After last year I wasn't convinced I was going to go again. The date conflicted with the FarNat FarRally. But when the time came, I chose to go on the Snowy Ride... how can you not? It is a good cause after all...
In the lead up funds got *very* tight and I ended up cancelling my accommodation (I was happy enough to leave my registration as a donation). But in the end I ended up in with the Canberra Riders guys :D
Headed out to Thredbo Friday afternoon and settled in... the boys had been out to Jindabyne to do some grocery shopping so all that was required was to claim a bed and open the bar :D Eventually after a meaty dinner (with oceans of potato salad) it was time to go to the pub and... where is everyone?? It was very quiet in there! Ran into Robyn though which was cool :D
Saturday morning dawned super bright and sunny! and.. wait for it... I actually felt like going riding! On the Snowy Ride! I must say this is thanks to Dids who insisted on using a measuring device when mixing our drinks rather than the usual 'guesstimation'...
So we all got dressed and headed out towards Khancoban where we got fuel and regrouped. Turns out that Tai had gone to get some oil for his R6 and there was an accident just out of Thredbo that had closed the road. So we settled in to wait for his arrival. There was a sausage sizzle (YUM) and I made a daisy chain (no photo) and then he turned up - miles in front of anyone else :D We let him have a bit of a break and then headed up the hill towards Cabramurra... holy fucking hell I remembered why I don't ride the Snowy Ride - just spent the whole way hugging the absolute left to give way to all the RIDERS on the wrong side of the road... anyway without incident we made it to Adaminaby for a late lunch (one of the best steak sangas EVAH), and our first stamp (Khancoban is no longer a check point). We got fuel and then headed to Berridale to get our second stamp but they had already packed up and gone home! OH NO!. Jindabyne for our second stamp and we quickly set off for Thredbo to avoid the mass ride. FAIL. The guys all got through but Miss Patience here didn't - they closed the road to us - there was one car and two bikes in front of me. le sigh.
Watched all the bikes roll out and out and out and eventually we got to go too... crawled into Thredbo, the mass ride turns in at the first exit and I thought about going straight and down the second exit but... decided what the hell, I rode with the Mass Ride thusfar... so I did the parade through Thredbo too :D I just went straight back to the chalet though as it was too hard to try and stop and park while riding two abreast :( So I didn't get my third stamp or my card in the draw for the bike :(
Eventually the guys came home and the bar was opened - we had another meaty dinner with oceans of potato salad before heading down to the pub. The band this year was Dirty Deeds (ACDC coverband for those who don't know) and we heard them start up... the guys were still finishing their drinks so I said I'd see them over there, found Sharie and Androo (with no kids - was most strange) and then found Robyn and we rocked out for the whole show - so much screaming along, I am surprised I had a voice left. Eventually the band was over and Robyn left and I went back to the pub to find the CR guys - but I hit the wall soon after and went home and to bed.
Sunday morning was bright and sunny again though I had a rotten headache so took some drugs and back to sleep for a bit. Most of the guys were heading straight back to Canberra for a variety of reasons but Craig, Tai and I decided to Charlotte Pass - somewhere I had never been before. So we checked out of the chalte and fuelled up at Jindabyne before heading up to Charlotte Pass and it was really nice!
There was plenty of snow at the top, Craig said I should go and stand in it for a photo and Tai promptly started throwing snowballs at me... he threw one at me and it was all set to go over my head until I stood up at just the right moment and copped it in the side of the face - freaking hilarious - Craig even managed to capture it on his phone hahahaha.
But all too soon it was time to head back home, had a good run back into Jindabyne for lunch, fuel at Cooma and then the slab back home.
(I hardly took any photos this weekend!!)
