Want to thank both Nige and Killswitch for sticking with me and the ailing Honda on the return journey. It was bloody hot and the temptation to crack their throttle open & get home must have been very strong! Cheers guys – really appreciated your gesture.
Scrounger
The gathering at Jerry’s. The ride organiser (nameless) was the last to arrive, I think it was Scrounger 🙂
Oh, the good ‘ol days when the CX500 was in a happy place.
New pledge eager to rush away to become ‘Fingers’ (believe me, it could have been MUCH worse)
An emergency transfusion in Merriwa.
I have no photos of the middle part of the trip because I was struck down by a nasty whip injury and something I ate (or maybe drank) confused my mouth for a while.
Hidden Valley was a great destination, the hosts were fabulous and the company was tolerant, entertaining and not particularly thirsty.
Someones old BMW pictured on road in to Hidden Valley from Willow Tree end.
Details for the ‘other ride’ to Willow Tree are as follows:
Confirmed riders: Scrounger, Nige, Killswitch, Keys & Rob
Meet: Mon 11th Jan at Jerrys for a 10am departure (arrive a bit earlier if you want to grab a hot, hot coffee)
Travel: via Wollombi, Broke, Mt. Thorley – Golden Hwy to Denman then either up & across to Muswellbrook, then Scone, Willow Tree OR straight across to Merriwa (we can decide that on the road)
Arrive: Hidden Valley 3pm..ish
Accommodation: Bunk House, self-BBQ Dinner & breakfast, swim, drinks
Return: Tues 12th Jan via whatever route takes our fancy & at whatever time we want to get on the road
Final confirmation Monday morning (will check weather then) – anyone not confirmed is still welcome to join in (my sister doesn’t need final numbers until Mon morn)
During the Nige M/C club sub-committee Fishing Club meeting, it was decided that Monday 18th would be kick off at 08:30 sharp from Maccas Nth bound twin servo. I’ll be there at 08:00 if anyone wants to join up for a coffee before kick-off. Heading for overnight stay in Grafton first night.
Some of the roads I planned on the following day are dirt so instead we will do a loop to take in Casino, Urbenville and Kyogle, before run along Bruxner Hwy to Tenterfield and then Glenn Innes. Probable stay here in G.I.
3rd day is up for vote, but sub-committee thinks Gwyder Hwy to Grafton and then retrace ride back to the Big A. (Armidale) and Gloucester, then home.
This keeps us off the New England and away from the Big T and Country Music week.
Hope this all OK!
Caught this today on the Hawksbury (Mohawk caught nothing!!)
Can anyone tell me what it is??
Proposing a ‘short’ ride before the big ride up north to my sister’s farm-stay.
Leaving Monday 11th Jan – about a 4 hour ride (if you go straight there – longer if we want) to stay o/nite & return back to Coast on Tuesday 12th. We can go either Golden Hwy to Merriwa or New England Hwy to Willow Tree – both ways enjoyable.
Follow this link to see what’s on offer & how to get there:
http://www.hiddenvalleyhomestead.com.au/
Please note – there is a section of graded dirt road to get to the farm-stay. About 18kms of it from the Merriwa end – less from the Willow Tree end – nothing atrocious (I did it w/out drama on my BMW R100Rt) & you don’t need a GS either, though, be prepared for your bike to get dirty/muddy depending on weather.
There will be no other guests on the night so we’ll have the place to ourselves, pool if hot – just need to know confirmed numbers early so they can buy in food & booze for us (we wont have to bring anything) – we can choose to BBQ ourselves or they will cook dinner/breakfast – we’ll be staying in the bunkhouse. Once I know numbers I can confirm costs (my sister assures me that she’ll do a ‘deal’ for Nige MC). Hope you can join Nige & myself!
After arduous days on the tools and spray can, the transformation has begun.
The flat bars streamline the front end 🙂 Pity the throttle now no longer returns but gee, they look good.
Scrounger adopts a new riding position to reflect the café racer beast throbbing beneath him.
Note the fresh paint on the rocker covers and radiator surround, no crash bars and looking fairly flash 🙂
