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A Road Less Travelled
By the Macman (Paul McAlister, R1150GS)
from October 2001

On the October long weekend I had to attend my high school Class of 81 reunion back in Gundagai. So after doing the domestics and filling the camelback I was on the road by around 2:30 and with the increased police presence and double demerit points being in force over the weekend I had decided to keep off the highway and main roads for most of my trip.

I left Queanbeyan and headed out pass the airport and across Coppins Crossing and onto Uriarra Crossing. As usual there were a couple of Japanese sports bikes out this way. After Uriarra Crossing I took the Mountain Creek Road that heads towards Wee Jasper and Yass which quickly, and thankfully, turns to dirt after a couple of kms. This is nice easy stuff that the big GS just eats up. It was also along this stretch that a convoy of about six 4 wheel drives came from the opposite direction bringing with them a large cloud of dust that was very thick but other than those 4WDs I was the only vehicle on the road and it felt great to be out in the sunshine just cruising along. This road reverts back to tar after a while and crosses the Murrumbidgee River and winds it’s way into Yass. This road is a very good alternative to the Barton Highway and certainly one that any BMW motorcycle could handle with ease.

After Yass I just stayed on the Hume down as far as Jugiong and from there I turned off and went along the opposite side of the river to the highway. It was on this stretch that you could see the golden canola crops in full bloom and the contrasting purple of the Patterson’s Curse and it was quite a sight. Also along here you travel through several farms and there was a fair few head of cattle on the road as well as a couple of ostriches which was very surprising. This road rejoins the highway between Coolac and Gundagai and I made my way home to my parent’s place at a bit after 5 pm.

On Sunday, and after a lazy morning, I packed the bike and hit the road by around 11 a.m. I re-traced my steps onto the highway and filled up with some PULP at the Caltex at the Dog on the Tuckerbox complex. I had decided to come back to Queanbeyan on a couple of roads that I hadn’t ridden on before and so I took the turn off between Gundagai and Coolac and head for Adjungbilly. This was the first road that I hadn’t ridden before and it is a very good stretch of road and is in pretty good condition. The road is tar sealed for about 30 kms until you come to a ‘T’ intersection with the Wee Jasper – Tumut road and then it was back onto the dirt.

Just after I had turned onto the dirt I noticed a bike stopped on the side of the road just a bit further on. Of course I stopped to see if everything was ok. This fellow’s name was Stan and he was riding a R100GS and just out for a day run from Canberra to Tumut and return. We chatted for awhile about bikes (naturally) and he told me that he has about 4 BMWs in his shed at home. We then went our separate ways and I headed for Wee Jasper. This road is very easy dirt before it reaches Yass Shire and it was very comfortable riding along in the 120 – 130 km range although in the wet it would be a very different matter. After the road gets into the Yass Shire it just gets a bit rougher and tighter although still well within the capabilities of the GS.

Being the long weekend there was quite a crowd of people camping/fishing at Wee Jasper and as I headed towards Yass it was a relief to turn off onto the solitude of Sawyers Gully Road. This was the other road that I hadn’t ridden before and it was another beauty. This road winds its way through the hills and as the sign says it is definitely unsuitable for caravans but very suitable for GSs. This road comes back out onto the Mountain Creek Road which I followed back down to Uriarra Crossing. I then turned right and rode back to Queanbeyan via the Cotter.

This little trip was followed by the Kosciuszko Rally on the 20/21 Oct and after speaking to the Prez a group of us decided to follow some dirt roads to reach our destination at Geehi Hut. So on the Saturday morning two R1150 GSs and one R1100 GS and one F650 GS left Rolfe Classic and headed for Uriarra Crossing. We were expecting Jim Reid to meet us at Rolfes but he must have slept in. As per usual with the ACT BMW MCC we lost one of our group between Phillip and Uriarra as myself, the Prez and Steve Hay went via the Cotter. Anyway not to worry we all know where we are headed. It was along the Sawyers Gully Road that we found our lost companion (Fred and partner) as well as the aforementioned Mr. Reid who was taking his bike on some dirt for the first time.

We re-grouped at Wee Jasper and continued on the easy dirt to Tumut. A decision was made at Tumut to refuel the bikes and to then refuel the bodies at Tumbarumba. Out of Tumut we took the Rosewood Road which is an excellent piece of tar and a road that is highly recommended. The last time I had been on this road I was riding the F650 and it was bit of a struggle to keep up with my mates but this time the big GS just ate it all up. Whilst refuelling the bodies at Tumbarumba we aw some other Beemers go through and Jack Foley rolled into town on his new K1200 RS and judging by the grin on his dial he was really enjoying the new bike. After Tumbarumba the Prez and I headed to Khancoban and then out to the rally site. The rally was up to its usual high standard and I didn’t manage to win the raffle again. On the Sunday I just stayed on the tar through Jindabyne and Cooma and down the Monaro towards the ACT but I still managed a short section of dirt on the Old Cooma Road back into Queanbeyan and home.

All in all I am having a great time on the GS and all of these roads were great fun to ride and surely within the capabilities of most bikes and riders in the club. So if you have the time I would certainly suggest that you all have a look at the map and try and find the dotted lines and minor roads that head in the directions of your travels.

© ACTBMWMCC 2001 - not to be reproduced in whole or part without permission.

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