Sunday was a pleasant cloudy day - around 24 degrees. This ride was changed to Gunning to allow people to get home in time to watch the MotoGP.
BP Watson was a comfortable venue to meet and we got away at 10.30ish after the ride briefing and a few stragglers arrived.
The directionally challenged ride leader took a wrong turn when instructed by her Garmin GPS with brand new maps (damn you Garmin). This was an excellent rider development opportunity for everyone - U-Turn practice hones your skills and everyone knows that practice makes perfect.
The Merino Cafe food was excellent as usual, I saw an Anzac Biscuit that resembled a pancake.
After an hour or so at the cafe, some headed off for a longer ride and the other 8 or so riders went home.
The opportunity to get out in the fresh air on your bike with pleasant conversation and coffee was enjoyed, as usual.
- Kim Moorey BMW F700GS
- Peter Arday ST1300
- Julie Hyland Honda Sports
- Mark M - Bonneville
- Gary McCurley and Natalie Te Bay VFR1200
- Ray Ninja 300
- Mike Kelly BMW R1200RT
- Andrea Lanagan Suzuki Boulevard
- Emma Campbell Suzuki Intruder
- Allan Grimes HD Fatboy
- David Formica ZX14R
- Gary Thomas DL650
- Sandy Fisk Deauville
- Andrew Campbell FJR1300
- Trevor
A sunny morning not much wind and 17c with the promise of a real good day for a ride. At first there was a fear that no one would turn up as daylight savings started this morning. That was soon dispelled as riders began to arrive. We had a new to Ulysses rider today David Formica. Hope you enjoy the day and return for many more rides.
After a ride briefing we headed off along the Barton Hwy them the Hume with our turn off at Burley Griffin Way to Harden for a pit stop. The Terracotta Café is always a welcome stop. Friendly service, hot drinks or cold and a snack if you want.
We picked up Steve and Marilyn at Yass on the way through. Trevor left us after coffee.
At Junee we stopped at the Licorice and Chocolate Factory to catch up with Henri Rokx and the Yarra Rangers Branch of Ulysses who were staying in Junee for the long weekend. It was good to see Henri and his team. They spent the weekend exploring Junee and its environs. We did not join them for lunch as past experience had taught us that the Licorice Factory is very busy and we didn’t want a long wait for lunch. Not to be this time lots of space and a short wait. However we had already decided to have lunch at the Junee Railway Station Café.
We said our farewell to the Yarra Rangers mob and headed into town. The Railway Café is big with plenty of seating and still retains the old style railway café with a modern look.
The service and food was very good. The staff are friendly and put up with the usual banter from table without calling security. We engaged in the mandatory chatter about everything from old bikes to how to save mankind and the nation. Nothing was resolved maybe next ride.
Our planned trip home was to Gundagai via Nangus Rd a distance of about 70 kms. There has been a lot of work done along this road, wider, clearly marked even with a fog line. We arrived at the Dog on the Tucker Box to refuel the bikes and ourselves. We bid each other goodbye and safe riding then headed home up the Hume Hwy.
Thanks to the people who joined me for the ride and a very enjoyable day.
The crew:
Mark Walker NT700v
David Formica GTR1400
Garry McCurley VFR1200
Darryl Palin GL1800
Mark Mitchell Ducati Scrambler
Chas Towie ST1300
Mick and Kipper Victory XC
Trevor McLeod FJR1300
Andrew Campbell ZX14
Steve Hopkins and R1200RT
Marilyn Starick
ST.Pedro.
If you are planning on riding down to the 2016 AGM in Launceston and have not yet booked passage for your bike and self on the Spirit of Tasmania you might find the following useful:
The Merino Cafe food was excellent as usual, I saw an Anzac Biscuit that resembled a pancake.
