Mount Darragh Ramble

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23 October 2022 / Story: Brian Clayton; Photos: Anda Clayton, Kim MacKecknie, Simon Tricket, Sue Allen

Mt Darragh Ramble 18-20 October, 2022

Day 1 Prelude – The Gathering

After weeks of inclement weather, we approached the date of our Mt Darragh run with some trepidation. Three years in the planning, delayed by Covid, finally the execution, will it rain?

The plan called for participants to gather in Narooma and we set off under cloudy skies but fine weather. One by one the group assembled and at the appointed hour for “fivesies” we met at Narooma’s Lynch’s Hotel. Anda and I entered the bar to find Martin and Sue with Fred and Kim already firmly ensconced. As new members they clearly thought early was better than late. Shortly after Chris and Dace, Narooma locals, arrived followed by perhaps the newest club members, Bob and Cathy from Canberra on their first MX5 Club outing. Time for introductions and “get to know you”, we moved on to dinner in the hotel and off to bed for an early start the next morning

Day 2 Execution – The Run.

Departure was set for 8:30 am but the day started for most with breakfast at the Beachside Café. It was indeed the breakfast for champions voted by all as a great start to the day. Our party was joined by Jon and Michael, far South Coast members living nearby, and by Simon and Cathy from Canberra who had stayed overnight locally with relatives. It was a pleasant start to the day with the sun rising over the ocean and time to get acquainted with the group members. At 8:30 it was time for a run briefing and “start your engines”.

We proceeded south along the highway, eight cars unintentionally split into two groups of four, down into the beautiful Bega Valley. We paused to regroup before turning onto the Snowy Mountains Highway and proceeding to Candelo for our first comfort stop. After a brief leg stretch and some mutual car admiration, we were on our way to Bombala via the legendary Mt Darragh Road. It is a beautiful drive through the forests along Myrtle Mountain Road before we met the Bombala turnoff, although pot holes were becoming a nuisance. Onto the Mt Darragh Road, now with a 60 Kph posted speed limit. If the twisties did not dictate caution then the pot holes certainly did. Feedback in Bombala was generally favourable for driving a road for which our little cars were designed and everybody enjoyed the run, except, perhaps, for Fred and Kim, whose almost new ND found a particularly nasty pot hole which shredded a front tyre. They managed to limp into Bombala, now only a short distance away where help was sought from various road assistance groups. With promised delays of two hours or more and the local tyre service depot unable to supply a suitable tyre, Fred and Kim prepared to spend a night in Bombala. Having equipped themselves with a toothbrush and change of undies, they received a call from the tyre place who had found a second-hand tyre that would do the job.

Meanwhile the rest of the group had enjoyed morning coffee at Cosmo’s, our regular rest stop in Bombala. Unable to be of further assistance to Fred and Kim, the rest of the group set off for a downhill run along the Mt Darragh Road for lunch in Pambula. Who said you can have too much of a good thing? A lovely and somewhat exciting run was followed by a great lunch at Oaklands Café/ Longstocking Brewery at Pambula. After lunch it was off along the coast road to Tathra for some whale watching. Here we received the news that Fred and Kim had a new second hand tyre and would be back in time for dinner. As for the rest of us, it was on to the Blue Pool at Bermagui where more whales were observed as well as some seals doing as seals are wont to do, sleeping on the rocks.

Back to Narooma with “fivesies” by the motel pool, before a fine dinner at The Quarterdeck restaurant. Here we were treated to the beautiful sight of the sun setting over the lake followed by an excellent dinner. A tired but happy group made their way back to bed for a well-earned night’s rest.

Day 3 Finale – The Road Home.

Not satisfied with a simple run home, we had brunch planned for the Mossy Point Café. Bob and Cathy were travelling home via Cooma and the six remaining South Coast members headed off for an early morning run to Mossy Point. Here we were joined by Simon and Cathy from Canberra for a lovely brunch, following which we said our farewells and headed our separate ways home.

Our run group contained some old hands, some new South Coast members on their first overnight club adventure and four new friends from Canberra chapter, two of whom were new club members on their first club outing. A most enjoyable group of friends making another great club excursion.