Chas is the leader today. We arrived at the Caltex Nicholls just in time (again) to find quite a crowd. We, you ask? It’s not often that my better half Maream can be coaxed along, and today was a little on the cool side. But today is Maream’s birthday (I won’t say how old, but she could be a full member!), so what better to do than just sit on the back and relax – and fall asleep – again. It;s the first time Maream has seen the Kipper & Mick mobile, so that gave her a bit of a chuckle (sorry, didn’t get a picture!). Welcome back to the saddle Ian Paterson, having recovered from your injury. The 11 of us, plus one dog and the birthday girl left a little late, bound for Grenfell.
Our first stop was at the Boorowa bakery, before making our way through some lesser-known back roads (Thanks Chas, they were a pleasant diversion to the main routes) to Grenfell, arriving at the Albion Hotel for a well earned lunch break. A bit of déjàvu – the last time we were here it was quite humorous having the meal order mixed up, and for a while it seemed again we were not going to get the meals served as ordered. Finally (don’t ask me who ate what!) we all got fed, had time for a bit of a chat about everything and nothing.
Discussion was had about the logistics of fueling up for the return leg, as some bikes are a little pedantic and want to be fed 95+ (mine included). Some found fuel in Grenfell, others decided the bike will reach Harden on the return leg and fuel there. So off we went, Chas leading again through some diversionary route, where the road opened out to the Burley Griffin Way and Harden. Here we had our final coffee break and said our farewells.
We all took the direct route home via B.G.Way, which may have been a mistake – there’s a few km of roadwork – no work being done but the road was wet down, and this resulted in the bikes being caked in that horrible road-base kind of stuff that dries like concrete.
Despite Chas’s warning this morning that there is a blitz on the Barton Highway, I got a little ambitious at the Yass side of Murrumbateman and was almost punished by the Highway Patrol for my indiscretion (the high side of 115 is possibly out of the question?).
We all arrived home safely, and another great day out with our Ulysses friends.
Thanks Chas.
Riders
Chas Towie: ST1300
Gadge Cashmere (Chas’s brother-in-law): BMW K13S
Chris Dietzel: GTR1400, plus pillion and birthday girl, Maream.
Mick Beltrame & Kipper: Victory XC
Darryl Cullen: Bandit 1250S
Garry McCurley: VFR1200
Ian Paterson: GL1800
Michael Winters: Trophy SE
Neil Goldfinch: CBR1100XX
Dave Robinson: FJR1300
Andrew Campbell ZX14R (unlike this list, at the back of the group is not where Andrew rides)
Ulysses Club, Canberra Branch Website
