CYCLING FOR PLEASURE GROUP (INC)
Future Trips
- Geelong
Past Trips
Photos
What Happened after Canberra 2008?
Report
by Eric Chaney
Photos by Bernie Matzat and Carolyn Weinmann
Five intrepid adventurous souls departed for Jindabyne on Sunday 19th Oct 2008. While at lunch in Cooma we met with Marilyn & David Partington and accepted their recommendation to visit the interactive Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric Scheme Showcase. They even display a bicycle peddling electric generator which we all tried. If you ever pass through Cooma it is well worth two hours to absorb the History of the Scheme.
We stayed at Discovery Holiday Parks – Jindabyne in two Cabins, Bernie & Carmon’s cabin had to be seen to be believed, spacious, well equipped, very comfortable, heated and cooled -- it was as good as it gets. (note please). Jindabyne Lake levels are low but the lake still has a beauty that you can soak up by cycling the four kilometre concrete trail to the town.
Monday we drove in one car to Thredbo (Note the $16 per car, per day, Park Visit Fee). The Kosciuszko Express Quad Chair costs $28 return, $19 Senior, and operates between 9am and 4pm all Summer. At 10am the quad seat took us for a thrilling ride from 1365 metres in the Village to 1937 metres up the mountain.
Then it was an adventurous 6.5 km walk on a raised mesh walkway to The Summit of Australia, 2,228 metres (7,310 ft) above sea level. Mt Kosciusko is not particularly difficult to climb. It was a pleasant and cool hike between 8º & 12º on our day. The elevated slope lee of the mountain was covered in deep snow, but pleasantly passable with good walking shoes. Lunch at the Top of Australia with 360º stunning views is not something anybody should miss it is fantastic.
We walked briskly back to the chairlift with time to smell the flowers and throw a snowball or two. At 3.30pm we were back in the Village and 32km later back in Jindabyne.
Tuesday dawned grey and our planned cycle ride to the Highest Point you can legally be in a vehicle in Australia at Rawson's Pass (2128 metres) seemed doomed. We drove to Charlotte Pass (1760 metres) and the grey clouds parted revealing a pleasant sunny day. Off we cycled up the summit road 8km to Kosciuszko, the unsealed track was rough but cycleable even on Eric’s 20” wheeled Dahon Portable.
On the steep climb from the Snowy River head waters to Seamans Hut the snow drifts were still shoulder high, luckily a recent track was cut through the drifts. Again the views, the splendor and the history of the Hut are incredibly spellbinding and worth all the effort.
The haul past Seamans Hut to Rawson’s Pass is steady but worth it (Rawson’s Pass is the site of Australia’s highest public toilet). Sadly you can not ride the last kilometre or 100 metre elevation, the bureaucrats say all cyclists won’t stay on the path, just like the 20 school pupil hikers didn’t, directly in front of us.
The Ride down the mountain was a real thrill, Bernie, Bruno and I rode the 18km from the top to Perisher Valley. I convinced Bruno to join me on the 30+Km ride down to Jindabyne (I did tell him there are 4 little uphills on the way) and yes it was fun to ride the longest downhill.
What could we do next after conquering THE MOUNTAIN!
Wednesday dawned with a cold southerly and light snow falling at Jindabyne. Eric had long recognized that most of his cycling friends had family commitments or caravan towing restraints and were not starters for the ride over the Alpine Way. So off the five of us went to where others might gather at Myrtleford.
The journey was out of a story book; snow had fallen and dusted Thredbo and Dead Horse Gap with an icing like coat up to 100mm deep. The sun danced in and out to expeditiously improve the inspiring visual display. There is something surreal about snow dusting on Gum Forests. The snowballs were softer than the old snow at the top of Kosciusko the day before.
After Geehi there was no snow but the bush was lush and green, and the winding sealed road is an easy drive. Corryong for lunch at a good Bakery then on past Tallangatta where lake Hume no longer reaches because of drought. We viewed the High Country Rail Trail from Old Tallangatta to Albury and it looks a good cycle ride. Yakandanda Historic Village walk at afternoon tea time was a welcome stroll through 19th Century Australia. Beechworth; stop, look and decide to return. Myrtleford; two cabins and an evening meal at the Pub capped off a fabulous and probably unrepeatable drive.
Thursday; OK we had to return to Beechworth, Eric rode up the 42 km so the others could ride downhill, of course he told them about the easy uphill at Taylors Gap, yeah really. The morning was spent walking the historic town and of course the mandatory, legendary Beechworth Bakery for lunch.
Carolyn, Carmon and Bernie rode 44 km on the Rail Trail to Myrtleford.
Eric and Bruno rode up and back to Bright in the afternoon, because it seemed a good idea at the time. Carolyn joined us by car and we walked in the wonderful arboretum that is Bright with the soft light of evening and the sounds of flowing water in the Ovens River. We discovered a stunning purple and white flowering tree in a row along the Rail Trail as it enters Bright.
Friday, a ride to Milawa was on the “menu” literally and materially. Off to the Milawa Cheese Factory; a small but highly regarded speciality cheese factory where all cheeses are hand made using traditional methods, without preservatives and using non-animal rennet.
The Cheese Tasting is superb; blues, goats, brie, every taste you desire, followed by, homemade Chocolate, Icecream, Bakery delights, Wine Tasting and a captivating art studio displaying metal sculptures and images using old bed wires… down the road is Brown Brothers winery, The Olive and Mustard shops. The ride home was made much safer by detouring directly via sealed back roads to Everton Station and the Rail Trail.
Saturday; Carolyn and Bruno departed. Carmon, Bernie and Eric had a leisurely ride to Bright and back a wonderful way to wind up an inspiring week.
Sunday; Carmon, Bernie and Eric departed.
To view more of Bernie and Carolyn's photos click on this link.