Otways

I took a short day trip through the Otways. The conditions were perfect for riding, not too hot, no wind and minimal traffic. About 250 Ks all up.

Snowy Mountains 2009

Marty, Bill and I headed off for 4 days riding in northern Victoria & the Snowy Mountains of NSW. I covered 2,239 kilometers much of it comprised quite "technical" mountain roads, often in heat of up to 40C. The VFR ran flawlessly, as did Marty's Kawasaki ZX9 and Bill's Kawasaki ZZR1200.

Sunday Feb 1, 2009: Day 1 - 618 Ks, Geelong Vic to Bombala NSW. Marty & I travelled in misty rain via the Princes Hwy to Bairnsdale where we hooked up with Bill who had ridden down there the day before. Fortunately the smoke from the bushfire at Churchill was blowing in the other direction and didn't trouble us at all.




Marty & Bill at the start of the Bonang Hwy - famous for 1038 curves in this 90 klm stretch from Orbost to Delegate NSW.



This map shows most of the areas we rode in the Snowys.



Old settlers hut just over the border into NSW near Delatite.





Day 2 - 550 Ks Bombala to Corryong via a figure 8 tour of some twisty roads in southern NSW (including the Mt Imlay Rd, & Brown Mountain Rd), then Cooma & the Snowy Mountains. Bill offered me a spin on his ZZR1200 which was quite an experience, however, I was glad I handed it back before all the really twisty downhill stuff on the road to Wyndham!



Piper's Lookout towards the top of Brown Mountain.




Pic courtesy Marty

A smaller fire fighting chopper which buzzed us & the scooped up water from a dam just behind us.






Day 3 - 510 Ks, A big day trip loop of the Snowys, taking in the Alpine Hwy etc. Stayed 2 nights at the Courthouse Hotel Corryong.







Warning! Warning!



Lunch at Tumut. A bargain at $6.50, not so the parking ticket at $189 - ouch!
NSW Parking Tickets



Site of Australia 1st commercial aviation disaster in 1931. Six passengers and 2 pilots lost enroute Sydney to Melbourne.

It was really hot by now, about 38C, when we stopped to take these pics.





Day 4 - Corryong back via the Keiwa Valley Hwy to Myrtelford, then through the vineyards to Whitfield, and on to Mansfield for lunch. Bill & I said our goodbyes and I travelled back towards the Hume Hwy via Yea. Bill turned off towards Alexandra to travel into Melbourne via the "spurs".

Me sitting on the ZZR1200 on the Whitfield road.