Murrumbidgee river in the background. Summer in country NSW everywhere else...

It would be hot hot hot all the rest of the way to Forbes. I stopped in Jugiong for fuel then rode the Jugiong road to Murrumburrah where I turned left for Young.

I had noted on Facebook that the Wombat pub had been re-opened with new owners mid 2025 so I planned to drop in for a cold beer. When I pulled up a bloke was carrying boxes in the side door and the place looked closed. I asked if it was open and he said "sorry, closed Monday and Tuesday". 

Fcuk!

The main reason I came this way was to support the pub. I jumped off the bike to take a photo. The owner asked if I would like him to take one for me. I replied "not unless I am holding a beer in said photo". So, I took it myself and pressed on.

I didn't stop again until I reached Forbes, another 130 kilometres up the road. Mainly because it was HOT. 

37 degrees Celcius hot. 

Arriving in Forbes I checked into my pre booked motel. They had the foresight to have the airconditioning running so it was lovely and cool. I quickly unloaded the bike and had a cold shower. My Klim gear was perfect for most of this ride but on days like this it is too hot. Had the whole ride been hot like today (and last years Snowy ride) I was going to wear moto x gear.

Anyway, I went for a walk around town and was going to grab some iconic Aussie country town food for dinner - Chinese - only they were all closed. I ended up at the Forbes Inn for a nice steak and red wine. Forbes seems a different place to what I grew up in. It has changed even in the last three years since Dad left us.

A walk around the quiet streets of the town centre was nice after dinner but it was still mighty warm

All in all, it was another great day on the bike. I did my thing today while the others hit more of the high country blacktop. They were in Boorowa tonight and the thoughtful dicks rang me while having dinner to sing me happy birthday - yep, it was another lap around the sun day for me today. 

Very kind of them, but as an introvert, I was fine with being here, alone. 

Another 488 kilometres today.....and I was "home".

Cheers.

P.S. As an aside, we had a massive hailstorm go through home in Brisbane this afternoon. Luckily all of our cars were elsewhere but the Colourbond roof and our solar panels didn't fare too well! Basically cricket ball sized hail. The scalloped edges were amazing and don't really show well in the photo.

Homing Pigeon

 

About a week (or was it two?) after my bike trip south to Sydney I flew back down to pick 'er up for the trip home. I had a few ideas for the route home and it looked like the weather was going to cooperate.

Snowy Mountains TD Training Ride - Day 4

DAY 4


I awoke to an overcast sky and a gloomy morning. On the positive side was the delightful little camping spot I had stumbled upon in the dark.

I had this packing thing sorted into a time efficient exercise. While my water boiled for my breakfast, I rolled the tent and stuffed the sleeping bag into it's stuff sack. The front of the bike was packed, the seat bag just waiting for me to finish with the Jetboil so it could be stowed as well.

I hadn't slept that well with all the wind and rustling leaves but I felt fine. Apart from my Achilles tendons, which were quite stiff and sore. This was the first time they had ever given me any bother and I had been concentrating on strengthening them in my gym routine. Obviously, I will focus more attention on them in the next month.

Once packed up, I rode over to the other campers, who I could see one of sipping coffee by the fire. I said my hellos and apologised for being anti social last night, pointing out that I had ridden from Batlow yesterday and needed to sleep. They understood and we bid each other a g'day and I rode off to find the mythical Wee Jasper.

The road undulated and I watched as dozens of kangaroos easily bounded 4-6ft into the air to clear a fence in the process of getting away from me.

I wasn't sure how far it was into Wee Jasper but it turned out to be about 12km(8mi). I passed several dead wombats on either side of the road and in one spot, two dead ones opposite one another on either side of the road. Why don't people just slow down a bit?

Wee Jasper was at the bottom of the valley, near the creek. It was a very small hamlet with a population, including surrounding farms, of just 275 or so people. It is more or less a crossing point on the Goodrabigbee River and a very pretty river valley that is too.

The general store was closed up and I saw no sign of life in any building. Not even the pub!

I rolled down, across the wooden bridge snapping a few shots as I went.

Then, the road went up. It continue to go up for quite a while. But it was sealed and smooth so I dug into the pedals and made my legs work. No easy spinning this morning.As I climbed the view over the valley got better and better.

There was even some roadside arts which were pretty well done, actually.

I didn't linger as I wanted to get today done. I didn't know exactly how far I had to go(no surprise there!) but it didn't matter, I just had to get it done before the bottom started to fall out of the clouds. 

90 minutes later I came to the turn toward Canberra, Doctor's Flat Road. It looked to be good quality gravel but it did have an upward bearing to it.

It proved to be well surfaced granite for the first hour or so and apart from the climbing I felt I was making good time.

Passing some houses and sheds I met a guy who was closing the door on one of the sheds located right by the road. I stopped for a chat, just to make sure I wasn't on private property. He said that I wasn't and I quizzed him on how long to Uriarra and what the road was like. He said it was about 40 minutes in a car and that I wouldn't be much slower as the road was a bit rough to drive fast. Clearly, he hadn't seen me ride! I would turn that 40 minutes into 2 1/2 hours of pedalling and pushing.

Here and there I could make out 2 sets of mtb tyre prints from when the road had been wet. I wonder if these were of the last 2 guys to finish the Cloudride a few weeks back? Soon these tracks were obliterated as I came to a section where the trail had been graded in the last week or so. Here, it was soft and loose and it made the climbing even tougher on my tired legs.

Doctor's Flat Road? Flat - my arse. There was nothing flat about this road at all! It was all up or down, nothing in between.

I eventually emerged from the forest to some private land. The road was more open and faster here.

I could even see the hillside around Canberra- in the distance. Sunlit hillside marks the spot!

The track got better and better until I was finally on the main dirt road at Uriarra. I was almost back to where I had crossed the Murrumbidgee River on Day 1.

I was tempted to stop at the river crossing again for an "after" photo but figured I looked the same as in the "before" so kept pedalling. I did learn that it was 45km from Wee Jasper though!

As I pedalled up the last few hills toward Mt Stromlo my Achilles were creaking a bit. They only really hurt after a section of coasting, when I began to pedal again. The secret was obviously not to stop and to keep those muscles/tendons warm.

I stopped by this sign in Stromlo Forest Park to send off my Check in/Ok message via my Spot tracker. 

The funny thing is, it told everyone I was in Russia. Ha, not the way I pedal!

I rolled through the streets of Canberra toward my car, but via lunch. It felt weird to be back in "civilisation" again. 

I grabbed a sub and an o.j., then sat in a nearby park to take stock of the ride. Day 4 was a relative breeze.

The Stats

• Total Time - 76hrs 45min. The longest day was 11h 40 min

• Distance and Climbing - 488km(305mi), 11 000m(36 000ft) of climbing. 

• Approximately 22 500 calories expended.

• Mechanicals -  Nil. Not even a flat tyre.

• Lessons learnt - Need warm/waterproof socks, carry less water when it is not needed, work harder on calf exercises, have good route notes with accurate distance and resupply information, don't faff around packing up camp and pedal harder damnit!

I would like to thank Steve Watson for creating and sharing with me his Monaro Cloudride route. The riders that race this route are far hardier than I. I only did the northern(easier) section of the route and it "smacked me 'round the ears". I can only imagine the pain of the full loop.

Thanks also to my "Spot" watchers here at home for keeping an eye on me while I was out there. It is a bit unsettling doing a ride like this, alone, but having some reliable, knowledgeable mates watching my progress and ready to alert the proper authorities if my ride went pear-shaped was much appreciated. I wouldn't do something like this without that support. Cheers guys.

Thanks also to my lovely wife for giving me the freedom to do something crazy like this. Many wouldn't, so thank you Rebecca.




Cheers and thanks for reading.