Chomp’n’Chat Captain’s Flat – 15 Dec 2013

Before I start – I apologise! I turned up at Caltex/Woolworths Hume with no notebook. Guess what? The list of riders was written onto a scrap of paper that has grown legs. So If I’ve left some names off, I’m sorry.

The weather was great, and as Hume is only a short distance to Captains Flat (comparatively), I advised the group we’ll be travelling through Queanbeyan, up Yass Road, turning onto Sutton Road then Norton’s road through to Bungendore Road. This route is quite picturesque & ‘different’ (we rarely take this road). From there it was out to Captain’s Flat via Trucking Yard Lane.

The ride out was great, but be warned the condition of the roads is average (like what seems to be every road in this part of NSW!).

 Can anyone guess where we had our Chomp’n’Chat? – The Outsider Cafe of course. Food is always delicious and plentiful here, and the proprietor (Gunther) is always up for some lively discussion. As we had booked ahead, he kept the doors closed to the public until our orders were placed, how very
thoughtful.

My much better half Maream had the stack of pancakes (again) – this is always a tasty and filling option. I went for Main course, others had Foccacia, and then some others something else again.
Note to self (and to the ride planners!) – Next time we do Captain’s Flat, bring cash! They don’t do EFTPOS/ATM at the Outsider. Poor Janelle had to beg for a few dollars so she can have a meal!

After a couple of hours of chat and a stroll through the (very amusing) garden, we said our farewells and made our way back via the main road into Kings Highway at the top of the hill above Queanbeyan.

A pleasant day with fellow riders, topped off with happy and full bellies.

List of Riders:

• Chris (and Maream as pillion) Dietzel – GTR1400
• Gary McCurley – VFR1200
• Gary McDonald – BMW R100 S
• Genelle Mills - Triumph Bonneville
• Plus others (sorry, lost the paper with names & bikes)

Chris

Toy Run 2013

A little overcast, a new route, an impressive turnout!

A resounding success!!

Officials at the ready

Gift wrapped

 

Some of the crowd

Mirrored on the move

Heading back to OPH

A winning effort!

Santa's helpers

Xmas Party 2013

Held at the Rifle Club, catered brilliantly by Maritta - and enjoyed by the crew below!

Canberra Branch Xmas party - disgraceful!

Ride to Bodalla – 1 December 2013

Riders

• Michael and Tracey Winters         Triumph Trophy
• Mark Walker                              Honda NT700V
• Garry McCurley                           Honda VFR 1200
• Rowan Boucher                          Yamaha FJR 1300
• Rob Lillie                                  Yamaha FZI
• Daryl Palin                                Honda Goldwing
• Brian Agius                               Honda ST1100
• Peter Arday                               Honda ST1300
• Trevor McLeod                           Yamaha FJR 1300
• Graham Williams                       Honda VT 750

This ride was a little like the ten green bottles song with riders dropping off throughout the ride. Eight riders met at Watson, collecting two more at Bungendore before riding for morning tea at Braidwood under cloudy skies. Arriving earlier than usual the café wasn’t as crowded as expected and we all enjoyed coffee, hot chocolate and cakes before Trevor and Brian decided to return home. Eight of us had a good ride to the Bodalla Dairy Shed riding along wet roads, some with puddles. Staff at Bodalla told us it had poured rain just before we arrived so we were lucky to have avoided that. Just as we were finishing lunch, four pedestrians arrived – Janet and Kerry Mulgrue with Rob McNeilly and Pam and their four legged companions. 

We left as the sun started to shine with a quick refuel at Narooma enjoying glorious riding conditions down the coast through green fields to turn off to Cooma just north of Bega. Perhaps the ride from the turnoff to Nimmitabel for afternoon tea was the best part of the day. The views were extensive and we didn’t have to share the gently curving road with many others.  Mick and I were lucky to get in front of a slow moving vehicle at the base of Brown Mountain and enjoyed a faster ride up the hill than others behind us. Rowan and Mark chose to ride on at Nimmitabel – Mark’s excuse being that he was hosting a BBQ later and he couldn’t expect his neighbour to drink alone. Fair enough.

That left six of us to enjoy the hospitality and good coffee at Nimmitabel Bakery where Mick kindly bought a loaf of bread saying it was my Christmas present. We stopped at Cooma for a fuel stop with Graham and Rob riding straight home. Four of us refuelled at Cooma with Garry declining to linger longer for an ice-cream. The traffic heading north was the heaviest we had experienced all day with many overtaking opportunities taken. Peter was forced over double lines by a driver towing a dog trailer who decided to move into the overtaking lane earlier than could be reasonably expected.
 
Only two of us took the turnoff at Hume to Queanbeyan, parting company at Canberra Avenue. 

 A great day’s (long) ride with good company and plenty of food and coffee. Once the clouds had burnt off and the threat of rain gone, the sunshine made it a joy to be out riding. Many thanks to those who attended.

Tracey Winters

Footnote – there was one other green bottle at Watson in the morning riding a green Kawasaki who chose to ride with another group – yes you know who you are – coincidentally they were riding the same route as us and we crossed their path a few times throughout the day.

Terribly British Day - 1 Dec

Unable to head down to the coast with the brethren I thought I'd check out

I could go touring in style!

the Terribly British Day Canberra. Hidden mostly under the trees and in shade on the Patrick White lawns behind the National  Library of Australia I found instead of leather bound books and dusty tomes a pretty fair assortment of fine British machinery from MBG's to Jags, Rovers, Rileys and Land Rovers.

I wisely left my Bavarian two wheeler near the entrance and proceeded on foot. 

There were many bright and shiny things and despite being somewhat distracted I still spotted friends and acquaintances from the Branch reminiscing over past good times.


Eventually I found the motorcycle section. I may have been a little late as a few exhibits were under way. Nevertheless there were good examples of old and new. Amongst them were Arials, BSA's, Triumphs and a Norton.

Where's my oily rag!

One classic and unrestored example even had a suitably utilitarian Land Rover of suitable vintage to transport it! Oh for an oily rag!

Congrats to the organisers the Jaguar Driver Club (and yes there were many fine examples of the Jags as well)

All in all it was positively spiffing!


Gary Mac

Valenced mudguards - it says automobile!

A recently restored BSA and a modern Triumph Thruxton

Too late to drool over - but this Norton sounded most fine!

I likes it I does

Old and new made for some interesting comparisons

An Empire Star 350!