It’s getting to be a bit of a tradition Mark, Jeff and Johnno heading off for a Xmas break mini tour. The route this time was to be cracking loop ride along the Murray from Albury to Walwa, up to the Burrowa Pine NP, Colac Colac (pronounced Clack Clack), Corryong, Tallangatta and (quite unplanned) back to Wodonga…Johnno had to bail a bit early…Mark and Jeff pedaled on! Mark suggested we head to NE Victoria and Jeff did the detailed research for each days riding and also our camping/accommodation options. Johnno hadn’t been to this part of Victoria before so he was champing at the bit…particularly the prospect of visiting the Burrowa Pine National Park (and beyond).
We were scheduled to catch the 12.35pm Albury Train and had planned to meet up at about 11.30am at Southern Cross Station…all was on target until Johnno on his ride in realised that his new chain (that he had put on that morning) was slipping and incompatible with the old rear cog of his recently acquired second-hand Rohloff hub. So 10 K’s from home he nursed his bike back…put the old chain back on and high tailed it to the nearest Metro station to catch a train into Southern Cross. It was going to be touch and go as to whether he would make the train or not – in the end made it with 10 minutes to spare! Marks ride into Southern Cross was also an eventful one – copping a drenching from one of the ‘passing showers” that were forecast that morning.
The train ride was great – Both Mark and Jeff grew up as best mates in Melbourne’s Western suburbs and it was a thoroughly entertaining half hour or so while the train traversed Footscray, Sunshine and out past Broadmeadows. Lots of reminiscing and laughs – I am sure the folks around us thought that we were completely loopy… Out past the ‘burbs the undulating landscape of Victorias Great Dividing Range rolled past our train window. It was a much slower ride that usual, due to track work going on, but that was fine…we were on our way and relishing every minute of the train trip!
We rolled into Albury at about 4.30pm and amongst the what seemed ubiquitous tattooed locals; we stocked up on provisions and hit the road at about 5.30. A lovely tailwind saw us making good time heading out of Albury when we spied a (first of numerous) wild plum tree growing along the side of the road. We gorged on these lovely plums for about a half and hour!
Jeff and the plums Johnno and Jeff about the cross the Benthaga Bridge
A little further along the road was the impressive Bethanga Bridge crossing the Hume weir back into Victoria…the Murray Valley Rd was sublime to cycle on – Its undulating profile follows the banks of the Hume Reservoir and regular short climbs were rewarded with corresponding downhill rolls. It was getting late in the day and we were riding in the twilight which was lovely but it seemed that our planned night camping spot near Granya might just be a little out of reach without riding in complete darkness. We decided to pull up stumps and set up camp along the ‘no camping permitted’ banks of the Hume Reservoir. It was an idyllic spot with the backdrop of the reservoir, bird life abounding and a perfect mild evening. We cooked our dinners utilising the stump of an old Red Gum as our dinner table as night closed in. Illuminated by a waxing moon we hit the sack after a great first day. Mark didn’t bother about fitting his tent fly and between the Melbourne – Sydney planes, the satellites and the starry night on show the night sky on the banks of the Hume was far from still.
Looks like a good place for camp Yep Camp site it is! Dinner Table!
'Clack Clack' Classic 