Trip: 15 Nov 2023
Most participants arrived at Hall village, just north of Canberra, in good time before departure. Last minute adjustments were made to vehicles, as well as the purchase of coffees and Welsh cakes from the Kynefin Café, had everyone ready but one. There was a frantic call from one person who had a problem with their alarm clock, so they were to meet us at Jugiong. As one member we all know well (but not on this trip) is often heard to say on a trip, “It’s all good, it’s all good!”.
We left Hall just after 10am. Following the trip leader out of Hall and onto the Barton Highway, we head towards Yass. A short distance down the highway we turned left onto Kaveneys Road and then turned right at Dog Trap Road, taking a different route towards Yass. This was to take us along an easy drive along rural dirt roads, a much better alternative to the black tar. Turning left off Dog Trap Road, onto Longrail Gully Road for a short way, and then Gums Lane. It was not long before we joined Wee Jasper Road and turned right for a short drive up to Comur Street and Yass, arriving at about 11am.
Our drive through the township of Yass was of interest to some who had not been through the town for some time. We slowly moved down the fairly busy main street, past the site of the Commercial Hotel, built in the 1840’s, ceased trading in about 2005, gutted by a suspicious fire in May 2023, and now demolished. We made our way through town and out to the long black stuff, that was the Hume Highway, for a quick drive down to the village of Jugiong.
Jugiong is a small village on the banks of the Murrumbidgee River, just off the Hume Highway before you get to Gundagai. We pass the Jugiong Showground Memorial Park, which includes a large free camping ground next to the river, and then at 11:50am we arrive at the Sir George Hotel where we were to have our lunch. The large historic hotel, built in 1852 and renovated in recent years, is set in large cool shaded gardens.
We were soon to be joined by our missing member as well as Kevin & Karen Phillips who had arrange to join us for lunch on their way to Tallangatta, in Victoria. There was much discussion about how Tallangatta was pronounced, which gave rise to other towns that were often mispronounced by visitors. Everyone enjoyed many chats and a range of delicious meals.
Following our leisurely lunch, around 1:30pm we bid Kevin and Karen farewell on their journey. We left Jugiong back up Riverside Drive, turning right onto Bundarbo Road and across the newly built bridge over the Murrumbidgee. We travelled along a short stretch of tar into open farmlands. The road slowly climbed a ridge to present a strange view of the Murrumbidgee on both the left and right sides of the road at the same time, as we travel through the neck of a loop in the river. It was not long before we hit the gravel.
After a short delay as we waited for a curiously reversing water truck spraying the road and moving towards us, followed by a grader. Having prepared the road ahead, we dropped off the ridge to meander close to and parallel with the river for some distance until reaching Oaky Creek. This was a delightful drive along a quiet gravel road (public), alongside the green river banks and through farmlands, until the road turns south to leave the river behind.
We then turned toward the locality of Adjungbilly, passing the Bungongo State Forest, and then turning left at Threeways Road and then after a few kilometres onto Wee Jasper Road, tuning left toward Wee Jasper. This road travels through a mixture of native forest and state forest. Arriving in Wee Jasper, we have another pause outside of the Wee Jasper General Store (closed at the time) and the new Wee Jasper Distillery (also closed for the day). However, our willey trip leader starts chatting to the owner of the distillery, who is known to her, and is able to organise a private tasting of their gin offerings (of course at a price). It was very enlightening to hear about the different types of gin, how they are made, and how to best appreciate them, of course in moderation. Most were very appreciative and there were a couple of bottle purchases. However, Ralph was not a convert, having not tasted gin before.
The group broke up here with Sue & Rusty and John & Susanne heading home directly via the black tar. The remaining four vehicles head across the bridge over the Goodradigbee River and down the Wee Jasper Road. We are soon headed home via a bit more dirt along Sawyers Gully Road, before re-joining the black tar on Mountain Creek Road, Fairlight Road, Uriarra Crossing and then onto our various homes.
Author: Bob Anderson
Participants:
- Margaret (Trip Leader) and Bob Anderson: Land Rover, Perentie
- Matt Bolton: Toyota, Landcruiser
- John & Susanne Jedryk: Toyota, Landcruiser
- Ralph Radovan: Land Rover: Range Rover
- Peter Simpson: Land Rover, Discovery
- Sue Alexander & Rusty: Toyota, F J Cruiser
Visitors: Kevin & Karen Phillips
Acknowledgements: Thanks to Margaret Anderson for deciding to run the trip and for selecting a great lunch venue, not to mention the surprise distillery tasting.