No ride this weekend!!

Well I didn't really get out on the bike this past weekend - had the kids so I needed to spend time with them. We did head down the coast to Broadbeach on Friday night. I took Cass with me on the back of the X (even managed to get lost) and Kat took JB with her in the car. Stayed at her Dad's new place - very 70's and a cool position - walking distance to the beach.

Saturday was AFL Grand Final day so I headed home on my own just after lunch to watch the game. The ride up the M1 was good - not much traffic but still the usual knob who wants to race. Anyway got home in time for the start of the GF - man what a game it was with the Swannys finally getting up.

From there I headed to Eddie's place for his 50th - got there in time for a feed and to say g'day to the LV crew. Good night was had by all - I left early and took a bit of a ride through Stones Corner and then home.

Sunday was spent with the kids. Next Saturday is ride day for me - can't wait!!

Murwillumbah

Whooohooo!! Another one of those sunny Sundays that we are so used to in Queensland and a ride is on. Both me and Kat jumped on the VTX at about 8:30 and headed for Logan Village for a planned ride south to Murwillumbah in northern NSW. All up about 12 bikes there - just under half were HD's, a Rocket and the rest Jappers. Waited and waited for Dodge - finally got thru to him on the phone and he had just woken up!! Typical!! It was agreed that he would catch up with us at Canungra.

Headed off towards Tamborine at a fair pace - first thing I felt was Kat's knees tightening into my side. She is not used to riding at the pace these guys like to do and she was shittin. I should have backed off a bit...but when your in amongst it you just want to keep going. Big mistake as I could feel her moving like she was not enjoying it. Lost of bends and bumps and that was it - past the point of no return. I don't think Kat will be riding with this mob again - my fault for not slowing a bit. We got to our first stop at Tamborine and she told me that she was not happy with my riding.

It was then that I realised I had scared the shit out of her - bottoming out and scraping pipes/floorboards - and so I decided to take it easy from here to Canungra. After a bit of a chat and a smoke we jumped on the bikes and headed to Canungra. The views out west as we passed through Mt Tamborine were spectacular - so clear, but it was still pretty cold up there.

Re-grouped at the lights waiting to decend into Canungra and from there didn't see most of the other bikes until we reached Canungra - took it nice and easy taking in the surrounding scenery, trying to calm Kat a bit. As soon as we got to the Canungra Pub we walked into the bar and Kat ordered a Sambuca with a VB chaser - this seemed to work really well as from this point on she relaxed a little although I did take it easier. We were there for about half an hour when Dodge finally arrived - good on him - at least he's true to his word and shows up (and makes us laugh!!).

Back on the road and heading to Lower Beechmont - we stayed with the pack for a while but eventually lost them as I decided to take it slowly. It really is a nice ride through these parts. Met up with a couple of the pack who had waited at the intersection of the road to Natural Arch. Rode a little futher and the rest of the pack had stopped for a smoke. We pulled over and joined em.

Back in the saddle and heading south - passed Natural Arch where the road narrows and becomes a bit more fun. Over the border and rode a bit further till we pulled up again for smoko in some sleepy little joint. Decided here to head to the Tyalgum Pub for lunch. Ready to go and then it happened - the dreaded HD curse. Taffy's bike would not start - semmed to be electrical so we got him going by giving him a push.

Took the road to Tyalgum which again was a good road to cruise - little rough in spots but that's what you get if you want to avoid the traffic. Finally rode into Tyalgum to find Taffy again on the side of the road - this time the bike had no power whatsoever. Decided to have lunch first then look into it later. Planted ourselves under the tarps in the beer garden of the pub - what a great place - nice and quiet and the pub has enough beds for us to spend a night - think we will be back! The meals were fricken huge and were excellent - we will definately be back!!
Couple of the guys ended up getting Taffy's bike running so we re-mounted and headed the short distance into Murwillumbah. Stopped at the intersection of the main road into town waiting for the trailing 2 bikes of 13 - we had the Rocket arrive but no Taffy!! Tried to ring him but couldn't get him so rode into Murwillumbah. The races we had come to see had finished - rode down the main street and parked. Someone finally got hold of Taffy - he was on the side of the road somewhere not too far off. We all decided to go back and get him - one down all down! Headed to fuel up and all done. It was here that Kat and I decided to head back home to organise our shit so we said our goodbyes and headed back up the motorway to Briz. Only covered 360kms but it felt a lot longer for some reason

Never heard how Taffy and the others ended up - felt bad not going back to see how they all fared. If anyone knows the ending to the story please add it in a comment.

Yahoo's & Nanna's Present

Had planned to go for dinner on Saturday night with the Logan Village riders at a Chinese place at Waterford. Got a call from Grizz at about 3:00 in the afternoon saying that they were going to take a ride out to my place before heading on to Yahoo's. Well they eventually got out to my place at about 4:30 - Grizz, Panda, Koff, Dodge and Leon (on his V-Rod this time) - and we took a ride to Hogies at Wello Pt for a beer or two. Some blonde wannabe behind the bar tried to rip Leon off but he ended up getting his cash back - we reckon she does it regularly to finance her bling addiction - oh and did I mention DUMB AS DOG SHIT??. From there we headed to the Redland Bay pub for a couple - the view was good - full moon rising and a full tide. All rode back to my place and after trying to convince Kat to come (and not succeeding) we headed to Yahoo's. Dodge decided to provide the entertainment at some lights at Capalaba - smoked her up timing it perfectly taking off on the lights turning green. Didn't even use any onions - just the white line!!

Eventually got to Yahoo's about 7 and man what a crowd - I think there were 35 in the end crammed in around two large round tables and a couple of smaller ones. The meal was excellent although I reckon I got stuck on the table of pigs - no sooner had the food been placed on the table and it was gone - even fighting over which way to spin the lazy susan!! The other table had plenty left over - enough to even start chucking it at us. Anyway, the meal and the people were good and we eneded up standing around outside for a smoke.

Another table in the place was celebrating a womans 60th and on leaving someone asked her if she (Nanna) wanted to ride on a Harley. Her ears pricked up and she got all excited and said yeah - Taffy volunteered to give her a short one (ride). After sticking a someomes helmet and jacket on her Grizz picker her up and threw her on the back. Watching Taffy take off on the road with her buttin the back of his head was funny. On arriving back Grizz lifter her off and OMG - Nanna had a dress on and everyone saw what she had to eat in Yahoo's - mmmmmm!! Anyway, she loved the ride and good on Taffy for making her night.

We left there and went for a squirt through the back of Springwood - some good stretches of road and nice corners. Panda reckons Koff nearly lost it into one of the corners - didn't see what happened myself. We ended up at Garden City and the boys ad play in the car park making lots of noise. After that, parked the bikes and headed for coffee. Bit more banter and then decided to head for home - got in around 12:15. Good night was had by all - especially Nanna!!

PICS ARE COMING - HEY PANDA??

Shock!!!

Holy shit........it's turned orange!!!!

Kenilworth & Mt Mee

Well another cloud free, warm Saturday - it's hard living in Queensland - and more riding planned. Myself and my younger daughter, Cass, left home about 8:30am to meet with the rest of the crew at the Nudgee fuel stop on the Gateway at 9am - the ride there was uneventful but on getting to the top of the Gateway Bridge you could see it was gonna be a great day. Could see all the way up the coast and out to Moreton Island - always a good sign.

Got to Nudgee and Koff (Mean Streak) and Leon (HD FXR) were already there - not long after Grizz (with his new paint.....see the pic below) and Panda (VTX) pulled in. Only waiting for Dodge (Triumph) to get a new tyre fitted after a puncture the night before. Anyway he eventually pulled in about 20 mins later and we were off. Headed up the busy Bruce Hwy - first day of school holidays - and then turned off to pass through Caboolture. Continued through to the Mount Mee turn off where we had our first smoko. After wiping the drool from Dodges shin (chiki in shop with nice HOOTERS) we got back on the D’Aguilar Hwy and continued to the Maleny turn off. Some of the guys left me and Panda for a hard ride through the windys - caught up with them at the fuel station in Maleny for a smoko/piss break.


The road from Maleny through to Kenilworth is to me a great ride - few windy bits and good scenery - over the Connondale Range and passing a lot of dairy farms. The road is slowly inproving although there are still some sections of single lane bitumen - not to worry coz it wasn't that busy on the road out here. Cass was busy on the back of the bike trying to get the camera going - unfortunately all she got was a lot of sky and bush and not too much of the road and bikes. Not to worry - she will learn. Finally cruised into Kenilworth - not a huge place but it does have a fuel station and a pub. Grizz and Panda headed into Cowgirls Gallery which had its opening that day - Bridgit is a photographer who along with another artist has set up a type of motorcycle art gallery. The rest of us headed over to the pub for lunch. Great place to sit out on the balcony watching the bikes come and go - the meals are good too. A few riders that were at the pub had just completed the Souther Cross 5 day poker run - sounded fantastic - 370 bikes cruising all day and partying at the next stop at night - all over 5 days. He was saying that they got no rain - that would make it even better. Might think about doing that next year.

After eating we headed over to the gallery to check out the work - couple of nice shots of Grizz's bike on the walls - now we know why he headed up here!! Bridgit ended up coming out onto the road and taking some snaps of some of us before we headed off. I took Cass down the road to have a look in the cheese factory and after spending about 15mins cheese tasting decided to leave. We re-grouped out on the main road and then headed back to Maleny.

Another pass along the road between Maleny and Kenilworth on the way back - beautiful. This time we rode through Maleny and along the main track back to the hwy - scenery looking out to the Sunshine Coast was great. Grizz decided to take a detour via the Black Stump Rd which took us through lots of slow windys with great scenery and eventually onto the road to D’Aguilar. We stopped for a break at the D’Aguilar Pub on the corner of the Mt Mee turn off. From there on to Mt Mee - it is a great road but just not for high speed riding on my bike with a pillion!! Plenty of pipe scraping around some of the corners but did manage to keep up with the others. Cass was doing great leaning with me all the way - had to keep feeling for her coz I didn't even know she was there - great work for a 12 yo!!

Rode into Dayboro about 4:30 and stopped at the Crown Hotel for a quick smoko - we then re-mounted and headed to Samford. Once there we stopped at the pub for coffee and a final chat. Gee Dodge is a funny bastard - always making us laugh - keeps us entertained when we're not on the bikes!! Said our goodbyes and departed about 5:30 - Koff and me decided to head down Enoggera Rd through town and home - the others turned off and headed for The Gap. We left Koff at a servo after his healight bulb blew and headed home past Suncorp and out Wynnum Rd.
Pulled into my garage at about 6:30 - what a fantastic days riding it was - no bullshit, no egos, just a great bunch of people who enjoy what I love doing - riding around South East Queensland on a perfect Spring day!! Look forward to the next one.

God Squad Memorial Ride and the Gold Coast Bike Show

The first Saturday of Spring...what a beautiful day it was. Got on the bike and met with Slayer & Skids at their place then ventured over to meet up with other Kobbers at the North meeting point at Maccas on Enoggerra Rd at 9am. From there we took off for a warm up ride over Clear Mouintain and back through Samford before heading over to the muster point at Mt Cootha for the God Squad Memorial Run.

We left there at 11am on what was an entertaining ride - lots of cruisers and quite a few Hyabusas in the ride with some riding like idiots but the majority well behaved. Down the Centenary Hwy, Logan Mwy, Mt Lindsay Hwy, Canungra over Tamborine - I managed to leave the road on the way up to Tamborine but was lucky enough to run into some deep dirt that pulled me up fairly quick (I was being an IDIOT trying to keep up) – I quickly turned to make it look like I had stopped to wait for someone (ego still intact!!!) and then rejoined the group near the tail to catch my breath. We stopped at the Eagle Heights Pub for a BBQ lunch. If you ever want to visit a pub with a view try this one – the beer garden at the back of the pub has sensational views of the coastline from South Straddie all the way to the border and the weather on Saturday made it all the better.

After filling up on snags and salad and then some ride sponsor trivia from some of the God Squad boys the ride headed to the Gold Coast Bike Show. What a sight we must have been when the leaders of the ride took a wrong turn and then decided to u turn at lights on one of the motorways on the coast. Anyway, we finally made it to the show and parked for a look. Personally I did not think much of the bike show – lots of tents with wannabe chopper builders – although most of em do look good - and the usual accessory re-sellers ripping everyone off. I must say that I did not get to walk through the main tent due to it being crowded from everyone wanting to see the judging of the choppers. Not to worry – there were a few scantly clad girlies which made it worth the journey. We even saw the Cougar girls mum (she looked about 40 not out - that's age and inches) walking around in her stretched white Cougar top!!

Man it was hot in the sun though so I decided to do the run home to Brissie up the M1 with only my vest on so I fixed my jacket to the rear seat with some occy straps - doh - first mistake. Stopped for fuel at Coomera and then continued until the first Beenleigh turn off when I felt for my jacket and you guessed it – not there . I caught up to Slayer & Skids who I was riding home with and told em to pull over. I told em what had happened and we then decided to head back to find it. We rode over the motorway and headed back to Coomera. As we headed back south I knew that I would not see the jacket again - 400 buckeroos down the drain. We got to the Coomera turn off and rode over the motorway to head north again. The closer to Beenleigh we got the more I cursed, ranting and raving about that jacket until….Slayer pointed to the left of the road and there it was. I quickly pulled off the road and walked back to pick it up copping a bit from passers by I might add!!!! It had been run over a couple of times but because I had zipped it up there was no real damage to it. I reckon it came off the seat just before we got to the Beenleigh turn off and noticed it gone just after loosing it – how lucky am I!! Anyway we continued on up the M1 till I left Slayer & Skids at the Cleveland exit about 5.30pm. An eventful day for sure!!