From: echoppin@csunb.mit.csu.edu.au (Errol Chopping -TE)
Subject: Bathurst to Bega and Back (Long!)
Organization: Charles Sturt University-Mitchell
Distribution: aus
Date: Tue, 17 Nov 1992 23:30:04 GMT

( CSU csunb machine was having a mental breakdown
  when I posted this a few days ago. I don't think
  it was actually distributed so here goes again..
)

Bathurst to Bega and Back.

The hearts of riders in at least a dozen homes around
NSW, stirred when the invitation to the weekend run 
arrived. Dates had been contrived early in November, 
invitations sent out, trips to Nepal postponed, even a
working holiday in Britain was shortened to fit it in.
For no member of The Western Area Tourers can resist 
these rides.

Eight from Dubbo and two from Bathurst met in Cowra for 
dinner on the Friday night. Four from Sydney ate in Yass.
By 10pm all had all converged on the small (and very 
friendly) pub at Wombat where the conversation hovered 
around past rallies and runs and anticipation grew for 
the next day's ride. Accommodation was organised at the
pub - outside it. Some pitched tents out the back while 
others, who trusted the skills of the truckies wheeling 
through, were content to use the pub verandah. Two even 
slept under a dray in the adjacent paddock.

At about 8.30am the group set out for a hot breakfast at 
Gundagai then headed south east on the Snowy Mountains 
Highway towards Tumut. Much of the road was under repair 
but there was very little traffic and the weather was 
good so this section delivered plenty of open country 
with the occasional good sweeper to keep the rider's 
smile dialled in. As the morning grew the varying pace of
the riders started to become apparent. The Western Area 
Tourers have no rules about who follows whom and the 
group would stretch out over a few kilometres once on the
road. Every so often one might feel like a blast, upping
their pace and pegging back the riders ahead until the 
urge subsided, then relaxing again to a touring pace. One 
rider raced ahead at one stage only to be found laying on 
the road a few minutes later. As the others approached 
their anxiety turned to amusement as they realised he was 
just trying for the ultimate photograph.

From Tumut it was on and up towards the winter snow 
fields - the road along the Blowering Dam proving to be a 
mixture of great bends and great scenery. On the pinch 
which rises above Talbingo the road gets twisty and 
steep. The riders heeled over into the bends. About half 
way up on one of the left-handers there lay a patch of 
dark grey gravel almost invisible against the surface of 
the road. Most front wheels skated on it. Hearts pumped. 
All made it through. The chill air of the high country 
through Kiandra kept the riders alert while the only 
distractions were a few fishermen dipping lines for 
trout, a brief stop at a shelter hut and amusement at the 
name of the "Gang Bang Creek". Once down the other side 
to the Adaminaby pub, the Western Area Tourers took a 
counter lunch and soaked up the sun.

After such a leisurely morning a spirit of urgency 
effected the run to the coast. Cooma was ignored as the 
riders bolted for the darkening sky over Nimmitabel. A 
black, wet, cold and eery fog surrounded them. Visors 
clouded and were lifted, sunglasses were put away as the 
visibility reduced to less than thirty metres. Once out 
of the gloom the massive tree ferns of Brown Mountain 
escorted each rider down into the Bega valley. The false 
darkness of the highlands fog had passed and with still 
two hours of daylight left they pushed on to the seaside 
delights of Narooma for the night. The caravan park on 
the inlet, the showers and the great hospitality of the 
Bowling Club made it a night to remember with fine food 
and generous quantities of drink to lubricate the riders. 
In the morning of the Sunday, another flawless weather 
day, The Western Area Tourers pointed their mounts north 
for a seafood breakfast in Batemans Bay.

After candid observations of the locals and cappuccino 
coffees all 'round the group left the Bay to climb Clyde 
Mountain. A momentary stop at Braidwood then on to the 
last great meeting place, the Doughboy turnoff. Bikes and 
riders were assembled for photographs and after 
consultation with the map, the Dubbo riders headed north 
by west for Bungendore and Gunderoo. The three from 
Sydney and the Bathurst riders pointed north for 
Goulburn. Eventually all the riders parted and a 
memorable weekend ended as The Western Area Tourers 
filtered back to their homes to dream of future rides.


 ___________________________________________________________________________
|  Errol Chopping                      Email: echoppin@csunb.mit.csu.edu.au | 
|  School of Information Technology    Voice: 063 33 2527                   |
|  Charles Sturt University - Mitchell Fax  : 063 33 2649                   |
|  BMW K100RS, Yamaha MX100            Snail: CSU-Mitchell, Bathurst, NSW   |
|___________________________________________________________________________|
Newsgroups: aus.motorcycles