Day 3 started full of promise. The mountain range in the background, the splash of sunlight on the foothills, the continental brekkie, it was all looking great. The plan today was to do the southern loop of the Snowies and end up back in Bombala for the last night.
The first 40kms or so was a bit trying, I’ve never liked riding into the early morning sun. Once we got into the tree line past Khancoban it improved considerably. I was on familiar territory here as the journey through to Jindabyne was one that I had made many times, both on various bikes and in various cars.
Amazingly, the storm and the attendant damage that had affected the northern road on Day 2 seemed to have passed by the highway completely and the road was clear of both natural obstructions and man-made ones!
Needless to say we made great time and the Geehi Rest Stop was our first pause for the day. It is a picturesque little place but the brand new toilet block that was not equipped with toilet paper or even the bracket to which a roll could be attached was perplexing. What is one supposed to do if one has to go?
It was also here that I realised I had forgotten to start Relive (again) so the figures for Day 3 are out.
The road continued to be deserted but with Paul in the lead I was denied the opportunity of stopping at the Leatherbarrel Creek crossing and throwing a boulder in the water! The Dead Horse Gap rest stop was closed with lots of vehicles blocking the way and even a helicopter in attendance. What I assumed to be an emergency operation of some sorts in progress was proven wrong at the next stop when enquiries revealed that a cull (airborne as well as land-based) of brumbies in the area was taking place. I am in two minds about this one.
The next stop was the Nugget’s Crossing shopping centre at Jindabyne where enquiries revealed that my good CRRC mate, Murray Ogilvie, who owns High Country Outfitters there was at that point winging his way to New Zealand to conduct another fly fishing course. Maybe next time. A cup of coffee and a pastry and we were on our way again.
A very appropriate name!
On the road again and we retraced our steps to the outskirts of town where we headed left onto the road to Dalgety. I had said to Paul before we left that, at some stage, we had to stop and get some photos of the Autumn leaves on the deciduous trees up in the mountains. We did.
Another stop at picturesque Dalgety to mark the crossing of the Snowy River and to admire the lovely new (but old-looking) hotel.
From here through to Bombala we had the road to ourselves and we arrived in plenty of time to grab another coffee at Kitchen Eighty Ate where the lady was playing another Jimmy Buffet track. She informed us that she had seen Jimmy live in concert in Las Vegas some years ago. We, of course, were not jealous at all.
Dinner at the pub was already sorted and we demolished the other half of the pizza from Monday night. Reheated IN the pizza oven so it was not only hot, it was also crispy! Gotta love country hospitality.
So ended Day 3 and, suddenly, there was just one day to go. Oh, well, get some kip and prepare for another blast through the mountains.
