Gidday chaps. I'm currently enjoying the hospitality of Bob and Alison at Narooma. Bob and I have just returned from a very nice day trip down to Bega and back along the coast road. Very nice; riding heaven, actually.
I had something of an adventure getting here. I left home on Tuesday arvo under the threat of weather, fully accepting that I might be stuck in the Geehi Hut for a night or two, but near Khancoban there were signs indicating that the Alpine Way was closed and that the Cabramurra Road should be used as a detour. Ok, I thought, that will do, and headed on up that road in fog and rain. I knew that I could shelter in the hut up near Cabramurra if required, and it was. I arrived there on nightfall and was very glad to find a good stash of firewood. Here's a pic of the hut the next day.
It was very cold and blustery with heavy rain at times, but sufficient breaks to permit firewood gathering. I knew I had enough food to see out a few days if necessary, but beer supplies were low and I was deeply regretting that I had failed to get a bottle of something warming at Corryong as I had intended. Silly old fool.
My gear was all still wet but drying slowly, and I really didn’t want to hit the road in such blustery conditions, so settled in for another night. After a very windy night I woke to whiteness, everywhere. Including inside the hut, where snow had blasted through every hole and gap. Here is poor Brunhilde, stoically enduring the conditions.
A snowplough came through in mid-morning, and I guess I could have followed it, but it was just too cold. With plenty of firewood the hut was cosy enough, and I had books to read, green stuff to smoke, and plenty more food. I figured I could stay until the weather improved.
It snowed all day and night, and all the next day. I had to go out to collect more firewood, trudging around in the snow until I found a stick poking out. I would pull on this and often it would yield a good branch of dead wood. I got good at this fairly quickly, and kept the fire going. Then, on Saturday morning I woke to a clear sunny sky and packed up. After four nights in the hut is was kind of sad to leave, but the weather was perfect, the roads were drying out, and the coast beckoned. Here is a pic of Brun at some significant spot along the road.
I had a very comfortable ride down to the coast and was warmly welcomed at Bob and Alison’s place. Brunhilde is running sweetly and behaving herself. I look forward to more adventures and catching up with the blokes at this Spring Buds gathering, just two weeks away. In the meantime I’ll be meeting up with my daughter and her youngest – they are currently just a couple of hours to the north, travelling on her bike (Max, the Japanese cruiser). We’ll meet at Nowra and ride together to her place at Budgewoi, north of Sydney.
