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