DAY 1

It was a fine morning meet and greet over brekkie at Brewster's Coffee House in Mittagong

Smarty, Frankie and DR Dad on their Trumpies headed off on their "tar babies" trip, and Mudrat, Chriscrossed, Todd, Jason and myself set off on our "dirty dogs" route, under clear skies despite what the long term forecast said earlier in the week.
A couple of back roads to Robertson and then onto Belmore Falls for a little taste of dirt.


A look down toward Kangaroo Valley village from Belmore Falls


From here thru Kangaroo Valley and then Nowra (Chris's favourite town) toward Nerriga. It took a couple of attempts, but we finally located the Tianjara Fire Trail, that was recommended by OFBM. As an aside, I usually don't take advice from people I don't know, but with a name like Old Fat Beer Man (thats me; old, fat and I like beer) the trail would be easy enough for me and the Strom. Wow, how wrong can ya get, so the acronym OFBM had a few more "F's" inserted.
This is the easy end


But it soon turned for the worst (for me anyway, I think the others loved it though) with ruts, holes mud puddles and rocks. I did about half the trail when I had a close inspection of the rock formation, others might try and say I had a lay down, but don't believe them.
A regroup along the way


we are pretty high up and we could see all the way to Jervis Bay and St Georges Basin.

It was a bloody hard slog for me and had stripped off all unnecessary clothing to stop me from overheating, but made it to Milton (thanks for waiting blokes).
Someone missed our (late) lunch stop and by that time we decided to skip the Clyde Ridge Rd leg, and head straight to Batemans Bay, our overnight destination
Dinner and drinks at the Mariner Hotel was great and a good chance to chat to new friends, and catch up with old ones.

DAY 2


Next morning we woke to a bit drizzle, but that was gone by the time we finished a very fine brekkie

I love the togetherness bikes have

We headed toward Sydney till we found the Old Nelligen Rd, which is a fine gravel road to...... Nelligen. Then across the Kings Hwy heading south thru Runnyford.
Near the Runnyford bridge

It was just after here that our mapping went hay wire, and me being so slow didn't notice that the others missed the turn off, or the next 4 or 5 turn for that matter.
Near Pistol Shot Rd


Anyway we all met up again at the next stop. A bit of a must do in Moruya on satyrday morning



From Moruya we headed west up to Araluen then on to Braidwood for lunch. After lunch is was some nice dirt roads to Goulbourn. Oh yeh! nearly forgot, seeing how I had a close look at the rock formation yesterday, I thought I would check out the sand at Stewart's Crossing, on the Shoalhaven river.
Astor Hotel Goulbourn

Another good night chewing the fat over some beers and more delicious food

DAY 3

Before we start today.............. I didn't fall off today, hoo bloody ray........
Todd doing a bike count

After brekky we all headed out to the "First Australian GP Monument"
And a group hug


From here we all went to Taralga for farewells, and we went three seperate ways.

Frankie, Jason, Todd and myself headed for Mittagong via Wombeyan Caves
Wollindilly River, looking upstream at the crossing



Jason steaming up the big GS

The hole in the wall sorta indicates that the good stuff is over, and we re-enter reality, what a bummer


A top ride made better by top company, thanks to all for comming along. I'm very greatfull to everyone for waiting for me along the way and not complaining.
To OFBM, notice all the other "F's" have dropped off your name. It was a very challenging track but now I think I'm pleased I did it, thanks for that gem, and thanks to muddy for all the mapping and posting help.
The general feeling is that we may do a similar one next year, and do some of the trails we missed
Thanks for reading
Cheers

Tx for posting. Nice pics and report.

__________________
Steve C
Gold Coast Riders (Rides & events SE QLD, plus stuff about camping etc)
Gravel Riders Club Old farts off-road
Yer ears & yer teef They're the only ones yer got

Ta Chops,

Great report Don.

I must tell you guys a story about me, my truck, that hole through the rock, a bull, and an interstate removal job I did nearly thirty years ago.

Thanks for posting the RR and triggering my memory banks.

Ock.

__________________
Ock. in Oz
Australia, NSW, Windsor

Member of The McGrath's Hill Mob.

Shiro Nakama Ju San

White '09 V-Strom DL650ABS, Blue '87 Kawasaki KLR650 [Sold]
Green '94 Kawasaki KLE500

"Normal" is only a cycle on the washing machine.....

Take a back road.