Bermi Run 2022
16 March 2022 / Words by Steve & cecelia Wakeling. Photos by Rod Nicholas and Norm Barker
Bermagui Run February 2022
Yes, we are off to Bermagui again. This time the weather was not in our favour and so most of the cars had their roofs up for the start of our 4-day adventure. Six cars left Bungendore at the respectful hour of around 11 am and headed down the Clyde Mountain to Mogo for lunch. I had nominated Bermagui as the destination again as we had such a great time in Bermagui last year around the same time.
We encountered light drizzle for most of the way to Mogo and during lunch. After lunch we spread out to visit the shops.
Leaving Mogo, we headed south to Bermagui arriving about 3 pm.
The countryside had certainly greened up and all the lakes and rivers were full. In my experience in heavy rain the first place the south coast highway closes is Bodalla. In the past I had been stopped there after heavy rain on my way north and had to do a U-turn a travel home via the Brown Mountain. Today it was OK.
Plenty of boats in the Marina
After booking in at the Bermagui Motel, right in the middle of town, some headed off to check the place out while a group of us proceeded to the only pub in town for some refreshments. It overlooks the bay and serves Reschs (it’s an acquired taste). Dinner that night was next door to the pub. This is part of the pub and reservations are essential.
Bermi Beach was looking pretty
The 30 min bush walk out to the mouth of the Wallaga Lake was not advisable this year as the path would have been very muddy and slippery.
Saturday morning saw us head down the back way to Tathra for lunch at the Tathra Hotel. We stopped for a while at Mogareeka Inlet, for a poke around the old ferry wharf.
Poking around at Mogareeka Inlet
Mogareeka Bridge
The Bermagui to Tathra road is a great drive for MX-5s, but on this road we cross many creeks and rivers, over old one lane wooden bridges, and so after heavy rain the road can soon become impassable for low clearance cars. We made it safely to the hotel.
The Tathra Hotel was extensively renovated a few years ago and is now an excellent place for a meal. Despite the pouring rain, we found that weekend bookings are essential as the place was packed. Nevertheless, the service was quick and the meals were large, tasty and excellent value.
There was a bit of rain while we had lunch at Tathra
The journey back was a different matter as it bucketed down, especially around Brogo. Speed down to 60 & 80 kph and a few aquaplaning events saw us finally reach Central Tilba for a well-earned coffee/tea.
Dinner that evening was at the local Country Club, walking distance from the motel. The restaurant was very busy, but we were not in a hurry. The meal was excellent with some of the serves being on the very large size.
Sunday morning was free time with some of the members going for a swim. The Blue Pools were popular.
The Blue Pools was a popular spot
We had arranged something special for lunch. Mimosa restaurant and winery is in the middle of nowhere. It’s on the back road from Bermagui to Tathra, about 20 minutes from Bermagui. One end of the restaurant is open to the views over the vineyards and to the mountains beyond. Lunch was long and excellent. It was concerning to see that the streams we had crossed the previous day has risen significantly overnight. More heavy rain would certainly close the road and we would be trapped at the restaurant/winery (not sure if “trapped” is the appropriate word there).
At Mimosa Winery
Posing at the winery restaurant
Free time after lunch was near perfect - sunny and warm; great for a walk along the beach, or (after our delicious lunch) a quick nap.
Perfect for a walk on the beach
Dinner that evening was on the lawn under the Motel’s trees and accompanied with local pizza and really fresh fish and chips, wine, beers, nibbles and a game of Finska (which involves chucking a block of wood at other blocks of wood, and the complication of doing maths while under the influence of much merriment). Lots of laughs. I had asked the Motel owner (Sue) for a rain free evening and somehow, she managed to arrange it.
Monday morning saw us depart and head back up the Clyde for lunch at Braidwood. The Highway Patrol cop that sat at the rear of our small convoy for 50 km from Narooma didn’t worry us much. If he thought he was onto a sure thing, he was sadly mistaken. The wet Clyde Mountain trip was very slow this time with roadworks and a broken down semi bringing the drive to a crawl.
A wet trip up the Clyde
This slowed us down
Overall, a great drive again and a magnificent time were had by all.
Cheers Steve & Cecelia.
