Cresting that final peak, I could nearly taste the infamous Robertson Pies as I woofed down two emergency Gu’s. I had not until this moment truly appreciated the climb that was Jamberoo Pass. You hear stories of it’s gradient, of its ability to break the souls of all but the toughest men but it’s not something I think you can truly appreciate without experiencing it for yourself. Rolling those last few hundred meters with Jeff towards pie opulence, I think I now understand…
100miles of Albion Park started off as a much larger ride; some 280-300km’s starting in Sutherland, heading towards Nowra and back taking in most of the hills along the way. Distill it down to the essentials to make it a more reasonable single day ride and we’re left with two passes, a mountain and a whole bunch of little climbs…
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So after trying to drum up a small posse from the usual crew, I would get one bite! and at 7am Saturday morning, Jeff Rooney and I headed off for the drive down to Albion park. By 8:30 we were on bikes and (more or less) on our way…
I can’t say the ride started well; struggling to get up to speed on dead roads. At this pace it was going to be a long day! The beginning of the hotmix gave only the shortest of respites from the bone rattler before the going got vertical for our first climb of the day; Macquarie Pass.
I’ve always enjoyed Macquarie Pass, winding up the escarpment through rain forest and water falls, but this was the first time I’d been up with fresh legs. With top speeds of 12-14km/hr though, it was hardly helping our average speed!! An hour and half from start and we were rolling through Robertson in seek of our turn off through to fitzroy falls.
Flattening out, it felt like we were flying as we headed out through the paddocks and fields of the southern highlands. The sun occasionally poking through enough to warm our backs from the chilly air, I gotta say it really was pleasant. But turning onto Nowra road, it would be the next 8km’s that would bring out some of the biggest smiles of the day.
8mins later we rolled, grinning from ear to ear, off the nowra road descent into Kangaroo Valley. It was clear by this stage how things were going to roll. Jeff was clearly gapping me on the descents and I, Jeff on the climbs, but with nearly 2000m’s more climbing to come we’ll see who has the last laugh! Just out of the township we turned into the Kangaroo Valley road for the start of our climb up Berry Mountain. It would roll along for a little while before once again, heading up…
Berry mountain would seem steeper than I remember. Perhaps it was the 70km’s we had already ridden, or the major pass in the legs but out of the saddle was going to be the theme for much of the climb and keeping the heart rate off the red line, the challenge. Low on traffic and views punctuated with open grassy paddocks and forest fringes, it really is a top climb though. the descent down the other side on the other hand was a little more hectic Arms aching from braking and adrenalin still pumping from negotiating the 15+% gradient and various pot holes, we rolled through Berry and the half way point. The section from here through to Kiama I was a little unsure of, but we were about to find out.
“You’re not taking Crooked River Road are you?…”
From Google Maps, it was clear there was a nice back road heading out to the coast before heading north almost all the way up to Kiama. On paper at least, it looked fantastic! off the highway, couple of small towns to go through, plenty of tree cover what could be better!? Stopped at an intersection, map in hand with a couple of locals, it was starting to sound like the highway of death! Not really liking the other option (Gravel road, or pacific highway) we gave it a crack anyway.
Crooked River Road proved to be pretty unfriendly, and while the traffic was probably no worse than peak hour down Parramatta road, the road surface was definitely unfriendly with what little shoulder there was, littered with sticks and leaf litter. Still, with Jeff smashing it along the flats like a man possessed, it was over quickly before we were heading into Gerrigong and an equally unfriendly section of Highway into Kiama for our first water stop.
It was by this point I was starting to hurt a little; Probably not surprising with well over 100km’s and 4 1/2 to 5 hours in the saddle. I’d also given up on a possible 6ish hour ride time in the hope of just making it to Robertson in 6hours!. A niggling ankle injury rearing it’s head, I really was starting to fear what Jamberoo would bring. Still with the last 20km’s or so into Albion Park being mostly down hill there was really only 30km of riding to do right? After a little uncertainty, we were heading out of Kiama along Jamberoo road for the penultimate leg of our journey.
Rolling hills and winding roads would have us weave through the paddocks of Jamberoo, and an increasing cross wind. Passing Saddleback mountain on our left and “Jamberoo Adventure Park” on our right, the rocket clock would read 117km’s before the start of one of the most evil sections of tarmac I was about to ever ride….
It would be nearly an hour later before Jeff and I crested the 6km climb of Jamberoo Mountain Road. Having both feared the repercussions of admitting defeat to each other, or our friends, we both cranked our way up a hill that pushed over 24% in gradient in places. But neither of us had prepared ourselves for a double summit as barely a few km’s from Robertson, the ride had progressed into a death march, grasping at the last of our Gu’s and drinking water before finally making it into the Robertson Pie shop.
With a digestive system still adjusting to coke and a stomach full of Cherry and Cream pies, It would be a down hill sled run from here with 8km’s of flowing hot mix road spitting us back onto the flatlands, a few short hills, an annoying head wind and we were rolling back in behind the Albion Park hotel, a little longer than expected but tired grins included, to a waiting car.
| Route: |
Albion Park -> Macquarie Pass -> Robertson -> Kangaroo Valley -> Berry Mountain -> Shoalhaven -> Kiama -> Jamberoo -> Jamberoo pass -> Macquarie Pass -> Albion Park |
| Terrain: |
Ashphalt, Steep hills, some mildly undulated sections |
| Approx Distance: |
160km’s |
| Total Climbing: |
Approx 2942m’s |
| Approx Time (riding/total): |
7hrs/8hrs |
Summary
In short, it really was a tops ride. There were a few dodgy sections, like between Berry and Kiama, but the descents down Macquarie Pass and Nowra road were top notch! The southern highlands really is a pretty area, paddocks, lakes, forest, incredible views off the escarpment, as long as you can stop gasping for oxygen enough to look around that is:) I really enjoy a good climb and both Macquarie Pass and Berry Mountain fall into that category. Jamberro Pass I’m not so sure on, but like a badge of honour, at least I can say I’ve done it now…
Would I do it again? probably but might skip Jamberoo pass, and probably try to find a quiet time to ride Crooked River Road from Berry to Kiama again!
Happy Trails!
Cheers
Craig
