Ant's Jamo to Woods Point Run

[ant]

This ride was over a month ago now, but I've been inspired by the amount of trip reports and great pics on display. Well, this was on the back end of a Tintaldra trip weekend, hit lots of twisties but no dirt to speak of riding with the group up there. I've included a couple of snaps from the ride round Tintaldra/Tumbarumba way too.

I can't promise too much picture wise as I'm a point and click kinda guy but here's my tale. Bear in mind I'd only had the WeeStrom for a week by this stage and it performed fantastically as a tourer on the way up to Tintaldra, and also was gobbling up the twisties no problemo during the weekend. But I was still learning the bike and particularly still getting used to the seat height as I'm a bit of a short arse.

Elliots Way

Near Cabramurra perhaps?

A big ass dam

 

[ant]

Anyway, made my way back to Melbourne via Bright, Whitfield, Mansfield, all sealed roads ... as I headed in to Jamieson intending to do the usual E-J run in reverse, I thought fark it, I've always wanted to do the dirt section from the top of Reefton to Woods Point and now I've got the bike for it. Maybe a bit ambitious with my limited dirt experience, already four or five hours of riding that day, a new bike and no knowledge of the road but then again, what's the worst that could happen? Fueled up at Jamo and set off.

The first section was easy along the river, a fair bit of traffic and quite a few Adventure riders coming the other way. If I was stopped to take a photo they'd always just make sure I wasn't broken down which was also reassuring. A group of guys on dirt bikes made the "eye in the sky" hand signal - I was like cops and cameras out here? Really? But I took them at their signal so to speak.

Riverside

So far the Strom was coping with the dirt pretty well considering I had the tyres over-inflated by 2psi front and rear... and my dirt riding technique was still pretty agricultural.

Then a gentle climb up, saw the local copper in the 4wd coming the other way so I assumed that was what all the signalling was all about.

 

[ant]

Anyways, it was through the small townships with their 40km an hour zones and sealed road - amazing that these places even exist not so far outside Melbourne, it's another world... Then up the mountain.

This is where I found the going starting to get tricky. Lots of tight corners heading up hill and the road was very dry with that fine clay powder that seemed to be two inches thick in places. I found I was really struggling with rights in particular as I was still trying to use a road riding counter-steer and lean with the bike technique. Nearly dropped it on one corner and had to put a foot down but somehow stayed up. I was losing confidence and target fixating on the edge and the road surface which wasn't helping much. Anyway, made it through the section where it opens up a bit as you get higher, there's a funny looking camp with lots of flags and banners, a yoga retreat perhaps? But the road got much firmer and I was able to proceed on. By this stage it was starting to get pretty cool and the sun was on the way down. I was getting pretty tired and was keen to hit some tarmac again and get home, it had been a long weekend.

Frenchman's Gap (If I recall the name right?)

Eventually found my way onto the awesome short sealed section of twisties so really opened it up again .. It was fantastic, late afternoon sunlight, beautiful trees, and a racetrack all to myself. Of course, I didn't realise that it was a short section and I'd have another 15km or so of gravel on the other side of it But the remaining dirt was in pretty good shape and I found that assessing the road surface then looking ahead through the apex was helping pull me through the corners.

Anyway I made it. Hit the top of Reefton/Cambarvale and headed down to Marysville to grab a coffee to help me do the last leg back home to Melbourne. Of course, the bakery had shut at 5pm, so I wasn't really happy. Had a chat to a Harley rider and his pillion - when I told him where I'd come from he said "oh yeah, I tried that road on the Harley once, I didn't think it would be that bad... but it was".

Wouldn't have wanted to be riding a cruiser down that mountain, that's for sure.

 

[ant]

So, that was my first dirt experience on the Strom. I want to go back and do it again soon, especially now I've farkled the shit out of the Strom and feel like I know a little more about adventure riding now than I did then.

 

[-Macca-]

Then a gentle climb up, saw the local copper in the 4wd coming the other way so I assumed that was what all the signalling was all about.

That'd be Ken Dwight, and as long as you're playing close to the rules, you'll have no issues with him.

 

[ant]

That'd be Ken Dwight, and as long as you're playing close to the rules, you'll have no issues with him.

Yeah, was off the bike taking a photo at the time, gave him a wave, he sort of gave me the stink-eye in return, perhaps he'd had a run in with the aforementioned group earlier. I generally have no issues with coppers either although I am pretty horrible looking, perhaps that was it

 

[twowheeler]

Good story & pics. Thks for sharing ......

 

[glitch]

Near Cabramurra perhaps?

Looks like about 2k's south of it.

So, that was my first dirt experience on the Strom. I want to go back and do it again soon, especially now I've farkled the shit out of the Strom and feel like I know a little more about adventure riding now than I did then.

See you for that one end of the month...get ready for some roads you never knew, existed.

Thanks for sharing a good yarn and pics...I'll never get tired of the Aussie Alpine region, it's just magic.
And seeing through the eyes of a dirt-noob certainly puts a different spin on things.
Thanks for the post

 

[ant]

Looks like about 2k's south of it.



See you for that one end of the month...get ready for some roads you never knew, existed.

Thanks for sharing a good yarn and pics...I'll never get tired of the Aussie Alpine region, it's just magic.
And seeing through the eyes of a dirt-noob certainly puts a different spin on things.
Thanks for the post

Yeah Glitch, can't wait! I'm practicing my technique every weekend leading up now thanks to some kind assistance and navigation from Capt. Spock.

 

[CamStrom]

Cool story bro.

I remeber hitting that section of Tarmac out of Woods Point and thought I'd died and gone to heaven.
Soooo smooth and beautiful. Lovely bit of road that.
'twas indeed a biatch to find it ran to dirt a few km on.

Why you ask?

I was riding a fully laden Viffer!

Silly sausage!

Hope to catch you and the gang some time.

Cam