Three days in and the rhythm is set. Wake up in a country town, good coffee, full tank, and a day of road ahead. Tumut had been a solid overnight stop, and Day 3 was the run that finally tipped us into Victoria and the rally itself.
But not in a straight line. That’s not how we do it.
First things first - breakfast at the famous Pie in the Sky Bakery in Tumut. Bikes lined up out the front on the main street, morning sun on the tanks, and the kind of bakery feed that sets you up properly for a big day in the saddle. If you’re rolling through Tumut, it’s worth the stop.
The plan for the day was Shepparton for the rally - but no straight lines for us. We’d be heading up through the hills and then running along both sides of the Murray, crossing the NSW/Vic border a few times before the day was done.
Out of Tumut we pointed the bikes up toward Batlow and Tumbarumba - apple country, high country, the kind of cool-climate hills that ride beautifully on a Harley when the sun’s out. Twisting roads, big timber, and the temperature dropping a few degrees as the elevation climbed.
First proper break was the Southern Cloud Memorial Scenic Lookout. Spectacular views right across the valley, and a quiet spot to stretch the legs and take it all in. The memorial itself marks the Southern Cloud - the airliner that went down in the Snowy Mountains back in 1931 and wasn’t found for nearly thirty years. A bit of history standing in a stunning piece of country.
From the lookout we dropped down to ride beside the Murray. There’s something pretty cool about it - you’re in one state on one side of the river, then you look across the water and you’re staring at the other state. We crossed the border a few times through the day, and it was a beautiful run. We stopped a few times just to take it all in.
Crossing the Murray, we pulled up for a coffee break at a caravan park sitting right on the water. Very peaceful, and it looked like a cracking waterskiing spot - the kind of place you file away for a summer trip back with more time up your sleeve.
Just up the road we pulled into the Are We There Yet? lookout at Bellbridge, where a big curved steel sculpture frames Lake Hume spreading out below. The Street Glide earned its spot in front of it - one of those shots where the bike, the art and the view all line up.
From there it was down into Albury for lunch at the Albury Brew House on Dean Street. Good feed, a nice refreshing ale, and a chance to catch up with Johnny, who was joining us for the ride into the rally. The group was growing as more riders converged on Shepparton from all directions.
Lunch done, it was off to knock over an ABC Challenge stop - the photo out front of the Albury Harley-Davidson dealership, ticking the Dealerships box. Park the bike, calendar out, photo logged. You learn fast on a trip like this that the kilometres do double duty if you plan your stops around the challenge.
From Albury we crossed back into Victoria and pointed the bikes toward Beechworth - one of the best-preserved gold rush towns in the country. The honey-coloured granite buildings, the wide old main street, the history hanging off every corner - it’s a beautiful spot, and the roads in and out through the ranges are made for a Harley. Well worth the detour, and another reminder that the long way round is always the right call.
The day wasn’t done yet. Next ABC stop was the big Ned Kelly statue at Glenrowan - the town where the Kelly gang made their last stand. The giant armoured Ned looming over the main street is one of those classic Aussie roadside landmarks, and it counted as a Big Things stop. All in a bit of fun, and another stamp in the calendar.
From Glenrowan it was a straight enough run south to Shepparton to check in, drop the bags, and chill out before the rally proper kicked off. Three days and a fair chunk of NSW and Victoria behind us, and we’d finally arrived.
Wristband on, a cold Balter in hand - a little taste of home all the way down here - and feet up for a minute before getting ready for Rally Dinner, Night 1. Hard earned.
The ride down was always half the point. Three days, two states, a swag of ABC stops, and some of the best country roads in the south-east. Now the rally itself.
Day 3 Stats
That’s the ride down done. Next up - the rally itself.