Tallowa Dam Ride 29th Jan 2026

Well, didn't we have a great time yesterday. Nine riders gathered at McDonald's at Heathcote for a 9.30 start. Promising to be a beautiful day around 24° where we were riding and lots of twisty roads in the destination area, so what could be better. Rocket was there on his new BMW R 1300 GS in all its glory, ready to put it through its paces.

 

Unfortunately I had to change the end destination, because a bit of research a few days earlier showed that the road to Tallowa dam had suffered storm damage and was closed now, and unlikely to be opened until the middle of the year. Fortunately, there is an equally good destination called Camberwarra Mountain Lookout - about the same distance and all nice twisty roads to get to it so off we went. Steve Sampson on his blue 1250 RT volunteered as tail end Charlie, so everything was sorted.

 

We turned off the highway into the Royal National Park at Waterfall, went through Stanwell Tops Lookout, up to Helensburg and then back onto the old highway on to Albion Park, then Macquarie Pass to the Robertson pie shop for morning coffee. Their apple turnover with cream is still perfect. After that it was Pearson's Lane, left on to the Moss Vale Nowra Road through Kangaroo Valley, onto tourist Road and then turn right to go into the lookout carpark, where there are toilets, seating, but on the day no view as we were in the clouds.

 

The group set off together for the ride home, with the exception of Rocket who was going to head further south down the coast. We were chasing more twisties, so we went on the mountain road to Berry, up the highway through the Kiama Bends then turned left and went through Jamberoo, then turn left again and went back up to the Robertson pie shop on that wonderful Jamberoo Mountain Road, then back down the Macquarie pass, along the highway to Helensburgh, and back down to Stanwell tops where I had hoped to have our farewell coffee. We arrived there at 2:58, and guess what, they shut at three. We missed out.

 

So those of us who were still there at that point went our separate ways to go home. I chose to go the whole length of the road through the Royal National Park. What a great day of twisties riding. About 590 km for me for the day.

 

Now here's a lesson for those of us who are getting a bit older but think we still have the skills of our younger selves. At our departure from the lookout, I tried to squeeze my bike past another one parked quite close, and, of course, overbalanced and went arse over tit. The message is don't try and do silly manoeuvres on loose ground. Being a GS, it is unmarked from the fall, but unfortunately something sharp on the bike landed on my big toe and caused it some grief. Good thing I had a solid boot or it could be nasty.

 

Thanks for joining me on the ride. I just love that territory down there - way more twisties than here in the North and much better road surfaces to go with it. For those who aren't going out on rides out of Heathcote, it's worth thinking about coming along.

 

Cheers. Frosty.