Bob's Long Way Round

21 April 2013 / Report by Robert Collins, Photos by Bryan Shedden

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This was the first run to Nerriga held by the Illawarra Chapter and was held on Sunday, 21st April 2013. On a glorious day with blue skies we met at Hungry Jacks, Macquarie Place, Haywards Bay at 8.30am ready for our start at 9.00am.

Fourteen people and nine MX-5 cars registered on the run sheet, which included four new members, who were participating on their first run with the MX-5 Club. After a brief introduction by Bob & Bryan, we headed south to our first rest room and catch up stop at Mark Radium Park, Berry. It was a great drive with tops down and followed the Princes Highway to Berry for 44 km.

We then left Berry and travelled south on the Princes Highway to South Nowra and then turned off onto Albatross Road and then Braidwood Road, past HMAS Albatross, and headed south west to Nerriga. This is a great stretch of sealed road for a distance of about 67 klms and we all travelled it at a relaxed pace arriving at Nerriga at about 11.30am.

On arriving in Nerriga we travelled on to the Old Nerriga Public School Museum where we were all welcomed by the President of the Museum. It was a gold coin donation and they only open the Museum on request. It was very interesting to see the old artifacts and antiques of the area going back to the early days of Nerriga.

We all then travelled back to Nerriga Hotel for lunch and refreshments at 12.00 noon and we had travelled 130klm from Haywards Bay. We all enjoyed the country atmosphere of the old country hotel and the meals provided at a reasonable price.

At 1.00pm, we zeroed our odometers, and continued south west on the main Braidwood Road, and at 3klms, turned west on Oallan Ford Road heading towards Marulan. We travelled along this road for 73 klms, crossing the Shoalhaven River, then through the town of Bungonia and back onto the Hume highway at Marulan. North of Marulan we turned off to Tallong and then down to the Bundanoon Hotel for adequate parking. We all then went across to Ye Old Bicycle Shop in Bundanoon for afternoon tea. Also the Bundanoon Sunday Markets were still open and some members had a browse.

After an enjoyable day had by all, we left Bundanoon at 3.30pm and travelled back to Haywards Bay, via Sutton Forest, Moss Vale, Robertson and down Macquarie Pass. We travelled a total of 309klms. A great day was had by all.