Ride Report – Araluen 22 April 2018

I woke late, content to have a relaxing day. The club ride will do that for me. I had a quick look at the Branch ride calendar. Damn, it’s getting late and the meet point is Caltex Bungendore. No breakfast at home, and arrived in time to have a coffee and cake at a cafe at Bungendore, seated so as to watch the arrivals next door at the servo.

Mike was the ride leader, and he gave an almost ‘PeterArdayEsque ride briefing, so as nobody would be left in the dark as to what was happening. “OK, so we are riding back towards Canberra North and.....” What? “... turn right at the roundabout and head to Tarago. Make sure you turn right at the Loaded Dog. If you find yourself in Goulburn, I am not coming to find you. We’re doing this loop or we will be too early at the Araluen pub for lunch. We will gather again at Braidwood, just across the main junction on the way out to Araluen and Majors Creek. Questions? Who wants to be tail end – Chris, you have HiViz on..” No, I said, I don’t do the tail end....

And so it was. The loop road through Tarago was good (a bit of roadwork and dirt, lucky Gary McC is not here to see this!) and the run down to Braidwood was a leisurely 110km or so. We had coffee in Braidwood (wait, I can’t remember if we did!). At any rate, refreshed, we met across the junction and some that felt the need filled up (must have forgotten at Bungendore). Mike asked if anybody felt like going a bit quicker down the hill into Araluen, feel free to go up front. Sharon feels better at the leisurely pace. Thats’ quite OK, I headed off, followed by the VFR’s and the other GTR.

We soon arrived at the pub. And who’s out the front? – our esteemed (Ex) President Ian arrived at Bungendore too late for the briefing and so found his own way, without knowing that we put on an additional 50km or so by going via Tarago. Mike sorted out the table booking, and we had to get in and eat before the ‘other group’ (I think Lions or Rotary) ate all the choices. As it was, the kitchen struggled with our orders. But we all got a meal. It was a great day, and after a while we bade farewell and headed home at our own pace.
Thanks for the ride Mike; as usual the company was great. It’s so good riding with Ulyssians as the rides tend to be relaxing and stress-free.

Damn, photos have lost themselves somewhere (I changed my phone).

Chris Dietzel 

Riders were:

• Mike & Sharon Kelly – BMW R1200RT (Ride Leader)
• Michael & Tracey Winters – Triumph Trophy
• John Storn & Ellie – Yamaha FJR1300
• Warren Richer – Honda VFR1200
  
• Matt Hopf – Honda VFR800
• Neil McRitchie – Kawasaki GTR1400
• Craig Fraser – Honda Goldwing
• Chris Dietzel, Kawasaki GTR1400

Oh, and a late starter beat us to Araluen. What? 

• Ian Paterson – Honda Goldwing