Ride 3 (modified)
Well we went for a ride today, had one other bike for company, Alf and his son an older 600 Tenere. 450km or so, more than we would want to do with a group i would think but the longer trip came about because Alf hadnt done the Falls Creek Rd since it was sealed and he wanted to, so we went a bit further in order to do that.
Anyway back to the future----, we have had a good nights sleep thanks to the previous days ride and perhaps a drink or two and are raring to go. Its off to Omeo for fuel and then on towards Benambra. This is a lovely piece of road that goes for about 22kms with a climb then opening out onto the High Plains where first European settlement took place in 1835. Lake Omeo is visible as you ride but usually has no water. Another ride will take us around that or maybe across it.
Its unusual in that this part of Australia was opened up from the inland to the sea, its usually vice versa. The first settlers were cattlemen who were looking for better pastures with drought being very bad on the Monaro. They opened up as far as Sale, Victoria didnt exist then, this was NSW. Until 1866 Omeo was the seat of power for gippsland, it was Alfred Howitt who took himself and the power to Bairnsdale in 66. He had been in Omeo for a few years having been appointed Magistrate (Mining Warden) as a reward for leading the rescue mission for Bourke and Wills. as i understand it Benambra was considered one of the possibilities for the site of the nations capital which of course ended up being a bit further up, Canberra.
Through benambra and onto gravel road which is ok, you just need to be a bit careful. Wasnt far before came across this bloke who had stopped to take photo of a 5km sign which you dont see very often, i took one too. Some of you may recognize him, i have forgotten the name but he has been involved in the Alpine Rally for ever apparently and the bike is a classic R75.
A Fair bit further and a great view of Mt Bogong which is significant in that in a few hours we will be riding along the other side of it as we approach Mt Beauty.
Not far away is this reference point
The gravel continues for a while, as far as Nariel where the sealed takes over and what a grouse run it is to the t intersection 8 km from Corryopng.
Into Corryong for a bite to eat and then off towards Tallangatta on the Murray Valley Hwy which is a nice bit of road
While we went past Tallangatta to pass over to the Kiewa Valley this ride was originally intended to take an earlier turn towards Mitta Mitta, some more gravel and then to Omeo via Blue Duck. Except for the relief of the Murray Valley Hwy (not a put down) this ride is one of nonstop twisties on a variety of surfaces with spectacular scenery thrown in, perfect TDM country.
Tomorrow?, hmmm what about something in the direction of Buchan?
But a bit of a PS. Todays ride covered a large area, we rode for nearly 8 hours and except for a part of it near Tallangatta it was all through country burnt during the 2003 Alpine Fires. A 100,000 hectare fire is huge, this was a 1,100,000 hectare fire. The fire front was 1200 kms long at one point. This pic is from near the Blue Duck, the concrete bridge that some will know over the Bundarra River, 9 feb 2003.
Edited by graeme, 10 January 2010 - 11:59 am.
