no rules...no politics...just ridin'

Australia Day Short Long Weekend

With Friday being Australia Day and also a public holiday, we had planned to ride down the Oxley Hwy for the long weekend, staying at Uralla on Friday night and Bowraville on Saturday night before returning to Brisbane on the Sunday. We didn't even make it to Uralla.

To cut a long story short, both Kat and I came off the bike on the road to Armidale. It was a hot, steamy afternoon and had just started to rain quite heavy - we were navigating a fairly twistie section and on a down hill right hander my front tyre managed to find a bit of diesel on the road. Did a bit of a front wheel fishtail and down she went.

On coming off we slid along the wet and greasy road for a short distance before hitting some really soft leaf litter on the side of the road - this saved any serious injury. Luckily we stopped before hitting the power pole that was fast approaching. Steve and Denita were riding behind us and saw it all happen while Grizz and his son were a little further back. They pulled up and made sure we were ok and then picked the bike up. We got up and brushed ourselves off - Kat complained of a sore leg - the only other injuries were just some really bad bruises on her legs and gravel in her hand. Think the bruising was from where I landed on her (poor girl!). I ended up with a bruise on my hip - nothing more. Luckily we had just previously stopped to put on jackets and I put my fingerless gloves on. This move saved a lot of skin.

The bike however didn't fare quite as well. On hitting the road it appears that the bike slid for a distance loosing one of the bags and then the front wheel hit a culvert on the side of the road. The impact twisted and bent the front forks, cracked the front fender, dented the tank and bent/scratched numerous other items. After making sure we were ok, I jumped back on the bike and tried to start it - it fired but would not kick over.

Whilst on the corner we watched a number of vehicles slip and slide as they negotiated the bend. A sports bike managed to slide on the approach to the corner as well, but he was able to control the slide. He pulled up to catch his breath and see if we were ok and then took off again. Grizz suggested we move away from the corner and find somewhere a more suitable to check the bike so he took his son down to a grassed area and came back to get Kat - I rolled down the hill but had a hell of a time trying to steer. We mucked around for a while trying to start the bike but it appeared hopeless. Steve needed to get air into his slowly leaking tyre so he and Denita took off for air, to try and find Dodge and someone to tow my bike.

Dodge returned about 20 minutes later with a couple of local guys in utes. We were able to use the side of the tray on one of them as a ramp and got my bike up and secured. The guy driving the ute was Jim, a very casual sort of bloke, and he worked at the Dorrigo school as a groundsman. He suggested we go to Dorrigo for the night, which was about 20 minutes away, and then try to arrange transport from there. We agreed and took off, driving for about 5 minutes to an old fuel stop on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere and stopped for a drink. We let the others know and they decided to come with us.

Jim drove Kat, Denita (Steve's tyre was still a bit dodgy) and I to Dorrigo while the others followed on their bikes. We pulled into the Dorrigo Hotel and pulled the bike from the ute. I made sure I got Jim a carton of stubbies to thank him for his help. He really went out of his way for us and we really needed and appreciated it. We checked in, getting hold of the last room - a 10 bed dorm room, the last one they had, and then headed down to the dining room for some food. After eating we had a few "quiet" drinks in the front bar and then out on the balcony upstairs!! It was decided that the best plan of action was to drive down the range to Coffs Harbour in the morning and hire a ute for the bike.

The next morning I got a lift down to Coffs from an older couple who had also stayed at the Hotel. The road down was slow and twisty but was truely spectacular - views out to the coast with a couple of waterfalls along side the well maintained and appropriately named Waterfall Way. The road was also fringed by rainforest which made it even more spectacular. As you can tell, I had never been out this way before, but can say I will definitely be coming back. Anyway, I was dropped off and picked up the ute.

I followed the same road back up the range to Dorrigo reaching the Hotel about an hour and a half after leaving. The others had already headed off back to Brisbane so there was just Kat waiting. We now had to load the bike onto the back of the hire ute. I managed to get hold of a ramp and we got some help from another group of bikers that had pulled up for a drink at the pub. They helped push it up and then secured it - another group of really decent guys. I offered them a drink but they refused saying that is what riding is all about. Top blokes.

We left Dorrigo about midday and headed back down the range and onto the Pacific Hwy heading home. We got back to Kat's place in Kingscliff at about 6pm to pick her car up and then headed up to my place.

I will now be without a bike, or any form of transport for a number of weeks - at least we walked away from it relatively injury free.





Friday morning - Australia Day - and ready to go..



With the crew at the Kyogle Pub on the way



Roadside stop



It was hot - finding some shade was hard!



On the Armidale Rd where we put on our jackets shortly before our accident



On the back of the ute bound for home



Dented tank



Cracked fender



Plenty of paint off

Pipes


Scratching on left side crankcase cover



A not so happy Kat at the doctors getting her hand cleaned



Doesn't look that bad but she was in a fair bit of pain - WEAR YA BLOODY GLOVES

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New Header

I have added a feature to my header which allows me to vary the header picture on each page load - provides a little more variation and allows me to show off some of the boys bikes. Refresh this page and watch the image change.

The tool that I used can be found at www.imagerotation.com

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Hot Saturday

Far out it was hot on Saturday! We started the day by meeting up with the others at Grizz's place to help him shift some stuff. Stevo, Dodge, Koff, Al, Kat and myself spent a few hours moving stuff around, finishing up just before lunch. It was hot work and the humidity made it even harder.

Once finished, we headed to the local to put back in what we had worked off and to also work out the ride plan for the arvo. We decided to head down Mt Lindsay Hwy and over the border to Woodenbong for lunch but after the initial stretch we realised it was just too far to wait and we were hungry, so we pulled in to the Beaudesert Pub for lunch instead. The meals here were excellent value - the rump was a meal on it's own, covering about three quarters of the plate and tasting spot on. Highly recommended if you are in the area. Anyway, while we were there we decided that it was just too hot to continue down the inland route and so decided to head up to the hinterland.

We took the Beaudesert-Nerang Rd through Canungra and then up the mountain to Beechmont. Once up higher, the air was cooler and this made for a very comfortable section of the ride. This road through both Beechmont and Lower Beechmont to Advancetown is one of the best roads in South-East Queensland - no matter how many times you ride it is always enjoyable. It is not a fast road especially for a cruiser - it is all about soaking up the views and enjoying the tight twisties on the way down to Nerang-Murwillumbah Rd, and they are fantastic. The surface is also in pretty good nick. Kat and I were at the back and decided to stop and get some pix - they weren't that spectacular - we should have stopped up the top. Anyway, the outlook from up there was pretty hazy - looked like smoke - but the views were still great. Once down the bottom we pulled into the Advancetown Pub for drinks.

We decided to then ride down the Numinbah Valley and over the border, stopping at Chillingham, so back on the bikes and away we rode. Dodge took off as he always does but we eventually reeled him in. The top part of this road runs alongside the Hinze Dam and has some nice fast sweepers with a few slower curves that cross numerous creeks flowing to the dam - it is also a popular place with plenty of sports bikes using it to open up and so there are usually cops about, but we failed to see any this time. The road took us through the valley and past the turn off to Natural Arch where it narrows, then over the border and into New South Wales. From the edge of the Border Ranges we followed the road decending into Chillingham - really nothing more than a General Store - and stopped for a drink.

Once done we again headed off, riding through a very hot Murwillumbah and ending up on the banks of the Tweed River at the Tumbulgum Pub. The ride from Chillingham to here was really nothing spectacular - some slower roads cutting through cane fields and finally on to the old highway. We spent just under an hour sitting out the front of the pub watching the ski boats pass and planning our upcoming long weekend ride. It was a great place to be - once the sun was hidden by the clouds the temperature dropped a little, providing relief from the heat of the day. I could have sat there into the night.

It was time to head home - we said our goodbyes and remounted for the last time, heading out onto the highway. After a short squirt Kat and I took the Kingscliff turnoff and arrived at her place about 4pm - it was a great ride but it was even better to get under the shower and cool off.

View of the Gold Coast


Kat overlooking the Gold Coast (and the powerlines!)


Kat, Koff & Grizz at the bottom of the Beechmont stretch


The crew at the Advancetown Pub


Chillingham Store


Yeah.....well enough said!


Alongside the Tweed waiting for Stevo to refuel


The route we took

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Interesting...

Read about this incident that happened down on the Gold Coast on Demo's site - looks like the prospect got more than what he bargained for!

I don't like the way the author describes the incident though - almost like they are making fun of the guy. They don't know all the facts, so they should have posted something a little less sensational and avoided trying to embarass the guy.

Kind of makes sense why they didn't put their name on it, doesnt it!

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Got Time On Your Hands??

Check this link out from the Yamaha Japan website - Fun From Yamaha - Papercraft. Fun you say Mr Yamaha?? Yeah, well I dunno about that!


It really amazes me how the Japanese have the patience to create these works of art. Can you imagine having to design the patterns and work out how they should be laid out on a piece of paper?? They obviously have a long winter where they can't get out on the road. It looks as if they are planning on releasing a component every month for you to fold up - at least there is a little time provided for you to try to master the art of folding paper!!

I might try and make the engine for the MT-01 just to see how long it really does take - then again.....

(Cruising Down Under - 100th post)

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The Long Wait Is Over!

I finally got back and just couldn't wait to throw the leg over my baby.

Flew in from Adelaide on Saturday morning and Kat picked us up from the airport on another warm and sunny Brisbane day. We dropped my daughter off at her mothers place and then, after a bite to eat at my place we decided to head down to Kat's. I was to ride whilst Kat had to drive.

This was my first ride for nearly two weeks, the longest I have gone without riding for a couple of years. I got on and it was like I had never been away - she fitted like a glove. Took off and headed towards the motorway - a quick twist of the wrist and the bike felt like it had more power and was a little louder, but your mind can play tricks after a break from something you do regularly. The sun and breeze in my face again passing all those poor suckers in cars - man it felt good to be back in the saddle.

An hour and 110kms later I arrived at Kingscliff - I rode alongside the beach for a little and really enjoyed the sight of the emerald blue ocean and the bright white sand, especially after spending a few days in the dry and dusty Flinders Ranges down south. I then turned and headed back towards Kat's place where we ate and drank as I recounted my time away.

It was a good trip down to see family and friends, but it was even better to be home and riding again!

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