The original plan for the day was ride to Braidwood for morning tea, down the Clyde, regroup opposite the Steam Packet at Nelligan, fuel at Moruya, regroup out side Bodalla, lunch at Diary Shed, (rather then like previous years ride to Cooma), this year ride to Potato Point, followed by a ride to Nerrigundah, fuel at Batemans Bay, up the Clyde back to Braidwood for afternoon tea, good byes and home.
We made it to Braidwood incident free and after a bit of confusion about where to go for morning tea, ie. DOJO or the Albion we head up at the Albion for a pleasant morning tea.
Even though the temperature was hot, the ride down the Clyde was enjoyable and as planned we regrouped at Nelligen, then incident free onto Moruya for fuel.
While riding to Moruya a goanna wandered across the highway in front of us. Blowing my bike horn to hurry it up did not help. Then just before Moruya there where 2 huge bulls trying to escape the heat under the shade of a tree.
After refueling at Moruya we continued on to Badolla for a nice lunch. The girls at the Dairy Shed were marvellous and gave us fantastic service. We arrived a bit early and under difficult circumstances due to our early arrival the girls still provided excellent very customer focused service.
Plans then changed as some decided to head straight home while others decided to go to Narooma to see some seals on the sea breakwall, that Chris Dietzel told us about. Chris very kindly lead us to Narooma and through the town to the place where the seals where reported to be.
While we did not find any seals the ride was really worth while for the scenery alone, including 2 string rays swimming in the beautiful clear blue water.
After we finished a bit of a tour of Narooma, Chris lead us back to Batemans Bay for fuel before our run up the Clyde.
Before arriving in Bateman Bay the air temperature hit 44 degrees. The air was too hot to ride with your helmet visor up. If you lifted your visor you very quickly put it back down due to the radiant heat streaming on your face.
We made it to Bateman Bay incident free for fuel, a cold drink and an ice cream. While at the servo due to the extreme hot air temperature Chris shows us a novel way to keep your head cool in a bike helmet - place your helmet under a tap and wet the inside lining. Nat then showed us another way to keep cool while riding - soak a bandaner in water and tie it around your neck.
After we fuelled the bikes and some heat proofed themselves we headed up the Clyde. Chris lead us for a pretty standard enjoyable ride up the Clyde until about the 2nd last tight corner.
We found a VW Transport van towing a diesel Pugeot stranded half way around the corner with traffic streaming past.
Chris very thoughtfully stopped to see if the driver need help.
Chris soon worked out the van driver was rather inexperienced and needed help. Chris very professionally took control of the situation and between us all we directed traffic past the van until a solution could be found to get the VW van on its way.
Another guy then pulled up on the opposite side of the road also in Pugeot. Apparently he owned the diesel Pug on the trailer. The reason it was on the trailer was someone put petrol in his deisel Pug😢.
The Pug owner was very grateful that a group of "bikies" pulled up to help. He commented "it looks like all bikies aren't the same".
Then a half empty flat bed semi came around corner. The semi driver stop and offered to tow the van up the Clyde. He reversed back to the VW van connected the semi to the VW and with out hesitation the semi pulled the van, and car trailer containing the broken down Pug up the Clyde.
We then got back on our bikes and rode off to Braidwood for a cool drink and more ice cream. After relaxing over good conversation we said our goodbyes and headed home.
Although the day didn't quite go to plan and was a bit warm, the day was a success in that it was a real test of women, men, motor bikes and semi trailers ☺ all past with flying colours - it was a good day.
Garry.
GARRY MCCURLEY & NATALIE TEBAY HONDA VFR1200,
PETER ARDAY HONDA ST1300,
ROBERT MCNEILL HONDA VFR800,
CHRIS MATTHEWS KAWASAKI ZX10R,
CHRIS DIETZEL KAWASAKI GTR1400,
DAVID FORMICA KAWASAKI ZX14R,
MIKE KELLY BMW R1200RT,
MICHAEL WINTERS & TRACEY WINTERS TRIUMPH 1200.
