Ride Report – Boorowa – Crookwell Loop, Wednesday 16th February 2022

A team of five keen riders assembled at Ampol Nicholls at around 0920 for a 0930+ departure. The sun was out and it was looking like a brilliant day ahead. Luckily our departure point was Nicholls well away from any areas still occupied by the remnants of Occupy Canberra which were determined to hang around the region for a while yet. We had two volunteer photographers for the day namely Dave and Peter so things were looking up. Following the brief we decided to set a mean course for Binalong and then on to Boorowa Bakery for a coffee stop. Barton Hwy was uneventful but slow for the first 10kms due to construction on the new Barton Hwy dual carriageway. 

The team at Ampol Nicholls meeting point.

 

Once through Murrumbateman and on the 110km dual carriageway we veered south on the Hume and headed for the turn off on to Burley Griffin Way, then made our way towards Binalong. It was along this section that we came across some NSW road works which had actually packed down the gravel but had just wet it down to cut the dust. Unfortunately for motorcyclists this wet effect, just caked our undercarriages in grey/brown mud and dust, - fantastic. Being in the lead as we transited through this section behind a large semi-trailer, I thought just how much time I was going to have to dedicate to cleaning it just to get this muck off the bike and chain - great. Hmm, much can be said about shaft drive versions.

Once on the outskirts of Binalong we crawled quietly through town and did a right on to Hughstonia road. This is a great little farmers lane which takes you all the way through the farming district to the outskirts of Boorowa. Three of us decided to just top up our tanks at the Boorowa garage noting the next part of our loop leading back into Canberra via Crookwell was just on 220kms not including any other deviations. At the Superb bakery, noting it wasn’t busy we decided to enjoy our coffee and cake inside rather than sitting in the sun which was getting near on 27-28 degrees. 

 Outside Boorowa Bakery

After our break and customary loo stop we gathered outside and decided on the next stage of the ride. Noting we were all experienced riders and most of us had done this ride several times over the years and still love it, I decided to offer any team member an opportunity to swap leads if interested. Dave put his hand up straight away and as such proved a great lead rider. He enjoyed it so much he led all the way through to Gunning. Definitely Ride Leader material in the future - no pressure Dave.

Dave ready to lead to Boorowa

 

The Boorowa - Rugby - Crookwell section was interspersed with some mean pot holes and wash-outs just where you didn’t or really should have anticipated they might be - namely just over a crest on a bend or around the approaches into Rugby the town. Despite this our riders were amply spaced and as such handled them with ease. Peter on his Ducati had decided on leaving Boorowa to do tail-end Charlie however, I noticed he seemed to have taken on a friend in the form of a white Hilux which trailed him at distance all the way to the outskirts of Crookwell. The driver probably thought he was a team member then after an exciting ride through the country, got bored and headed off towards Bathurst direction.

Crookwell to Gunning as many of you know, is mostly down hill with great sweepers and on this occasion proved just as excellent as usual. Each time we venture along this route there appears to be more and more wind turbines and on this occasion most appeared to be bored as they were stationary or sleeping.
 

Outside the Old Hume Cafe and the team under the trees out the back for lunch

At Gunning we enjoyed a lunch break out the back under the trees of the Old Hume Cafe, as the Merino Cafe, the original destination, was closed for a two week break. We talked about the road just travelled, the ups and downs and the fantastic vistas encountered on each hill along the way.

All in all it was another enjoyable Mid-Week ride achieved by all.

Warren

The Weather: 29 - 31 degrees across the South West Slopes and Lachlan Valley Region

Distance traveled: 330 kms

Riders:

• Peter Ongley            Ducati Monster 659
• Dave Mossman        BMW R1250RS
• Ken McLean             Yamaha R3
• Tony Henderson      Triumph Tiger 800 XCX
• Warren Richer         Triumph Thruxton R1200

Ride Report: 3 February 2022 Charlotte Pass

As far as I know, Canberra Ulysses haven’t done a ride to Charlotte Pass for at least three years, and I hadn’t been on that road for nearly 40 years. Thus, I decided that a reconnaissance was required. My wife and I took a drive there, had a pleasant lunch, and on the way back hit a pothole the size of Brazil which completely shredded a front tyre. An expensive tyre replacement and an even more expensive trip home on the back of a tilt-tray truck; the things we do for Ulysses. I’ve resolved to never again own a car with low-profile run-flat tyres.

Anyway, unaware of all this, four more riders joined me to make the journey again whilst avoiding potholes. It was an unseasonably cool day - about 12 degrees as we started - but fine. The Monaro Highway to Cooma was typically monotonous, but we broke it up with a coffee stop at Bredbo. Cooma was bypassed by heading through Polo Flat, then we headed south on Maffra Road. This road has around 35 km of continuous sweeping bends but few trees, so the visibility is excellent; it can be rather exposed on a windy day, but we had no such problems. The route then took us through Dalgety to a fuel stop in Jindabyne.

Kosciuszko Road from Jindabyne to Perisher Valley is a lovely road for motorcycle riding: continuous bends, but only a few tight ones; and a smooth surface with clearly-painted lines and not a pothole in sight. It starts in eucalypt forest, ends in alpine plain and, although it was now midday, the temperature still hadn’t risen above 12 degrees. There was some re-surfacing in progress which hadn’t been on NSW Live Traffic, but it was in the vicinity of the ranger station anyway, where we had to stop and fork over $7 each for the privilege of riding in the Kosciuszko National Park.

Our lunch stop was made at the Alpine Eyre Cafe; best burgers in Perisher, open Thursday - Sunday, and with a  big sign out the front saying ‘Open’. Except it wasn’t. No obvious reason why. Oh well; the group agreed to make Jindabyne our lunch stop. In the meantime, we rode the last 7 km to Charlotte Pass - narrow, but scenic - then made the downhill return journey to Jindabyne where lunch was about what you’d expect from a cafe in a country town.

What can be said about the ride home from Jindabyne? It’s a road very well known to all of us, not particularly interesting, and from Cooma to Canberra it always has stupid motorists who dither along below the speed limit until the passing lanes, when they go like a bat out of hell.

Oh, and one more observation. Warren Richer wrote his details on the ride sheet as “BMW R900XR”. The keen observer will note that Warren has an F900XR; this error can only mean that Warren subliminally hankers after a boxer twin!

The team:

• Noel Bentley      BMW F800GS Adventure
• John Grace        Triumph Tiger 1200
• Bill Henshaw     Triumph Tiger Explorer
• Warren Richer   BMW F(that’s an F)900XR
• Scott England    BMW R1250RT; ride leader and scribe

First Aid For Motocyclists - Upcoming Training

Ulysses Club Members have used FAFM training in the past, and as the course and structure and learning has changed, grown and developed so much in the past few years, perhaps it may be a good time to refresh. 

Especially with the rally coming up so soon! The next training day in your area is on the 19th of March in Downer ACT. To register click Here for the direct link to the FAFM Motorcycle booking page.  

FAFM will also be donating $15 from every registration attendance of this course to the black dog foundation. 

You never know when you may need the skills to save your mates life! 

Get your February R02 Here!

 For your February 2022 "Riding on Two" click HERE - Download & Enjoy! 

Farewell - Peter John Arday

 This notice has been published at the express wish of Peter's family.

Peter Arday - Riden' On

 

It is with great sadness, we announce and mourn the loss of our beloved Canberra Branch Member Peter Arday. Pete has been fighting health problems for some time and won his battle in the early hours of the morning on 4th February.  

Our thoughts are with his loving wife Suzanne and all Pete's family at this difficult time.  

Peter will be missed by many many Canberra Branch Members. He will be remembered fondly as a joker, a friend, a confident and an all round good bloke. 

A life so beautifully lived deserves to be beautifully remembered. 

A funeral service will be held at 12 noon on Thursday 10th February
at St James Church in HOLT

"A true friend is never truly gone. 
Their spirit lives on in the memories of those who loved them"

Vale Peter

We Were Like Bats Out of Hell! (30Jan'22)

An 8:30am start saw four of us gather for a great day’s ride to Junee in some brilliant sunshine. We welcomed Tory Puglisi who has been a long time Ulysses rider in Brisbane but a first timer here in Canberra. 

Tory rides an interesting Yamaha FJR1300 with some unique modifications and plenty of miles on the clock. Bill returned for his another attempt at a ride (he missed his last ride after he kindly escorted John home with a leaking tyre valve) and then of course Kevin (AKA Mr Metamucil because he is so regular) turned up for a fang around the countryside. 

We reflected on the demise of Meatloaf (we didn’t but it segues into the next part of the report) and then............(cue the music please)

>> click here for MORE!<< 

 

*Image published under "fair use" : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bat_out_of_Hell.jpg

Junee, Wednesday, 15 December '21

 With great excitement I turned up early at Ampol Nichols and prepared for the day's journey to Junee. The sun was out after days of rain and I was raring to go.

Warren was next to arrive and I was suitably impressed as I know Warren generally dodged the longer rides because of his ailments. Next to arrive was David, a noted fair weather rider and things were looking good for the day. As he pulled up I noted a couple of things about his bike, firstly a couple of shiny new tyres and more importantly it had had a wash.

I discovered later that he hadn't washed it at all,Tuggeranong Motorcycle Centre did it when they changed the tyres. Sorry Dave, that's a failure.

Ride briefing followed quickly and we set off on the day's journey. The usual Barton highway dodgems past the roadworks, potholes and police cars hiding in the bushes ( not that we would ever break the law and speed!)

Lachlan Valley Way was a treat because of very few cars, which made things smooth and effortless.

First coffee stop was Jackson's Bakery in Harden. On leaving Harden I noted with some interest that someone had painted murals on the local wheat silos. Quick photo shoot and on our way. The road to Junee was good thanks to several road crews that had filled in the potholes. I had been down the road a couple of weeks earlier and it was quite rough.

 

 

Lunch was at the Junee railway station and I can recommend it to anyone if they are ever there.

 

After lunch we topped up with fuel and pointed the bikes towards Gundagai. By the time we had reached Nangus it had started drizzling and by Gundagai it was raining heavily. Warren and I made a detour at Jugiong for coffee but David decided to keep going and get home. All in all a good day's riding except for the last part, I arrived home soaked but will remember to pack my wet weather gear for next time.

 

Thanks to Warren and David for their company

Kevin

• Kevin Sherman   BMW R1250 RS
• Warren Richer     BMW 900 XR
• David  Mossman  BMW R 1250 RS