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The Usual Suspects - Harden/Murrumburrah – 11 July 2007
Read on for -Peter Wilson’s report on -
The Briefing:
Let's hope the weather is a little better than last week, forecast for this Wednesday is: mostly fine with a maximum of eleven degrees. If the weather is the same as last week, once again I'll drive my car to the departure point - I'll leave it to the "Sensible Seven", etc to pursue the challenge of wet weather riding.
The departure point is McDonalds, Dickson - 10.00am for the Gravel Group and 10.30am for the Road Group. I'll probably be there by 9.30am - it's not too far from my house in Downer!
The Gravel Group will ride via Barton Hwy, Yass, Bendinine Stock Route Road, Binalong, Galong, Rocky Ponds then onto Harden/Murrumburrah. After lunch the Gravel Group will return via McMahons Reef and Berremanga Settlement Roads, plus some other back roads to Whitefield Road, the Hume Hwy, Bookham then Yass Service Centre for coffee at McDonalds.
The Road Group will ride via the Barton and Hume Hwys, ride past the service centre at Yass and major intersections to Boorowa and Bowning. Please turn right onto the "new" road to Binalong, I can't remember the signposting - probably reads to Binalong, Harden, Temora, Griffith, etc. (Not much advantage in taking the "old" road through Bowning.) After Binalong ride about 10kms (not sure of the exact distance) then turn right in the direction of Galong, it is well signposted. We will regroup at the Galong Pub then ride through Galong, turn left and follow the road past St Clement's Retreat and then onto Harden/Murrumburrah.
Lunch will be at Murrumburrah - the Which Craft Cafe. Wobbly (David L), Harley Davidson Road King, has recommended this cafe - just past the Caltex garage then on your right. I think Wobbly really enjoyed the scones with jam and cream on his last visit. I have phoned the proprietors, the CWA (Country Womens' Association), it seems that they need advance notice for a group our size, so expect real country meals.
For those Suspects not familiar with the area - it is difficult to distinguish the border between the two towns of Harden and Murrumburrah. As you enter Harden continue on the main road then downhill and over a bridge, you are now in Murrumburrah, - the Caltex garage is on your left. If you need petrol please refuel before lunch at the Caltex garage - I don't think there are any other service stations now open in Harden/Murrumburrah. The two in Harden closed down over the last six months and the other service station at the western end of Murrumburrah closed down some time ago!
After lunch the Road Group will return to the Service Centre at Yass (McDonalds) for afternoon coffee. There are many options for the return journey, however, let's think about two - from Murrumburrah we retrace our inbound journey for about 6kms and then turn left at Cunningar (over the railway line) then follow the road for about 20kms until you reach a "T" intersection (take care at this intersection, usually has a few inches of gravel on top of the bitumen): -
- a left turn will take you to the southern side of Boorowa - then turn right onto Lachlan Valley Way and follow to Yass Service Centre, or
- a right turn will take you along Hughstonia Road, through Binalong and onto Yass Service Centre.
- Let's make a decision on the day for the return journey, it's about 80kms either way (ie. Harden to Yass Service Centre) - we may split into two groups!
After sufficient time to enjoy the ambience at McDonalds, please find your own way home via Barton Hwy, etc.
It's probably about 130kms to Harden/Murrumburrah and I expect to reach Murrumburrah around midday and depart no later than 1.30pm. This will have us at the Yass Service Centre for afternoon coffee at or before 2.30pm.
I hope to see you on Wednesday.
The Ride:
I arrived at McDonalds about 9.15am and three Suspects were already enjoying a hot coffee. It was cold early in the day, however by 10.30am there was blue sky and sunshine. Probably the best day so far this winter for a bike ride. Denis A joined us for coffee, however the sale and purchase of houses and the impending move were high on his "list" of things to do - so Denis retreated for home after coffee. As Denis rode his bike to Dickson - I'll still give him an attendance tick and add his name to the list of Hondas on the ride today. Still not enough to win the manufacturer's award!
The Gravel Group departed about 10.00am - just four Suspects, John H, Dave C, Jack T and Mike S.
The crowd seemed to increase after 10.00am and there were 20 Suspects ready to ride with the Road Group. That German manufacturer won the award today - the good news, 68% of Suspects were not riding one of those machines! To add insult to injury - Fr Robert appeared on the scene with a new cordura suit, not necessarily made in Deutschland, however, with imprints of that blue and white propeller on it!
I think we departed from Dickson on time at 10.30am - although there was blue sky and sunshine the ambient temperature seemed a bit cool, not quite as cold as the ride to Yass a few weeks ago, the winter gloves, cordura gear, etc, were enough for a comfortable ride. Most seemed to make it to Galong (only missing Kerry W) - a short stop at the pub, it wasn't open for business and I think it is now used as a private residence. Then the short ride through Galong, past St Clements Retreat and onto Harden. A few stray sheep on the side of the road - they were intent on staying close to the fence, no dramas.
Somehow all Suspects, including Kerry W, found their way to the Which Craft Cafe in Murrumburrah. Although I had booked for sixteen with a warning it could be twenty, a total of twenty-four Suspects were looking for lunch. The local ladies of the CWA did their best, however the numbers created havoc with their delivery of meals. It was almost an hour and a half before we were able to complete lunch. I think the answer is - great cafe for small groups of six or eight!
I convinced all that we should return via option one, ie - turn left towards Boorowa and then along Lachlan Valley Way to Yass. There was some spirited riding along the back road towards Boorowa and this continued along Lachlan Valley Way. However, to no avail - the "Piano Bar" [those who stick to the speed limit and arrive at the coffee break last] were at McDonalds when the lead riders arrived! Apparently Judy had problems understanding the directions given at my after lunch briefing and missed the left turn just out of Harden. We're not sure about the Lockwood Brothers - didn't see them at McDonalds, maybe their "leave passes" were about to expire!
The Gravel Group had a much longer ride home and selected a route via Coppabella Road that had about six gates and was tricky in parts (mud) but great scenery, then onto the Hume Hwy. After that it was across to Black Range Road and numerous small water crossings until they found a bridge was closed so had to rejoin the Hume Hwy near Bowning. They arrived at Galutzis in Yass for coffee at about 4.00pm. John H arrived home at 5.15pm with 335kms on the trip meter.
I arrived home at 3.40pm with 286kms on the trip meter. Thanks to all on the ride today, after several weeks of wet weather - I enjoyed today's ride.
Next week it's Crookwell.
The Riders:
Bill U (ex RM) - BMW R1200GS
John H (BDA) - BMW R1200GS
Ian J (FNA) - BMW R1150RT
Trevor McL - BMW R1150RT
Brian L (CBA) - BMW R1150R
Fr Robert (BMA) - BMW F800ST
Neil H - BMW K100RS
Jim A - BMW K75C
Peter W (TY) - Honda Fireblade 929
Leo K - Honda CBR1100 Blackbird
Peter N (FoTB; BUPT) - Honda Shadow VT750
Denis A (BMA) - Honda Deauville 650
Steve W - Honda Goldwing GL1800
Denis L - Yamaha FJ1200
Peter L (BMA) - Yamaha FJR1300
Judy P (SEC; OSQ) - Yamaha Virago 535
Peter L (TSA) - Kawasaki GTR1000
Peter B - Kawasaki ZX6R
Kerry W - Kawasaki ER5
Dave C (UBA) - Suzuki DL650 V-Strom
Jack T - Suzuki DL1000 V-Strom
Laurie W - Ducati Multistrada 1000
Derek H (TE; TCC) - Aprilia Scarabeo 500 scooter
Wobbly - Harley Davidson Road King
Mike S - KTM990
and the Pic’s!
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