Page 21 - RidingOn Winter2022

I chose to start off packing five doses on the bike, infuse while colours and roads.
in Melbourne, Lakes Entrance, leaving a dose in Melbourne to
have on return after Warwick, and after the Melbourne Autumn Back in Melbourne, Brian and I prepared our bikes for the trip,
run, dropping off two more doses with a friend who would be fresh oil, new tyres, and buying a fuel bladder for a longer
driving up to Warwick and infuse twice again while there. Thus, range than my 15-litre tank can manage.
allowing me some adventurous fun on the way up.
Next was Bruthen via the back north roads of Gippsland
My reputation for not packing light remained. I see no including a stop at Toongabbie General Store. Brian while
advantage of packing light, just regret, and who really cares, researching for potential fuel stops stumbled on the reviews
there is no prize. There’s been many times I have jump-started, for this general store which has a reputation for slices etc. It
reinflated tyres, produced tyre repair kits, cable ties, electrical became the focus of the day’s trip and worthy of its claim and
tape, the multipurpose Leatherman tool, hung up washing with the catalyst to the downfall of plans to eat healthy this trip.
my side stand puck cord, and performed various levels of first
aid. No one I helped has ever complained. Due to wet weather, changes were made on day two with the
much-anticipated Barry’s Way put on hold for the safer but
First, I stopped over in Melbourne before meeting up with Greg enormously tight and winding Bonang Road option into NSW.
and continue to Lakes Entrance linking with the Melbourne It still gave us 10km of dirt road and that satisfying muddy
Branch Autumn Run the next day at Bruthen. This is an annual bike look. Later that day about 10kms up the back road to
ride through Gippsland, Heyfield, Bruthen, Omeo, over Mt Braidwood from Cooma, we had to backtrack due to the poor,
Hotham finishing at Tawonga for the night. The group returns slippery, muddy state of the road. We came across Greg who
to Melbourne via Myrtleford, Whitfield, Mansfield and then splits was to due meet us. He didn’t resist backtracking either. What
to return home or continue onto another trip such as myself. hurt most was the Harley rider, we had seen caked in mud,
This year the weather put on a great show, and the high slipping his way along had indeed successfully navigated the
country never fails to impress with its magnificence in scenery, entire length of the road. Later arriving in Braidwood in the rain

There's been many times I have
jump-started, reinflated
tyres, produced tyre repair
kits, cable ties, electrical
tape, the multipurpose
Leatherman tool, hung up
washing with my side stand
puck cord, and performed
various levels of first aid.
No one I helped has ever
complained.

RIDING ON 21