Five Hills Run

02 February 2016 / Leaders Norm and Roz Barker, Photos Roz Barker

This was the first run for 2016, our annual Five Hills Run, on an overcast but warm day. Good conditions for the tops down on a cruise around Canberra’s Lake Burley Griffin, going up and down five of the hills. There were 21 MX 5s and one Morgan (it did have an MX5 gearbox) lined up in front of the Russell offices.

After a briefing, Norm and Roz Barker led the group to the first hill, Mt Pleasant (Hill 1) which is in the grounds of Duntroon/ADFA. We had a short stop to take in the view and a chat. A number of our group had never visited this hill before and appreciated the different perspective.

                                

The convoy the continued to Mt Ainslie (Hill 2), whichinvolved a steep climb on a winding road. Another short stop and the convoy attracted plenty of attention from others there. On the way down we had an encounter with an echidna crossing the road.

The route then took us past the Australian War Memorial and down Anzac Parade. At the bottom of Anzac Parade the group turned right and followed the lake along to Black Mountain (Hill 3).  This is another steep and winding road but we didn’t stop, just circled the car park with the leader meeting the tail end as they made it to the top. As it was a Sunday evening the roads very quiet and although it was a large convoy it was able to keep together, which made a spectacular sight going around the lake.

At the bottom of Black Mountain we made our way west to the National Arboretum and up to the top of Dairy Farmers Hill (Hill 4). As the clouds were looking threatening we didn’t stop here.           

Leaving the National Arboretum, the route took us past the Canberra Zoo and across the top of Scrivener Dam, through Curtin and Deakin and up Red Hill (Hill 5).  At the top the convoy formed up in the car park for some photos, which show three different MX5 models lined up at the front and Barry’s NB at the rear.

The convoy then proceeded down the hill to Melbourne Avenue around Parliament House via State Circle and to Lennox Gardens for a BBQ/picnic. People spread out on the lawns and chatted but no Roulettes this year as the flyover was to be on Australia day eve, the next day (even though last year everyone thought that the run leaders organised the flyover, so it was explained that the cloud cover was too low this year). Everyone had an enjoyable drive and time together over the picnic, we got to know some new members and it stayed dry!