Pete's Backyard Run

02 October 2014 / Words: Adam Walker / Photos: Peter Reid

There aren't many one-day club runs where you have to factor in a fuel stop or two.

The latest BreakFast Club run was no exception. Six members/cars met up at Pheasants Nest service station for what would become a 850km journey down and around our Nations Capital.

We promptly left at 7:30am and headed for our Breakfast stop at Roselea Cafe (Lake Bathurst), picking up Trevor and our El Presidente Bryan at Sally's Corner along the way.

Getting bored of the freeway driving, a turn at South Marulan had us on the backroads bypassing Goulburn, down past Wakefield Park and to Lake Bathurst where our Canberra members were patiently table sitting. 

A quick bite to eat (BIG Breakfasts all round) and a quick briefing from Peter Battisson, we hit the road south down along the wide open roads, through Bungendore and Womboin, into the back end of Canberra. A quick refuel in Queanbeyan, Pete then led us down Tidbinbilla Road and down to the "Dish". Then we continued along the delightfully twisty Paddy's River Road to Cotter Dam, and Brindabella Road. These are must do roads if you are in Canberra with your Roadster!

It was early afternoon by this stage, so a quick coffee was on the cards at Hall. Here we came to the realisation that Bryan must have some form of tapeworm, as he was devouring another large meal while the remainder of us sipped on your lattes.

From there, we waved goodbye to a few members and ventured down to one of the best stretches of road I have ever driven - the old Wee Jasper Road. Pete instructed me to lead this section and man was it fun! This road is definately a bucket item list for every MX-5 driver. It's a very technical bit of road with wide open stretches then down into 25km/h hairpins as you snake your way down and around the Murrumbidgee River and into Wee Jasper. The scenery this time of year is spectacular!

From there we sipped a ginger beer and shared a yack with some bikies, before bidding our farewells and sampling the Wee Jasper Road in teh reverse direction. Then it was a gentle cruise back to civilisation via the Hume.

All up 10 members/cars attended with everyone having a great day, and a well deserved sleep that night!

Massive thanks to Peter Battisson for showing us his Backyard!