banzai
Well-Known Member
Home after a 1355km ride, bike unpacked and cleaned and now it is time to relax.
This is the first time I've taken a bike down to the Alpine region and on some of my favourite New South Wales roads.
Friday
Slabbed to Gundagai then down Gocup Rd (including a couple of sections of roadwork) and turning South at Tumut and onto the Snowy Mountains Highway. About 70km down the road and turn right onto The Link Road. The further south I went, the colder it got so I pulled over at the Link Road intersection to put on my rain jacket to keep out the cold air, cranked up the heated grips and motored on through the alpine forest to Cabramurra.
Alpine Forest:
Cabramurra:
I love the roads into Cabramurra and the dead trees up near the top are also fascinating. I remember driving through there in fog a few years ago and it was a surreal experience.
Past a couple of dams and onto the Alpine Way west of Khancoban. The destination for the night was Thredbo but I went on to Jindabyne and tried to get to the top of Charlottes Pass. It was dusk and the large mobs of kangaroos and wallabies made it too dangerous to go all the way. I'll leave that for another day.
Back to Thredbo and time to catch up with my Lotus mates who had organised the weekend.
Saturday
The bike stayed in the carpark as a couple of friends and I trekked to the top of Mt Kosciusko. Most of the Lotus crowd went to play in their natural habitat.
At 10am we took the chairlift to the top of Thredbo. That was the first time I've ever been on a chairlift and I found it quite interesting. From here it is a 6.5km walk each way. In theory you only have to go up a few hundred metres in that distance but the track goes up and down a bit before you get to the final climb. The young and fit seem to make easy work of it. Those of us who are older and much less fit struggle a bit.
You have to go more than 2km before you get your first view of the highest point in Australia and a part of the track ahead.
Kosciusko straight ahead
American and European readers may scoff at such a low summit. I’ll happily admit I’ve driven over much higher roads in the USA but this is our highest place.
You travel most of the way on a metal walkway that is designed to preserve the native flora and the springs that form the head of the mighty Snowy River. Finally, after a bit over two hours of walking, we made it to the highest place in Australia
Don't even think about having alone time at the top of the mountain. At this time of year you will be among scores of other trekkers. Families, young couples, sport teams, foreign tourists and some serious athletes all make there way to the top. Some jog most of the way, some like me take it slow and steady. I wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry at the young kids who come around the last bend on the track and sprint to the cairn that marks the summit. It was great to see so many people enjoying such a significant place and the only one of the world's Seven summits you can get to as a day trip. If you take the longer but flatter route from Charlottes Pass it is theoretically possible to ride a bike to the top of the summit. Mountain bikers are allowed to ride to within 1.5km of the summit before they are required to park their bikes. There are no steps from there to the summit, just a track that is up to 2 metres wide.
Some of the crowd on top of Australia:
After a rest, some photos and a snack, it was time to head back down. The trek back to the chairlift took a little under 90 minutes. The trip up was hard on the lungs but the trip down was even harder on the legs. It was soothing to be able to dangle my legs in the air on the chairlift back down to Thredbo village. I wasn't looking forward to the walk back up to our lodge though.
Sunday
The return to Sydney included a lot of time on the slab.
Nearing Canberra we turned onto the Old Cooma Rd to Queanbeyan and a fuel stop. From there, Bungendore, Tarago, Goulburn and lunch at The Bakehouse. Near the abattoir on the way into Goulburn was the only scare of the trip. An idiot in a RenaultSport Megane come around the corner towards me with two wheels off the dirt and some serious oversteer. I managed to avoid him then he overcorrected and spun across the road, nearly hitting my mate behind me in his brand new Exige V6. The Renault came to a stop without hitting anything so we figured it was best to keep away from him.
From there, slab to Pheasant's Nest and more fuel and a cold drink. It was getting pretty warm on the road. Bike and rider refreshed, back onto the slab and home.
Somewhere along the way I lost my house keys. Fortunately I have a spare set secured outside for such emergencies but I need to get a new "spare" set cut. Bike unloaded, washed and returned to commuting mode for the week ahead.
This is the first time I've taken a bike down to the Alpine region and on some of my favourite New South Wales roads.
Friday
Slabbed to Gundagai then down Gocup Rd (including a couple of sections of roadwork) and turning South at Tumut and onto the Snowy Mountains Highway. About 70km down the road and turn right onto The Link Road. The further south I went, the colder it got so I pulled over at the Link Road intersection to put on my rain jacket to keep out the cold air, cranked up the heated grips and motored on through the alpine forest to Cabramurra.
Alpine Forest:
Cabramurra:
I love the roads into Cabramurra and the dead trees up near the top are also fascinating. I remember driving through there in fog a few years ago and it was a surreal experience.
Past a couple of dams and onto the Alpine Way west of Khancoban. The destination for the night was Thredbo but I went on to Jindabyne and tried to get to the top of Charlottes Pass. It was dusk and the large mobs of kangaroos and wallabies made it too dangerous to go all the way. I'll leave that for another day.
Back to Thredbo and time to catch up with my Lotus mates who had organised the weekend.
Saturday
The bike stayed in the carpark as a couple of friends and I trekked to the top of Mt Kosciusko. Most of the Lotus crowd went to play in their natural habitat.
At 10am we took the chairlift to the top of Thredbo. That was the first time I've ever been on a chairlift and I found it quite interesting. From here it is a 6.5km walk each way. In theory you only have to go up a few hundred metres in that distance but the track goes up and down a bit before you get to the final climb. The young and fit seem to make easy work of it. Those of us who are older and much less fit struggle a bit.
You have to go more than 2km before you get your first view of the highest point in Australia and a part of the track ahead.
Kosciusko straight ahead
American and European readers may scoff at such a low summit. I’ll happily admit I’ve driven over much higher roads in the USA but this is our highest place.
You travel most of the way on a metal walkway that is designed to preserve the native flora and the springs that form the head of the mighty Snowy River. Finally, after a bit over two hours of walking, we made it to the highest place in Australia
Don't even think about having alone time at the top of the mountain. At this time of year you will be among scores of other trekkers. Families, young couples, sport teams, foreign tourists and some serious athletes all make there way to the top. Some jog most of the way, some like me take it slow and steady. I wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry at the young kids who come around the last bend on the track and sprint to the cairn that marks the summit. It was great to see so many people enjoying such a significant place and the only one of the world's Seven summits you can get to as a day trip. If you take the longer but flatter route from Charlottes Pass it is theoretically possible to ride a bike to the top of the summit. Mountain bikers are allowed to ride to within 1.5km of the summit before they are required to park their bikes. There are no steps from there to the summit, just a track that is up to 2 metres wide.
Some of the crowd on top of Australia:
After a rest, some photos and a snack, it was time to head back down. The trek back to the chairlift took a little under 90 minutes. The trip up was hard on the lungs but the trip down was even harder on the legs. It was soothing to be able to dangle my legs in the air on the chairlift back down to Thredbo village. I wasn't looking forward to the walk back up to our lodge though.
Sunday
The return to Sydney included a lot of time on the slab.
Nearing Canberra we turned onto the Old Cooma Rd to Queanbeyan and a fuel stop. From there, Bungendore, Tarago, Goulburn and lunch at The Bakehouse. Near the abattoir on the way into Goulburn was the only scare of the trip. An idiot in a RenaultSport Megane come around the corner towards me with two wheels off the dirt and some serious oversteer. I managed to avoid him then he overcorrected and spun across the road, nearly hitting my mate behind me in his brand new Exige V6. The Renault came to a stop without hitting anything so we figured it was best to keep away from him.
From there, slab to Pheasant's Nest and more fuel and a cold drink. It was getting pretty warm on the road. Bike and rider refreshed, back onto the slab and home.
Somewhere along the way I lost my house keys. Fortunately I have a spare set secured outside for such emergencies but I need to get a new "spare" set cut. Bike unloaded, washed and returned to commuting mode for the week ahead.
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