First Pub and Grub ride, 27-28 February 2019

Hot weather was forecast, so with summer gear on and all vents and sleeve zips open for ventilation we set off eastward into the rising sun to the ride start at Chirnside Park. The first of its kind for our club, this ride was organised by Paul and Richard and included an overnight stay at the Tungamah Hotel about 45km north of Benalla.

Greetings over, Paul briefed us what to expect that day and we followed him to the Melba Highway and Yea, turning onto the Goulbourn Valley Highway for a morning coffee break at Yarck. It was now hot and sunny and most of us chose shady spots to park. Stan, Ron, Andy and Jamie joined the ride here and we crossed the road for food and drinks at the Giddy Goat Cafe where there was a table already reserved for us. Chatting, we described having had a truck pull out in front of us near the start, and another rider reported being chased by a truck which was doing 124 kmh. Jamie had made a good effort to join us, having just arrived home from Singapore the previous evening.

Time to go, said Paul, and we set off to Tatong via Swanpool for a re-group. We enjoyed riding through the countryside with little other traffic and were soon parking outside the bakery at Benalla for lunch. A couple of bikes had problems possible caused by the heat and consequently arrived later at Benalla with some of the corner marshals and TEC.

Next stop after lunch was to admire some silo art at Goorambat, and take some photos from the shade of the information shelter, before following Paul on quiet rural roads past huge empty brown paddocks to our overnight accommodation at the Tungamah Hotel. We formed a thirsty but patient queue at the bar as we checked in for our rooms and ordered much needed drinks. Later we moved from the bar to the dining room for good food and socialising. Local historian Dianne gave a talk about the township, the history of the pub and its previous owners, and later led a ghost tour. Publican Paul showed us the deep natural spring which was visible about four metres below via a hatch, and lined with handmade bricks. The building showed no ill-effects from the presence of a huge tank of spring water immediately below it.

The hotel supports the Royal Children’s Hospital and our ride entry fees were donated to this worthy cause, including $50 contributed by Peter Keage which he had won in a draw, so our total contribution came to $350.

Next morning we met for breakfast in the hotel, and then followed Paul in early morning sunlight to the hamlet of Devenish to see some more giant silo paintings. These depicted two Army nurses, one from the WW1 period, the second in current Army medic uniform. Now time to head homeward, we rode past Dookie Agricultural College then Violet Town to Euroa for fuel and a morning coffee break. It was then a brisk ride south to Yea for lunch or to directly make our various ways home. We enjoyed the riding and good company on this first Pub and Grub ride. It’s a great addition to the club’s ride calendar and we are looking forward to the next one. Thanks to Paul and Richard for researching, organising and leading the ride.

Ride participants:

Vicki and John Best.