At least 3 times over the years we have arrived at Braidwood on multiday rides and talked about the dirt backway to Cooma, approx 60ks of easy dirt roads. Every time there have been huge Thunderstorms about and heavy rain plus dirt on road tyres resulted in sense prevailing and no dirt happening, I am pretty sure this isn't the way Marty planned on going, or maybe it was.
Braidwood To Cooma, Maybe.
- Thread starter Vince
- Start date
Enjoyed that video. Reminded me of a trip out west last year, looking for the backway into Bryce National Park. Didn't end well for one in our group on a 1200 Tenere that slid into deep ravine upside down when the track turned to mud-slush-ice. Had the full insurance coverage and road side assistance on the rental. Just had to nurse it back the blacktop before all the oil blew out of a hole in the crankcase.
mauricejota7604
Hero member
- Location
- Victoria Australia
Now that would be a great ride on my XCF 350 !!!!!!
breganzane
Hero member
- Location
- NSW Australia
Thanks TC, I'd almost got over that trauma. Back to counseling then...Ahhh, the Nimitable Pub....
That bought back memories
notice they didn't mention the Venison hey Steve....
As for the back road to Cooma (though not as 'back' as those dirt bike guys did!) I've done it a few times on the RGA and Jota. If you're heading to/from Braidwood then the most direct way is via Newmeralla, Badja, Ballalaba and Bendoura, which is the road here:
Given that I end up turning off before Braidwood and heading toward Captains Flat for home, there's also a decent road if you turn left at Newmeralla and go via Jerangle, Anembo and Jingera. That road brings you directly to the Captains Flat pub, if it's open. I did that one with Christiane on the V65 and I on the Jota, both ways were perfectly fine in good weather as long as you're not too precious about your bike. There are some rocky/stony sections but you can generally plod along at 60-80k's or more without concern.
Not sure what they're like since all this rain though.
Cosi
Hero member
- Location
- Kingscliff
So your saying it’s “good dirt”, love a bit of good dirt, just like riding in the rain….
breganzane
Hero member
- Location
- NSW Australia
Yep, 'good dirt' sums it up. 
Allow extra time though, for me heading home it's usually about 1:30 on the monaro highway and took close to 3hrs for Craig and I on the back road. We stopped in the middle where this photo was taken and perhaps a shandy at the 'Flat, and then my route home from the 'Flat is pretty circituitous, but still it's not an easy trundle like the highway.
If going direct Braidwood to Cooma the time difference would be less since it's a much more direct route than the Kings/Monaro. The bonus is that the bitumen bits where they exist are fun because the roads are empty. The road from Newmeralla toward Jerangle is fantastic windy bitumen up and over a range for the first bit. Cooma to Newmeralla is a nice ride too.
Allow extra time though, for me heading home it's usually about 1:30 on the monaro highway and took close to 3hrs for Craig and I on the back road. We stopped in the middle where this photo was taken and perhaps a shandy at the 'Flat, and then my route home from the 'Flat is pretty circituitous, but still it's not an easy trundle like the highway.
If going direct Braidwood to Cooma the time difference would be less since it's a much more direct route than the Kings/Monaro. The bonus is that the bitumen bits where they exist are fun because the roads are empty. The road from Newmeralla toward Jerangle is fantastic windy bitumen up and over a range for the first bit. Cooma to Newmeralla is a nice ride too.
It looks great Steve, it's the bloody rain on the Horizon that is the constant issue. I know I report this a lot but my ride on The Barrys Way from Victoria in the rain years ago on road rubber was TRAUMATISING for life. Constant front-end slides at walking pace must have that effect, never again if avoidable.