Ride Report - Green Grocer Chomp and Chat 16 June 2019

Sunday June 16 started off cloudy and cool, but there was no rain forecast. 8 riders met at BP Watson, with Tony arriving on the bell because his 'Check Engine' light had been on ....  he felt confident it was a false alarm, so we started out right on the money at 10.30.

And lo there was a plan of going!

We travelled down the Fed to the Macs Reef Rd turnoff, only to be overtaken by a hopped up Sunday driver in his fully sick machine on the double lines - right after the turnoff. He overtook most of us, including a few cars and nearly had a head on with a Land Rover - and nearly got the opportunity to meet Gary - before moving to the left lane. He overtook the rest of us at the next opportunity that presented itself, scaring the crap out of an old man in a red Camry - and positioned himself right behind the ride leader. Luckily, he turned off down Denley Drive to go and harass someone else.

We rode down Smiths Gap turning left onto the Tarago Rd to head to the Collector Rd, and then it started to spit - you know that annoying kind of rain that is just enough to annoy the crap out of you ?  And that was pretty much how it stayed all the way to Goulburn. Fearless leader missed a turn after going under the little bridge to take the short cut, but got us to the warm confines of the Green Grocer without incident where we all took up a warm seat by the amazing pizza oven, operating at 272 degrees. As usual, the food was great and the pizza looked the goods - those that had it, loved it.

 

The intrepid ones!

After we ordered, Mick Beltrame appeared at the cafe fresh from riding through the rainy southern highlands. 

Our numbers swelled to 9 and Gary led us to the servo on his F6B and out of town to the Gurrundah Rd. This fun detour is a mixture of goat track, potholes and smooth tarmac. Riding through Gunning and Gundaroo we noted a lot of new housing development, Gary saw a beautifully white sheep on the roadsid and a Sharpei that tried to attack as we passed it. 

As we made our way into Sutton a HiLux driver tried to wipe Gary out at the intersection just before the Sutton Baker - full circle with bad Sunday drivers and left Gary believing he really is invisible on his massive motor.

 

The return route.

We regrouped at Sutton Baker for a warming beverage, following the cameraderie that Chomp and Chats should be known for - everyone riding back together and saying their goodbyes before heading north, south, east or west to home.

Top temp on this ride was about 8 Degrees, and the rain was a pain in the butt but the company and the riding were not.

• Ron Tito - BMW R1200GS
• Kim Tito - BMW F700GS
• Mark Mitchell - Triumph Tiger 800 XC
• Garry McCurley - Honda F6B
• Neil McRitchie - Kawasaki GTR 1400
• Doug Cawley - Honda VT750
• Les Robinson - Triumph Trophy
• Tony Henderson - Triumph Tiger 800
• Mick Beltrame - BMW R1250GSA