Back in one piece

I'm ba-a-a-ack! I ended up going on my own, coz my ride buddy's scooter was
playing up... and the accommodation was already booked and paid for, so it
would've been a shame to pull out.

Had a great time! The highlight was, as expected, the Great Alpine Road,
which I approached with a fair bit of trepidation after hearing other people
talking about how scary the run up Mt Hotham is.

From Bright to Harrietville was very pretty - great autumn colours and a
nice chill in the air.

I was glad I'd listened to all those Mt Hotham horror stories, because I was
expecting something far worse - and consequently, I had a ball! I even
enjoyed the views... Went at a very comfortable pace, so I wasn't ever
afraid or "stretched".

Tempted the gluten gods with the most delicious steak and chilli pie (with
real chunks of locally grown fresh hot chillies) at Omeo bakery - it was
fabulous...

The road around Ensay, with the river on the left, was stunning, and the
autumn colours were breathtaking. A lot of the countryside looked like one
of those Fuzzy Felt pics - emerald greeen carpet complete with neat trees
and smiling cows, and I felt like I was "in the zone" all the way from
Bright to Bruthen and on along the highway to spend night two in
Mallacoota...

Finished off yesterday with a run up to Eden, then to Wyndham and along the
Myrtle Mountain Road to Candelo... into Bemboka and up Brown Mountain (I
LOVE that bit of road!) then home to Canberra along that boring bit of
Monaro Highway from Cooma.

Best bit: Hmmmm..... chilli pie... Mt Hotham... tough call! And I LOVE the
heated grips!
Worst bit: bloody bike fell over at Wandiligong as I was negotiating a bit
of an incline on wet grass (the accommodation didn't have proper parking.
Was fine in the evening, but next morning in the heavy dew... I think I woke
the whole town with my cussing - oops!)
Oh - and I need a new rear tyre....again....

They have lots of stuff for people to read while they're driving/riding in
Victoria, don't they? So many bloody signs....(and those pics of a
motorcyclist skidding all over the road are a bit off-putting, I have to
say!) I like the signs that say "Trees close to road"....just in case you
hadn't noticed the trees were there <grin>

A bit stiff and sore today - will really have to remember to stretch more -
and I have a whopper of a bruise where the footpeg whacked me as the bike
tumbled over at Wandiligong... <shrug>

Hmmm, now where shall I go next?

betty

 

well bloody done, now you know why we all do it, cos its there and it
is fun

it doesnt really matter, just do it
I just came back from Tassie and 3000km (shut up Moike)
Tassie should be on your to do list

MH
(who needs a new rear tyre, front tyre, chain and sprockets and a new
controller for his heated handgrips...again!!!)

 

Yep, nice report Betty. I'm feeling very green.
One day, .....maybe.
I hope your spill was harmless.
MikeH

 

Yep, Tassie's definitely on the list. Might have to save up for that one.

Ooh, that's going to cost you!!!

betty

 

Dunno about next, but now that that you are so experienced, might be time to
start putting away for the G.P. at the Island which will be a boomer this
year esp if Casey continues as is (it was great to be at Shanghai and wave
the flag - being "brand" orientated people, there was Rossi stuff everywhere
and crowd support, but nothing for our boy... and after the win we got lots
of recognition, handshakes etc.- a very gratious people in that regard -
much crowd applause for the winners of all events)
Following that, closer to home for you is the Snowy Ride... What a life!
Rockit

ps. 2 copies Betty, initially used Reply instead of Reply Group - too
anxious

 

You *could* do it in a weekend but you'd miss a lot of good stuff. I
love Tassie. Must get over there again one day. There was one particular
hazy day spent at the Bush Inn in New Norfolk, built in 1815 and where I
educated myself on the delights of the local drops.

Some pics here...

http://users.tpg.com.au/smokey61/picframe1.html (first seven pics)
http://users.tpg.com.au/smokey61/picframe3.html (pics one and eleven)

For me, I crossed on the sister ship of the one that rolled over and
sank in Belgium the year before when someone didn't close the doors
properly.

I got properly drunk (no mean feat given the exorbitant prices) with a
bloke who wore a Triumph shirt who rode until he suffered a brain injury
in a prang that left him with slurred speech. An hour later I'd far
surpassed him and was completely unintelligible. I remember bouncing off
the walls from one side to the other on the way to the dunnies and was
very grateful that grab handles were provided next to the urinals.

I had a cabin beneath the vehicle deck and shared with three other
blokes who had no idea who the fourth bloke was until I burst in,
reeking of piss and shouting loud greetings. They had the presence of
mind to pretend they were asleep and I gave up trying to be sociable and
went to sleep myself, finally drunk enough to wipe the possibility of
imminent capsize from my mind.

Reckon I'd take the Cat next time...

 

Great pics (the high places made me cringe a bit, I confess - can't believe

Sorry, but I just about have tears rolling down my face after that - I'm
visualising the cabin scene, and imagining the thoughts going through the
minds of your cabin-mates...

betty

 

That's the plan... working on (a) bank balance, (b) overcoming the
nervousness over enormous crowds of strangers and (c) finding out as much as
I can about cost/accommodation possibilities etc etc

which will be a boomer this

I'm pretty sure there's a couple of groups from Canberra who do the Snowy
Ride. Will look into it and see if there are any familiar faces - could be
fun.

<grin> answered separately
betty

 

The "Vomit Comet" ... I ended up holding a sick bag for a kid whose dad
was too busy with his own bag. About 90% chunder rate. It also took two
goes to get there - first one turned back. This was in December - not
exactly rough weather!

Cheers
Goaty
--
_--_|\ John Lamp - in beautiful downtown Highton
/ \ IRC: DoD#:1906 Ulysses#:10185 Vulcan Nomad
\_.--._/ http://www.gorider.cjb.net/ Phone: 0409 512 254
v mailto: Fax: 03 5227 2151

Hear no Evo, See no Evo, Fear no Evo

 

Nothing wrong with Mt Wellington - it looks like a drop off, but it's
not until you get to the organ pipes.

Try Devil's Gullet - the cliffs curve out, and you are actually on an
overhang when on top! You can see it in the background at
http://tourtasmania.com/content.php?id=molecreek

Cheers
Goaty
--
_--_|\ John Lamp - in beautiful downtown Highton
/ \ IRC: DoD#:1906 Ulysses#:10185 Vulcan Nomad
\_.--._/ http://www.gorider.cjb.net/ Phone: 0409 512 254
v mailto: Fax: 03 5227 2151

Hear no Evo, See no Evo, Fear no Evo

 

I do it the cheap way: tent, booze, leave early and watch it on TV.

BTW, we're not *that* strange![1][2]

Cheers
Goaty
1. Apart from BTH, G-S, Moike, Nev, the Knob ... umm, well "From the
right, call off!"
2. and me!
--
_--_|\ John Lamp - in beautiful downtown Highton
/ \ IRC: DoD#:1906 Ulysses#:10185 Vulcan Nomad
\_.--._/ http://www.gorider.cjb.net/ Phone: 0409 512 254
v mailto: Fax: 03 5227 2151

Hear no Evo, See no Evo, Fear no Evo

 

Well done BB. If you ever get up north I reckon the loop from Cairns
- Port Douglas/Mosman up the coast then back inland through Atherton
and down the Gillies is amazing.

But given you've invested in heated grips ...

KS
(who was that masked man)

 

<taking notes> Will put that one on the list of places to go - sounds
like just the thing for next winter!

betty

 

"Well done BB. If you ever get up north I reckon the loop from Cairns
- Port Douglas/Mosman up the coast then back inland through Atherton
and down the Gillies is amazing."

I've done that one and second that........................only I went the
other way round..........
Oigster

 

I think this year we'll all be camped at the caravan park again. They
hike the prices up a bit (a lot) on the popular weekends, but a lot of
the camp-sites are actually caravan sized, so you can squeeze a few
tents on them which makes things a bit cheaper. Just ask here a bit
closer to the date (or log onto IRC and ask us there) when people have
started sorting themselves out in that regard... and no need to be
nervous.. we look pretty scary, but that's nothing that a good supply of
alcohol can't fix.

Nev..
'04 CBR1100XX

 

Not sure if I'll be allowed to talk to you guys then. The son in Melbourne
thinks we should go for the
all-you-can-eat-and-drink-in-a-front-row-seat-in-the-shade corporate tent.

Theo

 

HA! Since when did you ever talk to us at PI anyway?

Nev..
'04 CBR1100XX

 

We've got two seasons up here. Summer and August.

 

Thanks for putting me at #1 on the list, Goaty. I feel I've
arrived! :-D


BTH

 

Anywhere you feel like! Go girl!

SteveB