Two events for your consideration on January the 3rd 2021; A ride or a BBQ!

The ride is to Charlottes Pass, and if you don't go on that but have some spare time there is an opportunity to support the Branch at a Bunnings BBQ.

 

The Charlotte Pass ride is a distance of approximately 430 km.
It will leave Caltex Hume at 9:00am following the Briefing at 8:50am.am
Lunch is planned for the Alpine Eyre, Perisher and the illustrious ride leader will be Ian Paterson (0427 291 728)
Route notes:  Out via Cooma (coffee), Maffra Rd, Snowy River Way, Jindabyne, Charlotte Pass & Perisher (lunch at Alpine Eyre at the bottom of the Eyre T-Bar). Back via Cooma and highway. 

The BBQ @ Bunnings Belconnen is also on the 3rd. The folk on the roster will be there from 7am to 4pm. However, if you would like to help out for an hour through the day you would be welcome as it will allow a few extra breaks for the willing workers!

Ride Report, Snowy Classic Loop, 20 Dec 2020

This was a great ride on an absolute ball-tearer of a Goldilocks day. It wasn’t too hot, it wasn’t too cold, and the air was clear and calm. In fact, I reckon it was the clearest morning in the whole of 2020 – a year that has been mostly hazy with bushfire smoke and then Covid germs (not to mention the airborne coral sperm blowing around during the last full moon).

Not only that, but the weekend before Christmas always been one of my favourite weekends for a ride because the human hordes are all doing their last-minute Christmas shopping instead of dawdling aimlessly around country roads like cows that have had frontal lobotomies.

And so, eight of us gathered at Hume to take advantage of the year’s best weather on the year’s best riding day on one of the best rides in the region.
We headed off right on time at 8:30 after our leader’s briefing had established that everyone knew the way to Adaminaby – and what more was there for him to impart? Oh, that Kevin would as usual be tail-end Charlie because no one could bear the cacophony of riding behind him.

The Monaro Highway was – wait for it – a joy to ride! Very little traffic, perfect conditions and a wedge-tailed eagle keeping watch over us enabled us to maintain a cracking but legal pace all the way to Cooma (where there is a new roundabout at the Polo Flat turnoff). Here we regrouped and rode to Adaminaby for coffee and a pie from the bakery or coffee and no pie from the Big Trout café. Mike left us after smoko and headed back.

The Snowy Mountains Highway from Adaminaby to Tumut is a fantastic ride, made even better by the lack of traffic and mild temperatures of around 14 degrees. Lots of the country got burned in last summer’s bushfires and it still looks grim and bare. The recovery is just getting going after the harsh winter.
Snow gums reshoot from the base and you had to look closely to see the new leaves. But underneath the woody skeletons there were carpets of wildflowers, mostly cream but dotted with patches of blue, purple and pink, and the absence of foliage opened up vistas of peaks and valleys that are not usually glimpsed. We also passed a couple of mobs of brumbies and plenty of roadkill (mostly wallabies with the occasional wombat).

As we wound down Talbingo Mountain we caught up with a Landcruiser towing a horse float. It must have been full of one-legged horses because the driver was scrupulously careful not to exceed 1.0G on any of the squillions of bends and risk the unsteady steeds toppling over. Mercifully, she pulled over to let us past but then we were stuck behind a Commodore SS that was stuck in first gear and travelling barely any faster than the horse float. Who knew that SS stood for So Slow?

Anyway, these were minor frustrations in an otherwise brilliant day. At the base of the mountain we turned off to the left and rode past Talbingo township to the Tumut 3 Power Station for a group photo and a reorganisation of clothing because the temperature was now in the mid-20s. From there it was only half an hour to Tumut.

We dined at the Royal Hotel in Wynyard Street, some of us outdoors where it was pleasantly warm and some inside where it was pleasantly cool. They don’t do burgers at the Royal, but Andrew ordered a steak sanger and it was a copious work of art that guaranteed he wouldn’t need dinner that night. The staff were friendly and the beer was cold, making it a place to return to.

From the Royal, six of us rode around the corner to refuel at the Woolies servo – but Craig somehow missed out on this message. He was last out of the pub and found a street devoid of both bikes and buddies. Assuming we had abandoned him to the wolves, he took off in pursuit and we never saw him again. A phone call later in the evening established that he had made it home safely and cleared up the misunderstanding. 

The recently upgraded Gocup Road from Tumut to South Gundagai was a delight, with a smooth surface and sweeping bends. It was now around 28 degrees and from Gundagai we set a cracking but legal pace along the Hume and Barton Highways, with traffic only being a real bother on the final single carriageway section from Murrumbateman to the ACT border. I got home about 4pm after an enjoyable day’s ride.

Ian

The crew at Tumut 3 Power Station near Talbingo.

• Ian Paterson        Honda GL1800
• Hartmut Kehm    BMW R1250GS
• Kevin Sherman    Indian Scout
• Mike Kelly        BMW R1200RT
• Ken Dal Broi        BMW R1200RS
• Chris Dietzel        Kawasaki GTR1400
• Craig Fraser        Yamaha FJR1300
• Andrew Campbell    BMW R1250RS

Call for BBQ Volunteers - Urgent

Bunnings at Belconnen have contacted the Branch and offered a very short notice
BBQ fundraising opportunity.  They need a yes or a no from us by tomorrow.

 If you are able to spare a few hours during the day on Sunday 3^rd January to help out please text Tony with your name and preferred time (morning, afternoon or flexible) by lunch time tomorrow - 17^th Dec.

 We are very happy to have been offered this (albeit short notice) as we see it as a great opportunity for the Branch to solidify our relationship with Bunnings for the future.

 So, if you are available please let Tony now – TEXT to: 0408 451 220.

Accommodation available a Mandurah (2021 AGM Rally)

Al Munday writes to advise:

" I have a cabin booked in Ocean Marina Chalets that is not needed as we won’t going to Mandurah.

I can cancel the booking but someone in the club might want it if they have not booked any other places.

It is a studio chalet with a double bed and kitchen and bathroom.

The chalets are located in the middle of town near the water.

The website to have a look is www.marinachalets.com.au

If you need any more info I can be contacted on 0438510137 or AlanWMunday@bigpond.com

I will keep the booking until 10th January and if no one has contacted me I will cancel it"

Please contact Alan if you intend to travel to the Rally and would like to use this booking.

Chomp 'n Chat to Yass, 13 December

Despite a few drops of rain on the way to the Foodary meet point, there was very little rain showing on the radar. We left at 10.30 right on time, headed for Yass via Mountain Creek Rd. The road is beaut fun, with plenty of corners - but it is not in the best of condition at the moment, it’s potholed and fairly bumpy.

While it’s a great road and the best way to go to Yass, there are very few centre markings and most 4 wheeled vehicles (and 6 or 8) feel that they can use the centre of the road as their playground. A number of times, ride leader Ron had to push them over so the rest of us could go through uninhibited. If only everyone would stay in their lane, life would be so much easier.

I was riding tail behind Derek and Margie in the sidecar …. I’m sure poor old Margie was on the gravel more than she was on the road. Being Margie, of course she still had a smile from ear to ear when we arrived. 

Lunch at the pub was great as usual, around the table was an exotic mix of Thai Beef Salads, shared Nachos, Bacon and Egg Rolls, Burgers, Schnitty’s and even a Seafood Basket. 

Four riders returned home the same way we had arrived, two riders took the high road and the Titheradge’s headed off to visit family in Gunning.

Sunshine and happy days – Merry Christmas everybody!

Kim (aka Tinsel T*ts)

• Ron Tito - BMW R1200GS
• Kim Tito - BMW F700GS
• Nellie Mills - BMW F700GS
• Damien Hatchett - BMW R1200R
• Neil McRitchie - GTR1400
• Derek and Margaret Titheradge - VMAX Outfit
• Anthony Hanson - Harley Sportster

The December RO2 is now available!

 Happy Days! Our monthly Branch newsletter is ready.

See the December RO2  >>Here<<

Click on the links above or go to the Riding On 2 webpage

You can also view the entire thirty year archive >>here<<

Ride to Pambula! (6th Dec)

On Sunday 6th December Chris Dietzel (0432 632 667) will lead a 500k ride,starting from  Caltex Hume to lunch at the Royal Willows Hotel, Pambula.

The Ride Briefing will be at 8:20am, for a departure at 8:30am.
Route notes:  Out via Cooma, Bombala (coffee), Wyndham & Pambula (lunch & fuel). Back via Candelo, Bemboka, Brown Mtn & Bredbo (coffee).

Ride to Carcoar – 22 November 2020

 I’m still puzzling about the low turn-out for the ride to Carcoar, when a warm Spring day and exciting corners were beckoning. Only four riders turned up to tackle this interesting motorcycle route. Yes four! 

Were people at church?? Later, as we rode away, I tried to imagine a whole bunch of Canberra Ulysses members praying and singing hymns. No. I just couldn’t match that image with the people I know. I guess there must have been a lot of better offers on this particular Sunday.

This was the first disappointment of the day.

 We took the usual route through Gundaroo and Gunning. The Grabben Gullen Road to Crookwell provided enjoyable riding conditions, with very little traffic and prime rural scenery.

Crookwell town was as dead as the proverbial old dodo. As far as we could tell there was only one place open for coffee – Paul’s fish n' chippie. So much for all my efforts to encourage Crookwell to stay open and capitalise on the weekend motorcycle trade.

We headed out of Crookwell on the Binda Road towards the rustic gold mining village of Tuena. After cruising through open farming country the road started to climb into the rough hilly terrain which surrounds the Abercrombie River.
This is where the real motorcycle riding craft began for the day, as we tackled dozens of hilly sweeping corners and tight, tricky bends. Many of these were downhill corners, requiring deft braking and precise calculation of entry speed on the big bikes.

On this route most riders will be tempted to break concentration and look up from the road to take in the scenery of the Abercrombie River area. The road takes riders across two historic bridges, including the beautiful Abercrombie Bridge, a significant example of a heritage timber truss road bridge. 

 

 

This hilly winding road continues after passing through the quaint, sleepy hamlet of Tuena towards Trunkey Creek, a slightly larger village which was surprisingly busy on the day. Trunkey Creek is home to one of Australia’s many Black Stump hotels.

Out into the open countryside again, enjoying the great riding conditions and pastoral scenery. Beyond Trunkey Creek we took Hobbys Yards Road towards Blayney. The farming country along this road is superb; flourishing in its post-drought conditions, with chest-high grass in the paddocks (head-high in Kevin’s case).

After another 30 km of enjoyable cruising we arrived at Blayney and turned left to head to Carcoar. I pulled over to check if anyone needed fuel, bearing in mind that the fuel tank on someone’s Indian only holds 12.5 litres. ‘No’! It was all good. No-one needed fuel.

NOTE TO SELF: If I do this route again, make sure to top up fuel in Blayney.
Historic Carcoar was looking its absolute best as we pulled up in front of the Royal Hotel for lunch. Staff members were reasonably friendly, and the pub food wasn't bad. That said, Chris’s chicken Kiev was missing the Kiev. 

This was the second disappointment of the day. 

The third disappointment of the day came shortly after.

Of COURSE, there was no fuel available at Carcoar. Also, the little servo at Mandurama, the next little town on the route, was closed. Oops.
This required a change of plan. Our intention had been to turn off the Mid Western Highway and return home via Woodstock, Wyangala and Frogmore. Sadly we had to abandon this more interesting route and ride straight to Cowra to get fuel.
I must confess that I had been slightly anxious about the weather forecast for this ride. As late as Thursday the Bureau was still forecasting 37 degrees at Cowra. The planned route was just shy of 500km so it had the potential to be a long, hot day.

No such problem. The overcast conditions moderated the temperature considerably and made riding a pleasure. The forecast showers arrived briefly as we rode towards Cowra, depositing just 196 raindrops on my visor (I counted them).

So, going via Cowra was no great hardship. Even following the cattle trucks slowly down the own's main street was made entertaining by the little cattle dog who poked his head out the side of the truck and barked angrily at our bikes.
After fuelling up at Cowra, the ride home through Boorowa was uneventful. Scott and Kevin peeled off at Yass and returned home via Wee Jasper Road and Mountain Creek Road.

So, if the opportunity to do the Tuena-Carcoar ride ever eventuates again and you have a choice between sitting through a Sunday sermon or riding your motorcycle, I recommend you take the ride. I promise the motorcycle ride will be more existentially meaningful.

John

• Kevin Sherman      Indian Scout
• Scott England        BMW R1250RT
• Chris Dietzel         Kawasaki 1400GTR
• John Grace           Triumph Tiger 1200 XC

40th Annual Motorcyclists Toy Run ; "Virtual Run" on 5 December

 

The 40th Annual Motorcyclists Toy Run which this year is being held as a “virtual Toy Run” will be held on 5th December for those riders who’d like to get together as a group and drop off toys and gift cards. 

Toys (and gift cards for older children) can be dropped off at the Salvation Army Fyshwick, 5/15 Mildura Street between 0900 and 1200 on Saturday 05 December.

The drop off point is behind the building. Entry is on the left as you see the building from the road. The site is a little tight so riders will need to take care when entering and leaving and not park for longer than necessary to drop off stuff. Members of the MRA ACT will be there to help.

As previously notified, cash donations can be made to St Johns Care and here are the details:

©       Direct Debit, 

Name:  St John’s Care
BSB:    702 389
AC No: 052 094 90

 ©       Credit Card by phone: Please call the office on 6248 7771

 ©       Cheque: Please send to GPO Box 219 Canberra 2601 ACT

Please let them (Salvation Army) know your donation is from the Motorcyclists Toy Run

We’ll (MRAACT) ask the ACT community to look out for and show support for the riders on Saturday 5th December.
The Toy Run has long been a highlight for the motorcycle and scooter riders of the ACT district. 

Ride Report – Boorowa – Crookwell Loop, Wednesday 18 November 2020

Dawn dawned, as dawns tend to do, and with this dawn came the portent of a fine day, 25-ish degrees, and light winds.  Perfect riding weather, and so machinery was set in motion to assemble at Caltex Nichols, for a mid-week ride into the surrounding countryside.

Six eager motorcycles, plus their attendant riders, assembled – on or before the allotted time – to be briefed by fearless leader Warren, and set off initially for a coffee stop at Boorowa via Binalong.
          

 Whilst departure was orderly, the first bike dropped by the wayside within sight of the departure point, as gremlins impacted Noel’s BMW.  It must have been gremlins, as BMWs don’t break down.  Noel pulled over and searched through his book of magic spells for the more reliable incantations to cast the gremlins aside, with a view to re-joining the ride at Boorowa, which he managed successfully.

And so, on we went.  As anyone who has traveled either around or out of the city over recent months has noted, rain has transformed the countryside – the grass is waist high, the crops lush and the whole place looks amazing.  Its not quite Ireland, but the bright green and yellow of recent weeks has given over to a more olive hue, as the grasses cure and crops mature, but it provides a magnificent contrast to the past few years of drought, wildfires and smoke.  (Q = what do you call a 2-week period in Ireland without rain – A = summer….).

Joining the group, as planned, was Carolyn (from Yass) who, despite offers to meet with her under a tree somewhere on the side of the road, thought the Superb Bakery would provide for a better meeting point.  Also joining the ride was John who, having anticipated much of the opening para of this report and not aware of the organised ride, decided to go for a ride solo.

And so the group, now numerically 8, helmeted and gloved etc, departed Boorowa for Gunning via Rugby and Crookwell.  The departure was not exactly as anticipated however, as somewhere in the departure phase the gremlins again caught up with Noel, leaving him wondering whether or not he needed more air in one tyre.  And unfortunately, it was some Kms later (at a halt for fuel, which also split the group) when a couple of us doing a ‘head count’ only recalled 7 bikes, not 8 – the missing 8-th, being Noel’s BMW.

The group did not reform until just out of Gunning, and the head count confirmed no Noel in sight, so the decision was made to attempt to phone him from Gunning (probably after firstly ordering coffee - no offense, Noel…).  But on arrival at the café, a very familiar BMW F800GSA, its attendant helmet and gloves awaited us.  And to top it off, the BMW, helmet and gloves, had Noel with them.

Discussions of his arrival ahead of the group included travels thru’ time and space, or another dimension entirely, but these were cut short (thankfully – we were getting into ‘head spin territory’) by the arrival of the remainder of the group, and Noel’s admission that on sorting out his tyre issue, he took a short cut via Dalton.

Lunch was the usual fare of coffee, sandwiches, hamburgers and bull$%#t in the backyard warmth of the Old Hume Café.  Discussion of puncture preparedness and repair drifted into anticipatory tyre sealants such as “slime” and it was agreed that whilst they could work as an emergency measure, it made professional patching of a puncture less likely afterwards (tyre repairers hate it).  And those who had used it largely agreed that a 1-litre bottle is required per wheel – one generally manages to get about 250Ml into the tyre and the remainder everywhere but into the tyre – wetting the surrounding area/bike/persons involved beforehand does assist the cleanup, but liquid latex infused with a fluorescein dye can prove problematic to remove when it doesn’t really want to cooperate.

On departure from Gunning, the group essentially went its own way home, however it should be noted that Noel was ‘off like a shot’ – methinks he may have been worried the gremlins were looking for him again.

Great weather, great roads, great company, and motorcycles – what more can one ask for?  (my spouse just reminded me I should add ‘coffee’ to that last sentence).

And a hearty 'thanks' to Warren for organising/leading a(nother) great ride.

Robert

List of culprits:

• Warren Richer                               Triumph Thruxton R
• Anthony Hanson                            Honda Goldwing Aspencade
• Dave Mossman                              BMW R1250RS
• Noel Bentley                                 BMW F800GSA
• John Dean                                    Suzuki DL650
• Carolyn Hutton                              Ducati Supersport
• Heike Apps                                   BMW R1200GS
• Robert Apps                                  BMW R1200GSA

 
 

Reminder!! Our Branch Christmas Party is on Friday November 27, rsvp now!

Don't forget the the Ulysses Canberra Branch Christmas Party is on  Friday November 27, at The Canberra Club, 51 Blackall Street Barton,

If you plan to go Please RSVP to Jenny Carlin by the 23rd Nov, and remember its pay on arrival.

Ride Report: Murrumburrah Chomp & Chat 15 Nov 2020

 

 

The route was out via Barton and Hume Highways to Jugiong for a coffee at The Long Track Pantry, then up Jugiong Road to Murrumburrah for Lunch at the Barnes Store Emporium Cafe.

Sunday turned out to be a great day with a top temperature of 28 for Canberra and 34 for our destination. The ride was brought forward an hour the week before in order to cater to a coffee stop at the Long Track Pantry in Jugiong. All up 19 riders (including Jenny there to guide us on our way) turned out, 13 for 0930 departure and 5 at the original departure time. A big thank you to Jenny who volunteered to hang around to welcome and guided those 5 riders towards Murrumburrah via Burley Griffen Way in order to meet up with the rest of us at roughly the same time.

 

So 13 rides hit the road at 0935 following the early morning parade and briefing. The ride down the Barton and Hume highways was an uneventful 110 Kms to Jugiong. So the coffee stop at the Pantry turned out to be a welcome break for all. Jugiong is a popular stop for highway travellers and the regional locals familiar with the boutique Hotel and the Pantry.                                                         

At this stop Jenny texted me to let me know of the extra 5 riders. As the original booking for lunch was approx 8, l forwarded on to the Murumburra cafe a revised number of 18. You could hear some excitement on the other end of the phone. Not sure what about?

After about 30 minutes at the Pantry with a good coffee and chin wagging it was decided to give the sweepers up Jugiong road a go. Surprisingly there was no Mining Trucks barrelling down the road at a 100plus. Obviously they were not working on the weekend. However about half way along, life suddenly turned horrible for a selected few. Just as we were enjoying the dips and bends of this great country road a blowfly infested semi-trailer fll of sheep swung slowly on to Jugiong road on a bend splitting our team up for the remainder of the journey. Those poor suckers stuck behind the sheep truck to Harden needed a hose down, CPR and oxygen on arrival at the Cafe before they could eat.
 
On arrival at the Cafe we were met by the tail end 5 who came straight up via Burley Griffin Way. After some friendly banter on the topic we finally got stuck into lunch. The Barnes Store were ecstatic that 18 Ulysses Rides arrived to dine in their cafe and later on leaving they stated they would be only to happy to cater for us again anytime in the future.

Once outside and before we split up for the return we got a snap shot outside the cafe. After this the team slip into those wishing to head back via Burley Griffen Way and those wishing to go via more country back roads such as Cunningar and Kalangan roads into Galong then home. Kerry and Janet decided to ride on further to get a couple kilos of cherries before returning home. It was the remaining team of seven who returned via the beautiful back roads to the quiet little town of Galong. We were ultra quiet going through so as not to wake anybody.

 Once finally back on the Hume near Yass three of the seven including myself decided we needed another coffee break in Yass before we finally parted ways for home. Overall it proved a great day for a bike ride in the country, just next time we need to ensure we avoid any sheep trucks.

Riders

• Warren Richer            Triumph Thruxton R 1200
• Hartmut Vehm           BMW  R1250 GS
• Kerry Mulgrue            Honda ST 1300
• Janet Mulgrue            AN650
• Steven Bardwell         Moto Guzzi California
• Chas Towie                Honda ST1300
• Anthony Hanson         BMW R1200  RT
• David Burfoot             Boulevard L50
• Peter Ongley              Ducati Monster 659
• Kevin Sherman          Indian Scout 1200
• Derek Titheradge       Spyder   
• Andrew Campbell       BMW  R1250 RS   
• Ken Dalbroi               BMW  R1200 RS   
• John Grace                Triumph Tiger 1200
• Robert McNeilly          VFR800
• Mike & Sharon Kelly   Triumph 1600
• Neil McRitchie            GTR  1400
• Jenny Carlin              Guardian Angel for ride of the day

 

 

November RO2 is now available!

 Happy Days! Our monthly Branch newsletter is ready.

See the November RO2  >>Here<<

Click on the links above or go to the Riding On 2 webpage

You can also view the entire thirty year archive >>here<<

Chomp & Chat to Murrumburrah, on Sun 15th November

This Sunday's ride is a Chomp & Chat to Murrumburrah.

A ride of approximately 260 km it will leave Caltex Nicholls at about  9:30am following the Ride Briefing at 9:20am. 

Lunch will be at Barnes Store Emporium Café, and the ride will be ably led by Warren Richer (0409 836 595).

Route notes: Out via highways, Jugiong, Jugiong Road & Murrumburrah (lunch). Back via Burley Griffin Way & highways.* ride leader will advise of any changes at ride briefing

NOTE: change of start time for Sunday Ride - brought forward an hour from that previously advertised to add a coffee stop at Jugiong

Branch Christmas Party Friday, November 27

The branch Christmas Party will be on  Friday November 27, 

at The Canberra Club, 51 Blackall Street Barton, 

Please RSVP to Jenny Carlin by the 23rd Nov, and remember its pay on arrival.

Check out the flyer below for all the details!

 

Ride Report: Snowy Mountains, 1 November 2020

I suppose that, when leading six riders over 600 km, something unexpected is likely to happen. In today’s case, that was an unplanned diversion and two dropped motorcycles.

The ride began smoothly enough. The heavy rain of the previous day had gone, the sun came out as we passed Yass, conditions for riding were glorious as we made our coffee stop at Jugiong, and they remained so for the rest of the day. We made our planned fuel stop at Tumut, then about 17 km later encountered a roadblock; as I was at the front of the group, I was told that a fatal collision had occurred near Batlow, and that our planned road would remain closed for the rest of the day. I pulled in to a gravel lay-by to inform the team and plan our next move. Then, with a dozen things on my mind, I dropped the BMW; a salutary lesson in applying one’s cognitive abilities to riding first, and worrying about peripheral things later.

There was an alternative route through Greenhills State Forest, but we had no information on the state of the road; the group decision was taken to continue that way, and if conditions became unsuitable we would return to Tumut. In the event, the road was fine; it was 20-odd kilometres of sweeping bends through what would normally be Radiata forest, but it had all been burned out and was now almost completely devoid of vegetation.

Thus we made it to lunch on time. The Tumbarumba Pub is an unpretentious country pub with generous portions of the usual pub fare. It was over lunch that we found out that the fatal collision which had caused our diversion had claimed the life of a motorcyclist. With that sobering news to digest, we continued to Khancoban, and on a long sweeping bend encountered police attending the scene of yet another motorcyclist who had departed the road.

These two incidents were rather pointed reminders that riding motorcycles has its risks. As ride leader, it focussed my mind on what I could do to make the ride as safe as possible, and I found myself backing off the speed a bit, thinking ahead even more than normal, and making sure that the group stayed together.

 

The Alpine Way from Khancoban to Thredbo was, as expected, a magnificent ride; 75 km of winding turns through eucalyptus forest on a dry road, in sunshine, with hardly any wind. We had discussed the possibility of wildlife on this section, but all we encountered was a large brown snake casually crossing the road. However, a couple of corners had been washed out in recent rain and were covered in gravel;  it was on one of these corners that another one of the group dropped his bike. Yet another salutary lesson; this time that even experienced riders can be caught out by the unexpected.

The ride left me with plenty to think about, but all in all it was a successful day out. Two bikes had scratches and two riders had bruised egos but were otherwise unharmed, and I believe that all six of us had an enjoyable time.

Scott

Participants:

• Chris Dietzel       Kawasaki 1400GTR
• Bill Henshaw       Triumph Tiger Explorer
• Dave Jones         Yamaha XT1200Z
• Kevin Sherman   Indian Scout
• Hartmut Vehm    BMW R1250GS
• Scott England     BMW R1250RT

Canberra Branch Ulysses Christmas Party , Friday 27th November 2020

SAVE THE DATE – Friday 27th November 2020 – from 6pm for 7pm

Our Social Secretary Jenny has secured the Venue for this year’s Christmas Party at the Canberra Club (''Barton's Hidden Little Gem' ') 

 51 Blackall Street BARTON, ACT 2600
https://www.canberraclub.com.au/ 

(Older members would remember it as one of our past social meeting venues.)

A two course sit-down dinner will be served and our traditional Christmas Kris-Cringle game will feature on the night.

Put the date in your diary now and watch out for all the details soon…….

Please let our organiser Jenny know if you intend to come as it will help planning! (jcarlin@ozemail.com.au)

 

Canberra Branch BBQ at Bunnings Belconnen, 1 November

Good News!! We have a group of Canberra Branch Volunteers rostered-on to help out at the Bunnings BBQ Fundraiser on Sunday 1 November.

Why not come along and support the Branch?  

Buy a sausage and have a look around the Belconnen Bunnings store.

( 15 Lathlain Street, Belconnen, 2617) https://www.bunnings.com.au/

A big thanks also goes to Bunnings Belconnen for their donation of a garden pack to the value of $300.  

Tickets will be sold at our Social Meeting in November – and the winner will be announced at the December Social Meeting.

Maritta Heiler | President, Canberra Branch #44790

Mob: 0417633000  

Ride Report Robertson, Sunday 25th October

The weather gods half smiled on us for the day.

Saturday was continuous rain for Canberra and the route down to Robertson and I was not confident of any better weather for Sunday.

I checked the radar on Sunday morning and it showed various rain patches but not as bad as Saturday. I braved the elements and arrived at the starting point at Bungendore with the ambient temperature on the bike showing 6 degrees. I was not at all sure if anyone else would brave the elements and turn up for the ride.

At about 8.45 2 more hardy souls, Scott and Kevin arrived and we waited until about 9.10 but no one else showed up.

The run to Marulan via Bungonia was mainly dry except for a couple of very light showers that were of no consequence. It was decided to have coffee at the Meridian café in Marulan rather than the roadhouse or truck stop.

When we ordered coffee one of the riders who shall remain nameless had lost his wallet. With the loan of $50 he decided to continue with the ride.

When we left Marulan Scott led the way as he had the winding route programmed in his GPS which was good as there are a fair few turns to negotiate.

The rain held off until about Exeter and the was steady rain until we arrived at Robertson for lunch.

The café was a warm and dry reprieve from outside and he food was ok with a good choice for lunch.

With lunch settled and body warmed we decided for a direct route home via the Illawarra Highway to Moss Vale then the Hume Highway home.

I decided to stop at Goulburn for a quick break but the other 2 decided for a straight through run to home.

A pretty good ride considering the forecast with probable only about 45 minutes of rain riding in total.

Alan

Riders:

• Alan Munday Yamaha FJR 1300
• Scott England BMW R1250RT
• Kevin Sherman Indian Scout

Upcoming Ride: Snowy Mountains Circuit - 1 November 20

Ride leader Scott has passed on the following message for those interested in taking this Sunday's ride (1 November '20)

"Several of the roads in the Kosciuszko National Park are still closed following bushfire damage last year, so the options for riding through the Snowy Mountains are limited. The truly magnificent Alpine Way between Khancoban and Thredbo is open, and this road is the raison d’être for Sunday’s ride. For those who haven’t traversed the Alpine Way, it has 75 km of endless tight corners through alpine forest, reaching an altitude of 1580 m, on a road surface which is almost universally excellent.

The ride starts and ends with highway travel, but the section from Gundagai to Khancoban has lots of sweeping bends as well as glorious scenery; forests, mountains, apple orchards, and the pastures of the Upper Murray Valley.

The ride is quite long at 600 km, but I’ve planned enough stops for everyone to stay refreshed. ETA in Canberra on return is around 6 PM. Please get in touch with me if you have any questions about the ride. If you’re planning to come along, I’d really appreciate a quick message so that I have an idea of numbers.

Scott England
0402 207 474
scott_e@me.com"

Ride Report – Crookwell and Gunning, 21 October 2020

"Twas the night before Wednesday, when all through the shed

Not a motorbike was stirring, hope the battery’s not dead;

The fuel tank was primed and topped up with care,

In hopes that fine weather would all find us there

 
The riders were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of cambers danced in their heads;

With tyres all checked and their gear laid out neat,

They just couldn’t wait for the morning to meet."

 
I don’t know about you but Wednesday’s midweek ride to Crookwell and Gunning felt a bit like Christmas to me. The sun was shining, there was barely a breeze and the BP in Watson greeted me with a plethora of bikes of all shapes and sizes. I arrived upon my trusty Guzzi just in time to interrupt Warren’s plan of attack for the day. I knew I was really late as Noel was there ready and primed which is something I had not seen before. 

We welcomed Rohan (R.E. Himalayan), Ken (BMW R1200RS), Ian (KLR650) and David (BMW 1250RS) as new riders to the group and then mounted our trusty steeds for a wonderful day’s ride. Warren led the charge up the Federal Hwy towards Sutton on his Triumph Thruxton followed by the rumbling of a Moto Guzzi California, Kawasaki KLR650, Royal Enfield Himalayan, Suzuki DL650, Harley 500 and a Luftwaffe of BMW’s. I’m not sure what the collective noun for a group of BMW’s is but it sounds right. A ‘Class’ of BMW’s was suggested (by a BMW rider) but that just sounded pretentious. Of course, like day comes after night, Kevin played tail-end Charlie on his raucous Indian Scout.

The group expanded and contracted along the Sutton and Gundaroo Rd like an accordion playing ‘That’s Amore’ outside a Sicilian café. We regrouped at Gunning to then head up the fantastic Grabben Gullen Rd to Crookwell. A relaxing time was had at Paul’s Café and it was good to have a chat with our fellow riders over a cappuccino. With coffees drunk it was time to leave Andrew behind with his battered savs and head off to Gunning for lunch.

Once again, the Grabben Gullen Rd proved to be a hoot as we twisted our way among the hills of the Upper Lachlan Shire. I enjoyed riding behind Warren and his café racer. As if channelling the spirit of Barry Sheene, Warren would take the perfect line through each and every corner making my ride easier and more enjoyable. We were greeted at the Old Hume Café in Gunning with open arms as they were pleased to have our business. We made ourselves comfortable in the garden out the back. With the burgers consumed, the drinks downed and the world’s problems solved it was time to head for home.

Most of the group headed off through Yass and back home via the Wee Jasper and Mountain Creek Rd. A word of caution was given by our trusted leader about the dangers of this road as the lack of lines, corner speeds and the odd kangaroo have been known to make some riders become unstuck. I, on the other hand, headed up through the giant wind turbines along the old Hume Hwy towards Breadalbane and then on the Breadalbane Rd to Collector. The Breadalbane Rd would have to be one of the worst sealed roads in the Shire. Full of potholes and patches that would make my grandmother’s patchwork quilt blush, I bounced and bottomed-out my way along what I then discovered was once quite a road. You see at the northern entrance of Collector there is now a memorial to what was Australia’s first Tourist Trophy motorcycle race. This race was held over three laps of a 33 mile course (100 miles) that ran between Yarra near Goulburn to Breadalbane then Collector. The event was held during the Easter of 1914 and was won by Harry Jenkins of Victoria riding a 7hp Indian. It’s worth a visit next time you are riding or driving by Collector.

 

Thanks must go to Warren for leading a brilliant ride. In a way the variety of bikes we ride is reflective of the riders that make up this great club. We all come from different backgrounds and differ in our riding abilities but we all share the same love of riding our bikes on a warm spring day in what has to be one of Australia’s most beautiful regions. Bring on the next mid-week ride!

Steven Bardwell

 
Riders

• Warren Richer            Triumph Thruxton R
• Rohan McCarthy         Royal Enfield Himalayan
• Andrew Carley            Harley 500 Street
• Ken Dal Broi               BMW R1200RS
• Kevin Sherman           Indian Scout
• Scott England             BMW R1250RT
• Robert Apps               BMW R1200GS
• Noel Bentley              BMW F800GSA
• Ian Krebs                  Kawasaki KLR650
• David Mossman          BMW 1250RS
• John Dean                 Suzuki DL650
• Steven Bardwell         Moto Guzzi California
• Andrew Campbell       BMW R1250RS

Wednesday Ride, 21st October; a "Chomp n Chat" to Gunning,

 Looking for something to do on a Wednesday?

Wednesday Ride Co-ordinator Warren encourages Members to join in on the Branch Mid-Week Rides.

More Info:             Contact: Warren Richer 0409 836 595

This Wednesdays ride (21st Oct) is now a Chomp & Chat to Gunning for lunch at the Old Hume Cafe. 

The ride is expected to cover 250km and will leave from BP Watson (please note there is no Super 98 fuel available at this servo) Note: Briefing 9:20 am, departure 9:30am

The Ride Leader will be decided on the day, and the route can be also up to the group to decide.

Warren plans the latest Wednesday adventure!

October RO2 now available!

 Happy Days! The October RO2 is now available for your reading pleasure!

>>Click here<< for the magazine.

>>Click here <<  for the online archive.

 

Joe Rider, riding for safety in Biketober

Just in from our friendly Road Safety Officer in Queanbeyan-Palerang is this news item about the 2020 October "Joe Rider" campaign. It's a key part of  Motorcycle Awareness Month

"Joe Rider Motorcycle Safety  – Report Sightings and go into the draw to win fuel vouchers

Council’s popular motorcycle safety campaign Joe Rider has returned for 2020.  The evidence shows being aware of motorcycle riders on the road is a key factor in ensuring their safety.

This campaign kicks off just as the weather is warming up and we see more local riders hitting the roads to commute to work or take a leisure ride on weekend.

Council has partnered with rider training centre Stay Upright and other motorcyclists in the area who will be wearing high-vis Joe Rider vests while riding the roads from 10-25 October to increase awareness of motorcycle riders.

If you notice a motorcyclists while you’re driving, whether they were wearing the ‘Joe Rider ‘ vest or not, report your sighting once you have reached your destination at www.qprc.nsw.gov.au/joe-rider and go into the draw to win fuel vouchers.

There are five $50 fuel vouchers to be won and one $150 fuel voucher to win for the person that reports the most sightings.

We can all help keep motorcyclists safe by checking twice for bikes

Regards

Joanne Wilson Ridley
Road Safety Officer
Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council"

 

 

Ride Report, Grenfell, 4th October 2020

I’ve been to Grenfell many times, but I can’t resist the place and love going back. Not only was one of my ancestors on a farm not far from town back in the 1890s, but there are also some lovely back roads to explore on the way, and the service at the Albion Hotel is always friendly and welcoming and the food is good.
Sunday morning dawned bright and sunny, and the promise of a warm though windy day lured eleven eager riders to Caltex Nicholls. 

Daylight saving had started the previous night so here was proof that at least a few senior citizens had remembered to put their clocks forward. It was also the Sunday of the Labour Day long weekend, threatening double demerits and ensuring a relaxed, leisurely ride. 

It almost got off to an inauspicious start for me – 100 metres after I pulled out of my driveway in the middle of Hawker a big roo leapt out in front of me and took off down the street. Fortunately, it turned left where I turned right, and that was the last I saw of it.

 

Predictably, there was quite a bit of traffic heading out of Canberra but we took it easy and were soon at Boorowa, downing pies and coffee in the Superb Café. Here, Maritta announced that she was feeling crook and needed to head home. Oh well, shit happens.

As she left, Janet and Kerry walked in, claiming they had slept in and had raced to Boorowa to catch up with us. Magically, I did the sums in my head: 11 – 1 + 2 = 12 riders now.

From Boorowa we headed north-west to Murringo. Instead than turning left towards Young, we continued north on the delightfully winding but narrow road through Murringo Gap and along the delightfully straight and even narrower Chews Lane to the Olympic Highway. 

We turned right and rode a few kilometres to the hamlet of Bendick Murrell where we turned left and followed an assortment of back roads to the top of the range. As the first few of us pulled over to admire the view, it became obvious that someone had either (a) forgotten how the rolling corner marking system works, or (b) simply forgotten to mark a corner, for the rest of the crew were nowhere to be seen.

While we waited and wondered if we would ever see them again, we took time to scan the scenery – and it was stunning. Everything was bright green apart from the canola, which was still in bright yellow flower, and the purple Paterson’s curse, which was reaching a spectacular (though feral) peak.

 The temperature had risen to 27 degrees, which was very pleasant after the damp and Covid-infested winter, while the promised winds had turned out to be pretty mild. And the roads we took were definitely those less travelled, which made for a traffic-free, stressless and very enjoyable ride.

As we stood and gazed upon our vision splendid, the silence was broken by a distant roar, like an F/A-18 blasting its way up the valley. Yes! It was Kevin’s thunderous Indian, making steam as he and the rest of the team, having found the right road, headed up the hill to join us.

From our vantage point it was less than half an hour to Grenfell via Iandra Castle, the outskirts of Greenethorpe and the Mid Western Highway. Here, Mike said he was feeling crook and needed to return home. Again, I engaged my mathematical brain: 12 – 1 = 11 for lunch at the Albion. 

We spent a pleasurable hour or so dining and shooting the breeze before riding down to Grenfell’s grain silos, which have been decorated with beautiful murals portraying the region’s agriculture. Kerry and Janet had gone for fuel and reached the silos just as we were leaving, so unfortunately you won’t spot them in the photo. 

The team in front of the lovingly decorated Grenfell grain silos.

We headed south on Mary Gilmore Way with the Weddin Mountains on our right before turning left onto Old Forbes Road, right onto Henry Lawson Way and into Young for fuel. 

Then it was via the Moppity Road, Galong and Binalong to Bowning, where seven of us pulled in for a farewell coffee at the Rollonin Café (which is still on the market, if anyone is interested). Chas had an iced chocolate that was almost big enough to count as dinner. 

I got home at 4:35pm, having ridden 435 km. This had echoes of the Rosehill back roads ride back in March when I got home at 4:20pm after riding 420 km. Spooky.

• Ian Paterson          Honda GL1800 Goldwing
• Kevin Sherman      Indian
• Mark Sayer           Kawasaki Z900RS
• Warren Richer       Triumph Thruxton 1200R
• Chas Towie           Honda ST1300
• Mike Kelly             BMW R1200RT
• Maritta Heiler        Kawasaki 900 Vulcan
• Robert McNeilly     Honda VFR800
• Dieter Walter        Ducati Multistrada 950
• Steven Bardwell    Moto Guzzi California
• David Burfoot       Suzuki Boulevard C50
• Janet Mulgrue       Suzuki Burgman AN650
• Kerry Mulgrue       Yamaha T-Max

Club ride to Grenfell, 4 th October

This Sundays (4th October) will be to Grenfell. Its a 400 km adventure which will be ably led by Ian Paterson (0427 291 728). 

It will leave Caltex Nicholls at 9am followinga 8:50am riders briefing, for a lunch destination at the Albion Hotel.

The route notes are: Out via Boorowa (coffee), Murringo, Bendick Murrell, Iandra Castle & Grenfell (lunch). Back via Young (245 km, fuel), Galong, Binalong & Bowning (coffee).

Warning:  Daylight saving will have started!!!!!

Chomp & Chat - Boorowa Wednesday, 23rd September 2020.

I am unsure what sins I have committed but it seems the price to be paid is to write my second ride report in 3 days.

According to the rumours I heard, this mid-week ride was a trial run, with the view to such rides returning to the calendar on a regular basis if they prove to be viable. As a club member without midweek work commitments I can certainly see the benefits.

The ride starting point was the Caltex service station at Weston. Our outbound route was to head west over the Uriarra Crossing to join the beautiful Mountain Creek Rd then Wee Jasper Rd to the lovely township of Yass before taking the Hume Highway for the short run to the Burley Griffin Way turn off.  From there it was on to the hamlet of Binalong where we took a right hand turn onto Queen Road through the township to join up with the flowing rural Hughstonia Rd beyond. This eventually connected to the Cunningar Rd and on to our lunch destination at the Pie Shop/Bakery in Boorowa.

As the departure time approached a total of five riders had gathered - an encouraging start. Despite the blue skies immediately overhead with scattered fluffy white clouds, I couldn’t help recalling my reputation as a rain magnet as I looked out along our planned route towards the Brindabella Ranges that had already formed a thick layer of ominous clouds overhead with multiple scattered showers falling. I commented to Warren Richer, our ride leader, that the weather was looking “interesting.” A fairly stiff breeze had also sprung up to add to the potential interest levels of the ride. Warren seemed completely unconcerned.

Right on time, Warren gathered us around for the ride briefing. Our objective was to avoid major roads where possible and enjoy some of the lesser travelled country farm roads. As usual his briefing was concise and very complete. He talked about the key features along the way, how to recognise the different turn points and potential hazards on the different sections of road. Great information that in hindsight proved to be very accurate. The final, “Are there any questions?” was met with silence. Pretty hard to improve on a Warren Richer briefing.

As we headed for our bikes I noted that I was not wearing full wet weather gear as some of the others. My DriRider jacket is water proof to a certain point but I usually throw a spray jacket over the top in really foul weather. Likewise my comfortable Draggin Jeans are most decidedly not water proof, so overpants are required. Both sets of waterproof gear remained firmly installed inside my seat bag along with my quilted jacket liner and spare gloves, just in case a blizzard blew in. I don’t know why, but I decided to risk a drenching. The ride group consisted of Warren Richer on his Triumph Thruxton R, Anthony Hanson on his Honda Goldwing Aspencade, Andrew Campbell on his BMW R1250RS and myself on the decidedly undersized Ducati Monster 659. That was the case except Jenny Carlin on her bright red Honda 300 had also joined us for the short ride out of Canberra as far as the Uriarra crossing. It turns out that the most difficult part of the whole ride was negotiating the multiple traffic lights and road chaos that seems to prevail through these newer western suburbs around Weston and Denman Prospect. Once we cleared the urban sprawl the ride started to be fun again.

With one eye still very much on the rain showers falling all around us, the first part of the ride was along the stunning but at times challenging Mountain Creek Road. It has a wonderful combination of tight and sweeping bends that undulates through native forest and neat farm lands towards Yass. As Warren had predicted there were a few pot holes, patches of loose gravel, fallen branches and sections of broken, bumpy road surface to be negotiated, more often than not on the apex of a blind tight curve or just over a crest. One of the highlights for me was crossing the steel framed Taemas Bridge over the Murrumbidgee River that was flowing well after recent rains. The narrow, twisting ride up the hill beyond was superb, but challenging in the cross winds and the added distraction of the stunning views.

During this section of the ride I was doing my best to keep Anthony, our tail gunner, in my mirrors but often had to slow until he caught up. It turns our he was slowing down at times to take in the beautiful scenery or hanging on to the Goldwing as the crosswinds tried to hurl him into the adjacent paddocks or guardrails.

As our group approached Yass we finally found the edge of a localised shower. Fortunately it only lasted a minute or two before we were out the other side. Superb skills from the rider leader to steer us along the course and avoid the worst of the showers. As we rode through Yass the road was showing signs of recent heavy rain. Another bullet dodged.

The run down the Hume Highway and onto the Burley Griffin Way was fairly straight forward and uneventful on a good road surface as you would expect. At Binalong we turned right onto Queen Street through the township and out the other side onto Hughstonia Road before eventually joining Cunningar Road for the short run into Boorowa. Hughstonia Road despite being a minor farm road had a surprisingly good road surface with the exception of a few scattered rough patched and pot holes that were easily avoided. What a great choice of road. What made it even more enjoyable was the unfolding canvas of rural beauty and colour. The sky was a stunning blue that contrasted with the dark grey and black rain clouds scattered throughout. The fields were a mass of colour including multiple shades of rich green pasture lands and cereal crops along with the bright yellow of the canola. There were also hillsides and some paddocks filled with a blanket of yellow and black Cape Weed flowers and the vivid purple of Paterson’s Curse. There was even some wattle still in flower amidst a variety of green foliage. Once again we had a few spots of rain on the visor and I must admit to turning on the heated grips for the last few kilometres of this leg. The temperatures enroute ranged from a low around 12º to a high of 16º but felt colder in the more exposed windy sections and when the sun was behind yet another rain cloud. By the time we reached the bakery in Boorowa I think we were all ready for a good feed. A lunch of delicious meat pies and coffee certainly filled the spot along with the usual diverse topics of conversation mingled with the odd tall tale. 

 

 

Feeling refreshed and refuelled it was soon time to tackle the return leg. The plan was to backtrack along the Cunningar Road then to follow the Galong Rd back to the town of that name before rejoining the Burley Griffin Way and Hume Highway back to a coffee stop in Yass. From there it was the Barton Highway back to Canberra. At this point both Andrew and Anthony decided that they would take the more direct route back via the Lachlan Valley Way. I took one look at the sky and decided it was time to pull on the waterproof trousers for the return.

With our group of four now become two, Warren led the way once more. If the Hughstonia Road was a smooth flowing delight, the parallel Galong Road was definitely not. No sooner had we turned off Cunningar Road we struck the first pot holes and bumps. At first it was a case of ducking, weaving and dodging the ever increasing pot holes until eventually the pot holes became so numerous and closely spaced that there was no chance of avoiding them. Funny that the two riders equipped with touring bikes and plush suspensions opted for the highway whilst we two on bikes with much more rigid, unforgiving sports suspension had opted to tackle the rough stuff. Large sections of the road had been marked off in preparation for much needed roadworks in the near future. However, it wasn’t all bad and the scenery was stunning as we wound our way through rich farmlands. The weather continued to become more threatening. You know that something is going to happen when all the sheep in a paddock crowd together under some trees with their backsides all pointed to the wind. We ended up making two stops on the way back to Yass. The first was to take photos of the two bikes on the Galong Road with the amazing backdrop of colour and me doing my best Stig impersonation. The second was a tactical pause at Binalong for a short while to allow the rain system in front of us to move away from our track. Another top job by Warren as ride leader as we encountered no rain all the way into Yass. What we did encounter was the drenching clouds of road spray being thrown up off the wet road surface by passing trucks. Good job I had put on those wet weather trousers after all.

I later learned that our two renegade riders  got caught behind wide, slow moving heavy prime movers and were further delayed by slow roadworks sections along the Lachlan Valley Way, after which it began to rain quite heavily on them. That downpour might well have been the same one we waited to pass in Binalong.  

In another feat of ride leader genius, Warren was able to find two absolutely perfect parking spots for the bikes right outside the Roses Cafe in Yass. If you haven’t been to this Cafe before it is worth adding to the list. Fabulous food, cakes and coffee with friendly and prompt service. We ate, we drank coffee and chatted as you do on a Chomp and Chat ride. Just as we were leaving, a shower of rain kept us sheltering under the cafe awning for a few minutes before striking out for home. The run back along the Barton Highway was remarkable, not because of the NSW Revenue Raisers camped on the side of the road in the 50kph zone at Murrumbateman, but because there was practically no inbound traffic of any kind heading into Canberra. It was a dream run, free of any slow vehicles or other annoyances usually associated with the Barton Highway.

Thanks to Warren for his thorough preparation and the excellent job he did as ride leader. And thanks to Andrew, Anthony and Jenny for being good company and joining us on what was a fabulous ride.

Peter Ongley

• Peter Ongley - Ducati Monster 659
• Warren Richer (Leader) - Truimph Thruxton R
• Andrew Campbell - BMW R1250RS
• Anthony Hanson - Honda Goldwing Aspencade
• Jenny Carlin - Honda CB300 (red bikes do go faster)