Morning rendezvous at 8:00 am at the Servo in Hume. An interesting array of machinery, a couple of GoldWings, couple of Harleys, some another nice touring machines and one BMW Maxi Battle Scooter. The group quickly got separated trying to join the south-bound Monaro Highway to Cooma but we all knew the second rendezvous point. It was actually quite chilly on the first leg to Cooma with Air temp hovering around 10 degrees C.
The group met up at the Snowy Hydro Discovery Centre on the northern outskirts of Cooma. Facilities were used, coffees were had (and some sneaked in cakes) before heading off to the next stop at Jindabyne with most of us putting on extra layers of clothing. At Jindabyne, after another chin-wag the group separated. We were all heading past Thredbo but the overnighters would push on to Corryong for lunch. The more gentlemenly of the gang were going to stop at Thedbo for lunch.
Now, apparently if one is going to just ride through the National Park without stopping, one doesn't need to pay Park Entry. By the time we got to the Park Entry Booth after all the other riders, the smiling lass said "Riding through, have a nice day !" So who was I to argue.
The Alpine Way between Jindabyne and Thredbo is just a superb biking road. Great surface, good visibility, undulating and the vegetation is well back from the road. I have always loved Thredbo in Summer. After a bit of a search for a parking spot, we made our way to the Alpine Hotel for a well deserved lunch and a light beer or two. Was good to get to know Bob and Steve a bit better. After lunch, the weather was declared glorious so those extra layers were put away and we headed back to Jindabyne to fuel up.
Another coffee stop in down town Cooma on the way back where one of the subjects of conversation was some of the very ordinary drivers we had encountered between Cooma and Jindabyne. Said our farewells at Cooma as we did ride together to the Canberra outskirts but then went our different ways. All up, some 405 km for me, the bike performed flawlessly and I suspect I will sleep well tonight.