- Joined
- Sep 10, 2008
- Messages
- 9,644
- Reaction score
- 160
- Points
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- Location
- Ipswich , Australia (+10 GMT)
My weekend. (briefly)
This is nothing compared to the Barons or Bards writings, but I had a pretty interesting weekend, so I may as well share it.
The weekend for me pretty much started friday arvo around 2pm.
I was called up to the office, and pretty much knew straight away what it was for. I even made a joke about should I return my uniform now or do you want it washed first. They loosely smiled.
anyway, basically I wasnt needed anymore, work was slow, I was last to join and my probation period would of ended on Monday. so as I was last to join, I am first to go.
We shook hands, they wished me the best, I said it was ok. I said some brief good byes to the ppl I knew and got on with. got escorted to my bike, said good bye to Raf and went and got my hair cut.
I then went to the pub, as one does when they loose a job. knocked back a few, then went to the bottle-o, and bought a case.
Went home, fired up the decks, drunk some piss and ate some steak.
I knew I was going for a ride the next day, up to Quoll's house warming, but I was unsure if I was doing a "sydney day trip" or doing the overnighter. I decided after about 8 beers, that given I had nothing to come back to, overnight it was.
So anyway, I organised with Janice (some jerk) that she would be at mine around 0630, she'd grab the vtr, and we'd meet Boris and co at arranged meeting point at 0730.
So I knew I was getting up early, so I did what I normally do on a friday.
Got ****faced, and started cooking dinner (steak) around 2200. watched abit of Jarhead psyching myself for potentially rejoining the army again.
Came to midnight, thought I better sleep.
slept.
rudely woken at 0545 by my alarm clock, knew I shouldnt of had that 2nd (or was it 3rd) glass of wine with dinner straight away.
showered, made coffee, ate rice bubbles and started getting ready.
Heard Janices Staintune equipped CBR125RRRRRRRRRR about 2 kilometers away. went down to open garage for her, and warmed the bikes up.
Chucked luggage on, made small talk, it was frosty, but I decided to wear summer gloves cause I thought I would try my new "mod" of Storm Barkbusters.
Took off towards Boris and gang, only to discover that the bark busters do very little. my finger tips where soon "burning" from the cold.
Quickly down cumberland highway, onto Windsor road. We conviently got every traffic light on the way there.
but we did make it in time.
said hellos, changed gloves to winter pair and took off again to North Richmond pub.
It was cold. it was made worse by riding throught what can only be described as "that fog from Silent Hill"
I couldnt see ****, my visor was soon covered in mist, and Ihad to keep wiping it like a freak to be able to see more than 30m infront og me.
god knows how Boris and Scrambles managed wearing open face helmets.
Made it to North Richmond. refuelled. the sun decided to show up, warming us up. Bly arrived on his Duke. sounds nice. was the first time I had seen it.
He refuelled, and Boris gave some good advice. "no one crash"
we took off through North Richmond headed for Bells line. Those with more speed got away, I thought of chasing but got stuck behind a truck briefly.
Over took that, and the Jerk followed.
Went through some corners and I could see her light in my mirrors. next corenr I couldnt.
I knew straight way. I slowed down abit, and still nothing. Pulled over. thought I would give her some time, then a car pulled up and said "your mate crashed back there"
Did a quick u turn and went back down the hill only to find a police car there already and Janice standing up, I was glad she was ok, but kinda worried what the cops would say (shes on her p's, and had no p's showing)
They were actually really helpful, giving advice, and didnt once ask for lisences or breath testing us.
Once things were ok, they took off. two other guys who also stopped took off and Jan and I decided what to do.
She said we could go on, meanwhile I head texted Scamblor and told him we would probably be late at the next fuel stop.
We took off and within about a klick, she pulled over. stating she wasnt comfortable (understandable).
I said I could take her back to mine if she wished. she liked that so we headed off.
We stopped again at Richmond to see if Scambles had got my text and replied. he hadnt so I rang. he answered straight away, told what happened and siad I would meet them there this arvo.
Back to mine.
Got back around 1030, had coffee and wondered what to do.
Bad things happen in 3, so I ummed and arrred about going or not.
I texted Daz to see what he was doing, and he said I could meet him at Colo heights petrol station around 1145.
well it was 1100 and I thoguht **** it. cracked open a beer, drunk it and got ready to go.
Escorted Jan to the m4, said our breif good byes and then gunned it to the putty.
well sydney decided to all come out and play on our beautiful day. traffic was everywhere, and I was onyl arriving near Windsor at 1145 (thinking back, my estimation of times was pretty wack)
pulled over and texted Daz to go on with out me.
Got to Putty, got more fuel, rang Candice (weebr) and asked her could she log into my account and text me the address for Quolls house (I now had to find my own way there). and hit the road.
I dont really liek the putty, I have heard bad storys of HWP and loss of liscence, but, this was the 3rd time in a month I was on its road so I guess it cant be to bad.
Got to halfway house and kept going, not stopping for no one. got to Singo. refuelled and thought I felt pretty **** house. was now around 2ish.
pulled in pub, got schooner, got bowl of chips. texted ppl. read candices directions, and texted a thank you (I love texting)
got back on bike and headed for scone.
Passed Boris, Bly, Baron and others on the way back. dang missed them.
I noticed that their group had grown, and that black was in fashion (is it ever not)
hit freeway, and sat on a nice 140. got to scone and tried to remember the directions. I knew it was 17 kilcks past scone then somehting something. wicked.
it was at this stage I saw a headlight in my mirror, and it had a red trellis frame. no way I thoguht. it was Jamie. he over took, he waved, I waved, I felt warm and fuzzy. then proceeded to follow him.
Past the pub (15.4 klicks out of scone, not 17 tsk tsk) and nearly ran into his arse as he suddenly braked after a turn off.
did u turn, followed, arrived at Quolls.
Said hellos, chatted. drinks were drunk, tim tams followed then SCENE MISSING
I awoke to hear a rooster crowing, then antoher, it was cold. I was cold. I tried to sleep but couldnt.
I think I lay there for about 2 hours before I thought I should get up.
heard bikes firing up and leaving. yeah time to get up.
Quoll cooked us breakfast as one by one ppl started to leave.
Soon, it was just Ed, Wayne, Woodsie, myself and Quoll
Woodsie and I cracked a beer, then another, and decided to get going.
I was going to follow him to Mudgee then onto Dubbo to see Candice and Jez (they didnt know yet)
Gry clouds loomed and we head off. was brisk but nothing on the day before.
We stopped at various places that I had never heard of. chatted, took photos, drunk some schooners and kept going.
Went through Bylong Valley Way. was nice. even if it had about 30 klicks of dirt on it, put we quickly demolished it and kept going.
Soon, we were in Mudgee, got to Jim's, grabbed another beer, got directions and headed for Dubbo.
Was pretty chilli, and the roads where suddenly flat.
Kept to a nice 137 (seemed to be the speed I was doing every time I looked at my speedo) and withtin an hur and a bit was on the outskirts of Dubbo.
just as rain was starting to fall.
got off and took photo and tried to send it to Candice to let her know I was here. it didnt work
also needed some fuel. my bike was on 38 kilometers on reserve.
kinda to close for me.
Candice came and I followed her back to her house.
Bought a case on the way.
Got to hers and J-Doggs had never been here before and they often gave me crap for not coming out. but now I was finally here.
sunk some beers. went out to dinner (I owe you guys) then watched Dovi take his maiden GP win.
Monday I did the usual **** ppl do when they have no money.
Rode around a nd took photos whilst visiting pubs.
That arvo, Jes helped me change the oil (ok, they basically done it, whilst I watched, us city folk = useless)
drank some more in good company, watched tv, talked, and laughed.
Good ppl and I thank them for their hospitality.
Tuesday morning.
got up, got dressed. made breakfast (Candy and Jez already at work) packed bike, knocked back a beer and headed off.
Dropped in to see Candice at her work and said thanks again.
And made for Wellington.
Got there, then headed for Mudgee. some nice views and gentle rolling hills.
was brisk but Iwas making good speed and good times.
Got to Mudgee in about an hour ten.
refuelld and headed for Sofala via some place.
as I was leaving Mudgee, I was behind a truck and another car doing about 40.
me being young and impatient decided to over take them.
Gunned it across double lines and a "turning bay". could see a car about 500m ahead anf knew I would make it in time.
as it got closer I could see the unmistakable blue and red lights on its roof.
I was probably doing about 160 and feared the worse.
eased back down to a "sensible" 120 and waited for the lights to flicker to life.
they never did, when he went past he just looked at me like I was a dick head.
Ben breaths sighs of relief.
anway, took off towards Sofala and WOW what a road!!!!!
Some of the best scenery I have ever seen. was warm, smooth tarmac, no traffic.
Nice sweepers and some undulation. quickly got to Sofala and stopped to do the usual photos and what not. found a quaint old pub and headed inside.
had a breif chat to the landlord whilst admiring the history on the walls.
[imghttp://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u308/b3nje909/DSC00278.jpg[/img]
got back on and headed for Bathurst.
Another great road. a nice downwards hairpin section, tho I wasnt exactly smashing land speed records.
Pulled into bathurst. got fuel. got more ear plugs, and took off again towards Lithgow via Tarana.
Stopped to take a happy snap of this goat track they call a road.
took off again, was enjoying myself.
then suddenly, knew I was going to quick, was appraoching corner. I knew the surface was bad, I eased on brakes but I knew I couldnt stop. I was off the side. over a dtich, and getting ever closer to a fence.
some how, either the roads gods smiled upon thee, or through sheer desperation. I stayed up right.
the bike stalled and I thought how I was gonna get out of this.
much toing and froing saw me do a 20 point turn in foot high grass whilst cows mooed and mocked me.
eventually I was back on the road, only to see a car come by 10 seconds later (his help woudl of been appreciated).
kept going, through the dirt section, and onto tarmac. only to have me nealry do it again. for some reason, I now have virtually no confidence in left hand hair pins. I dont know why, it should be the rights but for some reasonl. I struggle with lefts.
got to Tarana. got off bike. it was about 2 degrese.
Got chips and schooner. admired history again (Tarana's female cricket team has the highest EVER one day test score in the world)
coasted back to lithgow, taking it easy and using (and enjoying) the torque of the bike.
Through Lithgow, and onto Bells line.
was "enjoying" Bells line (despite the cold) when I passed two cars coming the other way. suddnely as they passed me. I siren went up.
I "hurried" away and kept checking my mirrors. I never saw a car come up behind me, and dont knwo if it was for me or not.
got to end of Bells line only to be caught in MAJOR traffic going up and down (army trucks, buses, cars etc)
So my spirited ride down Bells was a bit of a dissapointment.
went past Janices corner, and down into Richmond.
Through Penrith then Home.
Feeling a little sore and tired..
So thats it, "kinda" a bit longer than I expected. and hopefully someone has read the entire thing.
all up in 4 days. about 1300 klicks. A few roads I had never done.
been to towns I had never been to. meet some great ppl. had a laugh.
MANY THANKS must goto Woodsie, Candice and Jez. You have my eternal Gratitude.
I have probably missed some bits, but its probabyl to long as is...
benje
That my friend is an awesome summary of your ride and might i say im very jealous of what looked like a fantastic trip
:thumbup:
, but top way to spend the weekend.:thumbup:
...lol. This one's from today and dedicated to Mr. Wooluf, who didn't get his bike out
.
