[NSW] Three Points Ride, Fri Oct 20th [Archive]

hornet

25-Apr-2006, 10:42

Hey terrific!

I've posted this on the events calendar as an official event, and I'm waiting for the Admin's approval.

I have posted it as a Touring Advanced ride, not to put people off, but because the Friday leg will be around 500kms. Having said that, last year N1GH7-R1D3R rode from Wollongong to Melbourne via the Princes Highway in one hit, 15 hours all up and over 1,000kms, on his ZZR250.

I'm looking forward to this; it will be a week after my daughter's wedding and I'm anticipating a let-off from the pressure of the months ahea dof me now. I've ridden this route and posted a detailed reconnoitre of it.

WOOP WOOP WOOP ALERT!!!!

Ok folks, here's the hot goss on the Tamworth Ride.

Yesterday I rode to Tamworth (and back! But that's another story) to reconnoitre the weekend's ride. I left the servo at Wilberforce at 8:00 am and with all stops included, I arrived at the Paradise Caravan Park in Tamworth at 4:00 pm. I travelled at a constant 100kph for the whole trip (apart from a hilarious carve-up with a Telstra Falcon near Walcha) and had the usual fuel stops and a half hour meal break at Walcha.

POINT ONE: From the servo at Wilberforce via the planned route the ride is 566 kilometres. As much as it would be great for as many people as possible to be involved, I would not class that distance as a novice ride. Our planned departure time at Wilberforce is 9:00am. This would put us in Tamworth at around 5:00 pm without factoring in photo-opportunity stops, and the various other things which are part of a group ride. If you have any doubts about your ability to ride at that speed for 8 hours (stops included) then perhaps it might be best not to put your hand up; there will be shorter weekend rides if this one is successful.

POINT TWO: I have booked two cabins at the Paradise Caravan Park; enough accommodation for 10 people. I need to know if more people than that are coming. There are a few more cabins available, but I need to book as soon as possible just in case they aren't when 15 of us arrive. The total cost of each cabin, including supply of linen, is $120.00. (That's $24 per person.) We are going to be staying 2 nights, so budget $50 for your accommodation, not counting meals, of course.

THE ROUTE:
I rode the route as publicised. Wilberforce to Singleton via the Putty Road, down the New England Highway to Branxton, then across to Gresford, Dungog, Gloucester, then Walcha and into Tamworth from the North via the New England Highway. One general observation is that the warmer weather has brought out milions of small bugs; if your visor is a bit dodgy to begin with, bring a spare or start out with a new one; you'll be cleaning it a lot!

PUTTY ROAD
The Putty is in fine condition, no road works, just a couple of lazy kangaroos (unusual for daytime). STOP at maccas in Singeleton for breakfast/coffee etc. We will fuel up at Singelton as well for those with smaller tanks, because once you get off the highway, fuel was never below $1.29c a litre (may even be higher by the weekend give 69c per barrel price in New York this morning!!)

BRANXTON to GRESFORD
The road from Branxton across to Gresford is B-Road at best. It's got thousands of filled and re-filled holes, so the surface is fairly bumpy, but there are no open potholes or nasty surprises. There are three Zig-Zag bridges (45ks left, bridge, 45ks right) and the first of them has a dead-stop exit and it's very bumpy. (Leader's responsibility to set the pace here).

GRESFORD TO DUNGOG
Gresford to Dungog is 27 kays, then another 23 kays to turn-off onto the famous Buckett's Way. This section is also old and a bit rough, but marginally better than the Branxton - Gresford section.

DUNGOG TO CLOUCESTER
Buckett's Way into Gloucester is A-road and no dramas to report.
From Gloucester is is 198 kays to Tamworth, via Walcha. We turn a few kays out of Gloucester to the ominiously-named Thunderbolt's Way. This is an amazing road, with two spectacular mountain passes and lots of twisty bits. Many of the corners are speed-advised, but some are not. Two lookouts afford incredible views over the valleys below. Photo opportunity.

TO WALCHA
Unfortunately, once you get off that road and turn left towards Walcha, the next 120 kays or so are dead boring. Typical NSW country roads; not much scenery, undulating and straight! I had lunch at around 2:30 in Walcha.

WALCHA TO TAMWORTH
The road from Walcha to the New England Highway has a couple of interesting parts, two drops in to river crossings, but apart from that it's pretty straightforward A-road till you hit the New England. Needless to say the New England is A1-class highway, but the traffic is much heavier.

So that's about it; it will be an enjoyable ride, but a long ride and one which will place emphasis on concentration, endurance and patience.
It WILL take longer than 8 hours as a group ride, for all the reasons that crop up on group rides. The office at the caravan park closes at 7:00pm, so we will need to be in Tamworth before that; that give us 10 hours pretty constant travelling to get there and get our beds for the night.

Removed_User_5

25-Apr-2006, 15:30

Hey fantastic, Lil and Stookie, we can chat about it further when I come down for the Netrider Dinner (I presume the couch is still available :lol: ? )

The couch is yours whenever your here paul, never need to ask.
I hope to be recovered enough to do the ride. Maybe i will be able to ride it too.

Me not ride a bike, yeah whatever....... I be back on the road for Upgrade time, my sanity depends on it.

N1GH7-R1D3R

25-Apr-2006, 15:45

Can i put my hand up for this one Paul or do you think i'll hold people up??? I have an uncle who lives in Tamworth also so it'd be a good chance to catch up with him. He is a rider also, although the scary, rough biker type who rides a harley. He looks the part but is a big teddy bear inside so it'll be great to see him again (Tats, rings, handle bar 'Mo' included).

Let me know what you think. Please don't hesitate to shoot me down if you think i'll slow the crew down.

Cheers,
Josh =0)

hornet

25-Apr-2006, 15:57

You didn't slow anything down on the trip to Melbourne, buddy, and I've already made reference to your stamina in the saddle on that trip. The more the merrier......

hornet

25-Apr-2006, 16:48

Just a quick note here, folks, I MAY have to move it to the weekend after, 20-21-22 October. Mrs Hornet may be feeling a little lonely if I buzz off on a ride only a few days after Jen's wedding, and I mya have to obey the Biblical injunction of 'staying at home to cheer up my wife'. I'll let you know in good time, but if you can, keep both weekends free, I really want you to enjoy this ride.

N1GH7-R1D3R

25-Apr-2006, 18:00

You didn't slow anything down on the trip to Melbourne, buddy, and I've already made reference to your stamina in the saddle on that trip. The more the merrier......YAY!!! I qualify, WOO HOO!! BRING ON TAMWORTH!!!

haggis

25-Apr-2006, 18:31

Put me down as a probable Paul :)

lil

26-Apr-2006, 08:36

Paul, when are you likely to know which weekend? I need to give work a reasonable amount of notice as I'll take a week or so off to enjoy the ride...

Spoke to the boss who seems keen to go even though he probably won't be riding himself, so we'll definately be in!

:grin: :grin: :grin:

hornet

26-Apr-2006, 12:27

PLEASE NOTE DATE CHANGE

Circumstances dictate the change of date to the weekend following the original post.

I have posted this to the events calendar and expect this time for it to be approved and publicised.

Friday 20th October to Sunday 22nd October inclusive.

This clashes with the Victorian round of the Superbike Championship, but as far as I know that's all.

ForumBot

26-Apr-2006, 12:32

Added to Calendar by: Paul Hall

Friday -Sunday 20th - 22nd October

Destination; Tamworth NSW

Sydney riders to travel via Windsor, Putty Road, Branxton, then Gresford, Stroud, Gloucester then Thunderbolt's Way to Walcha and then to Tamworth. Home via same route, or New England...

... more (http://www.netrider.net.au/calendar/?action=details&id=773)

This is an automated posting of an Events Calendar (http://www.netrider.net.au/calendar/) entry.

N1GH7-R1D3R

26-Apr-2006, 12:40

lil

27-Apr-2006, 07:57

He did 700 or so kays pillion on the Bright week away when we had a bit of a tour around northern Victoria. I'm sure he'll be fine, but I might also look into a sheepskin cover to help keep him quiet! :wink:

....I thought my seat wasn't too uncomfortable....but then, I've never been on the back of my seat!

:grin: :grin: :grin:

N1GH7-R1D3R

27-Apr-2006, 08:10

lil

27-Apr-2006, 08:18

We'll be there :grin:

N1GH7-R1D3R

27-Apr-2006, 08:23

We'll be there :grin:YAY!

Dante

27-Apr-2006, 17:15

we stoping to throw bricks at stroud ? or have i missed the brick throwing contest

hornet

27-Apr-2006, 18:01

Is it bricks they throw at Stroud or is that where they have the Gum-Boot throwing challenge??

Either way it was dead quiet there when I reconnoitred this run in September last year.....

Davo

01-May-2006, 14:16

Paul I will keep this in mind and confirm later as it gets closer, I have a few big rides between now and then.

I would ride down and back saturday though, prolly get there 10am leave for home at 3pm like I did on saturday for the Ulysses Moree Muster.

Its a great idea, I may post my June ride and see who I get from here. FarRide #1

Dante

03-May-2006, 12:03

do you need a cheque or moneys in advance for bookin? or pay on the day ?

not too sure but i think that maybe the gum boot throwing challenge could the the ladies event. to be honest it sounds like something that would do in wellington NZ.

hornet

03-May-2006, 12:47

Dante, that is a truly awful pun (I wish I'd have thought of it :lol:)

I'l start talking to the Paradise Caravan Park people closer to the date, in the mean time I think I posted costs for that place in the ride planner last time, let me dig them out. I know it wasn't expensive.....

Dante

06-May-2006, 13:02

because this ride is a weekend away & being planned well in advance, ive made this a sticky so it will stay current.

hornet

12-May-2006, 20:04

ta muchly, sir dante

lil

28-May-2006, 13:24

Date request put in to work....we should both be there!!!

:grin: :grin: :grin:

hornet

28-May-2006, 13:55

woo-hoo, great news peoples :grin:

no excuses from NSW riders; if two people can come from Victoria.....

Gypsy

28-May-2006, 14:32

You're right Paul. I'm a probable. Will confirm as the day draws closer....

Cheers All....

Removed_User_5

30-May-2006, 20:46

Im up for this one too and I WILL BE RIDING MY HORNBAG.
I can move my arm enough to pee on my own now so im sure I can ride a bike in a few weeks.

Ahhhh titanium sweet titanium......

hornet

30-May-2006, 21:04

Ah fantastic, not only can you not keep a good man down, you can't keep Stookie down either!!!

MarvinTheMartian

30-May-2006, 21:27

At this stage I am about 75%, love to go but will only just be back from a 2 week holiday to Adelaide and back.
So will have to sort out a few things, like am I allowed [-o<

hornet

30-May-2006, 21:33

Say you heard a funny noise in the bike and it needs another long trip to for you to diagnose it :lol: :P

Gypsy

31-May-2006, 13:48

You have plenty of time between now and then to chalk up the brownie points.....get cracking bud....

MarvinTheMartian

02-Jun-2006, 07:29

You know those brownie points disappear as soon as you do anything wrong :twisted:

Gypsy

02-Jun-2006, 09:10

....someone's in the doghouse.....someone's in the doghouse.....

Tim 650

29-Jun-2006, 19:09

G'day, I,ve been eyeing up this ride for a while and am thinking I may tag along from branxton somewhere. wondering if any other Newcastle riders are joining in? I'm on a V-Star 250 and although a steep hill at 100km/h is not always possible.... I should not hold anybody up, besides I love scraping pegs and the bike has proven more than capable of this, even with my Mrs on the back!!

So, I'm a 50% at this stage and will touch base as the date gets closer.

Thanx

TIM

P.S. although the bike is small, I have clocked up 16,400km in 6 months and have NO confidence issues....just a need for a bit more POWER!!! I BLOODY LOVE ME V-STAR!!!!!!!

typhoon

29-Jun-2006, 20:36

Tim,
I am considering going, however it depends on what happens with work and finances between now and then. If I have a new job I should be O.K, otherwise may be stuck at home. I also want to put a cruise control on the bike.
I will know closer to the date, but I may make it a big day trip now I have the mile muncher. If you draft behind my behemoth, you wil get up hills at 100 no problems!

Regards, Andrew.

Den Monkey

29-Jun-2006, 20:49

Too bloody far away to say Tim but you know our crews are keen most of the time. Fog and rain wont hold us back :)

hornet

29-Jun-2006, 21:54

Terrific, Tim, you're at one of the points of the star; you'd be most welcome

kanduli01

12-Jul-2006, 20:22

I wish I could be in this ride. =P~

hornet

12-Jul-2006, 20:52

It's not going to be a race, Ed, and 250s are certainly welcome. My only advice would be to get in a few longer rides leading up to it; the trip up on the Friday and the trip back on Sunday will be around 500kms each, so fitness and stamina will be the major factors.

But it's certainly achievable; young Josh from Wollongong had never even ridden his 250 to Sydney and he rode with me to the Netrider BBQ last year; 15 hours travelling time!!! :shock:

16-Jul-2006, 09:43

This looks like fun. Though I better practice those sorts of distances before October ... Better see if I can get to Woolloonnggonngg (i presume it needs all those double letterres) and back to Melbourne next time the sky clears up.

Just got a GIVI 56 litre top box fitted to the Bird by Red Wing (Thanks Dennis) so itching to test it out.

Don't put me down yet though, Paul, until I make my mediocre way to Wollonggong in the next couple of months.

:cool:

hornet

16-Jul-2006, 14:40

If you want to do a run up to the 'Gong and stay over, you'd be most welcome at Chez Hornet. Via the coast road/Princes Highway it's around a 12 hour trip stops included.

If you want then to 'stage' from there for the ride itself, again, that's fine.....

Sir Skuffy

24-Jul-2006, 16:16

Hey Hornet.

This is VERy familiar as someone posted earlier. This is the ride you tried to organise back in 2005 that was cancelled.

So, it looks good for me at the moment. I am about 80% certain as I may tie it in with a business trip in Albury. Trailer the bike to Albury on thursday morning. Have the meeting and then slab it thursday night to the GONG. That way i can leave in the morning with yourself.

I would imagine that the ride will end on the Sunday????

Call me and lets chat.

hornet

24-Jul-2006, 16:24

'Tis exactly that, Sir Skuffy!!! And the ride would only be enhanced by the presence your good self.
Plan is to ride up Friday, spend Saturday sightseeing, and ride back on Sunday. I'd love to have you along, and I'm sure there's a heap of wise words and riding tips you could pass on to the less-experienced people who are coming along.

Stookie and Lil are also coming along from Melbourne; maybe you could transport their machine(s) up as far as my place too????

PM me your number, old friend, I have a new mobile and somehow I lost the number.....

stewy

27-Jul-2006, 15:08

Hey Paul,

Looking into the idea of coming up for this ride, do you know how many are going to be coming, ie for acco. etc. and when the cut off point will be for a certain yes or no answer as i will have only been back on the bike back on the bike for about a month so really just depends how many km's i can get back under the belt since not riding for the last 4-5 months

cheers stewy

hornet

27-Jul-2006, 15:43

Hi Stew
The people at the caravan park last year were quite generous in allowing me to book tentatively and add or subtract close to the time, so that's not a big issue for ride. I'm phoning them on the weekend and making a tentative booking for 2 cabins, 10 people per cabin, (yeah, I'm an optimist).

It WILL be a long ride for the people planning on coming through from Melbourne; you're looking at around 1200 kms of the ride proper and the distance Melb/Sydney added to that. Plus you'll need probably to take Wednesday/Thursday off work before, and probably Monday after to get home.

All that said, get your fitness and riding muscles back up to scratch, and you would, of course, be most welcome :grin:

stewy

27-Jul-2006, 16:11

Hi Stew
It WILL be a long ride for the people planning on coming through from Melbourne; you're looking at around 1200 kms of the ride proper and the distance Melb/Sydney added to that. Plus you'll need probably to take Wednesday/Thursday off work before, and probably Monday after to get home.

All that said, get your fitness and riding muscles back up to scratch, and you would, of course, be most welcome :grin:

spent 5 years of 2 trips a year driving straight through form brissy to melb :shock: , i know it's no 15min trip, but yeah just depends how i feel in the saddle, closer to the date :wink:

27-Jul-2006, 16:11

Paul,

If I come, I'll meet you in Tamworth. And, I will ride up and back in several stages staying overnight several times, so don't include me in any calculations.

cheers,
Tim :cool:

Removed_User_5

31-Jul-2006, 12:10

I just booked the time off work. hopefully i will have a bike to ride by then. If not im sure i can go twoup with my Lil and watch a DVD or something.

Woohoo.

Better be good weather as Packing alot of crap will be an issue for me, if we are on 1 bike.

Arm should hold up but I wait and see how its going closer to the time. Just done a 400km day here and was a bit sore, so Im not 100% sure my arm can take it but time will tell, I have a bit of time

Cowboy1600

05-Aug-2006, 15:46

Dang, this ride sounds like fun. Wouldve been a great way to celebrate finishing Uni but Ill still have about 2 weeks to go. And it'll be the business end, with workplacement and my final assessments due.

Oh well, as of next year I'm free from Uni and keen to get back in the saddle for trips other than to Uni and work :grin:

hornet

05-Aug-2006, 15:53

Dale, if it comes off, I'm planning on making it an annual event, so you can plan for the Three Points Ride, 2007
All the best with your exams and assignments and stuff, too :grin:

gegvasco

17-Aug-2006, 19:19

I told work today that I wouldn't be available for duty that weekend. Will book the days leave in tomorrow so count me in. For those that are wondering what we are in for, check this out:
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e121/gegvasco/ThunderboltWay2.jpg
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e121/gegvasco/ThunderboltWay1.jpg

Romus

18-Aug-2006, 02:29

Wow. I drove to Brisbane and back a few times, more for the sake of driving there than being there heh and this trip would be really fantastic.

However me being on the bike for only a week's time now, it's almost crazy to even think about such a long trip. I know experienced riders wait for slower ones but holding people up is still one of my concerns about group rides.

But, I am on the bike for couple of hours every night now, so as the trip is 2 months away, who knows, I might "man up" enough to join you all. :)

EDIT: Forgot i'm limited to 80km/h. So I'm out :(

Tim 650

19-Aug-2006, 20:25

Ha, limited..schmimited...... "sorry officer my L/P plate must have blown off and surely you did not just 'ping' me amongst a group of riders..."

But on a serious note, I am thinking of joining the ride from newcastle and will be a P plater, so we can go slow together or get 'done' together....

Come on, you can do it!!!

TIM

hornet

19-Aug-2006, 20:38

The determining factor of this ride will not be speed but the ability to ride 500 kms on the way up and the same distance on return. My plan is for the group to stay together, as much as possible, and for it to be an opportunity for the experienced riders to mentor and assist the new riders; it is NOT a selfish fang in the country for the full-license riders.

_joel_

22-Aug-2006, 21:15

i dont wanna sayn im going to do it, ans then be stuck sealing horrible shoalhaven city council roads instead however....
mrs ridescbr is always keen to go on a ride

the only obstacle is letting mr southern asphalters know that he wont have his supervisor for the weekend.
gimme a couple of days to work on him

Romus

23-Aug-2006, 01:25

Alright then, count me back in. I've checked and there's one thing I can't miss in October but lucky, that's a week before we're going, so great! Tim, you got yourself a slow-ass buddy ;)

Tim 650

25-Aug-2006, 20:45

Alright then, count me back in. I've checked and there's one thing I can't miss in October but lucky, that's a week before we're going, so great! Tim, you got yourself a slow-ass buddy ;)O.K then.. do we have a head count for accommodation, I will be able to organise my own if necasary. I may only stay overnight and head back in the arvo. I used to drive from Newcastle to Tamworth five days a week for nearly a year as a courier, so I'm fairly familiar with the area, although I have not travelled Thunderbolts way and am looking forward to it very muchly!!

So, I'm looking like a 80% in, and rising!!

TIM

gegvasco

02-Sep-2006, 07:23

Well, it looks like I won't be hiring a bike for this trip. Tried to hire a R1150GS as I am considering buying one. The only hire company that had reasonable conditions/rates doesn't have one in Sydney at that time. The other companies either charge a ridiculous amount for excess kilometres above 300km or have experience limits for that bike(2 years, I've been riding for 1yr and 9 months). So it looks like the trusty CBR gets the guernsey and a sore bum and cramped legs will ensue.

hornet

02-Sep-2006, 07:37

Greg, would you like me to see if my friend in Goulburn would hire the GTR for the weekend?

gegvasco

02-Sep-2006, 08:44

Greg, would you like me to see if my friend in Goulburn would hire the GTR for the weekend?
I was hoping to hire a similar model to what I am looking at buying ie. an extended test ride. I am looking for something that has an off-road ability as that is an area of riding that I haven't delved into yet. I've been reading a lot of good things about the 1150GS. The GTR is primarily a road bike isn't it? Appreciate the offer but without the bike being something I am looking at buying, the main reason for hiring goes away. Getting down to Goulburn and back the night before the ride might be a bit tricky as well.

Thanks anyway.

idontlikemondays

12-Sep-2006, 11:14

hornet, id love to come, but you do stipulate its not a novice ride. i know the route very well, but ive never done it on a bike. id be leaving you guys from tamworth also, since i have family in armidale.
id be doing on a vtr 250 thats had an oversized rear sprocket fitted, is this impracticle or unrealistic? ill need to check with work too. but other than all that id love to come.
cheers

hornet

12-Sep-2006, 11:32

Your bigger rear sprocket will only mean that the bike will be revving higher at higway speeds, and the only person that's going to annoy will be you! You'll use a bit more fuel too, but what the hey
It's only NOT a novice ride because it's long and will require long periods of concentration; you'd be more than welcome to join.

And on the subject of which, I need next week to make a tentative booking at the Paradise Caravan Park, so NOW I need some definite numbers, please peoples.......

Tim 650

12-Sep-2006, 18:57

Hi Paul, I have holidays approved and will be DEFINATELY joining you from Branxton area. I will only be staying one night though, so if you can accomodate me that would be great, otherwise I have a small tent! Just let me know about the cost and i will pay up!!!

Thanx

TIM

gegvasco

12-Sep-2006, 19:19

Book time off, check.
Get bike serviced, check.
Get new tyres, check.

I'm as in as you can get.

Tim 650

19-Sep-2006, 19:59

mmmmm This seems to be fizzling out a little...... no matter, I will be doing the ride anyway, even if its solo. Otherwise Get Your Finger Out and register your interest!!!

TIM

hornet

19-Sep-2006, 20:09

It had better not fizzle out, not for the second year in a row!!!!!

gegvasco

20-Sep-2006, 22:10

At the moment:
IN
Hornet
Gegvasco
Dante
N1gh7-R1d3r
Romus
Phil

MAYBE
Dirk
Sleddog(not requiring accommodation)
Sajie
Davo(QLD)
Gypsy
Marvin
Typhoon(not requiring accommodation)
Sir Skuffy
Stewy
joelridescbr
idontlikemondays

OUT
Tim 250(due unfortunate event :( )
Everyone else!

So, "maybes" please confirm yay or nay. And if you are down as an IN but are actually OUT then please get in and say you're out so Hornet can book-IN accommodation before it is booked out.

hornet

21-Sep-2006, 06:25

err. wot 'e said :lol:

Yes folks, it's crunch time, please register your definite intentions here in the next couple of days so I can notify the caravan park of our numbers.

The weather will be great, the scenery with all this rain will be breathtaking, and you weren't doing anything important that weekend anyway, were you? :lol:

typhoon

21-Sep-2006, 07:47

Unfortunately, I am going to bow out of this one. I have no idea where I'll be in a month's time.
However, if I can do the ride, I'l organise my own accomodation etc, and will notify a day or two beforehand.
So, just organise it as if I won't be there. :cry:

Regards, Andrew.

Romus

21-Sep-2006, 08:18

I'm still in.

Sleddog

21-Sep-2006, 08:22

Im still a maybe ,like typoon im bussy ,and not sure whats doing work wise.
I will arrange my own bed ect last minute if i can make it.

Dante

25-Sep-2006, 10:21

im replying on phils behalf he says he is on school holidays so he is in, confirmed...

Tim 650

25-Sep-2006, 20:31

Hi all, due to a kinda sore arm I wont re-type all the details, but i may now be out! BUGGER!!!!!

for info, please read 1st and 5th posts !!!!!

http://www.netrider.net.au/forums/viewtopic.php?p=387856&highlight=#387856

hornet

25-Sep-2006, 22:19

Tim, that's a crying shame, we all know how much you love the VTR, and you will be missed on the TPR.

Now, I assume you've had your bumps and aches seen to by a qualified medical person, in case something rears its ugly head later??? If not, go directly to a medical centre, do not pass go, do not collect anything except a certificate of health. OK???

Dante

25-Sep-2006, 23:09

paul any news on phone line in cabbins ?

hornet

25-Sep-2006, 23:13

I'm calling the place in business hours tomorrow so I'll let you know, mate.

Sadly, tonight we also lost Stookie and Lil from our group. I can't tell you why, but they will be missed, and you folks will miss meeting two of the great Netrider characters.

Dante

25-Sep-2006, 23:16

maybe at christmas time. will meet em all.

hornet

26-Sep-2006, 19:21

OK folks, here's the accommodation information.

We have 6 bunkrooms that will sleep 4 people each.

The bunkroom consists of a small room with 2 sets of single bunks with a pillow and a blanket provided for each bed.

You get full use of the camp kitchen including cooking utensils, crockery and cutlery. Use of the amenities opposite also.

The cost of a bunkroom is $45 a night for the first 2 people extras are charged at $9 each per night.

We can organise linen for the beds if required at $5 per bed. Linen hire is only charged once.

For example the cost of a bunkroom for a night with 4 people is $63 without linen or $83 with linen included.

At this stage all 6 rooms are available. Please advise if you wish to book your stay with us.

This is pretty darned good value; a bit over $20 each per person per night for the bed AND linen.

So, please let me know how many of these cabins I need to book THIS WEEK....

Dante, I hope to find out tomorrow about the phone line situation for you :)

hornet

27-Sep-2006, 12:14

Update on the update.

I have booked two of the above-mentioned cabins with linen supplied, for Friday and Saturday nights. This is accommodation for 8 people.

Each rider will be up for $20.75 per night, or $41.15 for Friday and Saturday nights. I have paid a $90 deposit today.

If other people come, there's a reasonable chance the one at least of the other cabins will still be available.

Dante, there is no phone lines in the rooms, but there are a couple of Internet cafes in town and of course, maccas has wireless access as well. I do hope this doesn't prevent you from coming.

Tim 650

27-Sep-2006, 16:06

bugger, bugger, bugger, I was SO looking forward to this ride, dam acco!!!!

TIM

MarvinTheMartian

27-Sep-2006, 16:35

Ok I'm in, pending confirmation the boss will let me have the Friday off, and that won't be till next Friday (6th October)

hornet

27-Sep-2006, 16:52

woo-hoo, I didn't book the lyre birds in vain :lol:

Dante

27-Sep-2006, 18:35

am still in. i will get james to cover my business.

hornet

27-Sep-2006, 19:51

woo-hoo again, glad you will be able to make it, mate

Sir Skuffy

03-Oct-2006, 00:35

Hey Hornet.

I am about a 90% at the moment. Will be leaving Melb thursday and doing the back roads and plan on arriving thursday afternoon - for the Friday morning departure.

I will head home on the saturday morning, back to Melbourne - so a single night for me

hornet

03-Oct-2006, 07:04

COOOLL

Folks, we will be graced by the presence of the legendary Sir Skuffy.

Now, Skuffy, no naughty, stuff, OK? This is a nice quiet ride in the country :lol:

Sir Skuffy

03-Oct-2006, 13:26

Ok all.

I am riding up from Melbourne on thursday to meet up in the Gong. Then start the ride home via either:
1). Jindabyne OR
2). Bombala

So, if I can take the time off of work, then I am pretty sure others can also. So, come along and lets have a fun, big ride.

Fj1100

03-Oct-2006, 23:27

Hey guys, this looks like a good ride. I think I'll tag along. I assume no-one minds. I'm happy to do any pace, 80-110 or so, well, I'd be happy to go a whole lot faster but, y'know, the whole licence thing...

So The first leg, to Tamworth from Syd is on the friday? I could leave hell early and do the Bathurst -> Syd leg in the morning, which will add 200 K's or so to the trip :D If someone was willing to loan me a couch I could come up on the Thursday arvo and stay the night.

If not I don't mind doing 800 K's. That's a peice of p!ss on the fudje.

Providing something doesn't come up that will force me to bail, I'll be there.

erm... I better ask the boss if I can have the time off, but I can't see it being a problem.

I might have a rest this weekend, I've been burning the candle at both ends a bit since I got the bike back, done over 2500 K's in the last 3 weekends the poor fudge has 99,000 on the clock now. I can't wait for her to tick over, she'll look just like new. Well, the odometer will anyway...

Tim.

hornet

04-Oct-2006, 07:16

Hey Tim, more than welcome. If no-one offers you a bed on Thursday night in Sydney, you could always bunk here in Wollongong and do the Wollongong - Windsor leg with me the next morning. But Sydney would be better, obviously.

So Sydney Netriders, have a spare bed for Tim?

hornet

05-Oct-2006, 07:01

OK Folks

Two weeks to go to the ride.

Latest status IS:

IN
Hornet
Gegvasco
Dante
N1gh7-R1d3r
Romus
Phil

Sajie
Marvin
Skuffy
Fj1100

MAYBE
Dirk
Sleddog(not requiring accommodation)
Sajie
Davo(QLD)
Gypsy
Marvin
Typhoon(not requiring accommodation)
Stewy
joelridescbr
idontlikemondays

Sajie is now IN, Skuffy is IN, Marvin the Martian is IN, FJ100 is IN

Accommodation, see page 6 of the thread, I've booked two rooms with accommodation for 4 people each, that's eight people; it looks like I should book one more??? I will do that today.

Fj1100

05-Oct-2006, 12:35

Yeah I got the Friday off work so unless something nasty happens, I'll be there.

Haven't decided where to stay yet though, the gond or Bondi, no to sure about staying at a backpackers though, never done that before!

Tim

stewy

05-Oct-2006, 12:38

Hornet, i sent you a pm a few weeks back now letting you know i am out.

Maybe next year

cheers stewy

hornet

05-Oct-2006, 13:40

Yes, thanks mate, I got that one. I didn't edit the MAYBE list at all, as you can see by the fact that Marvin's name is in both there AND the INs!

My post was done in a huge hurry, my excuse!!!

But for anyone else, we have cabins with linen booked for 12 people and there's still cabins available.

Maybe someone who's on the inner circle might like to invite my old friend Jaq. Seriously.

Sir Skuffy

05-Oct-2006, 14:14

OK, I need to know a couple of very basic things:

1). Anyone else coming up from Melbourne?

2). Any people going to be in Sydney thursday night who are not from Sydney?

3). I will probably be staying at the Bondi back-packers incase others are going to find a place to stay in Sydney.

Cool.

Sir Skuffy

05-Oct-2006, 14:16

Hey Hornet,

Do you want me to post this on: www.gsx1400.net ??

I have riden with a few of these guys and there might be some interest?

Let me know

Fj1100

05-Oct-2006, 16:52

I'll be in syd for thurs night, am tossing up between your offer of the bondi backpacker and hornet's pad in the 'gong

Tim.

hornet

05-Oct-2006, 17:00

Hey Hornet,

Do you want me to post this on: www.gsx1400.net ??

I have riden with a few of these guys and there might be some interest?

Let me know

Yeah, of course, just get any numbers you can as soon as you can so we can arrange the accommodation..

{They're not all crazy riders, like you, are they Mitch? :lol:}

Jaqhama

05-Oct-2006, 19:31

Maybe someone who's on the inner circle might like to invite my old friend Jaq. Seriously.

We ain't old friends. Seriously.

hornet

05-Oct-2006, 19:45

Well that may be your choice, but it ain't mine, seriously, you have a conveniently short memory. And you would be welcome on the ride...

eff_cee

07-Oct-2006, 00:55

Hey Paul,

Have you got room for one more? I've finally got a bike and am ready for some trips. I'm from UK and have been missing my trips biking round Europe... so I'm well up for this. I only just found out about it now though, so I hope I'm not too late.... ?? I'm in Sydney and the only worry for me is getting the bike past it's first (1000k) service before we go.

Fraser

hornet

07-Oct-2006, 07:39

Hey, easy, you've got two weeks :lol: It will have logged up over 1,000 kms by the time we get back!
You'd be most welcome, Fraser; I have accommodation booked for 12 people.

MarvinTheMartian

10-Oct-2006, 08:21

I'm out for this one :(

Snapey

10-Oct-2006, 17:17

I'll do Wilberforce to Singleton, if only to keep Mitch honest.

Snapey.

hornet

10-Oct-2006, 20:53

Welcome to the madness, snapey!!
(Keeping Mitch honest, isn't that a contradiction in terms?? :lol:)

hornet

12-Oct-2006, 20:35

OK folks. This time next week will be the last sleep before the ride. Can we have a final count, please???

Snapey

12-Oct-2006, 21:11

I'm only going as far as Singleton for a pub lunch then returning to Sydney. No accommodation required.

See you at Wilberforce.

Peter.

Fj1100

12-Oct-2006, 21:39

I should be there, have yet to decide where I'm staying in Sydney, but I'll stay wherever you've booked over the weekend if there's room.

Tim.

gegvasco

13-Oct-2006, 19:45

Maybe someone who's on the inner circle might like to invite my old friend Jaq. Seriously.

We ain't old friends. Seriously.
I guess this confirms it then - middle finger salute to you "buddy"!

hornet

13-Oct-2006, 20:03

:lol: Yeah, I've lost heaps of sleep about it too...

Mickyb V9

13-Oct-2006, 20:34

c'mon Paul !
Send that CD to Jaq with your compliation of songs . . .

Didn't it have the following songs on it ? :lol:

Vitamin C - Friends Forever
James Taylor - You've got a friend.
Supertramp - Two of Us
Whitney Houston - Greatest Love of All
John Paul Young - Love is in the Air
Grover Washington Jr - Just the two of us
Barry White - Your My first, my last, my everything.

etc, etc, etc

C'mon, reach out !
:rofl:

hornet

13-Oct-2006, 21:13

Micky, you are a wicked funny man :rofl:

hornet

15-Oct-2006, 17:50

OK folks, less than a week to go.
This was the status on the 5th October

IN
Hornet
Gegvasco
Dante
N1gh7-R1d3r
Romus
Phil

Sajie
Marvin
Skuffy
Fj1100

MAYBE
Dirk
Sleddog(not requiring accommodation)
Sajie
Davo(QLD)
Gypsy
Marvin
Typhoon(not requiring accommodation)
Stewy
joelridescbr
idontlikemondays

I'm getting messages in the tone of 'other people are not going so I'm not either', etc, so I really need to have this list updated in the next 24 hours so I know whether to cancel or not.

I've booked and largely paid for accomodation for 12 people, and if I want to be able to retrieve my deposit, I need definite numbers immediately.

If you can't come on the ride, I understand, life throws up all sorts of things. Just please, update this list now so we all know what's happening.

Dante

15-Oct-2006, 20:43

swap phone numbers for any other subject aside from the ride.. :butt:

paul, i already pm'ed to say i couldnt do it any longer i may make the trip up the putty but split off towards wollombi on the friday. we'll see how things go.

Sir Skuffy

16-Oct-2006, 10:20

Hey Hornet,

Mate, I did say 90%.... Sorry, but I am going to have to cancel on this trip. If you have committed to a payment, please let me know and I will pay for my one night - more than happy to oblige.
once again, sorry, but here are my reasons:
My department is now expanding into NZ and Asia so I am now the GM for Asia Pac, not just Australia.....

Thanks for your understanding

Fj1100

16-Oct-2006, 14:01

hehe. droppin like flys!

Ahh well. whatever happens, we should end up with a few people and bikes, we'll ride somewhere and do something!!

Tim.

hornet

16-Oct-2006, 16:05

Alright, ALRIGHT... where are the pics from?? The last one looks for all the world like half-way up Reefton, but I bet it's the Blue Mountains.....

http://www.hornet600.danteswebhosting.com/Picture%20010.jpg

Fj1100

16-Oct-2006, 19:23

The first 2 are the same spot on Mt Canabolas near Orange, the 3rd one is the corner on the way to Mt wilson, just outside of lithgow on the bells line and the 4th is on the edge of the road just as you start going down the hill (I think...) on the bells line.

Tim.

hornet

18-Oct-2006, 17:11

Ok folks....
This ride was posted on the 23rd of April this year. Six months is way long enough notice, and it IS going ahead.
FJ1100 and myself will be at the McDonalds at McGrath's Hill at 8:00am on Friday morning for an 8:30am sharp departure. We can stop for a top-up of fuel at Wilberforce at the base of the Colo, but it's a long ride and we will need most of the day to arrive in Tamworth in reasonable light. Next stop will be Maccas at Singleton, unless a really small fuel tank forces a stop at Garland Valley.
Bring a change of clothes for non-riding activities, but pilllows, linen, and laundry of, is paid for in the room tarriff.
See you all at the Golden Arches at McGrath's Hill on Friday morning.

hornet

19-Oct-2006, 18:03

Weather forecasts for the areas through which we will be travelling look good, Tamworth's top temp for tomorrow is 30!
See you at McGrath's Hill....

farawayman

19-Oct-2006, 18:25

Weather forecasts for the areas through which we will be travelling look good, Tamworth's top temp for tomorrow is 30!
See you at McGrath's Hill....

Ride safe you guys and have a ball. I need a decent ride myself but cant make this one. :(

Looks like the server will be free and we will be able to log onto Netrider this weekend :lol: :lol: :lol:

Removed_User_5

19-Oct-2006, 18:36

Have a great trip guys, Im sorry Lil and i cant make it.
please take lots of Pics paul and make me jeleous when you get home.

Ride safe mate and have a great trip.

Jay and Lil

gegvasco

19-Oct-2006, 19:11

I'm still in so see you at Maccas. Last night at the Ranch Sajie said she was out.

chickibabe

19-Oct-2006, 22:26

Hay guy's, you all have a great time away, and all stay safe.
+1 for the photo's,

Cheers Lou

Snapey

21-Oct-2006, 01:46

Thanks for the company guys, I had a ball. After I left you at Gresford Rd, I went back through Branxton & Broke then had to do the Putty again, but this time a tad quicker. :grin:

The highlight of the day was when traffic had me stopped on the Windsor bridge, and an F111 did a barrel roll over my head at about 200ft. I stopped in Windsor to watch this guy go through his paces for the air show at Richmond this weekend. Absolutely amazing.

Cheers,
Peter.

_joel_

21-Oct-2006, 05:46

lucky buggers....whilst im getting readt for work :(

hornet

21-Oct-2006, 09:57

hahah, peter, a tad quicker :shock: ???

We'll tell you all about it when we get back but yesterday had everything including riding down the Moonbi range in the middle of a shrieking thunderstorm and visiblility of zero!!! As Graham Kennedy used to say, "Makes your eyes stick out!!!"

gegvasco

21-Oct-2006, 09:57

Well, here we are in Tamworth. We made it OK. Just the three of us now - Phil(Falco) departed at Walcha to see some friends in Uralla. And Snapey showed us what a dual sport is really capable of on the Putty before turning around. Was a brilliant ride up. The last 100km from Walcha to Tamwoth was interesting. We rode straight into a massive thunderstorm with lightning and the whole works. Could hardly see anything through the rain and to add to the fun Tim ran out of fuel right in the middle of it. Luckily the bloke at the nearest closed servo opened up a pump "cash sale only".

There was a nasty smash on Thunderbolts. Bloke on an SV "hit a rock" on the road at 80 and went wide into a sheer cliff wall in a cutting. Bike basically exploded(not literally) and cartwheeled through the air leaving bits all over the road for about 50m. Amazingly, he came out of it really well. Just a broken collarbone and some bruising. Not surprisingly, our pace slowed dramatically after that.

Our gear should almost be dry by now so off to ride the roads around here before hitting the Motorcycle museum.

P.S. The V-Strom is brilliant for long-distance touring.

hornet

21-Oct-2006, 09:58

Tim 650

21-Oct-2006, 10:06

I am so jelous of you guys right now ....... I love riding in storms!!! hahaha

I hope you guys have a great time and take care.

TIM

Fj1100

22-Oct-2006, 22:02

Wow. what an amazing weekend. I ended up clocking 2200 K's, and maybe 500 of it was freeway/main roads. There were some pretty awesome stretches.

We ended up doing the eastern half of th eoslew this morning, which was freezing and a little wet, went down to taree, then back roads to maitland, then across to the top of putty road to give it another go.

I left the guys just before the end of putty to head home via the bells line.

we should have a lot of pics, I'll look into uploading the photobucket or soemthing later.

I absolutely trashed my rear tyre chasing phil through putty road and thunderbolt way. it was almost bald up the sides, but still had tread in the middle. was interesting in the wet...

Tim (the other Tim...)

hornet

22-Oct-2006, 22:53

Ditto +1, a fabulous, must-do-again weekend. I got home to Wollongong around 10 past ten after a 30 minute stop in Penrith, total mileage today between 8:00am and 10:10pm, 846kms.....
Pictures and a detailed ride report tomorrow, but thanks to my companions for an unforgettable three days, God bless you!

gegvasco

23-Oct-2006, 11:21

Brilliant weekeknd - one to remember. Got home just after 9 after hitting every red light :evil: ! Ended up with 1635km total with 785 yesterday. By far the most riding I have done in one day and while I could have kept going, once I stopped and sat in a comfy chair for a while I was buggered.

The V-Strom was outstanding for that trip. Couldn't be happier with it. Now I know exactly what bits to modify to make it just that bit better.

I did lose those photos from the first part of the first day. Had all sorts of corrupted files on the CF card. Had a few reasonable ones after that though. Will post to photobucket once my ADSL comes back online again(on emergency dialup at the moment)

Thanks again guys and for all those who piked, you missed a great weekend out.

Fj1100

23-Oct-2006, 12:04

After worrying about how far I had to travel all day, I beat both of you home after leaving you at the top of the hill?

It really is a good run across the bells line there, pretty quick. I'll have to try to meet up with more of you guys doing things in that area.

Tim.

hornet

23-Oct-2006, 21:21

Well, I'm not going to attempt to summarise three days of fun in a short, "We had a great time" post. So it's going to be longish, and linked to lots of (really poor) pictures!

The ride started off on Thursday night when Tim (FJ1100) arrived at our place to stay the night, and get an early start on Friday AM. We talked about IT and schools (Mrs Hornet is a teacher with an interest in IT) until late in the night then hit the sack. We avoided talking about the weather.

Friday morning at 5:30 we were up, breakfasted and ready to hit the road about 6:00.

We arrived at the start point (Maccas at McGrath's Hill, where else?) to find Greg (gegvasco) already there. It was already a bit after 8:00 and we weren't going to hang around waiting for people who may or may not be coming, but before 8:30 Phil arrived on the thumping Aprilia Falco, and Snapey arrived, on his DR650 Suzuki home-brewed motard. He was just riding to Singleton and then coming home, he said. Great, so five of us took off, stopped for fuel and the obligatory photo op [IMG:800:600:98cd776c78]http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r100/HornetPics/Three%20Points%20Ride/01FuelatMcGrathsHill.jpg[/img:98cd776c78] and pointed north to the Putty Road.
We, or at least I, thought we were a reasonably well-matched set of riders, but after a stop at Garland Valley, [IMG:800:600:98cd776c78]http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r100/HornetPics/Three%20Points%20Ride/02GarlandValley1.jpg[/img:98cd776c78] [IMG:800:600:98cd776c78]http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r100/HornetPics/Three%20Points%20Ride/03GarlandValley2.jpg[/img:98cd776c78] we soon found out otherwise. While we were engaging first and revving our engines, Snapey was still lazily washing his visor with a little bottle of water he had produced out of his small Ventura bag. "You go, guys, I'll catch you up," were his words as we departed.
The next thing I knew was seeing Phil and Tim blast past me after the first set of bends before the famous Ten Mile, and then, on the first climbing left hand hairpin at the start of the Ten Mile proper, Peter rounded me up round the outside, and two corners further on, passed both Phil and Tim and within two corners had just simply disappeared!!! Describing it doesn't do the event justice.
We re-grouped near Bulga and scampered into Singleton for the obligatory Maccas and a de-brief, and fuel for the next leg. Needless to say we were all still scratching our heads over what had just happened. But, as we found out, Peter is an old B-Grade road-racer and former sidecar passenger, and that explained a lot. He can ride!!! We were sad that he wass leaving us to go back to Sydney, but I for one was glad he was not going to be around for the rest of the trip; I didn't need to be reminded for the next three days of how slow I am!!!
[IMG:800:600:98cd776c78]http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r100/HornetPics/Three%20Points%20Ride/04Singleton-1.jpg[/img:98cd776c78]
He led us to the head of the road to Gresford, waved a cheery goodbye and retraced his way to Sydney, a bit faster, this time he said :shock: !!
TBC

hornet

24-Oct-2006, 08:22

Once you turn off the New England Highway, as I remarked in the recce notes, road quality drops quickly, and becomes very variable. The run through Gresford/Stroud/Dungog was brisk, but also featured a couple of small twisty sections, roughly surfaced, the second notable for having no advisory speed signs :shock:. These were done at two speeds; fast by Tim and Phil, and more conservatively by Greg and myself. (This weekend showed up again that I need to get some work done on my front forks.....:roll:)

As an old resident of the area, the other thing that was remarkable to me was the fact that although we are in the grip of a terrible drought, I can't remember seeing the middle Hunter Valley any greener!!!
[IMG:800:600:58a372502a]http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r100/HornetPics/Three%20Points%20Ride/05OutsideGresford1.jpg[/img:58a372502a]
[IMG:800:600:58a372502a]http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r100/HornetPics/Three%20Points%20Ride/06OutsideGresford2.jpg[/img:58a372502a]
This continued for virtually the whole trip!!

Once we were out of the B-Roads and back onto the Bucket's Way we charged through to Gloucester for yet another fuel stop, and a collective giggle at an event in the town's main street. There were around 20 Ducatis of various types parked in the main street. Gloucester has a sloping main street, and very high gutters at this point; around half a metre from the road surface to the footpath. One of the bikes had toppled over and precipitated a domino-effect! Three bikes at least were lying on their sides, and each other, and because their rear tyres were wedged against the high gutter, the riders were standing helplessly on the footpath surveying broken bars, and indicators and stuff, wondering what bike to pick up first, and how! We fuelled up and prepared to attack the legendary Thunderbolt's Way.
[IMG:800:600:58a372502a]http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r100/HornetPics/Three%20Points%20Ride/07Gloucester.jpg[/img:58a372502a]

Thunderbolt's Way, in my opinion, is one of those 'must ride' rides. Around 5 kms out of Gloucester, you turn right onto it and immediately start to climb and turn and climb and turn till you think you are going to emerge on top of the world. Phil and Tim took off!!! There is something wonderful about bombing through glorious green countryside, and Greg and I stopped a couple of times to enjoy the view and take some pics of the phenomenally green valleys below. (We later found out his camera was playing up; sorry mate, I hope mine are as good as your's would have been.)
[IMG:800:600:58a372502a]http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r100/HornetPics/Three%20Points%20Ride/08ThunderboltsWay1.jpg[/img:58a372502a]
[IMG:800:600:58a372502a]http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r100/HornetPics/Three%20Points%20Ride/010ThunderboltsWay3.jpg[/img:58a372502a]

Phil on the Falco and Tim on the battered old Fudge were right into things by now, but halfway to the top after another photo-shoot we had a serious wake-up call. In the middle of a long climbing left hander we came upon a downed rider. The rider had been coming south through the corner, stood the bike up and locked the brakes and hit a pile of rocks all around half a metre or more in size, at the bottom of the cliff-face! The bike was still lying on the ground, and pieces of it were strewn over a wide area. The rider was sitting up with his back against the cliff-face, nursing a broken collar-bone, and that seemed to be all. We didn't photograph the scene, but we all agreed he was one lucky guy because by the condition of the bike, and the fact that he had hit the rocks at speed, he should have been dead. We assisted his friend to direct traffic and waited till the ambulance arrived. Greg checked out the extra nice bits on his friend's V-Strom 1000 as we walked back to our machines and headed less frantically to the summit.

Unfortunately the Valley was quite hazy from the lookout at the top of Thunderbolt's, but if you ride the road, you must stop and marvel at the beauty of the Australian countryside...
[IMG:800:600:58a372502a]http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r100/HornetPics/Three%20Points%20Ride/017ThunderboltsWay010.jpg[/img:58a372502a]
[IMG:800:600:58a372502a]http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r100/HornetPics/Three%20Points%20Ride/016ThunderboltsWay9.jpg[/img:58a372502a]

More....

Fj1100

24-Oct-2006, 11:57

Sorry if thius breaks up your ride report Paul, but I uploaded my pics this morning. It's lookin good though, I hope you finish it!

They are fairly raw, I just resized them. if anyone wants a bigger version ust pm me the number, I'll send it over in it's 9MP glory.

I'm not too cluey with this photo-buckety thing, but if you click here you might find them...

http://s133.photobucket.com/albums/q76/timfj1100/

Tim.

typhoon

24-Oct-2006, 14:01

I am green (Kawasaki green!) with envy! Looks like you had excellent weather and a great time.
Hopefully next time!
To post a photo from Photobucket, highlight all the text in the Img box below the photo with your mouse, cick Ctrl + c. Then come back to your Netrider post, put the cursor where you want it (below text you have typed), and click Ctrl + v.

Regards, Andrew.

gegvasco

24-Oct-2006, 22:50

I took a couple of quick snaps of the accident...this is the last place you want to go wide at 80kph! Still can't believe he came out of it so well.

[img:800:600:8410ea92df]http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e121/gegvasco/IMG_0113.jpg[/img:8410ea92df]
[img:800:600:8410ea92df]http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e121/gegvasco/IMG_0114.jpg[/img:8410ea92df]

hornet

25-Oct-2006, 08:34

I didn't realise you had taken them, Greg, it sure does increase the 'ouch' factor to see the scene.....

Riding down from the top of Thunderbolt's Way is not as much fun as riding up, but one thing that was remarkable (again) was how green the countryside was on the lower side of the range. In fact there were signs of things to come as we rode the last few boring miles into Walcha.

[IMG:800:600:b77197291c]http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r100/HornetPics/Three%20Points%20Ride/020RainsouthofWalcha1.jpg[/img:b77197291c]

While stopped for lunch in Walcha (don't do it unless you can't avoid it) we met up with some more of the Ducati riders; they were wondering where everyone else was; we were able to tell them :lol:

Tim ordered $5 worth of chips; don't order $5 worth of chips in a country town unless you are planning on feeding half the population.

I ordered a flat white coffee, which the girl interpreted as first of all a black coffee in an indifferent mug, then an instant coffee with milk in another indifferent mug. I couldn't be bothered asking her why she hadn't used the coffee machine to make a flat white. Again, country towns....

[IMG:800:600:b77197291c]http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r100/HornetPics/Three%20Points%20Ride/022LunchatWalcha.jpg[/img:b77197291c]

And, to top off the experience, just as we were leaving town we were ALL stopped by the local constabulary and subjected to a random breath test. Tim's chips failed to register!

Phil on the mighty Falco left us here to visit some friends in Uralla, so five had become four now became three for the rest of the weekend.

Heading east from Walcha the sky got darker and darker, and soon we could see lightning in the southern sky. Well, I thought, that's to the south, we should be OK, at which point the road turned to the south and we rode straight into the mother-in-law of all thunderstorms!

As you do, we left it a little too late to put on wet-weather gear, and ended up suiting up on the side of the road with no shelter and the rain becoming heavier by the second. Then the secondary curse set in; the body is dry, but the visor is wet, the glasses are fogging up and if you lift the visor to see, the glasses get as wet as the visor. Speed dropped to crawling pace, with me in the lead and Greg copping my spray as well as the rain. Up ahead a bit we were wondering how Tim was going; suddenly we rounded a corner to spot (blurilly) Tim stopped on the side of the road. Do we stop?? Instant decision, no, he's just putting on HIS wet gear and he'll catch us up.

It is still shrieking down rain when we get to the New England Highway at Bendemeer. Tim hasn't caught us up (not surprisingly, considering the visibility) so we decide to fuel up at the only shop/servo/post office in town and wait for him. The shop closes at 6:00pm, so we've just made it; it's 5:50pm. Er, no we haven't, the shop-keeper has locked the bowsers and the shop and gone home early!!!

In the mean time, as the shop is invisible from the Highway, Greg has gone back to the main road to spot for Tim. He comes back to say that he is stopped at the turn off. I tell him that the servo is shut anyway, and Tim then decides to push on to the next town, with the fudge running on only two cylinders, either because of wet electrics, or low fuel, or a combination of both.

MEANWHILE I have got the guy who lives behind the garage to open one bowser on a cash-only-no-change basis so I and Tim can get petrol. (Greg's V-Strom has a bottomless tank!!) Greg arrives back to say that Tim has headed down the highway, and finds me fueling up! Greg then races back to the highway to catch Tim and bring him back to fuel at Bendemeer. The fudge gratefully accepts $10 worth of fuel and after a few vigorous blips of the throttle starts to run on four pots again. We're off!

It's still howling with rain and we ride down the famous Moonbi Range at a snail's pace; visibility is still zero, to the extent that there are cars behind us and they can't see enough to pass us, even though it's dual-carriageway road..

At Moonbi township at the bottom of the range we fill up with petrol and gradually pick up the pace towards Tamworth as the rain eases and visibility improves. Now a second problem enters my mind; the caravan park office closes at 7:00pm, and we need to check in.....

But I need not have worried, the new management have a night bell, and anyway, we roll into the caravan park at 6:50pm. After dripping all over the office floor, we pick up the key, open up the room and start to divest ourselves of layers of gear. Tim has fared worse; he had put in the wet-weather liner for his textile jacket, but that had done little and he was soaked to the skin. Greg's jacket and wet-weather pants had saved his inner gear, and my el-cheapo R-Jays plastic jacket and pants had kept my leathers bone dry, despite the worst conditions of riding that I can ever remember. We hung our laundry out along the railing of the cabin, got changed and walked down the street to the local Chinese restaurant, had dinner and returned to a well-earned sleep....

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TBC

hornet

26-Oct-2006, 07:13

Saturday morning we struggled out (lateish) to a glorious sunny day and most of the wet gear being well on the way to being dry.

Breakfast at one of the local cafes out of the way, it was time to plan the day. Tim wanted to visit the lookout; he'd see a sign that said 25kms to the lookout and he figured (correctly) that it would be a twisty road.

Well, it was, but regrettably it was only 2.5kms. Still the view was great, more photos.

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Tim was on a roll; 'Let's go back up that range we rode down in the rain yesterday'. Done. We fanged out of town and up the Moonbi, this time in bright sunshine.

Moonbi lookout is like a mini-Ayres Rock on top of a ridge to begin with, and the view from the top is spectacular....

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We headed back to town for a consultation with the local Honda dealer about rides round the area. He told us to head up to Nundle, so we headed off, stopping at the Powerhouse Motorcycle Museum.

Now whoever said early in this thread that the museum wasn't any good, obviously hadn't been there, and has friends who need education. Don't miss the chance to visit this amazing shrine to two wheels if you are anywhere within 200 kms of Tamworth. It's not as big as Nabiac, but the bikes are all perfectly restored and very well displayed. Our guide was an old guy called Chat; he thought HE could talk about older bikes and racers, etc, but that was before he met me!!

{I can't post any more pics IN this thread, so go HERE for the pics.

http://s142.photobucket.com/albums/r100/HornetPics/Tamworth%20Museum/

My little 3.2mp camera doesn't have a very good flash, but they do show the wonderful machinery there}

See how many of these old bangers you can identify!! Hopefully Greg got a picture of Tim on the Gold Wing; it couldn't be more different to the FJ-1100!!

hornet

28-Oct-2006, 13:44

The Powerhouse Motorcycle Museum is on the northern outskirts of Tamworth, incidentally, right on the highway, you can't miss it!

So we headed further north and turned right towards Nundle. B-Road again but through farming country, so lots of long-distance visibility meant we could hustle along a bit.

The Chaffey Dam furnishes Tamworth's water supply, and we were surprised to see that in this environmentally-conscious age, people were allowed to use power-boats on the dam. We heard one very healthy V8 speed-boat engine being warmed up below us, but after waiting a while to see what resulted, nothing happened so we pushed on to the town of Nundle itself, planning on lunch.

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What to expect when you visit a country town on a Saturday afternoon?? Nothing like Nundle, that day, that's for sure. Instead of two sleepy locals and a dog we found nearly all the parking places taken, and the footpath adjacent to the Pub clogged with 50 or 60 ladies of all ages, and most of most agreeable shapes, dressed as you would expect to find same in Toorak or Double Bay!!! Champagne and canapes were being plied all round. It appears there was a new fashion shop opening, and they had laid on a huge bash to celebrate it. This around 60kms from Tamworth and several 100 kms from any other major centre of civilisation :shock:.

Greg and Tim ordered lunch at the bistro, only to be told they could have hamburgers, but no chips. Seems the publican's wife and the cook wanted to close the kitchen down and go next door to the fashion shop!

Our man at the Motorcycle shop had said to go up to see the Sheba Dams, so we asked a friendly local; oh yeah, go down to the end of the main street and turn right where the sign says "Hangiing Rock"....

cue spooky music, but we need not have bothered, as the road almost immediately began to climb and get tighter, much to Tim's delight. He proceeded to contribute to his "lighten the fudge" agenda by grinding as many parts of the undercarriage as he could through successively steeper and tighter corners. Greg and I proceeded at a more sedate pace, hoping that we wouldn't have to pick up larger parts of the bike, and its rider, just round the next blind corner.

We needn't have worried, as we arrived at the top to find Tim motioning us off onto a road to the Hanging Rock lookout. A dirt road. The Hornet hates dirt, but Tim's crazy and Greg was on the V-Strom. By the time I arrived they had helmets off and were admiring the view ......

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The Sheba Dams were two very unprepossesing puddles a half a kilometre further up the road from the turn-off; we didn't even dismount or turn of our engines, but turned around and scampered down the hill again.

Once down on the flats again, Tim dropped in behind us and then at the turn-off to Tamworth, suddenly wasn't in the mirrors!!!!!!!!!! Stop, wait, prepare to worry? We needn't have; a couple of minutes later he hoves into view. What kept you? Oh, I saw a turtle on his back in the middle of the road, so I turned around and went back and righted him and moved him to the edge.. Awwwww, ain't that cute????

The day's nearly over, so we repair to our sumptuous lodgings

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and change to go down the street and get tea and prepare for an early night and tomorrow's exploits; the decision has been taken that it would be a shame to be this close to the famous Oxley Highway, and not do the Walcha-Port Macquaire section. It's going to mean a VERY long Sunday, so we retire early, with conversation about computer games dwindling to silence and sleep.....

hornet

29-Oct-2006, 08:57

Sunday morning dawned bright and sunny with no wind; perfect riding weather. Greg's always conscious of the weather, so he suited up completely right at the outset, and after one last pic of the bikes and our cabin, we were off to the famous Oxley Highway.

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Retracing our steps to Walcha remided us of how much fun the road would have been on the way in if we had been able to see it, but also that we were in the Northern Highlands; by the time we arrived at Walcha about an hour later we were frozen! Tim and I piled on any other available clothes we had and head offf towards Port Macquarie.

The road till you get to the top of the Oxley range is only two lane, but it's signposted at 110KPH. Does that tell you that it's wide-open and boring? It should.

And, needless to say, just as we hit the interesting stuff, it started to rain. Then it stopped. Then it started again. By the time we got to Ginger's Creek roadhouse we hadn't had one single corner that wasn't wet from earlier or present rain :evil:

Coffee was much appreciated; Tim's wet weather gear wasn't quite up to snuff and he was shivering when we stopped! The coffee's first function was to warm up our hands. It would have been nice to stay longer and chat with some of the other people holed up there, but the road called, so after filling up with the most expensive petrol that I can remember for a long time, ($1.47 per litre, I think), we were off again.

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I was disappointed with the Oxley, it was rougher and bumpier that I expected, but then I was expecting something like a longer Black Spur, or Macquarie Pass. It did dry out a bit towards the bottom and we were able to push along a bit but then just as we headed into Warchope, it started to rain in earnest and that put an end to any heroics.

But by the time we arrived at the big roundabout at Port Macquarie, it was fine again. Should we stop and take off our wet-weather gear? Greg says no, and 5 kms down the road it's raining again. The subject never comes up again; the wets stay.

We lunch at Taree (don't ask, Sunday afternoon and almost nothing's open...), fuel up a Coolongoloook and then our fearless leader, (me) misses the turn-off to the old O'Sullivan's Gap section of the highway, and we drone on down the boring super-slab with Greg now in the lead. He's got a map on his tank bag. I sulk in the rear.....

Suddenly Greg indicates right onto a road that says Booral. What the hey, he's got the map.

Did I say the road from Gresford to Stroud was B-road? This was D-road, at best! Rough, bumpy, narrow and unpleasant except that it was twisty and hilly and would have been perfect, if just we could have kept two wheels on the ground at the same time. The Strom soaked things up ok, but we were glad to emerge onto better road half an hour later, or at least, I was!

It wasn't any more than 15 turns and intersections later (!) that we were at Maitland, where the friendly locals have named a new road after Ken Tubman, the great local rally driver. A nice touch. Fuel and last-phase planning sees us heading to Singleton and a return to Sydney via the Putty. I have my misgivings; our timing means we'll be doing this live-stock and animal-infested track in the dark, and I hate the Putty in the dark. But I'm not wanting to poop the party, either, so after a pie and coffee in the fading light at Bulga we fang off into the Ten-Mile. Tim stays behind for the first half and then blasts the fudge past and hares off into the distance, cornering as fast as the suspension will allow, but going a lot quicker than I am between the corners. We stop briefly at Garland Valley to de-brief finally on where he's going to turn off to get to the Bell's Line of Road, and then we venture into darkness of the middle and last sections of the Putty.

The Hornet's headlight isn't that great; the V-Strom's are probably fantastic, but working on the philosophy that I wouldn't ask someone to do something I wouldn't do myself, I take the lead as we race towards Colo. A couple of inspired 4WDs pass us before we head up the hill towards the last third of the road; one becomes our victim as we reach the crest as he's not got the torque and power up the long hill to match a motorcycle.

In no time at all we have dived down into the valley, crossed the Colo and raced up the other side and are at the Kurrajong Turn-off. We bid Tim a sincere and cautionary farewell and for the last time this weekend, he spins the rear wheel in the dirt, and blasts into the darkness.

Soon it's Windsor, and Greg is going straight ahead down Windsor Road, and I'm heading off to Penrith, Appin and home.

It was a great weekend. Three people is probably a little small a number for such a major ride, but then 12 people may well have been unmanageable. Anyway, I enjoyed the riding and the company and friendship of my two companions. Would we do it again? Oh yeah. WILL we do it again? Watch the calender for next year's dates....

gegvasco

29-Oct-2006, 09:14

Outstanding writeup Paul. Great stuff.

The Putty was interesting at night. I was taking it very easy behind the 40-60kph horse float until well after you guys got past it. The night conditions didn't stop a heavy-laden 4WD towing a loaded-up trailer overtake 100m of vehicles around a blind corner doing about 120 - the trailer was literally bouncing around with one wheel airborne at times. Some people! He probably had a few kids in the car while he was doing this as well.

Once I got past the horse float, I was pretty much on my own for about 20km before reaching you guys at the Kurrajong turnoff. During that time I had one of those "there really is someone looking out for you" moments. On the narrow twisty pits up in hills above Colo, I was approaching an easy 85kph right-hand corner when I saw a sheer wall of light approaching around the corner from the other way. I thought - big rig. I don't know what it was that made me get sus about this particular set of lights but I felt the need to get hard on the brakes to slow right down and pull way over the the left. Then at a huge speed, a semi-trailer that was going way too fast for the corner came screaming around half on my side of the road, trailer banging and lurching under the strain of the speed he was going through the corner at. Even though I was way over to the left he only missed me by about a metre! Once he was past it took me a while to accelerate as the adrenalin kicked in and I considered what had just happened. I reckon if I wasn't holding onto the bars, my hands would have been shaking.

If I had taken the corner normally and been using the inside of my lane, I'd be roadkill. Even if I'd been in a car I would have been in a huge head-on. I still can't work out what it was that was so different approaching that corner that made me slow down and pull way over.