After  an ‘interesting’ time in Nerriga I headed off to Braidwood.

I didn’t mention in my last post that the Braidwood Road from Nowra to Nerriga had recently been upgraded at great expense )over $1 Billion according to Kyle at the Nerriga Pub.  The odd thing is the the new work stopped a Nerriga.  The road on to Braidwood and the more direct route to Canberra have not been changed.  Both have large sections that are unsealed (i.e. dirt), This means that they are cannot used used by large vehicles and the it also puts off a lot of car travellers.   As Kyle put it: “Who knows WTF they are thinking”.

It checked into the Commercial Hotel Braidwood.  It was such a relief to have a hot shower after being so cold for the last 48 hours.  WTF is going on with the weather.

There was wedding party in the bar.  The landlord’s son turned out to be talented musician and DJ.  The place rocked with late baby boomers’ favourites – classic Cold Chisel, Paul Kelly, ABBA (DJed), Bruce Springsteen and Dire Straits etc.

After a late start, waiting for all my stuff to dry, I headed off to Captains Flat.  Leaving the hotel I was baled up by a local.  He asked where I was riding to.  I said Captains Flat and maybe Adelaide.  His response was: “I suggest you make up you bloody mind, they’re blood thousands of klms apart”.

The ride over the mountains to Captains Flat was short but freezing.  I was passed by a German bloke on a Yamaha adventure bike who stopped for a chat. He is travelling around Australia for 6 months.  He started in Perth and rode across to Adelaide and Melbourne.   I asked why he wasn’t riding a BMW GS?.  He said the Yamaha was cheaper and just as good.  Something to think about.

I am staying in the Captains Flat Hotel built in 1937.  It boosts the longest bar in the Southern Hemisphere .  From my memory Captains Flat is famous for having a closed mine that pollutes Canberra’s Lake Burley Griffin.  It is the classic boom and bust town.  There is talk of a new mine opening.  It may boom again.  Hmmmmm.

I spent Wednesday in Huskisson and the Jervis Bay area.  It is such a great place.  The water in the bay is so clear.  Apparently this is due to that fact that there isn’t a major river run in to it.  Also, all the sewerage in the nearly towns is is treated to such an extent that it any water that flows into the bay doesn’t have the nutrients that simulate algae growth.

I left Huskisson in light rain which soon turned into a torrential downpour.  The plan was to take back roads and fire trails to the Turpentine Road that leads to the newly upgraded Nowra to Nerriga Road.  Relying of the Garmin in this endeavor was big mistake.  After leaving the  National Park and joining the Turpentine Road, the Garmin told me to turn left.  This appeared wrong, but it decided to follow the Swiss Technology’s advice.  After about 8 klms the advice was clearly wrong.  This was confirmed by a short conversation with a Farmer I baled up to ask for directions.  He confirmed that I was heading in the wrong direct.  His  advice was to “stick to fu*king paper maps mate”.

The route up the Turpentine Road and the Braidwood Road was harder than expected.  The pouring rain, southerly wind and the steep climb make for a very tough ride.  The 44 klm from from the turn off on the Braidwood Road to Nerriga seem to go on for ever.

When I finally saw the sign for Nerriga I was so relieved.  However, there was no sign of anything except open country.  I baled up a passing 4WD to ask where the Nerriga pub was. The driver said it was about 5 klms to go.  It is no unusual for signs to be place at the limits of cities and towns.  Nerriga consists of a pub and two houses.  I think it is bit unnecessary to put its signs 5 klms either of the town.

I had called the Nerriga Pub a few days before I left Balmain.  The owner, Kyle said that he didn’t have any accommodation, however, he said I could pitch my tent next to the pub.  I arrived at said that I was the bloke who called about pitching a tent, Kyle responded: “Oh yeah I though was joking”.  I asked I what there was to eat.  “We only do food on Saturdays and Sundays”, was the response.  My dinner comprised chips and peanuts followed by more chips and peanuts.

I then retreated to my tent that was being buffered by a howling gale and pouring rain.  Even the German designed and made Vaude was struggling.  When I woke up in the early morning I found half  the sleeping bag saturated and the other half very wet.

Venturing back into the pub, I  came across Kyle eating breakfast.  Any hopes of having something the same were dashed.  Kyle said: “you help yourself to a coffee a the machine of there. it will cost ya $2, I hope you have the change”.   I had a coffee, packed up and left.

The Nerriga Pub is up for sale.