OzSTOC National Rally Ride 2014 - Pt 3

Amazing the power of a hot shower to start the day - (a berocca and 2 vitamin C's as well) - just kidding.

The aptly named "Church" Street opposite the van park we stayed at had a church of just about every denomination in it - here is the Catholic one (St Joseph's).....


Got some 'motion lotion' as we left - Growly was looking for fuel around every 400kms - not bad really for the trailer allowance.

Then we headed out for the day. Good friend and fellow OzSTOC Member Tony from West Wyalong suggested we do the Adelong-Batlow-Tumbarumba-Corryong route instead of the highway to our destination for the night of Mt Beauty - so we did! Thanks mate - a highlight of the trip for me. The 50 kms either side of Batlow contain some of the the BEST touring roads in this country - TRY IT!...


Had a coffee in the beautiful little township of Adelong, before heading to the gorgeous Batlow....

You can see how prolific the fruit is in the above shot.

Here is another fruit!

In the above pic - these nets went for acres! I'm sure you could see them from space!

Thought so!

A VITAL stop in Tumbarumba - this time at the bakery for a Mexican Pie.

We then rode along the top of the ridge for a while as the countryside changed yet again, and then dropped down into the Murray Basin area of Tintaldra and Corryong - crossed the State border into Vic along here too. Here is what it looked like...

We swapped machines around here for some kms as the road was open and the view was stupendous, and the traffic was light. It is quite an experience, riding/driving/controlling the Trike as you have a motorcycle throttle, a car-type clutch pedal, a car type pedal brake - i.e. no brake on the handle bar, and a H-pattern 4 speed gear stick protruding out from UNDER your left thigh - quite an amazing experience. Growly once told me "Be careful - it looks like a bike out the front, but you have two huge outrigger wheels to allow for!" Also - it doesn't lean into corners, and if you're over zealous with the throttle and clutch - the front wheel comes straight up off the ground!  Hmmm... Still - I had a ball on it!

Another fuel stop at Tallangatta, and I told Growly we were stopping at the famous pub in Yackandandah where they filmed the Paul Hogan and Michael Caton movie "Strange Bedfellows". So we had to stop for a beer there....

 A beautiful little borough is Yackandandah! After downing 11 kegs between us, we thought it better to move along!

Last 60 clicks for the day now, and we head down the valley to the foothills of the high country around Bright, Victoria. Our destination is Mt Beauty Holiday Park. Have a look at the valley scenery. You can see the leafless trees on the higher mountains that usually get covered with snow in the colder months.... we are surely heading into Alpine country now!...

We stopped in the township and grabbed a few more groceries, and headed back to set up camp by a beautiful little brook. On the way in, another friend and OzSTOC Member - IanB heard the familiar whirring of a ST1300 Pan European go past his cabin, and wandered down to greet us. We had not planned to meet up. Coincidentally, Ian lives 35 mins from me back in Queensland - both a long way from home, but amongst friends... He was instantly roped in for a 'selfie'...

Ian and his lovely wife Helen joined us for some social intercourse just before dinner...

 Speaking of dinner... the maniac in the above pic thought it would be a great idea to buy some tins of 'Fully Loaded Chunky Chili Beef'!   

There are some things one just mustn't do whilst road tripping!    

PLUS! There was rhodomontade and thrasonical bombast about my can of food being burnt! - Ludicrous and wild presumption there! It was fine!


A gorgeous campsite with super-fresh air.

It was lovely to sleep beside the creek and hear the constant sound of fresh, flowing water...

I woke up a lot fresher for some reason. Tomorrow is the day we arrive at the Rally - looking forward to it.