Geelong Toy Run 06

Well, it was a small turnout from the Triumph group this year for the Geelong Toy Ride but a huge turnout overall. Despite the extreme heat, 3 of us were determined to give it a go and Mick (red sprint), myself and PJ rolled along with the mighty Harley bike train.

There was more bikes this year then I'd ever seen with estimates getting up to around 1200. Even as we rode out of Geelong there seemed to be a lot more support along the roadside with people waving and car drivers beeping their horns and giving us the nod of approval. There was even a woman on the kerb with a big Thank You sign.

It's always a great day when the public get to see that motorcyclists are nut cases that just want to get themselves killed!
It's heartwarming to see bikers of all age groups turn out with toys strapped to themselves and their bikes so show appreciation for the kids & families that aren't so well off at Xmas. I heard a sad story later on, that the toys that were bound for the Geelong Hospital Childrens Wrd got stolen - some people...
There were quite a few Trumpys there that we didn't know and I saw a guy on a new blue S3 riding it across the grass in Portarlington as if he was on a dirt bike (side ways!).

After a quick stop in Port it was on to Queenscliff and the end of the run - we met up with Paul and also caught up with Ring and Darryl on the Guzzi.
The Toy Ride always seems to mark the start of the Xmas wind down - a bit like the CFA coming around with lollies in the fire truck! It's a good day out and great to see what everyone else is riding and talk bikes. Hope the kids enjoy the toys.

Marysville Weekend - Dec 2-3 2006

Well, I can't believe it's almost a week ago since we set off for Marysville - time flies & especially when you realise it's only a couple of weeks to Xmas. Sorry I've been a bit slack keeping the blog up to date recently but there just doesn't seem to be enough time in the day...

The next big event is the Xmas Toy Ride in Geelong which is organised by the Geelong HOGs. If anyone is thinking of going we were going to meet at the Wharfshed at 9am and then ride up to the Mercer St start line for the 10am kick off.

The Marysville trip was another great week-end away and the Tower Hotel is recommended to anyone that wants a quiet week-end in lush green countryside - remember green grass - well there's plenty of it in Marysville (at the moment)!

We had a change of departure plan following discussions at Thursday nights meeting and decided to set off from the Olive Cafe in Pako - that way we were able to sample the coffee making style of the local barrista (Graeme & Tina's cafe) before we went on our merry way.

I was late getting there due to a technical hitch with the Triumph saddle bags - a plastic clip broke and the strap had to be replaced by a shoelace - good old Triumph quality! Anyway, the coffee was perfect and we were soon saddled up and ready. Murray, Mick, Leigh, myself and Jane set off to meet Cheryl & Mal in Bacchus Marsh.

In Bacchus Marsh Cheryl was waiting but no sign of Mal - he was still locking up. Then an sms - he couldn't get the Daytona started! The message said 'Go' so we did and left him behind - for now! We had to meet John B in Kilmore at the bakery so we knew lunch wasn't too far away. It was a casual ride out through Gisbourne & Lancefield and into Kilmore. The biggest surprise was when we saw Mal's bike parked there already! He'd raced up the freeway - I think...

We met John B and got going after a snack in the Kilmore bakery. He's riding a Thunderbird now - sold the black Speed 3.

The road from Broadford was going to be awesome and everyone was looking forward to some good roads and a few thrills. It always is a pleasure riding out through Strath Creek, Flowerdale and into Yea and last Saturday was no exception - it was awesome! We got to Yea and met the Great Victorian Bike Ride coming the other way. Anyway a quick refuel and it was onward ho!

As we approached Marysville it seemed like someone had turned the colours back on - and it wasn't anything I was smoking! The vivid green grass was almost emerald and the trees lush with leaves - it was heaven!! On the way into town, there was a familiar face sitting in the local cafe having a coffee - it was PJ on the Daytona 600.

We regrouped at the hotel, unpacked and some of us decided a ride up Lake Mountain was a good idea to end the day - and it was a brilliant idea. For anyone that's never riden up Lake Mountain you must do it one day... the road is unreal with curve after curve and perfect camber - a bit like a rollercoaster! A quick coffee at the top and then another thrill back down the mountain.

A quick beer at the local pub and a game of pool - Murray & me let the girls win...

Tea was at a place call In Neutral which is a biker cafe in town covered in all sorts of bike and car regellia inside - you can't miss it, theres a guy on a Suzuki hanging out of the wall at the front. It was a great meal and fun was had by all.
At closing time most of the gang went home but a few of the stragglers went back to the pub for a nightcap. It was not the sort of place you'd want to take your daughter or wife for that matter - I think feral might be the word I heard mentioned!! It was all happening - even a blow up sex doll sitting at the bar at one stage! Things got a bit out of hand when they had the doll smoking a cigarette - especially when it was thrown and the cigarette landed in my eye! Bloody painful getting a cigarette in the eye - wouldn't recommend trying it at home... anyway, a bit of first aid and it was off to bed for us all.

Next morning it was a big breakkie down the local cafe with the King Parrots trying to snatch the food from our plates. PJ came over on the Speedmaster and the paint job on the tank looks great. Then we set off back to Geelong via the same route that we had arrived. Murray & Mick went to the racing at Broadford but everyone else kept going with a quick stop in Gisbourne to stretch and top up our bellys.

It was a great week-end and I'll be dreaming about that ride up Lake Mountain for a while...

Triumph Owners Motorcycle Event

Posted by Cheryl:

Garry (aka Skeg) from the Geelong branch of the Triumph Owners MCC made his return for our ride day on Sunday and extended an open invitation to the Geelong RATs to join the TOMCC for a couple of events this weekend. He is keen to get the Geelong branch of the TOMCC up and firing again and thought some cross over events with our group might be a start.

Firstly, Saturday night (11th Nov) there is a social event at Garry’s place in Lara. It is BYO everything from 7pm onward with the option to stay over if required. I don’t know if anyone from our group will attend not knowing Garry very well (or at all) but the invitation is there regardless. Garry’s phone number is 0401936047 if anyone wants more details.

Secondly, the TOMCC are having a ride day on Sunday 12th which I believe has been organised by the Norton club. The meeting place is Smorgy’s car park, Cnr Maroondah Hwy & Oban St at 10am for a ride to Flowerdale pub for lunch. Another possibility for our group is to ride the ‘normal’ route via Gisborne & Broadford and meet up with everyone at Flowerdale to have a nosey at the bikes and meet the owners. Personally, I’m keen to attend this if the weather is good… would be good if we could get some others interested.

The details of both events are on the web at http://www.sargeants.net.au/tomcc/tevents.html

Pink Ribbon Ride - 22nd Oct 06

The Pink Ribbon Ride was over a week ago now - doesn't time fly... anyway, I thought it was worth mentioning as it was a good day out and for a great cause. A few of us rocked up at the Wharfshed on Sunday morning and the Pink Ribbons were distributed.
Pete on the Speed Triple reckoned he didn't need anymore pink - he reckoned he had enough - hang on, doesn't he keep saying his bikes nuclear red - not pink!
Well the weather was perfect and 5 of us set off for Melbourne and met Mel & Cheryl on the way. PJ was going to be there on the Daytona so we'd meet him at the venue in his usual set up including pink leg warmers!
The bikes gathered at the Bunnings Store carpark in Vermont and it was an amazing sight to see 1000+ bikes gathering for the annual ride & fundraising. We all got our barcodes so that we could have a free breast scan (kills men as well!) and after a coffee in Bunnings we were ready. The police gave a quick briefing and then it was time to fire up & get on the saddle.
Tara Moss was there at the front leading proudly on her new Truimph Scrambler.
Once out on the road we could see how well organised this was with all the traffic lights set to green and the police stopping traffic at all the junctions to keeps the procession of bikes moving as it snaked it's way along the Burwood Highway. It was an amazing sight - bikes as far as you could see.
The scenery is beautiful in that part of the world and as we started getting into the hills of the Yarra Valley it was lush, green and lots of fruit orchards. It was a steady ride to the Maroondah Dam & when we arrived the place was already buzzing.
A band was setup in the rotunda and food was getting cooked up by the local volunteer groups & food vans. Queuing up was a bit of a pain as the event has get so big that the number of people that turned up overwhelmed the caterers!
After another coffee and a burger or hot dog, it was time for the annual Tara Moss photo. We all headed for the Triumph Scrambler and found Tara having her photo taken with the police. What about the Geelong RATS!!
We waited our turn and when we approached her nervously she spotted the Triumph t-shirts & wanted to know where we'd been hiding - suddenly we felt like we were her best mates, from the same club!! With no hesitation she agreed to a photo with us all and we stood proudly with her new Scrambler while Mick did the honours. Mick then made sure he got one with Tara on his own...
It was a great day out and for a great cause - wouldn't miss it!

Marysville Weekend & Pink Ribbon Ride

The Marysville week-end is in the calendar to take place on 25th & 26th November. However, it's been changed as accommodation was limited.
The new dates for the Marysville weekend are 2nd & 3rd December 06. If you want to go you need to book as soon as possible as Murray & Mick called in on our way past a couple of weeks ago and managed to put some rooms on hold for a few weeks. When you book tell them you're from the Geelong Triumph group.
Phone Tower Motel on 03 5963 3225.


Pink Ribbon Ride - Sunday 22nd October 06
Well who could forget last year when a group of us took part in the Pink Ribbon Ride to Maroondah Dam. I still can't get that image of PJ in the pink leg warmers out of my mind. Then there was lovely Tara Moss - and she even took the time to pose for a photo with the Triumph boys & girls from Geelong - look forward to chatting to her about her new Triumph Scrambler!
If you're up for a ride on Sunday for a good cause then meet at the Wharfshed on Sunday morning 22nd October for a sharp 7.30am start.
See the web site (link on right side of blog) for details of trip and times - register on the day if you haven't already.

Gippsland - ride weekend (non-RAT event) - 7/8 Oct

A few things have happened since I last wrote to the site and some of you may have heard about the ride some of us did with friends of Ollies in Melbourne. There was about 11 from Geelong (including a couple of jap bikes) and we me up with Ray and the group from Berwick at Yea on Saturday morning 7th Oct. It was going to be a big ride going from Yea to Marysville and then via the Reefton Spur to Warburton and then on towards Moe in Gippsland and ending up in Rawson for the night.
After breakie we went to mount up and the first bad omen was the ambulance parked in front of the bikes. One of the guys commented - "That's good, we've got the escort vehicle"!
The second was when the BMW rider that was the tail end charlie for the group was no where to be seen! After waiting about half an hour in Marysville we decided he was lost - he turned up later in Yarra Valley. It was a beautiful ride into Marysville and at times it felt like we were in a different country - the grass was green and the countryside lush. Then on to the Reefton Spur.
It all started out okay, then we came on to loose gravel and it was rattling around the brake caliper, chipping the paintwork and bouncing of the radiator cowl... no good. Grant got a piece of bark caught up in his back wheel. On stopping at the bottom more dramas - Pete had a piece of wood bounce up from the road and pierce his leather boot - he was okay but had a leaky right boot!
Anyway it was on to Yarra Valley for lunch and a well earned rest. With a full tanks of juice we headed on for our last stage of the journey to Rawson.
Everyone was looking forward to a hot shower and a beer at the bar, putting our feet up & sharing tales of the day.
Then the biggest disaster of all - we were riding downhill on the road to Moe and as we rounded one of the corners we could see what no one ever wants to see - a rider down! A few of the bikes had pulled up in front - we still weren't sure if it was one of us.
Then someone said it was Len that had been riding the VTR - he was on the roadside getting assistance and it was obvious he was seriously injured. His bike was nowhere to be seen!
Then the pieces started coming together and we saw his bike about 6 metres off the road in amongst the trees & scrub. Even though he needed his arm pinned (multiple breaks + wrist broken) Len was lucky that day! We all looked at the bike in misbelief - it was a mess!
Anyway we put it behind us once Len was safely in the ambulance and carried on to Rawson. The guys from Melbourne were great company and even though the day was a disaster, everyone enjoyed the riding and friendship.
The next day was wet - and slippery. At one point the Sprint took a bit of a slide and after that it just didn't want to go round corners - that's my excuse anyway (or maybe it was the passenger!).
The Geelong group parted ways and headed for a relaxing cruise on the Queenscliff ferry.
Ray from the Melbourne group is going to keep in touch with Ollie and let him know the next one - it was a great week-end dispite the mishaps - look forward to the next one - thanks Ollie for arranging it.

October's a busy month!

Well there seems to be something happening every week-end in October so it could end up being a busy one. One thing I know for sure - I'm not riding on the Great Ocean Road on a Sunday ever again! I went there last week-end & it was crazy. There were cops pulling bikes over, tourists in cars going at 4o km/hr & pulling up without even indicating and queues of traffic that reminded me of sunny England! It used to be an awesome road even at 80km/hr but now it's a pain in the arse - literally! The views still fantastic though!

Details on the draft plan for Tasmania 07 have been circulated by e-mail and handed out at the meeting. If you haven't got details and want them send me an e-mail & I get them to you. At the moment it's still on the drawing board but you'll need to be quick as I've made a few enquiries with e-mails and the accommodation is filling fast!

It's the Monthly Ride Day on Sunday 8th October (this Sunday). A few of us won't be able to make it but from the meeting last Thursday it sounded like a ride to the Motorcycle Expo was a good idea. Meet at the usual time of 9am for a 9:30 start.

The Southern Classic is on again at Broadford on 14 & 15 October.

A few of us are planning to go for the Sunday racing that starts at 9am. It's $15 per adult and if you want to see some great action on those old machines it's brilliant value for money. Check out the Historic Motorcycle Racing Association website for details. Plan is to leave Geelong Wharfshed at 7:30am on Sunday 15th Oct.


The Pink Ribbon Ride is on again and if you haven't already registered online then you have until Sunday October 8th 2006. Go to the Pink Ribbon Web Site. The ride is on Sunday 22nd October leaving from Bunnings Warehouse - 636 Burwood Highway, Vermont South and riding to the Maroondah Dam for lunch and entertainment. For those taking part, meet at the Wharfshed at 7:30am for the ride to Melbourne.
Last year we had a great day & even had a chat with Tara Moss - wonder what she thinks of her new Triumph Scambler.

RATs take Grampians by storm!

Well it was one of those days when the alarm goes off and you know before you open the curtains that its not the ideal day to do a 2 hour ride on a motorcycle to the Grampians National Park! It was dark, overcast and the sky had just opened up with a huge shower as I pulled on the bike boots.
At the Wharfshed everyone was anticipating a wild day and the black clouds certainly looked like they were getting blacker!
Just before departure time the clouds opened up and it poured down - it was going to be one of those days! With the rain lashing down and Mick already on his second pair of gloves we set off heading in the direction of Skipton via Bannockburn.
It was a quick ride to the roadside servo in Skipton and at one point a police patrol car coming in the opposite direction reminded us with a flash of the blue lights and some finger pointing that 150km/hr wasn't exactly legal! Even Pete got a warning in the Hyundai!
The coffee and toasted sandwiches went down well as we sat around the fire in the BP garage and then it was onward to Dunkeld - our next stop for lunch.
The pub served up some good grub and the open fire was again a welcoming site to warm the extermities and the other little bits that disappeared! With heated grips on his bike Murray was warm as toast & made us all envious - but then we are hardened bikers!
With the Grampians in site the final sprint to Halls Gap would be a quick one but unfortunately Graeme & Tina missed the turnoff and went the long way around - then just outside Halls Gap their bike stopped - not a drop of petrol left. Luckily it was close to town and with Tina on foot and Greame pushing they made their way into town - first stop the servo! A certain male amongst us suggested Tina should have pushed the bike with Graeme on it - wonder who that could be!
We all quickly relaxed in the surronding of gum trees, kangaroos and mountains and a few got more relaxed than others with a few Tasmanian alcoholic refreshments and a drop of fermented grape juice!
The pub was the place for a cheap feed and Shirley managed to get a cabbie to take us all out there - I think it was his busiest night for a long time. Pete made a surprise presentation of a Carlton football wooden spoon to Greame who looked like he was really impressed!! Unlucky for Pete that his beloved Collingwood were thumped the following day - I bet Greame had a lot of pleasure watching the results of that one!
A few of the party goers stayed till closing time & the elderly & frail went home to bed!
Next day was beautiful and after a hearty breakfast it was a big ride to Beaufort through the back roads of the Grampians following Rod.
I heard someone say that the roads would be like goat tracks & couldn't get that song from the sound of music out of my head as we passed though the mountains on those little norrow roads - '"high on a hill lives a lonely goat herd...".
The stop at Beaufort was a much needed one & we were all freezing - except Murray! After a quick coffee we rode off following Mick on the red sprint - the exciting part was yet to come!!
We missed a tuning and did a u turn to go along this little country road that turned into - yes, the dreaded dirt road... now I wasn't the only one that took the lead and took everyone on a dirt road! It wasn't that bad but one corner had me thinking off the series Long Way Round where they dropped their bikes in the sandy dirt road.
We all made it and Mick was very apologetic when we pulled up at the pub in Rokewood. It was freezing and several of us decided to ride on to Geelong leaving the others back in the warmth of the pub. Getting home and into a hot shower was never so beautiful. It was a great weeked and with 17 of us on 12 bikes it was a great turnout. Look forward to the next one to Marysville in November. Thanks Mick for taking some great photos - see them on the photo album.

Grampians Ride this weekend - 9/10 Sept

Remember May 2004 and the big trip to the Grampians National Park?

Well its on again this weekend - over 2 years later and about 14 RATs are heading north to experience the awesome roads and relax amongst the gum trees and kangaroos.

Departure is from the Wharfshed Cafe - meeting at 9am for a 9.30am start.

By the way, I heard that Tara Moss has bought a Triumph Scrambler - hope she rides it on the Pink Ribbon Ride - she might even want to come on a burn with the Geelong RATs!

Catch you all on Saturday morning...

Grampians Trip - 9th & 10th September 06

Well the weather's warming up and the days are getting longer so hopefully everything will be perfect for the upcoming trip to the Grampians National Park. If you haven't already booked then you need to get in quickly by calling the Halls Gap Caravan Park on 03 53564251. If there's no accommodation left then visit the Halls Gap web site for details of alternative places to stay.

Have a look at the Grampians Tours website as there's a few that are interested in doing the Eco Night Walk - there's also mountain bike hire and rock climbing for the more adventurous! If enough people are interested in the night guided tour walk I will ring up & make a group booking - let me know.

More details of the trip including departure times and route will be confirmed at the Monthly Meeting at the Wharfshed Cafe on Thursday 31st August.

Things have been fairly quiet since the last bike ride but I did hear that Ollie and a few others went for a very enjoyable ride to Lorne and up to Deans Marsh last week-end.

Should be more happening as the weather starts to warm up - can't wait for Spring/Summer riding.

Upcoming Events to remember

Just a quickie to remind everyone of a couple of events coming up.

August Monthly Ride Day is this Sunday 6th August - meeting as usual at the Wharfshed Cafe at 9am for a 9:30am start. Bring your ideas - sounds like the weather is going to be good with a predicted 16C & sunshine

The Grampians Week-End is creeping up fast and is happening on Sat 9th & Sunday 10th September. Details of the week-end were distributed at the last meeting but if anyone needs more info send me an e-mail, contact Leigh or pop in & see Craig at Peter Stevens for a flyer.

MotoGP Phillip Island - the MotoGP is earlier this year with the main race being held on Sunday 17th September. There's also the MRA MotoGP ride on Saturday 16th from Cranbourne and the Barry Sheene tribute ride from Bairnsdale on the morning of Thursday 14th September.

Southern Classic - this event isn't on the ride calendar but it's an event worthy of a visit. It's on 14th & 15th October at Broadford & the Geelong group usually ride up there early on the Sunday morning to catch the days racing. More details will follow closer to the time.

Pink Ribbon Ride - Sunday 22nd October - a great day out & a fantastic atmosphere as everyone joins Tara Moss in a ride out to the Maroondah Dam to support breast cancer research. In Australia in 2001 a total of 11,791 women and 95 men were diagnosed with breast cancer. A few of us did it last year & can't wait to do it all again this year.

Xmas in July - 2006

Well it was another great turn out for the Geelong Xmas in July lunch run and although there was no sign of the white stuff, a chilly breeze cut across Corio Bay to make it as cold as a witch's tit...
There was about 30 planned for lunch, and they were coming from all directions to converge on the little village of Bacchus Marsh nestled between the Brisbane Ranges and Lederderg Gorge.
And what finer place to have lunch but in the local Irish pub - Flanagans. There was a couple of different views on the route so it was lucky we compared notes before departure - but the general concensus was a burn up through Steiglitz and back through Anakie, Staughton Vale then on to our destination and lunch.
Riding through the Brisbane Ranges is always awesome and right now it's just starting to take on new life after the summer bush fires.
It was a quick burn into Meredith and a quick stop to regroup before completing the circuit back through Anakie. The roads were reasonably dry though a bit of moss here & there growing on the road left me a bit nervous - for a second or two! We reached the pub about 11:45 and we were joined by a few others - Rod & Shirley turned up in the Herald & it was good to see John & Burnie again.
The service from the staff was great and the lunch of turkey roast & plum pudding made us all feel like getting up & singing Xmas Carols - if we weren't riding bikes & had a few more of those Kilkennys then I reckon there would have been a few crooners having a go! In fact, at one point during the dinner I'm sure I heard Noddy Holder blasting "Merry Xmas Everybody" - maybe I was dreaming!
Outside there was great interest in the little Herald. It was getting colder so with gusto it was back down the Bacchus Marsh Road to Geelong & home.

Many thanks go to Cheryl for doing such a great job in arranging everything - hopefully next year it will be the same venue - maybe some extras like chris kringle & maybe even an intertable quiz!!

By the way - does anyone know what happened to Santa...

Geelong RAT Xmas in July - Sunday 9th July 06

Well, all we need is a bit of snow and it will top it all off - a good ole traditional Xmas dinner the way it should be - freezing cold outside and a hearty dinner in a pub by a roaring fire! Next Sunday 9th July is the Geelong RAT Xmas in July dinner at Flannigans in Bacchus Marsh. Its $17 for the traditional Xmas dinner - all we need is Santa to drop in with a few Triumph goodies...

If you want to book a spot you need to contact Cheryl or send me an e-mail

The plan is to meet at the Wharfshed Cafe in Geelong at 9am on Sunday 9th July for a 9.30am departure and ride before lunch.

By the way, just to get you in the mood...

Why doesn't Santa have any children?
Because he only comes once a year, and when he does, it's down the chimney

What's the difference between snowmen and snowladies?
Snowballs

Why did the snowman have a smile on his face?
Because the snowblower was coming down the block

Talbot (Winter) Week-end Trip - June 17-18 2006

Story & Photos by Mick - Red Sprint

Saturday 17th June and 4 Geelong Rats with 1 Ballarat departed for the central highlands area with Talbot being the destination of a Saturday night sleepover.
The usual route was taken out though Anakie and the Brisbane Ranges (which appears to be recovering well after the fires) and toward Ballan, but no Ballan stop this time as we turn of and head towards Gordon, Wallace and the old Western Highway.
It is a deteriorating road but still some nice scenery as we travel through and cross the freeway at Bungaree (the Spud Frawley town for those of us Aussie rules followers) past a country footy game then on through nice spud and cattle country to the bush of Creswick. Nice smooth roads and open flowing corners led by Rod, speed limit and a little bit more was on the agenda (Good Fun).
Found a nice warm café run by a couple of very nice chaps and settled in for bacon and free range eggs with runny bright orange yokes just like we used to have on the farm. All sitting on some high tin toast with tomatoes (mouth watering yet well it should be) washed down with a steaming mug of Cappucino.
We then headed of on some back roads to avoid a push bike race (thats what Rod said but I think he just like seeing me squirm on those narrow roads with the sandy corners and intersections). We then joined the main road at Smeeton and road through Campbelltown and Newstead to Maldon where it was a drovers lunch (pee and look around for the city people). Filled up the hungry Thunderbirds and off the Dunolly because we could.
Dunolly is a similar town to Maldon but not much traffic and not many tourists but a very nice bakery and apparently a biker friendly pub. We later met some natives which has aroused the interest to return for a better exploration of the site. So after a pie and coffee and a walk up the street, so we didn’t all feel like poisoned pups, it was of to Avoca and time to do some top box product testing!

The roads were good and flowing but at times some bumpy sections a bit like the Ballan road. This is where my unnamed top box decided it was time to bail off at SL + 20 KPH - Mick and Murray were the audience and were amazed that it stood up so well with only the badge going missing and a few scratches. Remounted the box after deciding I mustn’t have clipped it in properly and headed of again. Got about 10 kms down the road and it decided it was off again this time at SL + 20kph and a big bit got Leigh this time the observer.
I spied the shadow of it just before launch and this time it bounced quite well as before except after the 4th or 5th bounce, as I watched in my mirror, it cried ENOUGH and exploded with gear being deposited all over the road. I found everything but a pair of jocks (I think Leigh may have already changed them before I got back sorry mate either that or there is a Koala out there in a pair of black Bonds briefs). Reading glasses a bit twisted and boots a bit scuffed but all ok. Repacked the gear and off to meet the other three intrepid travellers at Avoca and another drovers stop as well as much laughing at my ill fated top box. I wonder why nobody wanted to ride behind me.
After Avoca we headed of to Maryborough and then to Talbot arriving at about 4 pm. Rod headed back to Ballarat and work. The bread must be delivered. I really don’t think he wanted to go - we offered to ring in sick for him but he trudged of into the sunset as we headed for the bar.
We were joined the by Colin and Lorraine who had ridden up in the arvo via Ballarat and Colins family. After a few rasberrys it was off to the open fire heated dining room and a welcome and traditional country pub meal (they just cant get much better except for Leighs lambs fry and bacon), a few more raspberries and off to play pool which was the cause of much laughter and excuses. They had minor earth tremors every time I lined up a shot as the balls keep on moving around down the other end of the table.
We were joined by the Jackaroo 4WD club and had a few tall rooster stories happening. Off to bed and lovely leckie blankets were most welcome. Leigh had chained the Thunderbird up nice and snug with my Sprint and I think we may have a Thruxton on the way - see pic - the T'Bird appeared to be looking longingly at the red thoroughbred!
We awoke to a brisk central Victorian morning and the sound of livestock as the Farmers market was setting up in the CBD. The town was buzzing with people selling and looking (work socks at one stall 5 pair for 10 bucks were a bargain till we got round the corner and it was 6 pair of the same socks for 10 bucks ripped off again).
Much looking and reminiscing led us to a corner where we saw a strange and interesting trike pull up and decided to investigate. The rider was an older woman and the trike a 1200 BMW with a Grinall conversion independent rear end and a top box that doesn’t come off. It was a great piece of workmans ship and the lady who rode it was fantastic.
We didn’t get her name but she came from Dunolly hopefully she will read this and we may catch up with her when we next ride up that way. She was an exceptional grandma who rides to Perth and Darwin for a coffee because she can. I think she mustn’t get much shopping done as there was soon 15 or so people around listening and asking question which she answered with a quibble. She told us she had seen us the previous day but was doing grandma practice and didn’t stop.
We were wearing our Triumph gear and were approached by many people who had bike interest and it was amazing how many were Triumph people there were some from Werribee that Leigh spoke to as well as many local district people (maybe we can start a branch in Talbot).
Then it was back to the Court House Hotel and one of Kyles mums Sunday roasts with a glass of Brown Bros Cab Sav just to die for.
We said our goodbyes to our new and old friends and hit the road about 1.30 after the bikes had thawed out heading back Creswick then back to Ballan on the same roads we went over on (well sort of found a couple of new bits).
Stopped at Ballan for a coffee cake and debrief and decided it must be done again (may have to get a Rocket though if we keep stopping for pastries and cakes) then back to Geelong and the cold.
A great weekend, good company, good food, good to great roads, no policemen, great weather, a few bargins, a few things to follow up and a few new stories to embellish as we get older.
Remember when………………………

All up we covered a total of 465 kms return trip.
Have a look at the Rocket 3 trike at this site